Just "Jen," and other news.

Well, it's official - Tim and I are going to be Chrismated on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter)!  We are very excited - well, I'm excited and also pretty nervous... it's a whole big ceremony.  You know, affirming that you will follow Christ, then renouncing Satan and spitting on him... the usual.  :)  The spitting is more metaphorical I think, but still audible if I'm not mistaken!  As for my Christian name, I've decided to take St. Genevieve of Paris as my patron name saint.  I figure it could be shortened to "Jen," which is what my immediate family usually calls me, so I think it honors the name that I've already been given.

The condo is still in limbo.  The latest news is that the exception the bank was applying for was denied, so now they are seeking a waiver.  In Tim's words, "what's the difference between an exception and a waiver?  $200 apparently."  Yep, they want an additional $200 to try to get a waiver... I say try, because they have been unsuccessful and unimpressive at every step of the way (especially our loan officer), and I have little faith in their ability to get this thing done at this point.  We do still have a couple of options if the "waiver" (sounds like something they made up at this point) doesn't work out, so it's not over yet.  In fact, Tim is very optimistic about it and keeps saying "we will get this condo; don't worry."  So even though I am worried... I'm trying to be optimistic like him.

Spring break is officially over... it's 8:00 and I'm swearing to myself to be in bed by 9:30.  Tim and I are attempting (just another round of many attempts we've made, but again - trying to be optimistic here!) to get up early and have breakfast together this week.  Wish us luck! 

And as for what seems like the big elephant in the room as far as this blog post goes (to me anyway), tomorrow will be our first day back since our student died.  Her funeral is on Tuesday, and I'm going to see if I can go, but it's during the school day, so I don't know if I'll be able to.  My heart is just still so heavy - I've been in a funk all of spring break and just can't seem to snap out of it.  I think I'm just still shocked that she's gone, and I'm so sad for her family.  And I had her last year, not this year - so I can't even imagine what her family, friends, and current teachers will be going through tomorrow. 

We're also finding out on Friday who will not be with us next year due to budget cuts, so there will just be quite a bit of sadness at our school this week. 

And on that note, I think I'll go on and head to bed earlier than planned... drink some hot tea, read a good book, and cuddle up with my sweet husband, and get myself mentally prepared for tomorrow.

Goodnight friends.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted.

I found out today that a dear, sweet former student of mine passed away today after suffering injuries from a skiing accident yesterday.  She was so beautiful, kind, driven, and full of life - I am just in shock that she is not with us anymore, that when we go back to school next Monday, it will be without her.  It's so devastating that such a life could be cut short so abruptly, and at such a young age.  Please pray for peace and comfort for her family; I can't even imagine what they must be going through. 

I am confident that she is in heaven and in a "better place" as everyone says, but it doesn't take away the sadness or the questions of "why?"  I know there is an answer to that question, but stuck here in our earthly world, the answer never seems to satisfy.

Welcome to the Catechumenate!

Well, I think a blog post is most definitely in order - today, Tim and I became official catechumens of the Holy Orthodox Christian Church!  Basically what that means, is that we are now officially on the road to becoming part of the Church.  We have taken that first big step, and now the Church will be praying for us by name (in the middle of the Liturgy!) until we are actually received into the Church - possibly on Pascha (Easter).

I know that my blog audience (and honestly, I don't know who that is outside of Andrea and Rhiannon - my most "vocal" readers!) is largely, if not entirely, unfamiliar with the Orthodox Church and maybe even mine and Tim's involvement in it... so let me explain.

Actually, let me first explain why I'm just now really blogging about it (I mentioned it awhile back, but nothing much).  I guess I'm afraid that people will think that we're weird, or that we are joining some strange church - turning my back on Protestantism.  In fact, I guess I am turning my back on Protestantism (not that I think my upbringing was wrong or bad in any way - maybe incomplete, but definitely still the Truth), and even I am pretty surprised by that I suppose.  However, the "weird" or "strange" part is entirely incorrect, though that would have been my reaction a year or two ago.

I have (slowly!) come to love the Orthodox faith - it is so rich and full, and I love that it unifies the body and the spirit (as someone put it today) by involving both in worship.  Literally bowing down to the Lord (instead of just singing about bowing down - which I have definitely done), prostrating - where you are actually face down on the ground before God (which, by the way, we don't do all the time... but it is the Lenten season!) ...looking around at the beautiful murals of the life of Christ all around the cathedral (it is literally the most beautiful church I have ever seen), smelling the incense to represent prayers rising up to God, hearing God's Word sung by the choir - as the Liturgy is rich with tons of Scripture and the whole thing is sung! All of the senses and the physical body are involved in worship, not just the spirit - which makes complete sense, seeing as God made us as both spiritual and physical beings.

Even as I read my descriptions above, I'm thinking to myself, "wow - if I were reading this two years ago, I would be completely weirded out if ______ (insert close friend or family member) were converting to Orthodoxy."  I wish I could completely do it justice, but I know that I cannot with my limited knowledge and expertise.  Suffice it to say, however, that I have finally realized that standing through a two hour church service without pews is not "weird" - it is standing in the presence of the Almighty, which seems quite appropriate actually.  Kneeling down before God in the middle of church with a church full of people doing the same thing is not "awkward" - it is beautiful and shows a reverence for God that I feel was always missing for me.

I'm not sure why I feel the need to defend our decision - maybe not even defend, but at least give an explanation.  It's probably because it is so different from how we were both raised, and it's not a common religion in either area where we grew up.  I think I'm afraid that friends and family will have a misconception about what the Orthodox Christian Church is... and that they will "worry" about us.  I guess I'm explaining things so that whoever is reading from this point on (because I'm sure it will come up again!) realizes that we are still Christians, we still believe in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - only now, we feel that we have finally found our spiritual home... which I think we've both been searching for our entire lives.
 

St. Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral