Oops...Finances

So, sorry about the random throwback videos that I just discovered were posted on the blog. I have no idea how that happened. Anyway, disregard. I'm in the process of uploading some freshies: a little four-part documentary I did on going out in Montreal with your one-year-old when the temperature freezes facial hair, etc.
Anyway, we're back from Quebec City. We enjoyed another great week in that unique city, but are definitely glad to be back in Montreal, back to chez nous as we say in French.
So, Lauren will write a blog sometime soon (someday...) about the recent program she applied for and is planning on beginning this summer. As I explained in the last blog, we have a pretty open summer to pursue some pretty exciting things before the school we run starts up again in October. As for me, the verdict is still out. A lot of what I could or want to do depends on our funding, which basically goes from month to month, sometimes week to week to be more exact. It's hard to make big plans or any plans for the summer when the rent check might be all we can muster. The financial trials of our last five months out here have been a great learning experience for us. As a missionary, it's a reality to live month to month without any idea of where or when next month's rent will come in, let alone food money. It's difficult, sometimes, to know when to just say hey, the money ain't there and give up, or to persevere, believing that we're out here for a reason. Several times now we've come to a place where the clock is ticking and time is quickly running out and I ask "Why are we doing this to ourselves?" And, then, the money comes in. I know, it may sound like corny missionary lingo, but, seriously, the money often comes in right when we start asking those questions. Just tonight, before I left to come write this blog, we got news that a support check had come in for us, and it was just a few hours earlier we were having that stressful money talk again. Amazing.

Blah

I'd just polished off a well-written, clever, quite phenomenal blog when the library internet connection cut out and all was lost. Apparently, I needed some humbling. Thus, this is my sad, discouraged, short blog in response to that.
Nonetheless, all is well. My prayer commitment has survived the first two weeks. We hosted two different people at our place last week. We leave for Quebec City tomorrow for a week of learning about that city.
Lauren and I are continuing to consider, pray over, and discuss options for this summer. The school will end in May and start again in October. That leaves four months in between. A lot can be done in that time. Lauren seems to have figured out what her major plans for the summer are. I'm still working on it. Maybe I can get her to write a blog soon about her recent, exciting decision. Stay tuned! Love you guys.

Ignatian Spirituality

Yesterday, I began what hopefully will be about a year-long process of praying through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The link here gives a brief paragraph of what that entails exactly. However, my experience of the Spiritual Exercises will differ in that it will not be composed of an intense 30-day retreat, but rather a prolonged, not-as-intense 9 to 12 month daily retreat. Basically, that will consist of an hour or so of prayer everyday, journaling about my prayer time, and a weekly meeting with a spiritual director. I'll be doing it through the Ignatian Spirituality Center of Montreal, a Catholic-based, non-profit organization that exists to provide free spiritual direction. The spiritual directors at the center have all gone through a six-year training process in order to be adequately qualified.
It's something I've been rolling around in my head for quite some time, and thus decided to dive-in with the new year here and a new sense of calling towards a deeper spirituality. Carving out an hour five days a week for prayer will not be an easy task. I'm hoping, however, that the Lord will lead me in how to appropriately incorporate this new discipline into my life. Lauren, as always, is very encouraging, and Dennis, well, he seems pretty neutral about it all.
On va voir!

New Year's Resolution: Be A Better Blogger!

Hello Friends,
This year I promise to update our blog much more frequently. I hope that I have not lost all of you already. It's been nearly a month and a half since my last entry. Nonetheless, I truly believe that 2010 will bring much more frequent entries on the flan-clan blogspot. I promise this to you. Now, that means that things might get a little more personal, a little less tactful, and maybe even a little less interesting. Still, you will have at least one new entry, once a week. I'm going out on a limb here, so lend me your support and let me know you're up for it.
Thanks for sticking with us!
We love you,
Denny, Lauren, and lil' Dennis