I arrived home and promptly went to bed on Saturday. I still haven’t recovered in the sleep/rest department, and I don’t think life is going to let me.
I hit the road bright and early tomorrow morning for Austin. For Red Oak Grove to be specific. I’ll spend the next three days catching up with the current interim, seeing what he has to say. The goal is not for him to teach me his way of doing things so I can continue, but rather for me to get a grasp on where the congregation has been and the direction they are currently heading. I’m hoping it’s a good experience and educational for the future ministry as I step in come September. I’m not entirely sure what we’ll talk about/do for Monday afternoon, all of Tuesday, and Wednesday morning … but we’ll see.
While in Austin, I’ll be staying the night with jD and Lauren in Owatonna, including a dinner one evening with Paige, another seminary colleague. I’m pretty darn excited to catch up with these friends and spend time with them. It will be good.
From there, because I’ll already be halfway and I have the time so why not, I’m going to continue onto Dawson to take in the Taste of Grace, an annual supper held at Grace, on Wednesday night. It may be the last time in a long while I’ll have the opportunity to visit and after driving to Alaska [remember that?], what is eight more hours? Take note, Dawson friends, because I hope to see you there!
After that, I’ll likely drive home through the Cities and make a few stops there, both city and friend-wise. I’ll return home Thursday? Friday? Eh. It doesn’t really matter. Until I move on labor day weekend, I have nothing much on my calendar except to pack and prepare for the move. It will keep me busy enough but to put it off in exchange for seeing far-off friends I am more than willing to do. On the road again!
there's no place like gnome. 
I hope you can swing by our house Wednesday. Aaron is out of town so I don't think we'll make it over to church for the meal, but we'd all like to say hi. And you can meet Graham!
We are excited to see you! Karen