The Seminarian Dilemma

The seminary life is unique. Once people find out you are from the seminary it seems as though you are instantly tagged. I'm still trying to figure out if it is good or bad. Either way I don't like it, Cassie and I don't like it. In our church we have had to break the tag by letting people know what we are really like. So the ascetic of being a seminary student to the community isn't always a welcomed ascetic. I struggle with still being in school. Often I wish we could lead more "normal" lives (a life without being in school). But then again, what is normal. Part of being in seminary requires a constant view of the future while maintaining a handle on the present reality. Is it right to think in terms of "when I finally get my masters degree" or is it right to think "I'll do whatever is best for our family (Cassie and I) no matter how long seminary takes and whatever happens after seminary happens after seminary"? This is a big dilemma. Do you rush through school just to "get done on time" no matter what the 2 or 3 year sacrifice is, or do you sacrifice nothing and put the degree after family, friends, and lifestyle? So that is my question. What is really important in life? Does the end justify the means? Let me know what you think.

Thanksgiving - A Family Tradition?

This Thanksgiving has proven to be the hardest holiday decision for Mark and me thus far. We both grew up in homes where we always spent Thanksgiving with family, however, this year we were struggling with that decision. Our original plan was to go to MI and spend time with my family, since we don't see them often...but when Mark got a new job and had to work the day after Thanksgiving, we had to change our plans. Two different families where we live invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner. I thought it was a great opportunity to get to know people better, since we haven't lived in Louisville very long. Mark is always saying that we need to get out and meet people. I was excited about the possibility of spending the holiday with new friends, but Mark was still stuck on the family tradition. Since his family only lives 2 hours away, we knew we could drive up and spend the day with them. Thus the dilemma. It's not that we didn't want to spend time with family, it's just that we were stuck between tradition and new opportunity. Family is important, but it's also really important for us to make new friends, and since we are our own family now...we also want to make our own traditions. In the end, we decided to spend the day with Mark's family. There really was no rhyme or reason to the decision, I think it was just the easiest thing to do since we couldn't decide. However, Mark and I both agree now that traditions don't have to stay traditions, and as our own separate family unit, we can make new traditions and do things that perhaps are out of the ordinary from what we were used to growning up.
Any thoughts?

What's in a Name?

I just started this blog today, and put a lot of thought into what I should name it. I wanted to name it something catchy, but something that had meaning as well. I came up with this because, if you haven't figured it out yet, it includes our last name, but also has a good meaning behind it. The term "Endearing" means "charming, lovable, sweet, engaging, tending to make dear or beloved." I liked the meaning, and I changed the spelling of "Endearing" to "Endeering" so that it includes our last name:) Thus, I think it's a pretty good title for our blog!
For the most part, I (Cassie) will probably be the one writing most of the posts and keeping this blog updated, but I'm sure Mark will add his thoughts when he has the time.
Please pass it on to family and friends who may be interested, and let us know your thoughts!