I know that you are all thinking what is up with this title? Well it is regarding our move to St. Louis, that I've been blogging about for about month. Well we are not going to be moving to St.Louis. We believe that God has been letting us know that this is not His plan. The cost of living in St. Louis is so much higher than here of course, and we sort of knew that. But then we started looking at the schools for the kids. The apartment that we were planing on living in, well their school district isn't the greatest in the St. Louis area. The great school district is where the campus is located. We didn't want to live on campus b/c they are so much smaller and a lot more than the other apartment. This apartment we were looking at allowed animals. We have a 1 year old Yorkie, and did not want to leave him behind. But the bump in the road again was the school district. Then we came across that we could find another apartment to live at or house to rent. But they were still around $800 to 1,000 a MONTH! With Deon going to school he could only work about 20 hours a week. That would leave me working 30 hours or more to cover on to live. Then when what would we do with the kids? That would leave me working All day and Deon working after school. So the kids would be left out by them selves. They aren't old enough to be left at home by themselves for that long of a period.
So we slowed down and thought real hard. So we thought with some great friends of ours (which is our pastor and his wife) that why don't we look into the online course you can take at RTS (another seminary school). Which Deon did think about at the beginning but he felt that being hands on would be better. So we did not put another thought into it. Now here are again thinking about it. Another thing that was brought up was that Deon has even talked to any of the committees (that can give advice on these situations etc..) We looked at each other and said "We are doing this all backwards." We were trying to do this all by our selves when there are people who could be helping and we weren't asking. I truly believe that this was not God's plan for Deon to go to this seminary. I believe the online course would benefit everyone a lot better, and not be such a stressful house hold. (Oh the stress in this house!) I know in my heart that it is God's plan for Deon to become a ordained preacher, but I believe he has another plan for Deon to accomplish it. There are other options out there, and we were ignoring them.
So at the moment, we are on hold with going to a seminary. There are committees that Deon need to talk to, before we take the next step. I will keep you all up to date.
March 22, 2010
March 16, 2010
Visiting St. Louis
Well I did promise that I would write about our adventure to St. Louis to go visit the seminary school that Deon will be attending and just show the kids around St. Louis some.
Deon and I woke up @ 4:30 Friday morning. I woke up the kids about 15 mins later. We needed to leave the drive-way about 5:30. We were to be at the school at 9:30am. (It is a 3 1/2 hour drive) We got out the door in good timing. Since usually it seems we are always rushing. The kids were not thrilled about getting up so early but neither was Deon and I. It started raining on us around the the time we crossed MO state line, and rained mostly the whole drive up there. But we had fun, the kids loved going over two big bridges which one went over Ohio River and then the second one was the Mississippi River.
We arrived at the school (Covenant Theological Seminary..aka CTS) at 9:30am (might have been like 9:33, but it was pretty close) We were greeted by a staff member (very friendly) and took to the chapel. They have chapel at the school twice a week. This day though it was not a service it was more like a lecture from a special guest (Deon or myself had not heard of him, I cannot remember his name at the moment) He was a great speaker and Savannah said she even liked it. The kids behaved very well during chapel. We met one of the many students at chapel that the school assigned for us to sit with, so we could ask him any questions we had. Deon asked most of the questions. (I do remember his name was Jeff, and his two children was with him that morning) After chapel, we waited for the next student that Deon was going to go to class with, then the young lady who greeted us when we got there showed me and the kids the playground area because the kids did not want to sit a hour in a class. (Even though they said it was fine for them to come and many kids do come) I thought it would be better if the kids were able to play instead of sit still so long. So after finally the student showing up we went our separate ways. The kids played on the playground area for while, still the dark clouds rolled in and started raining, the rain we drove in was finally catching up with us. So we walked back to Founders Hall (the building where majority of the classes are held) and sat in these chairs we found, and the kids went to the car and got their books and coloring books to entertain themselves till it was lunch time. Deon came out of his class, and we were then greeted by Melynda (another staff member) which took us to meet the next student, James, and his family for lunch. There was this little conference room next to the offices where they bought our lunch (Honey Baked was the name of the restaurant) sandwiches, chips,drinks. We sat in there visited with James and his wife (sorry cannot remember her name) and their two boys which were 4 and 2. It was great getting to meet this new people and hear their opinions on different things. They asked us questions and we asked them questions etc. They were from around Nashville. So, after lunch is of course is 1:00pm and time for Deon to go to class with James, we were staying at the seminary in one of their guest rooms, and we were informed the guest room was ready if me and the kids wanted to go. So we went and checked that out. It was neat because it was in this old house on the campus that they used for other things like meetings etc, and upstairs was their guest rooms, which when you went into them they were like a hotel room w/out a TV. The kids never really said anything but I could see it on their faces, No TV? (haha)
They did really good, because by afternoon I was getting a little bored. It was still drizzling and not a whole to do on campus that we hadn't already done. The old house were in they called Edwards Hall and was attached to what they called The Community Center. It had coffee ( that was ok) and snack foods (which they kids LOVED) We hung out in there for a little bit and then went back to the room. Deon got done with his class @ 2:00 and we then met him and another student/staff member to discuss things, see if we had any questions etc. Then he took us on a tour, even though we had seen most of the school. He did show us a on campus apartment (which was his apartment) It was a 3 bedroom apartment and man it was tiny. Our last schedule thing was at 6:30pm to go to the apartments that we are wanting to live in which was their off campus apartments (20 mins from the school). So after the tour we went back to the guest room to show Deon. We then went to check out the bookstore which was connected to the Community Center. Deon was so happy when he went in there. He bought some books of course, we both got tee shirts, and I got a new coffee mug. Seems like everywhere I go I have to buy a tee shirt, and my new thing is buying a coffee mug.
