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Rau QuartetThe 2009 Happenings of the Steve and Amy Rau Family serving with Pinebrook Bible Conference |
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June 29 INSANITYWhelp...the last few days have been crazy. The last week and a half has been insane. Today was the first full day of Conference and we are already wishing summer was over. Not that we didn't enjoy it or love the buzz around here or love the guests on the grounds, but Steve and I have so much on our plates it's suffocating.
Getting prepared for this week has not been easy. I volunteered to write the children's curriculum and head up the program. Since I was new here I assumed others would fill me in on the way things worked and that other details would be handled. Not so much. Every question I had about some detail recieved the answer, "I don't know" and it became my job. I thought I'd have a committee of teachers who all helped plan things. Not so much. I thought we had an AV guy on staff who would take care of all things technical. Not so much. I thought the pastor would plan and execute worship services. Not so much. I thought visiting pastors and worship leaders and missionaries would let Pinebrook know ahead of time what songs they'd be singing or what they needed for presentations ahead of time. Not so much. In a nutshell, I expected people in general to plan ahead and think through details and be on top of things...NOT. SO. MUCH.
Even after I spent hours planning the opening service there were last minute glitches that created a chaotic service. We have been scrambling through every meeting we had today struggling with computers, projectors, and sound systems. Steve has been the go-to tech guy and has been pulled in so many different directions. He hasn't slept more than 3 hours the last two nights and we are still behind on stuff. It's been very discouraging and completely draining.
People keep telling us that the first week is always like this. That everyone expects to work kinks out the first week. What is wrong with working kinks out THE WEEK BEFORE THE FIRST WEEK? I'm used to the mentality that the people who come to the first service (or the first week of camp) don't deserve a dress rehearsal. It's hard to not get frustrated at the lack of communication and organization that we've found here. I was challenged in a message to not gripe or complain about anything but find thankfulness in every situation.
I am thankful that we have a job. I am thankful that I get paid additionally for my time (wow, is my pay check going to be HUGE this week!!!!). I am thankful that so many families are here learning about and worshipping God. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to teach the children this week. I'm thankful for the outdoor pool and plenty of kids for the girls to play with at any given moment of the day. I'm thankful, I'm thankful, I'm thankful.
And so tired.
June 15 So much for updating more often...Well, so much for keeping updated! Not too much exciting has been happening - just the daily business and busyness!
This week the girls are at Grammy and Grandpap's house to celebrate being all done with school! It's not all vacation and fun and games for Steve or me as we are really busy this week gearing up for summer! Steve is preparing for his summer staff to come next weekend and there's much for him to do. I start my rehearsals as music director for the local community theater production of "High School Musical 2" this week. In addition I will be music director for a children's production of "The Jungle Book" and will be teaching some kids' music classes at 2 local performing arts studios. These opportunities will be giving me a chance to use my gifts and do what I enjoy and make a little money as well!
Here at Pinebrook I will be leading the children's worship twice a day and I just wrote the summer's theme song! I'm so excited about it! We may have the opportunity to record it at our church and maybe our worship team will be interested in doing it.
Last weekend was Colonial Days back home in Painted Post. Hannah was invited to ride in a car in the parade as she is still the current Sweetheart Miss Finger Lakes so the girls and I made the trip and visited some friends along the way. Here are the pictures of Hannah at the parade!
Also this past weekend the group that was here for three days was the Saint family reunion. The head of the family is the son of Steve Saint, the martyr that the movie "The End of the Spear" was about. Wow, that really cool to have them here and hear him speak.
It's seems crazy that June is half over already. Time flies at this time of the year, that's for sure. We have a possible buyer for our house! We are thrilled and just praying for all the details to fall into place. Please pray with us as we want to see the house go to someone who really loves it and this family does!! If all goes well we could be settling all of this in August sometime. Please keep praying!!
Thanks for keeping up with us and reading here. We are glad for all of our family and friends! April 28 10th anniversary tripWe're back from our long weekend away to Atlantic City and New York City! We went to NYC on our anniversary in hopes of catching a last minute deal on a broadway show. We seriously didn't have much money for this vacation so we were just HOPING it would work out but didn't have our hearts set on it. When we got to the TKTS booth we found out that none of the shows we really wanted to see were discounted. We went to the Mama Mia box office only to find tickets that we couldn't afford. We tried Mary Poppins too. Then we decided to TRY Phantom of the Opera although if Mama Mia and Mary Poppins were too much there was probably no hope of seeing Phantom (which would be our first choice anyway!!). They had some singles available that they were willing to discount to us if we were willing to not sit together...OH YEAH!!!! I sat 11th row center...it was an amazing performance. Wow...it still feels like a dream!
I've never been to Broadway, let alone seen a show there. I've also never seen Phantom live. That day was like 3 dreams come true at once...plus the whole being married for 10 years celebration...it was a very good day!
We also slept in, walked on the beach, walked the boardwalk at Alantic City, and did some exploring up the Jersey coast and found a great public beach only 2 hours from house that we can visit anytime this summer! I can't wait for that.
April 22 10 years ago...I was getting ready for my wedding 10 years ago this week! Such a milestone in one's life. One of the happiest days of my life. I was happy with myself...I was attractive, young, and thin. I was loved and happy. I was so excited to start my own life...have my own apartment...have a husband to come home to every day. Steve and I spent a lot of our courtship long distance and I couldn't imagine how great it would be to live in the same house permanently!
In some ways those days feel like another lifetime, in other ways they seem like yesterday. I still love living with Steve. I love our family. I love our ministry. I love worshipping with him. I love being held by him. The last 10 years were not perfect. But the worst times of all drew us even closer together. THAT'S what marriage is all about.
Since we've moved to Pinebrook I've had more time to myself. I've also had more time with the girls. That time has been both sweet and insane! I'm EXTREMELY ready for a break from the kids and even though Steve gets to come home for lunch and has a 30 sec. commute...I'm ready to spend more time with him. My parents are staying with the girls and we are getting out of town for a few days. (THANK YOU, MOM & DAD!!!) I am sooooo ready for this. I need this. I crave this. I love getting away with Steve and just enjoying the time we are together. We like being together and there is just not enough time or energy to do it as much as we'd like during the hectic times of life.
Someone told me that getting away like this is so important - it will help ensure we will celebrate again 10 years from now. So we are grateful to be investing in our love, our commitment, and our family (so I can continue to care for my kids without losing it!) by taking a break from life to just be together.
Like it was 10 years ago! |
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