The two previous summers have been life-altering. The summer of 2009 had me strapped to my bed while chemo pumped into my veins. Vacations were brief and deeply interrupted that year. The world spun without us for those months. Then, last summer a bomb dropped on us on July 14 as my dad passed away. The summer rug was pulled out from under us and we went tumbling into the school year. Well, that all changed in 2011. We finally had a summer free from deep pain and dark sorrow.
It's now just a few short days before Emily and I return to work, before Julia starts her freshman year at Chico High, and Jake and Eliza Kate start another year at Chico Country Day. Since my last post, we've been to family camp at Mt.Hermon, spent a week at Lake Almanor with my family, and just last night I returned from a week-long fishing trip on the Madison River in Montana. I haven't had the time to sit down and write! However, I've had the time to be with my family, great friends, and lots and lots of fish.
The week in Montana away from my family made me realize just how fortunate I have been these 3 months to spent as much time with them as I have. It's a rare thing to get to be with one's family 24/7 for 8 weeks straight. As I reflect back on sabbatical, this is the biggest gift I've been given: time with my family. The memories we have shared and built, the places we've seen, the tears we've cried, the meals we've eaten, the fights we've fought, the games we've played, the countries we've been lost in, and the prayers we have prayed will last a lifetime. What a gift I have been given--what a gift our family has been given.
I'll write more once I upload pictures from the past few weeks, tell some stories (all of which will be absolutely true--especially the ones about the fish I caught!), and complete this blog. Until then, I have only two things to say:
1. Thank you to our amazing church family for the opportunity of a lifetime. This time away has renewed our family, my soul, and sense of call to keep on loving and serving here in Chico.
2. I'm going fishing one last time with my good friend Bill Battaglia and he's going to be here in 20 minutes, so I need to get going!
Love ya,
Jim
