Yes it has been since February…deal with it!!
I will try to update you by topics (western systematic mind).
Family———
Taylor is a strong 2.5 yrs old. She is an absolute joy. She has personality for days (which she gets from her mother) and has developed a bit of sassyness(which she also gets from her mother)! She is a counter, semi-speller, fast talker, and unashamed singer of all tunes (whether she knows them or not). She is the sweetest most gentle and kind girl you can imagine but she is not afraid to ‘hammer time’ (not MC but wrestle) when someone needs to be taken down a couple notches! This is our daily ritual when I get home from work. She enjoys story time at the library, reading books, watching movies (care bears, strawberry shortcake, busby the bee, and super readers) and playing catch which is working out better now with the Velcro glove and ball! She likes to be the helper with anything from cooking to carrying things to helping dad with his sermon and email.
Kite day with Georgia!
Let's go fly a kite
Waiting for candy at the parade
Daddy's girl
Study group
My new big girl bed, thanks Georgia
Carrie is doing well. She loves being at home with Taylor and having some adventures. As is expected she does like some time without Taylor from time to time too. You will probably notice in the picture below that Taylor is going to be a big sister in a couple weeks. We are having a boy and he should be out and about in the middle of June! We are excited! Carrie is doing well and the baby is healthy so we are thankful for that. Carrie is having fun with Pampered Chef stuff and is teaching Taylor about planting and watering flowers and strawberries. She did let her creative talents flow getting the room ready for our son (I say son and boy because we still are not solid on a name, better hustle). She teaches the children’s Sunday school (which consists of Taylor) and they have a great time studying the Bible.
The Mahaffie's
Organizing the classroom
The ladies
Expecting?
Dan—–
School is out for the summer and I am not taking any summer classes. It was a great semester but the hardest semester of my life by a long shot. I took 12 units (Ethics, World Religions, Church History, Systematic Theology) and was assigned over 5,000 pages to read (needless to say all of the pages did not get completed but I did get more than I expect to read). For the first part of the semester I worked at Target, as an English tutor, and filled in as a pastor. This only lasted for a little over a month and then I dropped the tutoring when the part time pastor position was officially offered to me. Ethics class was by far my favorite. It was extremely challenging and the reading was steep but it was one of those classes that excites you every time you go to think deeper about issues and disciplines the mind to think in light of Scripture about every day events. World Religions was my “sleeper class” not in the asleep way but in that I was not excited about it when I signed up for it but it turned out to be a perspective shaping class that I can say I learned something new every class. Church History was quite relevant. My instructor did a great job of relating the historical events to practical ministry and it turned out to be a very helpful course. Systematic is the nuts and bolts of what the Bible teaches about all aspects of life and practice and was outstanding, but I knew it would be going into it so it wasn’t a big shock.
I have changed positions with Target and am in the process of learning my new position. It will be enjoyable for the most part but I was used to getting up at 3:15am and now I work when normal people work so that is an adjustment.
As I mentioned above we have accepted a position with a small church near our house as the part time pastor. It has been a growing experience and we have enjoyed our time so far.
Taylor and I still work out when we get the chance and she is the first member of my band, she plays the harmonica(s). She is getting good and we have a great time!!
Making of the band
Can you hear it?
We store out weights together
Love the pain!
Big Dan Marshman helped us get our counters on, thanks Dan!
That is the very nutshell. God is teaching us a ton and we look forward to the day if/when I can work one job and not have to go to school, but it may be a while. God is sufficient and doesn’t waste any experience (good or bad) so even in the struggles we are grateful for what He sees fit to give us. Thanks for checking in on us!
