Happy 2008! This year is going to end up being another major one for us. There are so many big changes on the horizon for us that I don't even know where to begin. However, I thought that I ought to mention them here so that my readers can all be up-to-date on what's going on in our lives. Here goes:

1. We're having a baby! Julie is expecting baby #2 in early July. So far the baby is healthy, though unfortunately Julie is not. Like last time with Emma, Julie has been hit with severe "morning" sickness (actually "all-day, everyday" sickness). She hasn't been able to eat much and stays on the couch pretty much 24/7. We're really hoping and praying that this doesn't lead to the same kind of complications we had last time with the pre-term labor, the three months of mandatory bed-rest, and the 6-weeks premature birth.

2. We're moving! For a number of reasons our church has decided that we are better suited to be a house church community. This is the right direction for our church but sadly it means that it will no longer be financially sustainable for Julie and I to continue on as the paid pastors of the church. Again, for a number of reasons we've decided that the time has come for us to move on and away from the Yorkville area. We will stay here until the new baby comes and then plan to move to Austin, Texas to be closer to Julie's family (her parents, aunt, and brother & sister-in-law all live there). We are nervous, a little sad and a little excited too about the move. With the little one on the way it will be nice to have family nearby, and we've always wanted to live in a progressive, eclectic college town like Austin.

3. I will be going back to school for my PhD! So far I've applied to Baylor University, the University of Texas, and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. My intent is to study Religion & contemporary Church History with the long range goal of teaching on the college or seminary level. We'll see where I get into, but I hope to start classes next fall.

It's scary to contemplate all these changes coming up, but life is nothing if not exciting. It's time for a new chapter in our lives. We will miss Via Christus and all of our friends up here in the Chicago area (I've lived around here for over 11 years now), but fortunately we have several months to make the transition, prepare new leadership for the church, and say our goodbyes. Please keep us in your thoughts or prayers over the upcoming months.

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