That night we headed out to go to meet another student and his family at the Gulf Drive apartments. This family, The Perry's, were soooo nice. Not that the other students weren't nice because they were, but this time we were in their home. They made us feel like we knew them forever. They tried their best to answer our questions regarding living etc. Loved the apartment, very beautiful. It is just a 2 bedroom, but had a full basement, and very spacious. These apartments are beside each other, reminds me of a duplex. They are the only apartments owned by the seminary that allow animals, which is one of the reasons we picked it because of our dog Jack (at this moment I'm not sure if we are going to be able to bring Cotton our cat, because I thought I read something about one animal, I'm going to get Deon to look into that.)
Saturday, we took the kids the St. Louis Zoo, which I kept hearing was a must to do in St. Louis. It was a very cool zoo. The kids loved it, and we actually didn't see everything b/c of it still being cool some animals were not out. They still enjoyed it and they love St. Louis. I hope so since that is going to be our new home for next 3 1/2 years. But they still haven't seen all of St. Louis.
Our next thing to do now is: figure out which school the kids will go to and for us to find jobs. I'll you updated.
Deon and I woke up @ 4:30 Friday morning. I woke up the kids about 15 mins later. We needed to leave the drive-way about 5:30. We were to be at the school at 9:30am. (It is a 3 1/2 hour drive) We got out the door in good timing. Since usually it seems we are always rushing. The kids were not thrilled about getting up so early but neither was Deon and I. It started raining on us around the the time we crossed MO state line, and rained mostly the whole drive up there. But we had fun, the kids loved going over two big bridges which one went over Ohio River and then the second one was the Mississippi River.
We arrived at the school (Covenant Theological Seminary..aka CTS) at 9:30am (might have been like 9:33, but it was pretty close) We were greeted by a staff member (very friendly) and took to the chapel. They have chapel at the school twice a week. This day though it was not a service it was more like a lecture from a special guest (Deon or myself had not heard of him, I cannot remember his name at the moment) He was a great speaker and Savannah said she even liked it. The kids behaved very well during chapel. We met one of the many students at chapel that the school assigned for us to sit with, so we could ask him any questions we had. Deon asked most of the questions. (I do remember his name was Jeff, and his two children was with him that morning) After chapel, we waited for the next student that Deon was going to go to class with, then the young lady who greeted us when we got there showed me and the kids the playground area because the kids did not want to sit a hour in a class. (Even though they said it was fine for them to come and many kids do come) I thought it would be better if the kids were able to play instead of sit still so long. So after finally the student showing up we went our separate ways. The kids played on the playground area for while, still the dark clouds rolled in and started raining, the rain we drove in was finally catching up with us. So we walked back to Founders Hall (the building where majority of the classes are held) and sat in these chairs we found, and the kids went to the car and got their books and coloring books to entertain themselves till it was lunch time. Deon came out of his class, and we were then greeted by Melynda (another staff member) which took us to meet the next student, James, and his family for lunch. There was this little conference room next to the offices where they bought our lunch (Honey Baked was the name of the restaurant) sandwiches, chips,drinks. We sat in there visited with James and his wife (sorry cannot remember her name) and their two boys which were 4 and 2. It was great getting to meet this new people and hear their opinions on different things. They asked us questions and we asked them questions etc. They were from around Nashville. So, after lunch is of course is 1:00pm and time for Deon to go to class with James, we were staying at the seminary in one of their guest rooms, and we were informed the guest room was ready if me and the kids wanted to go. So we went and checked that out. It was neat because it was in this old house on the campus that they used for other things like meetings etc, and upstairs was their guest rooms, which when you went into them they were like a hotel room w/out a TV. The kids never really said anything but I could see it on their faces, No TV? (haha)
