The weather has begun to shift, ever so slightly. Summer wants to hang on, but the shorter days and lower sun give little hope beyond these last couple of weeks of summer.
What a summer! We moved on July 15 to the new home in Cottage Grove. Then, after just two + weeks we took off in early August to England. There, on August 14, our lovely daughter Lindsay was married to Peter Osborne. I left the next day to return to Madison, whereupon, a quick wash of clothes and one night in my own bed, I returned to the airport to join 10 others from the training center and a trip to Madras (Chennai), India. We left on the morning of the 16th! I should muse on that sometime soon. Two weeks later I returned home -- literally gone 27 of the 31 days of August!
Linda got a new job at East High School. Unfortunately, it didn't start at the beginning of the school year, so she not only had to begin the year for Chavez, but she also had to allow her work at East build up and wait until she could come on Sept. 10.
I started work at the Training center in a new school year: 45 new students in the Discipleship Intensive, 35 returning students to do the Bible Intensive, and 15 more to do the Ministry Internship -- I feel humbled and privileged to be able to stand in front of them and talk about their relationship to God.
The last bit of summer is Andy's soon departure for England and his "gap" year study with Bristol Christian Fellowship's M6-8 course. He leaves in just a few days now.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Saying Goodbye, Even For A Short While, Isn't Easy
Yesterday we took our Lindsay to the airport and watched her as she walked away to get on the plane that would take her to her new home in Bristol, England. It is one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life.
There are so many things about Lindsay that I could say. She is passionate, lively, someone who sparkles and lights up the room when she walks in. She is loving, sensitive, charming, and tenacious. I've watched her grow up -- physically, emotionally, spiritually -- into a maturity that,as her father, makes me very proud. The last few days together were very sweet. We went to Triple Creek Ranch to be together as a family. At first it was just Linda, Lindsay and Andy along with myself. Watching Lindsay and Andy together is a real treat. Andy has grown up so much over the last couple of years. Soon he will join Lindsay in England -- for just a year -- and we will have two of our four children over there. Chris and Sarah along with Kelly and Greg joined us on Friday afternoon. We played games together and had a wonderful time to walk, eat, and just have fun.
After getting back home the time of preparation for leaving got things busy. Yet, we had time to go to Andy's restaurant on Monday evening where Andy served Linda, Lindsay, Chris and Sarah, along with myself our last meal together. Lindsay, Linda and I journeyed down to Ohare on Tuesday. We had some time to sit outside the airport hotel and play a game or two. Kelly and Greg came and we all went to the International terminal. There, a surprise -- Derek and Pauline Watts showed up to say goodbye to Lindsay. It was a bittersweet time that followed. It's hard to hug your daughter and know that she isn't coming back anytime soon. That she may never come back makes it even harder. Oh, I'll savor every opportunity for emails, phone calls, internet webcams, and even better face to face holidays; but it will never be what it was and that is a difficult pill to swallow.
Still, it is for this reason -- that our children grow up, love, live, and discover new lives -- that we as parents give them over to new adventures.
Lindsay, we love you...I love you...and miss you already. Have fun, Love God, Peter, and Us/Me...even if from a distance.
There are so many things about Lindsay that I could say. She is passionate, lively, someone who sparkles and lights up the room when she walks in. She is loving, sensitive, charming, and tenacious. I've watched her grow up -- physically, emotionally, spiritually -- into a maturity that,as her father, makes me very proud. The last few days together were very sweet. We went to Triple Creek Ranch to be together as a family. At first it was just Linda, Lindsay and Andy along with myself. Watching Lindsay and Andy together is a real treat. Andy has grown up so much over the last couple of years. Soon he will join Lindsay in England -- for just a year -- and we will have two of our four children over there. Chris and Sarah along with Kelly and Greg joined us on Friday afternoon. We played games together and had a wonderful time to walk, eat, and just have fun.
