operation update

Strap on your seat belts folks! Prepare yourselves for a journey, the likes of which not seen since the golden age of gas prices below $4.00 per gallon: the exemplar of anticlimactic novelties! A paradigm of insignificance! And an avenue in which to both stimulate lethargy and mitigate personal productivity among peers and ones self! For my long-awaited-by-few-across-the-globe blog will now receive a thrilling, yet dry, up-to-date update.
And to think, all of my authorial vigor was wasted on the introduction. So here's whats up since last September:

Numero Uno: Hector, Nancy, and a third party (who shall remain un-named for legal and protective purposes, but let's call him Ralph) got to take Liz Rebert up to Northland and spend some time with the Markham family. I have prayed many times for them, as they are a tremendous blessing to me, despite how little I know them. Hector and I used to listen to Pastor Markham's sermons on my computer while cleaning when we were roommates. Hector and Nancy both grew up never truly seeing how a Godly family lives and when they met the Markhams they both saw a template for how they want their marriage and family to go. Ralph also was blessed by seeing a loving Christian family for the first time. It is not something to take for granted.

Numero Dos: I wasn't looking for a job last November, as it was my last semester of School and I was anxious to go back to Maine and find work there. The Lord's ways are not mu ways. One day I was talking with Henry after our graduate level structural concrete design class, it turned out that he was a general contractor, and he owned a small construction firm. He was about to sign the deal for a multi-million dollar high rise, and was wrestling with whether he should hire extra help part time. I was given notice earlier that day that was to be laid off of my job working on the tour boat, since boat businesses stop in the winter, and I was toying with the idea of picking up a part time job. To the both of us it seemed to fit like a puzzle. So the next week I shared my resume with him, and the last day working on the boat was the first day on payroll at Marion Hill Company. talk about God's providence. I had my own office, worked when I had time, and the wage was very decent. I did estimations, made calls and learned how the office ran. I was to work for Henry until April.

Numero Tres: Becka Rebert surprised me for Thanksgiving by showing up in the Chicago area. We got to spend the day at Navy Pier and I got to have a proper Thanksgiving meal as a guest of the family she was staying with. It was a nice surprise to see a friend from Maine visit.

Numero Cuatro: I finished college, didn't do the graduation ceremony. But now I officially have a Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering, and a really expensive wall decoration to prove it.

Numero Cinco: For a Christmas/new years vacation I went first to my dad's house in Indiana. I was wondering if I would see my younger sister, as a few months earlier she moved out of my dad's place and ceased communication with me. She was very nervous about seeing me and I wasn't sure how to act, but after much prayer I just decided to be a loving brother. Now I talk with her over the phone every now and again. good deal. I also traveled to Maine for a few days which is always a very rich time for me.

Numero Seis: I bought a car. pictures here. Lord willing, I should have it paid off by the end of the year.

Numero Siete: As April drew nearer, I grew anxious to go home. Henry came into my office in mid march and asked what my plans were. I told him I planned to head home at the end of April and he basically said "I want you to think about what it will take for you to stay in Chicago and work for me for another year." He told me that he liked the work I did, and that he doesn't want to hire a replacement. As amazing as is sounds for an employer to say that, as the words hit my eardrum they sounded more like "You know as well as I do that every man has his price, what's yours?" He gave me two weeks to think about it. I was faced on the one hand with the relief of going home after nearly five years of waiting, and the other hand held a very nice job with a raise, benefits, and excellent opportunities professionally. Despite that, all I could think was "WOE IS ME! WOE IS ME!" (I present for your consideration, the heart of a sinner: "woe is me, woe is me! I am showered by mercy and blessings, but I have to choose! woe is me!") I can't even decide what I want when I see a fast food menu, so this decision was hard for me.
After much prayer, Bible reading, and Godly council, I decided to negotiate with Henry my salary, my benefits, and my job responsibilities. I am now working for Him until next April at which time we will talk again about the following year.

Numero Ocho: I found out that I have leprosy. Well, technically it's psoriasis, but before 1850 or so I would be considered a leper. Mine is a minor case and is almost totally cleared up at this point, but it's a lifelong condition, kind of like sin. I can't wait for my resurrected, leprosy-free body.

Numero Nueve: I took a vacation to Maine a couple weeks ago. It was excellent! I got the opportunity to preach on Psalm 84 on Sunday evening.

Numero Diez: I went to the dermatologist today about my leprosy, He said I am at high risk for melanoma, and now I have to see a dermatologist every six months for life to make sure I don't get skin cancer.

sorry to end on a bad note, but that's what us pessimist melancholics like to do. ciao!
pictures here