This summer was all over the map, literally.
I had a delightful time leading Northern Seminary’s Paul and John study trip to Turkey and Greece in June. Even though it was a work trip, it felt a lot like a vacation. Getting to do what I love - teach, lead, and pastor people - with stunning scenery and kittens…what could be better?
The museum staff had just gotten this kitten off the street, and I carry cat food with me when I travel so we became friends…and they named her Becky after me!
Turkey is a beautiful, hospitable country. Several students mentioned they had been looking forward to the Greece part of the trip, but ended up loving the Turkey part even more. We are already planning next year’s trip and might have space for non-students to come along - let me know if you are interested!
My husband and I went to New Hampshire for our 20th anniversary. His great-grandparents built a cabin there which is still in the family. We did our honeymoon there, our 7th anniversary, and several family trips. My mom watched our five kids so we could get away for our first sans-kid trip since before the pandemic.
I took the kids to Missouri for a week with friends to visit Silver Dollar City, which I wrote about here.
At the end of summer, my husband and I took the kids to Madison, WI, for a final fling before school.
In the midst of the travel, I kept up with a 16-week class on Internal Family Systems that spanned the whole of my summer break and an 8-week French class that Wheaton College requires PhD students to take for reading scholarship in French.
I had high hopes for my research over the summer, but the inconsistent schedule made that tough. I read some works on trauma and did a lot of emotion coaching, both of which have impacted and continue to inform my research. I’m meeting with my advisor for the first time of the semester tomorrow and need to revise my dissertation proposal before then.
Classes started up for my kids two weeks ago and for me last week. I’m very excited to get into a weekly rhythm. I’m taking a PhD seminar on Old Testament Social Ethics and two guided research courses with Dr. McCaulley on 1. Discipleship in the Gospels and 2. Greco-Roman Philosophy of the Passions.
I’m also going to be teaching! I’m starting off my teaching year the week of Labor Day with several guest lectures in Scot McKnight’s Gospels and Acts intensive at Northern Seminary. We’ll have some of the students who were in our intensive last summer again. I can’t wait to be with the students.
In an effort to build on the weight training I’ve been doing since December, I’m meeting with a personal trainer tomorrow. I’ve been using the nautilus equipment and pleased to see my strength increase, but the “real” weight room intimidates me. I hope some training sessions will help me build a good plan to stay healthier this school year than last. (I have also committed to stop keeping shortbread cookies in my study carrel.)
And because I’m not busy enough, I’m thinking of starting a podcast.
I’ve been wanting to podcast for several years, but all my previous iterations were heavily research based, which I cannot sustain till my dissertation is done. But then I had the idea to do live emotion coaching sessions on a podcast with willing volunteers, which I think could be helpful for a lot of people without my having to do additional research and writing. What do you think? What would make it interesting enough for you to subscribe?
This fall, I’ll be sharing weekly essays here about emotions and emotional health. I’ll also do a couple additional monthly posts for paid subscribers on deeper research and more personal reflections. Come along if you like!
Sounds like a great summer! What I want to know is...how do you do it all??? Asking for a friend. ;)
You have cat food when traveling???