After getting back home the time of preparation for leaving got things busy. Yet, we had time to go to Andy's restaurant on Monday evening where Andy served Linda, Lindsay, Chris and Sarah, along with myself our last meal together. Lindsay, Linda and I journeyed down to Ohare on Tuesday. We had some time to sit outside the airport hotel and play a game or two. Kelly and Greg came and we all went to the International terminal. There, a surprise -- Derek and Pauline Watts showed up to say goodbye to Lindsay. It was a bittersweet time that followed. It's hard to hug your daughter and know that she isn't coming back anytime soon. That she may never come back makes it even harder. Oh, I'll savor every opportunity for emails, phone calls, internet webcams, and even better face to face holidays; but it will never be what it was and that is a difficult pill to swallow.
Still, it is for this reason -- that our children grow up, love, live, and discover new lives -- that we as parents give them over to new adventures.
Lindsay, we love you...I love you...and miss you already. Have fun, Love God, Peter, and Us/Me...even if from a distance.
Sunday, June 20, 2004
A Family Weekend at Triple Creek
Rest, Sabbath, Renewal, Celebration...all of these have the same thing in common. The idea is to find enjoyment in our relationships. First our relationship with God the Father and then our relationship with each other.
On Thursday, Lindsay, Andy, Linda and I journeyed to No. Illinois and the retreat of Triple Creek Ranch. Chris and Sarah came on Friday afternoon and Kelly and Greg showed up on Friday evening. The perfect party!
It's not the first time we've been there since we started making family retreats back in 1991 or 92? This is a beautiful place overlooking a valley of wide open views. The house, Valley View, is tucked neatly into a southern exposure of trees on the side of a hill. It's quiet and beautiful...trademarks of retreat. No TV means a bit of withdrawal from noise, and no computers means a withdrawal from electronics. The Cell phone doesn't work in the Valley... which means we enjoyed the time together without any of the trappings of distractions.
We walked, talked, ate and played games...lots of games. "Killer Bunnies" is the favorite in our household these days and it travelled with us. We celebrated... Celebrated Greg's birthday, Father's Day, and Lindsay!
Lindsay is the reason why we went there. She has but two days left before she is off to live in England. We will see her in August, but it will be at her wedding. So, we're happy to have the time to just celebrate her in our family. I for one will miss her more than I can ever write or say... then again, so will everyone else.
It was a sweet weekend and I'll not forget the fun and sweetness of family sharing a memorable weekend together.
On Thursday, Lindsay, Andy, Linda and I journeyed to No. Illinois and the retreat of Triple Creek Ranch. Chris and Sarah came on Friday afternoon and Kelly and Greg showed up on Friday evening. The perfect party!
It's not the first time we've been there since we started making family retreats back in 1991 or 92? This is a beautiful place overlooking a valley of wide open views. The house, Valley View, is tucked neatly into a southern exposure of trees on the side of a hill. It's quiet and beautiful...trademarks of retreat. No TV means a bit of withdrawal from noise, and no computers means a withdrawal from electronics. The Cell phone doesn't work in the Valley... which means we enjoyed the time together without any of the trappings of distractions.
We walked, talked, ate and played games...lots of games. "Killer Bunnies" is the favorite in our household these days and it travelled with us. We celebrated... Celebrated Greg's birthday, Father's Day, and Lindsay!
Lindsay is the reason why we went there. She has but two days left before she is off to live in England. We will see her in August, but it will be at her wedding. So, we're happy to have the time to just celebrate her in our family. I for one will miss her more than I can ever write or say... then again, so will everyone else.
It was a sweet weekend and I'll not forget the fun and sweetness of family sharing a memorable weekend together.
Monday, June 14, 2004
Graduation - Andy and Others
Our son Andrew graduated yesterday, June 13, 2004. He is the last of our 4 kids to graduate from James Madison Memorial High School. We started this journey of children and school almost 25 years ago when Kelly entered school as a Kindergartener. Then after she began high school 9 years later we went on another 16 year streak of continuous high schoolers.
It's so strange to think no more school events: no parent-teacher conferences, no last minute school projects, no $20 here, $50 there...no football, soccer, or band concerts or major and minor school events...25 years, and the journey has finally ended.
I don't feel old, but I do know that I'm much further down the road than when we first begun.
