Good Evening to all you late nighters... 

What a busy beginning to a busy week here in our Payne household in Fort Wayne. Mondays are very busy days for us. Bryan has 5 classes, the Kids both have school and I work 7:30 till 5pm (normally) with a break from 10:30am to 1pm when I run to the Seminary for my Field Education class. Today however for Field Education was different. All the first year Seminary students received their Field Work Church homes for the next two years. As you may know Bryan and I received ours last year. But I did not take this first quarter of the Field Education class last year. I jumped into the Field Ed class third Quarter. 

I have learned this first Quarter Field Education Class is very important. It lays out the program and requirements for us Deaconesses. I knew I was missing something! We have discussed meditation according to Luther and also what it is to be a Theologian. But today I sat among the new Deaconess students and waited expectantly along with them to find out where their Field work will be carried out. I also enjoyed seeing quite a few local Pastors that I know! 

My afternoon at work flew by, too fast! Before I knew it I had to leave work to scoop up the kids from their friends home, which they where not happy about, to visit the Chiropractor. Dalton was quite out of wack. He had fallen last week on the playground and his neck was pretty out of line on his right side where he got his ear infection. Amazing how the body is so connected. Next time he falls I shall try to get him in right away so he doesn't have other things build on his injuries. My adjustment included 4 extra hands trying to 'help' the Chiropractor. You can guess how relaxing that is for a Mom. 

Dinner was easy tonight. The kids school did a fundraiser meal at Panera Bread, which happens to be one of our family favorite places to eat! So we treated ourselves to support to school! We ate together with friends. It was a wonderful evening on the rushed day. But it had to come to an end so the children could all get to bed and us adults can study. 

I sat down this evening to study not wondering where the first three weeks of classes went! We are already into our fourth week of this ten week quarter. So I started to prioritize. First, I am starting a Zoom women's Bible study with our Field Work Church this Thursday. So I set it up and emailed the interested parties and then reviewed the Bible Study lesson to be prepared. Next I worked on my Catechism recitation, this quarter we are to memorize Confession and Office of the Keys from the Small catechism. We are to recite the whole thing from memory within the first 5 weeks then two weeks later or more do a spot check. I also set up my recitation date. Next I looked into my Catechetics readings due this and next week. That will be my next thing. 

My two classes this Fall quarter are project and papers classes not quizzes and tests. I like this but I have several larger things to accomplish! In my Diaconal Counseling class we have been going over some tough topics as well as reading the Minister's Guide to Psychological Disorders and Treatments. I am excited about the projects! I need to create a Genogram. This means I will be calling family members to get it done! I will also be researching Marital Conflict and resources for my fellow Deaconesses for when they will be dealing with this topic in their future work. I will have a case study and in the end of the class a Definition of Diaconal Counseling which I can present to you all if you are interested. 

For Catechetics I get to teach children, write lesson plans, lead a household in prayer and focus on our own in home family prayers! Bryan had this class in the Spring quarter and he established evening devotion times directly after dinner. The kids do participate and actually remind us if we forget or haven't finished dinner yet and they have and want to go. We have continued it strong all Summer and now into the Fall. Between our evening Devotions and the Scripture memory the kids are getting at school the kids are learning fast! Rory already has the Ten Commandments memorized and some of their meanings! 

Alright enough procrastinating, I am off to read some before my eye lids are too heavy. 

Good night to all my friends and Family

We love you very much!