Eric's Thoughts

So I realize that in the grand scheme of things Billings is more of a town than a city, but as far as Montana goes it is huge.  I’m still not used to it.  The residential areas are actually quite nice, while the mall and downtown are much more “city” like.  The convenience of having everything close is great.

Enough on Billings.  Let me give the highlights of our first month here.

The transmission on Ashley’s truck went out moving day (it’s fixed now). Literally ten minutes out of Columbus we were on the side of the highway trying to figure things out.  We limped it to Park City, left it there, unloaded all of our stuff and then went back and trailered it the rest of the way to Billings.  I want to take this moment and say thanks to Jesse, Jacob and Jozie for your guys help.  Even with the broken truck we still got everything moved in one trip.

Once we got everything moved in, we discovered that the fridge was dead.  Our landlord replaced it, but it ended up taking a week.  Then we got a bunch of snow, which melted and flooded part of the front room.  Our landlord loaned us a carpet cleaner and worked at patching the leak.  Lastly the seal on our toilet started leaking.  Landlord fixed that too.  He has been really great, and if you are looking for a place to rent in Billings I would recommend Brown Properties.

We had to call the cops because the people in the building next to us had a rather physical sounding altercation (at about midnight).  Thankfully it was short.  By the time I finished calling the police and getting my clothes on, the fight was over and the cops were there.  It literally took them about three minutes after my 911 call.

I think those are all the really large events that have happened since our move.

My work at St. John’s is going well, though I need to pay better attention to details… pesky things details.  I’ve also been doing quite a bit of IT stuff for BMCR this month.  Ashley has been busy with innumerable projects, but a number of those are winding down.  She has started looking around for a part time job, but hasn’t filled out any applications yet.

I’ll stop here, as this post has gotten a bit long winded, and seems more disjointed than usual.

If my last blog was an update this one is more of an announcement.

We are indeed moving to Billings.  We have two more days here in Columbus (Josh and Summer you have been great land lords and we’ll miss you) and on Saturday we are moving in to our new apartment.   Ashley has been diligently packing while I do geek stuff at work.  I just want to publicly say “Thanks wife.. you rock.”  I’m excited and sad.  Excited to cut down on my commute time, and glad to be picking a place to settle.  Sad because I really do like Columbus, and I’ll miss Absarokee Church.  Oh well, all good things must come to an end.  It isn’t like we can’t visit from time to time.

If you would like our new address just message me or Ashley and we’ll give it to you.

I have been at St. John’s for three weeks now.  I’m starting to get a handle on where things are at.  I am also learning a lot.  Brent and Brett have been willing to teach me things, and answer my questions which has been extremely helpful.  I still have gobs to learn, but I’ll get there.  I don’t feel quite so overwhelmed now.  I think I’m going to enjoy this job a lot once I’ve got it all figured out.  I got my first paycheck last Friday and I have to admit that felt great.

Ashley and I have been looking at a lot of apartments in Billings (actually Ashley has been doing most of the looking).  We’ve viewed three and applied for one.  The application process was a lot more in depth than I was expecting.  Any who, our application was accepted but the apartment was already rented out.  The company has a bunch of other rentals though, so we’ll be visiting one of those tomorrow.  Lord willing we will be able to move the end of this month.  The commute between here and Billings has bothered me more than I thought it would.  We’ll see what happens.

Update done.

I really do need to post a bit more often.

I did indeed get married sixteen days after my last post.  Two and a half months into married life I have to admit I like it.  Getting to know Ashley, and growing closer to each other has been fun.  God has blessed me.  Through these last couple of months I have been busy (still) job searching, filling out applications, going to interviews and getting my A+ certification.  In a huge answer to prayer I finally have a job.  I will be working in the IT department at St. John’s Lutheran Ministries.  Thanks to every one who prayed for me.  I really do appreciate it.  I start Monday morning at 9:00.  Please pray that I figure the ropes out quickly.  I can’t explain how much of a relief it is to finally have a job.  It is a load off of my chest.

Ashley and I are planning on moving to Billings in the next couple of months.  I again ask for prayer as we look at apartments and decide where to live.

Thank You Father for all You provide.

