Well, my last post was about how I was nearing retirement. Today, I am almost there! I mentioned the cool transition program with the military called "SkillBridge." Well, I coordinated an internship at Heritage Christian Academy in Kalamazoo, MI, but just recently (early January) I had back surgery. While I am feeling quite better than before the surgery, my doctor says that there is a six month recovery period. When I was talking with the doctor pre surgery, he said it was about a six week recovery period. Well, the recovery has been quite difficult as I cannot bend, lift, or twist (no BLTing). Unfortunately, my internship in Michigan was going to require some creative arrangements for housing. That's another way to say, I have no idea where I'm going to live in Michigan. Well, one of the best options was to borrow my in-laws' camper (they offered it). Unfortunately, with the no BLTing, it would be incredibly difficult to live alone in a camper for six months while recovering.
All that to say, I'm now doing my internship at a local school. I'm just as excited and in many ways this simplifies many things. I can keep the house and I can help with cleaning up the house readying it for selling sometime in the future (of course with limited BLTing). I can continue preaching occasionally at the little Lutheran church where I sometimes preach. I can delay the household move that the military provides for my retirement. And, most importantly of all, I can continue going to medical follow-up appointments and physical therapy.
And, in a sense, it kicks the can down the road for deciding what I'm really going to do when I grow up (well, when I retire). I'm thinking of getting a PhD. I still want to settle in southwestern Michigan (northwest of Kalamazoo). But, because I'm staying here in the Omaha area for another six months, I don't have to make those decisions now. Also, I have more time to find the right property there in Michigan. Under the previous plan we were going to be rushing some of the process, and I wasn't going to be here in Omaha to help. Now, I'll still be here. We can pack up and move pretty much at our leisure, etc. Also, some of the other veterans transition issues I can delay on and do at my leisure rather than rushing through the process.
So, if you're a prayer, keep us in your prayers. Pray that I find the right spot at the school I'm interning at here in Bellevue (Cornerstone Christian School). Pray that we can make good decisions about our future. Pray that I can find a good house or land to buy in just the right spot in Michigan.
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| Bird watching in Kearney, NE; Feb, 2025 |
