Rachel's Graduation and other things...

First things first: Rachel Graduated from Grad School, and I didn't get to post about it because she was overshadowed by the baby. Sorry Rach. But let's all congratulate her! She does not like school at all, and she can't wait to be done with Grad School. I really admire her for sticking it out and going through the classes and papers and homework that she hates so much. I'm glad she's been working so hard for so long, and she deserves a whole lot of pats on the back for getting through. She has two more classes to finish this summer, and then, she's free as a bird. She'll (hopefully) walk into a nearby hospice and start taking care of the dying for us in just a few months. (I can't believe she actually WANTS to work in Hospice... it just shows what a caring and loving person she is. She wants to be there for the most difficult time in people's lives. I wouldn't have the strength for it at all. That's why I'm in the college atmosphere... what many claim to be the best time in their lives.) So, Congratulations Rachel! I'm really, really proud of you for that.

Doesn't she just look SOOOO happy?

On Sunday I'm going to start Spring Institute, a two week-long training event for people in the CCO. I'm excited to go, as last year's was a whole lot of fun. The week long training is the equivalent of one graduate level class, interspersed with a whole lot of frisbee golf, ultimate frisbee, racquette ball, basketball, talking, and the like. It's just nice to be in the same place as everyone else for a while, and remember that I'm not the only person in the world doing campus ministry. (I know, I'm on campus with two other people who are both doing it, but you know what I mean.)

I've also been trying to sit down and prepare myself for being a dad. I've read a book on becoming a dad, and I've skimmed through two more about being pregnant. I read emails each week that explain what my baby looks like and how big she/he is right now, (A lime) and to top it all off, I scared myself to death by watching "The Pursuit of Happyness." Now that I've seen the portrayal of someone trying to raise a child and get by at the same time, I'm just a little bit scared about what my life is going to look like.

On another note, we have a new niece! Ellen Renee McCowin was born on Wednesday, and we got to drive up to Beaver Falls to meet her this weekend. It's been nice to be away from campus and the office, and be around family for a while. And, it's strange to hold a baby thinking, "In November, it's going to be MY baby."

Wow.

Here's a picture of Dad Jarrod, Sister Cora, and Ellie, the newest McCowin.

As you can see, Cora's very excited to have a new sister... She just hit two, and she's a big girl now. Which means, she wants her hippo Jarrod.

Anyway, I'm probably not going to be able to post for a while because of Spring Institute. But I wanted to jump on here and write something because it's been a while since my last post. I want to say that's largely due to getting ready for a baby, but more likely, it's because I got an X Box 360. Rachel really wanted to get me one, but we can't afford it at all, so my parents and her parents and some other family pitched in and Rachel was going to buy one in the middle of the summer for my birthday. But then, my RA staff asked her permission to buy me a used XBox 360. (I can't believe they were going to do that. They all wanted to pitch in and buy me a used XBox 360 just because they like me. Unreal.) So, Rachel told them to give her the money and she'd buy me a new XBox 360. So, now I have one, and I've been breaking it in for sure.

I even got to use it with the school's projector on Friday. I plugged it in, shined it on the wall and played a hour or two of larger-than-life oblivion. It was SWEET!

Ok.... sorry, I'm taking up too much time now, and I'm not putting up enough pictures.