So here I am, two months (give or take) since my last post.  I’ve moved into an apartment, and I must say having my own place rocks.  I am still looking for a full time job.  I am getting married in 16 days.

The change continues, and in the midst of it I am learning.  I am learning about my self and about God.  I have been flabbergasted at how difficult it is to trust that He will provide me with the job I need.  As I browse job boards, fill out applications, and go to interviews I have been struck by the amount of worrying I do.  To quote Star Wars, “My lack of faith is disturbing.”  God and I are working through that, but it is a challenge.

So life goes on.  The whole financial thing aside I’ve discovered that being unemployed isn’t nearly as fun as I thought it would be.  It is actually quite boring.  I manage to fill my days, but (and I can’t believe I’m saying this) I really look forward to having a full time job again.  I’m sure once I have a job in about three weeks I’ll be griping that I need a vacation.  Such is life.

I’ve been thinking about this post on and off for a couple of weeks now.  I’m still not sure how to go about it, but here goes.

All of you know (or at least you should) that things change.  My life is now in a season of change.  I will be leaving BMCR the end of September.  When I started my internship here in 2006 I decided to stay because I saw God working in the hearts of Arrowhead students.  My reason for working here has always been Arrowhead.  With Arrowhead not running this year I have decided it is time to go.  I will be moving to an apartment in Columbus the first of October.  I do not yet have a job.  I’m also planning on getting married in November (we haven’t got the date set in stone yet).

Like I said, I’m in a season of change.  It has (for the most part) been a good seven years here at BMCR/ABC.  I will miss it.  I’m excited to see what comes next.  I’m also scared of what is coming next.  God has been teaching me to trust Him, and I fear I have a lot more to learn in that area.  In the mean time I ask for your prayers.  I need a job.  I’m getting married and frankly I have no idea how to be a good husband.  As I leave a ministry “career” I want to make sure I still disciple and minister to those God will put in my life.  I am also asking that you pray for camp, as they now need a new I.T. guy.  Those can be hard to find some times.

I thank God for the time He has given me here, and I’m looking forward to what is coming next.

Wow, a lot has happened since I posted last, and there is no way I could ever cover all of it.  The year of Arrowhead went well.  This summer while long has gone ok.  It has been more disorganized than usual.   We have one week left, and then it is fall cleanup.  We did get Internet here finally and it has been glorious.  We’ve gone from having a 23 GB a month limit to downloading between 150-250 GB a month.  I am really not sure how we made it on satellite.

I had my two month sabbatical this year, April through May.  I needed it.  I didn’t realize how short two months really is.  It took me about three weeks to stop being tired (and that was in the “off” season).  I spent the first month attending classes at Arrowhead.  The second month I visited some friends in Idaho, and went back to Minnesota to see the family.

I have nothing else I’m going to report.  I’ll try and do this a mite more regularly.

The title basically sums up my day (though it isn’t in chronological order).  One of the new laptops came in today so I started setting it up.  I also cooked both lunch and supper.  I think lunch was better than supper but my chocolate chip cookies weren’t bad.  I should have made more.  Does any one know what butter is supposed to do (when baking cookies)?  I accidentally only put in half of what I was supposed to and they seemed to turn out just fine.

Yeah, that was much shorter and lamer than I thought it would be.  Oh well, such is life.

Quick Internet update:  The power company has started getting power to the pedestal that Nemont put in.  Fast Internet here we come (the sooner the better).

Psalm 136:26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
 

and I didn’t even plan it.  Things have been busy but good.  The new projector for the Bears Tooth that I ordered on October 31st finally shipped… yesterday.  We should get it next week.  I’ve gotten a couple of new laptops for camp, and we are in the process of getting a computer lab (I use the term loosely) going for the students.  Thanksgiving was a blast.  As usual I was at the Stevenson’s house.  It was great to get away from camp for a while.  I admit I am really looking forward to Christmas break, and seeing my family again.  Yeah, that’s all I’m going to say.

Acts 7:59-60 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The last thing he does before he dies is ask God to forgive the people killing him.  That just blows my mind.  I’ve read this before but for some reason it really hit me tonight.