Isaiah and Calli English: Life Blog

When I was told I would be teaching 10th Grade English in a new way my second year at North Hills Christian School, I had no idea how much this would impact me then or now. The new plan, as advised by the intelligent and wise Mr. Matthew Weaver, was to only teach World Literature up until the Medieval Period so that the 10th and 11th grade years would better align with the History curriculum at the school. This meant that about half of my plan for World Literature in 10th grade would not longer be applicable, since it would now be divided into two years rather than one. So, I had a lot more intensive planning and reading to delve into to make the year into a complete and interesting exploration of all things English (including literature, grammar, vocabulary, and writing). And, at the time, the area of early World Literature was indeed my weakest area of knowledge as far as literature and thought were concerned. I had never been a philosopher or mythology girl by nature, and hence my l

Isaiah has arrived back at the Boardwalk Chapel after a brief trip to our home in North Carolina, and I am so happy to have him back. He went down on Tuesday and returned Sunday night (7/7). Though he had hoped to return for the weekend (since that's the time the evangelism interns are most needed), he used every spare second to finish the work he had to do in NC and could not drive home until Sunday. I believe that in the flesh, it was sheer willpower and a desire to see his beloved that allowed him to drive here on what little sleep he had. In the spirit of course, the Lord got him here, and I am so thankful and grateful.  It has been quite stressful trying to sell our first house whilst away in body. Emails and texts can only go so far; sometimes the man himself must come down to accomplish the task. I am amazed and not surprised at how often life proves truths from scripture. I am reminded of the parable Jesus told of "The Vineyard," which was a picture of Israel, Jes

I had my first (and only, thus far) panic attack in April of 2022. Easter break had passed. My friend's brother had taken his life, and though in Glory as of his departure, it wasn't the way the Shepard intended his sheep to meet him. I had been under a lot of work stress at a Christian school, and when I'd ask off for the day my friend's brother was on life support to go and comfort her, I was refused bluntly. He died shortly after. At work that year, there were many written expectations that not all followed, but I did; there were also many unwritten expectations both made by authority and made by me; as a natural rule follower who yearns to do right, I obeyed all . As my friend was grieving and I strived to comfort, I had gotten and recovered from Covid many times over. I felt and was shown through tone that my workplace was irritated at my sickness though they still demanded I not come to work unwell (2020-2022 was a confusing time), and when I woke up sick again (o

The more time I spend at the Boardwalk Chapel, the more I realize that each individual's journey here is, in many ways, entirely different despite the common housing, training, and dinner devotions. It is true that for me, a non-staff-member/wife who seeks to serve with balance, it is quite different due to a lack of official title and plan, but the truth is it's actually different for everyone. Firstly, we all serve in different roles and on different teams. Evangelism, Domestics, Music, and Drama team are quite different from one another, and though all of the teams are trained in Evangelism (the true focus of the ministry), not all of them are equally expected to go out each night in the same way. Music and Drama teams have a heavy focus on the nightly programs which draw people in from the Wildwood Boardwalk, and so, the priority is that. Domestics focuses on getting a healthy and delicious dinner on the table as well as on helping keep the kitchen tidy, and though often th

Lately, I've been thinking about times of transition, both the chaos of these seasons and the signs of God's faithfulness in the midst of the crazy. There is this grand, sacred intermingling of these two in the most surprising ways. Often the faithfulness comes in the help given by friends and family, the books seemingly chosen for such a time as this, and the Lord bringing surprise guests at the most unexpected moments. It is sweet to live as God's sheep, and perhaps that sweetness becomes all the more unctous when one is in disarray and lacking in the stable. We serve a God who has always valued wonderers, journeyers, immigrants, desert-dwellers, tent-makers; it's little wonder His faithfulness is more apparent in these seasons--oasis's in the tumult of the storm. Speaking of storm... Last Wednesday, Elijah & Ashley (with Baby Logan in tow) English, Paul and Matt English, Gary Bailia from church, and my grandma (we call her Mam-Maw) came and helped Isaiah and

I started this blog by placing the pictures I wanted to use since I could hardly find the words first. How does one say goodbye to a piece of their life, a piece of themselves, ten years in? I'm not quite sure, though I assume processing it through writing will help (which I plan to do via this blog as I transition into the next season). I also know that many have walked this path before: have changed careers or lifestyles 10 or even 20 or 40 years in; have lost a spouse after decades of marriage; have taken that other road diverged in the wood that they hadn't walked before. So, it's been done by many, and I'm not alone--a great comfort. I also have a great God and a great husband on the adventure with me, two more great comforts. But the fact is, there is simply no other way to traverse but via en media res, and therein lies the rub in the comfort. Just as in great literature, so it is in life--we begin in the middle of the story; the adventure, not knowing what is ah