Pony Tail Fun!

Of all the toys we own, there are just too many times when nothing makes Isaiah happier than playing with Mommy's pony tail. It almost makes me want to grow one myself, or at least buy one of those redneck hunting hats with a ponytail sticking out of the back.

Mission Complete!

Just like that, four years later, we are done. It ends almost as quickly as it all began. Totally, completely, 100% done. No more tests or homework and no more papers. No more late night library sessions, group projects, or book reviews. DONE! With graduation this past Friday, our seminary experience has officially come to a close. Though I am very grateful for the influential professors, the many friends made, and the solid pastoral formation that took place here, there are no mixed emotions or bittersweet feelings on our end. We are DONE and can't wait to pack our bags and actually begin doing ministry and putting all that we have learned into practice.

We had a very nice weekend. My parents, Grandma, and Uncle came to help us celebrate this special day. These four have especially played such an integral role in getting me here. The many years of dragging me to church and elbows to the side to pay attention must have paid off. I certainly would never have been able to get to this point without them, so it was a special blessing to walk across and get my diploma with them looking up from the crowd. We had a great time with them during the graduation festivities and the couple of lazy weekend days that followed. It was nice to sit outside and relax; we won't be able to do that many more days in the sultry St. Louis summer. We ate often, enjoyed a few games, and spent a morning at Grant's Farm.

And so now begins my lazy summer days. It is wonderfully strange to wake up with nothing to do and no deadlines to worry about. Each day is about me and Isaiah, hanging out and playing outside. For the next two months (apart from the occasional need to figure out housing and mortgage loans) I get to be nothing but Daddy. This is awesome and I will be sure to soak up every minute of these next couple of months. Calie continues to work getting reading for the LCMS National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. She is our loving, humble, hard-working sugar-momma! I don't think she appreciates it when I tell her of my plans to do nothing and watch the weekdays blend together. She, more than either of us, is excited to be forever out of St. Louis--done with work and staying at home with our little guy. But bills need to be paid and her job lasts until the end of July so she continues to bring home the bacon. Of course, she has been amazing through this whole seminary endeavor and it goes without saying that I could not have done it without her. For my graduation gift, she gave me my first pastoral/ordination stole. She has been working on it for years and it is beautiful. She did such a great job, and having it made by her adds extra special meaning to it. The left side of the stole highlights our Triune God and the right side reminds me of the faithful ministry of Word and sacraments that I have been called into. We'll post a picture of it after ordination on June 13th (at my home congregation in New Jersey). Most guys get these albs as gifts, or as purchases from a catalog. Few wives take the time and have the talent and patience to do it themselves. I certainly look forward to wearing proudly in the future.

We now look forward to the next chapter of our lives, settling down and making our home somewhere in Sun Prairie, WI.

Passin' Time

Isaiah's sleeping. Calie is at a baby shower. I have homework to do. But instead, I figured it was time for a quick blog update.

Things are going peachy-kean here in the Vera household. We are in an extreme season of countdowns. Countdown to graduation (13 days). Countdown until Ordination (June 13). Countdown until Calie's done with work (July 25). Countdown to moving (July 29). Countdown to Installation and beginning ministry at Bethlehem (August 15). Countdown to vacation (????). There are still a few more countdowns in there too but that should be definitely enough for now. Obviously we will be pretty busy the next few months as we close out our time here in St. Louis. Plenty of things to do and boxes to pack. Here's a quick run through of what lies ahead for us in the next few weeks...

