Working (Together)

This has been what some might call a busy week. (And it's only Thursday.)

Cliff's got a lot of stuff going on at work as he prepares to be out for three days next week. I think he just might top his weekly record for hours on the phone making fee increase and sales calls with current and prospective ELPs. And what he's doing, next week well, both reasons for being out are pretty cool. The first of the week, he and his team will be out for the "Get Motivated" Seminar down at the Sommet Center. I can't really tell who he's more excited about seeing speak that day, but I'd tell you my vote would be for Colin Powell. Then, Thursday Cliff leaves for the Live Event in Portland which he's really excited about when he actually has time to think about it.

Me on the other hand, I've been settling into work-life at Belmont. This is a unique "assignment" that I'm on, not only in terms of the work that I'm doing but in how we transition my relationship in the office and with the students as they continue the search process for the new Director of New Student and Parent Programs. The new OC (orientation council, for those not "in" with the TT-lingo) has been selected and soon we'll be full-speed ahead on Spring Orientation. I'll tell you what, though. As much as a challenge as this kind of position is and will be, it is an honor to be there. To be learning and growing as a professional in new ways. To get to know some of the newer staff who never knew me as a student there. And to connect with some students who were still around and most whom weren't and have little to no preconceived ideas of who I am.

I'm also excited to get going with my photography apprenticeship which really gets underway this afternoon with a Bridal Portrait shoot. In the next coming weeks there will be a few weddings, too. It'll be great to see and be apart of what Zach and Jody have done such an incredible job of building over the last couple of years.

Cliff and I, in the midst of some of these full-plate moments, have been working hard to try to maintain a focus on our relationship to each other and more importantly to the Lord. It's incredible how sometimes it's when things get good that it's easy to, shall we say, "drop the ball." That our idea of maintaining any relationship can sometimes become so reactive and not pro-active.

A woman in our FPU class gave an example on Tuesday night, when talking about keeping up with your car maintenance, that I find parallels very easily with this notion of relationship maintenance. She mentioned that her husband has ingrained it in her mind to get in the car, not turn anything on except for the ignition, and just listen. When you get attuned to what things sound like when they're right, it's easier to know or sense when they're wrong. And when they are wrong, you do something about it - don't just let it go for months or years, because soon enough you'll have a pile of junk that was once a well-functioning car that just needed some upkeep. But without that foundation of listening and wholeness, you're standard will always be off.

So, all that to say, it's sometimes the big things. Like reading books. Taking an assessment. Seeing a counselor. Praying together. And more often than not, it's the small things. Like talking. Sending notes during the day. Working on puzzles together in the evening. Giving your full attention. Doing something - even the dishes - unexpectedly.

It's a challenge, but when it's a priority, you rise to it. And we hope to continue doing so as the days get busier and life just keeps moving us along.