Outer Rim Territories

I’m writing this while trying to cram 100 vocabulary words into the full saturated muscle in my head. It is due time I give a note of status for all the curious.

We’ll work backwards. Today I found out that my dad will be going in for open heart surgery next tuesday to replace an aortic valve. This has been bothering him for some time but had gotten to the point where anything cardiac was a chore, even walking 50 yards. The did a catheterization today and found he had no blockage (not a surprise with his low cholesterol) but the leaky valve was completely shot. He will go in at 5:30 am, on the table at 7:30 am, heart surgery at 8:00 am and should be done around 12 noon. Then he’ll be in intensive care for 24 hours and will remain in the hospital at least until thursday or friday. He’ll be off work for at least a month following during which time he can’t do any heavy lifting (5 lbs) or operate machinery. This poses a problem for the farm but I’m sure sis Amanda and Mom can manage? I hope so. You should definitely keep him in your prayers. He may come and visit on Sunday if he feels okay. I am considering driving over Tuesday. Unfortunately that is the last day of review before the final Wednesday. A little compound stress never hurt.

Today Uncle Larry aunt Sally, Nikolai and Lydia came over for an hour on their way back to columbus. It was good for the kids to play around outside and get the kinks out of their legs. We talked church politics and the mess contemporary/non-liturgical praise band baloney has caused in the churches in Columbus as well as the ones I have encountered here. I’ll leave further discussion to the theological section. You are spared!

I played soccer yesterday with some guys from class and the professor. One of the guys played in college. It went fairly well for about 25 minutes at which time I could stand up any more and succumbed to the heat. I had a headache for the rest of the day and felt pretty nasty. Today was much better. Dr. Gieschen said I wasn’t well enough hydrated. I wanted to mention I hadn’t run that much since grade school, but…. well, pride got the better of me.

Anne and kids made it back on Sunday, a week late from their trip to Wisconsin. The radiator line that ran to the rear climate control on the van has rusted out, draining all the radiator fluid. Thankfully she made it within 10 miles of her mom, Alice making the week stay while the part was found and installed, more bearable. She was battling a particularly viscous bout of mourning sickness (and has been today as well.) She says its 3 months on next Thursday. I can’t wait! I’m glad I only have experience 3 weeks. Not so glad to not see my wonderful children most of the summer, though. We’ve been bonding all week. Gabriel and Elsie have opened up quite a bit and Ethan is as vivacious as ever.

My Greek grade has plateaued around 91%. I’m pleased. I dropped a couple quizzes in a row at around 80% but picked up a couple high 90% scores this week. The final will be super nasty. I look forward to it.

Thanks to St. Paul’s Lockport and St. James in Lafayette both of which sent some support recently. This is essential to my financial ability to make it through this program. If any of you are looking for a needy mission to support, the seminary qualifies. AND no, 100% of tuition is not granted. The MAXIMUM grant is 60% of tuition. Tuition represents about 40% of my total costs for the year; the total cost of attendance for a family of four is $46,000. Fun, eh?

Okay, vocabulary is calling me! Questions, comments, concerns?