• Sometime soon we will head to our future home in Sun Prairie, WI. We'll get to know the area, make our first cameo at our new church, and to do some house hunting. God-willing we will find the perfect house at just the right price (FYI: we are not proud people; donations are accepted). It really is overwhelming with all that comes along with being first time home buyers--loans, down payments, realtors, mortgages, fixed rates. Ahhhh! We just really hope to find the right house and figure out some way to pay for it. We know that regardless of what happens, God will provide as He always does. He has already shown us that we will be taken care of through some of the gracious offers we've received from members of Bethlehem, our soon-to-be congregation.
• In two weeks, I will finally graduate from Concordia Seminary. Wahoo! My parents, Grandma, and Uncle will be coming out to join in the graduation festivities on June 21st with us. It will be nice to see them and great to have family around as we close out this chapter of our lives. These events are always more fun when family is around, especially since we'd never have gotten to this point in our lives without them. Four years have come and gone so quickly!
• For a week June we will be heading east to New Jersey. My ordination will take place at my home congregation on the 13th and it will be great to share this day with the congregation that has watched me grow from when I was a baby and supported me for so long and in so many ways. Then we will stick around for the following week to visit with friends and family. Of course, we'll probably have to take a day trip to the good ol' Jersey Shore one of those days. Isaiah will spend plenty of time with Grandma and Grandpa while Calie and I hopefully get a chance to sit in the hot tub and relax a bit. Maybe we'll even get a chance to have a date night or two?!?
• July will continue to be busy as I hope to head north to MN for a week of fishing at the cabin and hopefully squeeze in a Twins game and a weekend to preach at Trinity Hudson. Calie will be gone for nearly two weeks in July with the LCMS National Youth Gathering. Isaiah and I have had a lot of fun on our past 'boy's weekend' but this is a long time to be without Mommy. I'm not sure how we'll survive.

Isaiah is up from his nap so it's time to close. That's enough for now anyway I suppose. Thanks for reading and being a part of our lives even if it is from a far. God's blessings to you all as the summer roles around...

Bring on those Badgers!

After years of waiting, the day has finally come and gone. No more countdowns. No more guessing. No more stress or anxiety. In what was a beautiful Tuesday in St. Louis, Calie and I received our first call into ministry at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. I was called as the associate pastor (meaning they already have another pastor), with a specific emphasis on youth ministry and contemporary worship.

We are ecstatic! So beyond excited to be heading back up north, even if it is Packer Country! No worries, we will not become cheeseheads. Our family is committed to staying true to Twins baseball and Calie will never relinquish her allegiance to MN Vikings football. We truly felt throughout this whole placement process that this congregation would be a great fit. And thanks be to Him that our intuitions were right in line with our good and great God. There is no question in our minds that we are going to the perfect place for us, and we can't wait to get started! At some point this summer we will move back up north to begin this wonderful new chapter in our lives.

That's just a quick update. More information will soon follow. We still have a few months here in St. Louis. I need to finish school (23 days away). Calie needs to finish work and attend the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Isaiah has many, many more step-climbing and playground hours to log. Plus we'll head out to NJ in early June for ordination, and hopefully take a week or two beginning in August to relax and recharge our batteries. But God is go good and we are so grateful to be able to serve Him and share Christ in our new home--Sun Prairie, WI. Thanks to all of you who watched, prayed, and supported us along the way!

Isaiah's 1st Twins Game!

New, Overdue Pictures

and the days go by...

The countdown is ticking away, and the excitement is growing. Actually that's not true. I am tired of the hype. I just want to know where the next move will bring us. At this point I don't even need a big fancy ceremony, I would settle for an email or text. Anything really.

It seems the days are full of all sorts of stuff: softball, doctor visits (Isaiah has been to the doctor 4 times in the last month...Ugh), playing outside, and the random things life throws your way. I couldn't even tell you why we have been so busy, but the days are always full somehow.

Everyone in our household is doing well. Steve is actually enjoying his last quarter of classes. He told me the other day he hasn't even had to turn on the computer games during class. He continues to be busy with homework and playing softball. Since he only has classes two days a week, he also has more family time which Isaiah and I have been eating up!

I am still busy at work. I am counting the days until I am unemployed. I know most people would be scared, but I am overjoyed. I can't wait to spend everyday with my men, and focus solely on them. I am trying to finish Steve's graduation gift. The goal is to be done by Call Day so my Mom can help with the finishing touches. I am also feverishly working on catching up on my scrap booking. I am only about 9 months behind.

Isaiah is getting faster and faster each day. He learned how to get up from standing a couple of weeks ago, and now he thinks that he is hot stuff. He wants to cruise up and down any possible staircase we pass. He LOVES to play outside, and the only way to get him back inside is to promise him food. I think that he will do almost anything for food! He loves to play with balls, and he throws everything. And I mean everything including silverware and food. I have been pelted by almost every type of food. Last night we were enjoying a great dinner when a teething biscuit flew past my face. Didn't see that coming at all! But he is still the sweetest little thing that you have ever seen.

Life here is good. Leave us a message to the right to let us know how you are!



By the way, sorry for the lack of pictures...we have them, I just need to get them on here. Maybe tomorrow.