Another One Bites the Dust

I mentioned a while back that work had been turned on its head with the sudden loss of our Vice President and Worldviews professor. His departure made everything feel pretty unstable at a time when I was looking forward to some peace and quiet and normalcy. That was the end of April. Little did I know that it was only the beginning. 

At the end of May, my long-time boss and Director of Student Services submitted his resignation. That one wasn't a shock—I know he has been praying about moving on for some time and this time around, the answer to that prayer was yes. 

And then, at the end of June, our Director of Admissions submitted his resignation. That one was kind of out of the blue. He had applied for a different job within Focus about two and a half years ago and ended up being the runner-up candidate for that position. Well, two and a half years later, the guy who got the job is leaving, so the department asked Ryan to apply for it again. I have to admit it's a perfect fit for him and a great career move. 

At this point, all of the leaving is feeling pretty ironic and almost comical.

And then there was this morning. Our Resident Supervisor (the FLI equivalent of an RD) tendered her resignation. I'm thinking you're kidding, right? In case anyone is counting, that's 4 open positions on a staff of 10. And I'm going on maternity leave in a month. So the rest of my colleagues are literally going to do the fall semester on half-staff. 

I guess one good thing about all of this change is that it has highlighted for me a big way that God has changed me over the past few years. There was a time when I would have been overwhelmed by this and mad at God for making me go through it. But now it's easier for me to say to God that I will accept whatever he gives me without arguing with Him. I absolutely can't take credit for that change—it's something he is working in me. And the Institute, I suppose, is poised for rebirth. We were already going through a financially challenging time. Now ALL of our leadership positions have been emptied at the same time. A year from now, we will either be reborn ... or we will be gone. Guess we will just wait and see which one happens. 

Of treadmills and stethoscopes

Two funny Lorienisms from this summer: 

We have a stethoscope that my Grandma Harris gave us when I was pregnant with Lorien so that we could try to hear her in utero. It doesn't work so well for the intended purpose, but Lorien is kind of fascinated with it right now. She can't quite pronounce it correctly, though, and calls it a "tessagoat."

One day, I had Lorien at work with me briefly and we walked over to the fitness center. Looking in the windows at the cardio machines, she saw a treadmill for the first time and wondered what it was. I told her, but she couldn't remember the name, so for several weeks, she called it a "trash-melon."

 

Cultivating Diverse Musical Tastes

A few of Lorien's favorite songs that Mimi has been teaching her lately: Barbara Ann, Bing Bang Walla Walla Bing Bang (The Witch Doctor Song) and Cozette's Song from Les Miserables. At least she'll be well-rounded. :)