2007

April 2007

2006 proved to be a very busy year, and 2007 doesn't show many signs of slowing!

Matt is involved in the "sem life," which includes intramural sports. During the basketball/volleyball season Matt was so involved that he tore his ACL. He had reconstructive surgery in February and is on the long road toward a full recovery. Now crutches- and brace-free Matt is doing very well and is only waiting for September so he can play sports again.




Matt has been very active at his field work church, St. Paul Lutheran in Wood River, IL. He has a role every Sunday either doing liturgy or Bible readings as well as teaching the high school youth Bible study. Recently, Matt has also preached sermons! His first was a Wednesday night Lent service, and his second was for Maundy Thursday.

Megan is enjoying her first year of teaching, although it has proven difficult at times. Tennis season for the boys started this spring. Since Megan didn't play tennis outside of her high school P.E. class, she's had a tough learning curve.

Megan also enjoys the "perks" of being a sem wife. She has taken a few classes that the seminary offers--for free and without homework!

With Easter break behind us, we are eagerly anticipating the summer break so we can travel to visit friends and family without the worries of writing or grading papers!


June 2007

The 2006-2007 school year has finally ended! One year of seminary complete for Matt and one year of teaching complete for Megan.

As soon as Matt was done with classes for his last quarter he took a ten-day trip to New York City with a few other sem students for a cross-cultural immersion experience. They stayed on Long Island in an empty parsonage and took public transportation into the city every day. They were able to experience and learn about the ministry done in a very large, very culturally diverse population.




While Matt was tasting the Big Apple, Megan finished up her last few days at Metro East writing final exams, grading, and sitting through inservice meetings and graduation services.

Matt's sister, Annie also graduated from high school this year. Her commencement was on the same day as our brother-in-law Jon's ordination. So we toured Wisconsin for about a week: Green Bay for graduation, Racine for ordination, then a detour to Grafton to spend time with Megan's sister Shana and to visit our alma matter, and finally back to Green Bay before coming home to St. Louis.



Other summer plans ... Megan will be leading the crafts at St Paul, Woodriver's Vacation Bible School at then end of June.

Matt will continue to work in the copy center at the seminary.

We will visist our friends in Texas around July 4th.



September 2007

Summer came and summer went. Too fast! We thoroughly enjoyed our time together and time with our families and friends without the headache of needing to prepare for classes after the weekend was over. The only sad part of summer was moving Lani, Jon, and Evan far, far away to Minnesota.


Megan's second year of teaching started the second week of August. So far it has been smoother sailing than her first year. She is very thankful for that. Megan is also assistant coach for tennis again this year.... and still hasn't played a game. The girls' season will be over in mid-October and Megan is looking forward to having a little more free time.

Matt started class at the sem after Labor Day and has his plate full with tough classes, intramurals, and playing for the baseball and basketball teams. Baseball season was supposed to last through the summer, but with the rain-outs and rescheduling that was done, the season went a few weeks into the school year. Basketball starts up at the beginning of October. Matt will be getting back into shape and really exercising his knee.

Another thing beginning this year is pre-vicarage meetings. The excitement of our vicarage year is looming, and we are looking forward to April when we find out where our placement will be.



December 2007

December seems to be a month of checklists for Megan:

Final exams written. Check.
Study guides copied. Check.
Watch Matt play basketball. Check.
Faculty Christmas party. Check.
Shop for presents. Check
Watch Matt play basketball. Check.
Christmas letter (ok... so this was Matt's job). Check.
Send Christmas cards. Check
Wrap presents. Check.
Watch Matt play more basketball. Check



With a list that never seems to end, it some times is frustrating and often is stressful when the focus is on the clock and calendar. But this Advent, we take time out of our busy schedule and look up from our work to reflect on the Reason of this season. As we prepare our hearts and houses for the Christmas season, we pray that you are not overwhelmed with the wrong focus, but that you are overwhelmed with the One who came to be Immanuel, God with us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Bayes!