Joel and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary last week. We took the opportunity to visit Knoxville, a wonderful little city in eastern Tennessee. We stayed at the Maplehurst Inn, a charming B&B in downtown Knoxville. We took a long walk down the Tennessee River, passing underneath the mammoth bridges and watching the barges tug down the river as the light faded from the sky.

It has been a blessing to have time together this summer, time without lesson plans or exams, time to discuss books and watch home improvement shows and hang out with Joel's folks. I feel refreshed and about ready to hit the school year. Considering how worn out I felt in June, I think that God's plan for my very low-key summer was good medicine. I left with instructions not to spend the summer planning next year, and I've followed those directions. Instead of putting myself on a schedule of re-working my lesson plans, I have found myself coming back to exploring ideas for next year out of a sense of anticipation. I am determined to have more fun with my students this year. Last year was very good, and I felt like I handled the challenges that came along. But this year's class will be smaller and different, and I am looking forward to playing math games, reading together, exploring reading strategies, writing creatively, enjoying science and history, and spending time on art and music. I do not feel the pressure that I did last year. Rather, I feel the excitement of being asked to invest in these kids, to minister to them and draw them out. School starts in a month, and by then, I think I will be eager to get back to it.

Yesterday was a great day for our family. Joel preached his first sermon at First Presbyterian in Chattanooga, which was also his first sermon in a church service. He preached on Colossians 2, and it was a Christ-centered sermon that encouraged everyone. As I looked around, I saw many kind faces of those who have taken us under their wing during our time in Chattanooga. There was Peter, who works with Mercy Ministries and has been a solid cheerleader all summer. Two pastors, Dr. Milton and Rev. Steve Wallace, were there with their families; it seemed to me they were rather proud of their summer intern. Our friend Bobby turned out in his splendid brown suit; we usually see him in his security guard uniform. Joel and I have prayed with him many times this summer, and we were both encouraged by his presence. Joel and I had discussed the points of his sermon many times, but there in that service the words came alive with new force and focus. In those moments as he challenged us with this wonderful passage, I caught a glimpse of the future. Joel was made to do this. God has blessed him with the ability to preach the Word with passion and humor, and I am looking forward to a lifetime of Christ-centered sermons that draw me closer to the Lord. Sitting there beside Joel's mom and dad, I felt pretty blessed that we were able to share that moment together. God's provision and timing go beyond what we could ask or imagine!