Congratulations Andy... we're very proud of you. You made the journey at the end a lot sweeter because of your character and values. I enjoyed watching you do your Senior year and I'm very proud of you. I'm also proud of your friendships. Watching Kyle and Andy Pratt, along with your other friends is a real privilege.
I watched with great interest the many kids who graduated yesterday. I couldn't help but muse inside about several things:
1) The kids with names two difficult to pronounce -- Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc... and wondered how those who had emigrated felt having gone through the school system and getting their high school diploma in America?
2) The minority kids whose families raised quite a ruckus when their names were announced and they strutted across the stage to get their diplomas. I thought about how subdued most white kids and their parents/families were (some exceptions, including ours which cheered loudly for Andy and his friends). I wondered if the minority kids' families were just thrilled that someone in the family showed promise...someone did something of significance in an otherwise difficult life?
I don't know if either of these are true observations or not...they simply represent some musings about the character of others at our Son's high school graduation.
It's so strange to think no more school events: no parent-teacher conferences, no last minute school projects, no $20 here, $50 there...no football, soccer, or band concerts or major and minor school events...25 years, and the journey has finally ended.
I don't feel old, but I do know that I'm much further down the road than when we first begun.
Congratulations Andy... we're very proud of you. You made the journey at the end a lot sweeter because of your character and values. I enjoyed watching you do your Senior year and I'm very proud of you. I'm also proud of your friendships. Watching Kyle and Andy Pratt, along with your other friends is a real privilege.
I watched with great interest the many kids who graduated yesterday. I couldn't help but muse inside about several things:
1) The kids with names two difficult to pronounce -- Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc... and wondered how those who had emigrated felt having gone through the school system and getting their high school diploma in America?
2) The minority kids whose families raised quite a ruckus when their names were announced and they strutted across the stage to get their diplomas. I thought about how subdued most white kids and their parents/families were (some exceptions, including ours which cheered loudly for Andy and his friends). I wondered if the minority kids' families were just thrilled that someone in the family showed promise...someone did something of significance in an otherwise difficult life?
I don't know if either of these are true observations or not...they simply represent some musings about the character of others at our Son's high school graduation.
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Who Are We?
Hi,
Elliott and Linda Pollasch. We lived for 16 years in Madison, Wi. Raised four children: Kelly, now 29 is married to Greg Barton and lives in Chicago, Il. Chris, 28, is married to Sarah and lives in Madison. Lindsay, 23, is about to be married to Peter (August 4, 2004) and will live in Bristol, England. Andrew is 18, just graduated from high school, and is about to attend a Discipleship school in Bristol, England for the school year 2004-2005.
We, Elliott and Linda, are moving to Cottage Grove, Wis. on July 15, 2004, leaving our home on Walden Way in Madison after 16 years. While we loved our home in Madison and raised our children here, we felt it was time to transition to a new home that allows us to return to small town roots that we so loved as a young married couple.
I, Elliott, teach in Mad City Training Center, a discipleship community training center for young adult Christians who are seeking a more solid foundation for their faith and their future life, career, mates, in Christ.
Linda is an elementary school secretary with the Madison School District and will remain at her job for this next year.
That's our family, and that's who we are....
Elliott and Linda Pollasch. We lived for 16 years in Madison, Wi. Raised four children: Kelly, now 29 is married to Greg Barton and lives in Chicago, Il. Chris, 28, is married to Sarah and lives in Madison. Lindsay, 23, is about to be married to Peter (August 4, 2004) and will live in Bristol, England. Andrew is 18, just graduated from high school, and is about to attend a Discipleship school in Bristol, England for the school year 2004-2005.
We, Elliott and Linda, are moving to Cottage Grove, Wis. on July 15, 2004, leaving our home on Walden Way in Madison after 16 years. While we loved our home in Madison and raised our children here, we felt it was time to transition to a new home that allows us to return to small town roots that we so loved as a young married couple.
I, Elliott, teach in Mad City Training Center, a discipleship community training center for young adult Christians who are seeking a more solid foundation for their faith and their future life, career, mates, in Christ.
Linda is an elementary school secretary with the Madison School District and will remain at her job for this next year.
That's our family, and that's who we are....
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