They did really good, because by afternoon I was getting a little bored. It was still drizzling and not a whole to do on campus that we hadn't already done. The old house were in they called Edwards Hall and was attached to what they called The Community Center. It had coffee ( that was ok) and snack foods (which they kids LOVED) We hung out in there for a little bit and then went back to the room. Deon got done with his class @ 2:00 and we then met him and another student/staff member to discuss things, see if we had any questions etc. Then he took us on a tour, even though we had seen most of the school. He did show us a on campus apartment (which was his apartment) It was a 3 bedroom apartment and man it was tiny. Our last schedule thing was at 6:30pm to go to the apartments that we are wanting to live in which was their off campus apartments (20 mins from the school). So after the tour we went back to the guest room to show Deon. We then went to check out the bookstore which was connected to the Community Center. Deon was so happy when he went in there. He bought some books of course, we both got tee shirts, and I got a new coffee mug. Seems like everywhere I go I have to buy a tee shirt, and my new thing is buying a coffee mug.
That night we headed out to go to meet another student and his family at the Gulf Drive apartments. This family, The Perry's, were soooo nice. Not that the other students weren't nice because they were, but this time we were in their home. They made us feel like we knew them forever. They tried their best to answer our questions regarding living etc. Loved the apartment, very beautiful. It is just a 2 bedroom, but had a full basement, and very spacious. These apartments are beside each other, reminds me of a duplex. They are the only apartments owned by the seminary that allow animals, which is one of the reasons we picked it because of our dog Jack (at this moment I'm not sure if we are going to be able to bring Cotton our cat, because I thought I read something about one animal, I'm going to get Deon to look into that.)
Saturday, we took the kids the St. Louis Zoo, which I kept hearing was a must to do in St. Louis. It was a very cool zoo. The kids loved it, and we actually didn't see everything b/c of it still being cool some animals were not out. They still enjoyed it and they love St. Louis. I hope so since that is going to be our new home for next 3 1/2 years. But they still haven't seen all of St. Louis.
Our next thing to do now is: figure out which school the kids will go to and for us to find jobs. I'll you updated.
Here are some pics from the trip...
. 
This is the kids @ the Zoo, with the giraffs.
This is the cool peguins we got to see..felt like
I was in the middle of the movie Happy Feet!
March 3, 2010
Another first..
So I wrote a few weeks ago about the new adventure this family is taking. Moving from a town we have lived in our whole life to a new city, that I have only visited on vacations. We are still excited and sad all at the same time around the Barnes' house. More and more people are learning about this move. They are not happy that we are moving but are excited about Deon taking the next step in being a ordained minister.
So we had another first for us. We have put our house on the market to sell. I pray that this goes quick and it sells before we leave. Which we are looking at the end of June or first of July. I know Deon will want to get a job before school starts. Which school starts for him toward the end of August, and I need to find out when the schools for the kids start for the fall. But back to selling the house. It made everything clear for us when that sign when up in the yard. It makes it all real and not something we just are talking about.
Next weekend we are going to go up to St. Louis and visit the school, which they requested we do, and of course want to do ourselves, since all we've seen is picture thanks to the Internet. : )
I will diffidently write about that adventure, since my kids haven't ever been to St. Louis. We are planning on taking them to the zoo, which I keep hearing is the greatest zoo.
Time for me to get ready for church. I know this is short when I have more to talk about I will.
So we had another first for us. We have put our house on the market to sell. I pray that this goes quick and it sells before we leave. Which we are looking at the end of June or first of July. I know Deon will want to get a job before school starts. Which school starts for him toward the end of August, and I need to find out when the schools for the kids start for the fall. But back to selling the house. It made everything clear for us when that sign when up in the yard. It makes it all real and not something we just are talking about.
Next weekend we are going to go up to St. Louis and visit the school, which they requested we do, and of course want to do ourselves, since all we've seen is picture thanks to the Internet. : )
I will diffidently write about that adventure, since my kids haven't ever been to St. Louis. We are planning on taking them to the zoo, which I keep hearing is the greatest zoo.
Time for me to get ready for church. I know this is short when I have more to talk about I will.
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