It's Been One Swell Ride

On a late summer day in 1999, I pulled up to Reinhardt in my dirt ugly, yellow Mercury Topaz. I was the young age of 19, immature (though not in my eyes) and anxiously ready to take on college. Little did I know that that day was a start of a roughly fourteen year stay at Reinhardt. Four years of college earned me a degree in business but something even better: a job. From almost day one of my Reinhardt career, I started working in the Information Technology department. Of course, I started as a student worker. But after I finished school, Reinhardt allowed me to come back as an employee. First as a contractor (about a year), then they hired me full-time with benefits. July 1, 2004 was my first official date. For the next four plus years, I plugged away as a PC Support Specialist. I loved every minute of my job. But during that time, I felt the Lord leading me to seminary and someday in the ministry. So, in October 2008, now married, I left to finish up seminary and complete a pastoral internship in hopes to be a missionary to a foreign land. My time at Reinhardt was done, so I though. Yet, the Lord had other plans. I mentioned at I was immature when I came to Reinhardt... Well, by the age of 27, I still hadn't learned how to grow up, that is, stop being into myself (pride) and so, the missions agency graciously said to my wife and I, "We feel that you are called to missions, but about this sin and pride issue..." A life as a missionary was now on hold and by this time, Lydia was in my wife's belly, so I needed a job. Thankfully, Reinhardt had put a hired freeze right after I left and so a position in IT department was opened. I called and within a day, I had a job! God is faithful. August 17, 2009 was my start date and my "sabbatical" was over. And now, today, November 30, 2012, three plus years later, I move on to embark on a great adventure!  There is much I could say and many stories to recall, but I felt in would be good just to share a few reflections over the past 14 years.

Reinhardt
Leaving Reinhardt at this time of its existence is actually kind of sad. Why? Because it expanding by leaps and bounds in every area: new buildings, more students and faculty, new programs, and of course, a new sport, that being football. We change our name and status from College to University. Even the small town of Waleska has grown now with a Dollar General, Subway and a delicious restaurant and store called Front Porch.  There is so much going on and it is exciting to watch. I've watched a lot of change in my 14 years. I've had the privilege of seeing life from both spectrums: a student and a staff member. As a student, I couldn't had a better group of classmates and friends. Back then, life at Reinhardt was a little different. We had this special, intimate, family community of students (I don't know if this is the case, but I do know that things changed with the apartments and stuff). As a staff member, it has been great to know so many people for so many years and watch them though life and talk to them in the halls. I will truly miss my Reinhardt family.

Work
Reinhardt is a special place to work. It runs not like corporate America, but a small, "family" town. Everybody knows everybody, everybody knows their job and does it well, and everybody wants the best for all. Oh sure, there are times when it is a little stressful, say the begin on the school year, but the pace of life is slower and so much more enjoyable. It shows that Reinhardt values something different than corporate American. They say, "You might leave Reinhardt, but Reinhardt doesn't leave you." For me, that is true, but I will also say, it was hard for me to actually leave Reinhardt. It just kept calling me back!

Personally, what I have learned working at Reinhardt besides all the computer stuff is the importance of the job you have been given. Since 2005, I've desired to be ministry full-time, yet the Lord didn't pull me out of my job to set me apart for ministry. This has taught me to wait patiently and actively. I am thankful to say, that wherever I was and whatever I was doing, the Lord gave me a peace that said, "This is where I want you now." I had to learn to not so much look to future, but to this moment which was given to me and to glorify God in that moment. To work for the Lord (Eph. 6:4) and to know that working on computers is a good endeavor. I am very thankful to learn this lesson and so many more before I step into ministry. I'm thankful I worked out in the world, before I worked in the church.

To all those who have been there (my family and co-workers)
This reflection will read more like the inside of a CD booklet: I first want to thank my Lord, who is the great provider and is the one I ultimately work for. Whatever I do, may it be for your glory, my joy, and others good. To my wife, Mandy, for all the lunches and notes, for spend the money I make wisely, and for doing the best and most important job caring and nurturing our kids. Love you! To Lydia and Molly... guess what? Daddy is going to home all the time which means, "Let's play!" To my parents for always supporting me in whatever I do. And now to my co-workers: David, thank you for teaching me about computers; Ginny, thank you for teaching me how to be a good boss since you are one, by the way, did you ever find a blueberry crumb donuts?; John, even though your downstairs you are still apart of "us", and thanks for some laughs; Manya, thank you for giving me a hard time; Matt, let's just say, "Rise UP! Go Falcons!"; and to Larry, who made the normal day truly enjoyable, for all our conversations and teaching me about every kind of hunting especially turkey. And I can't forget my dear friend and co-worker Marc who died last year (2011). For all the uncontrollable laughter, "loud eater", IT Olympics, Unreal Tournament Game of Year Edition, all our debates about nothing but even more so our conversations about the Lord and so much more. To all my other Reinhardt family... it has been one swell ride!

No Captions Necessary

Molly: 3 Months, 10 Days, Lots of Cuteness

Molly is growing longer, stronger, fatter and cuter everyday.

We just went to the doctors to find out she is 11 pounds 13 ounces. Let's just call that 12 pounds...once we put a onesie on...

She is towering over 65% of other girls in this nation at 24 inches!

She loves Mommy Milk (and prays for it every night under Lydia's direction), having her diaper changed and Clemson football (notice the Heisman pose).

She is kinda sleeping through the night. She usually goes from 8ish until 3ish. I consider that "through the night". Then she's back asleep until 8am or so. Overall, she is a very sleepy baby.

Molly is a champion burper. She loves to kick her legs. She has rolled over once...but I think it was an "accident" because it has not been repeated. She loves being in the car and usually falls asleep in her carseat.

 Her favorite activity is watching Big Sister Lydia. Lydia usually works her into the game of the hour; "Molly can be a mouse" (for Cinderella) or "Molly is a little fish" (if we are playing "Jonah") or, Molly's favorite, "Molly can be the crab guy" (if we are playing "Little Mermaid").

She is a blessing. Cute, easy going and God's perfect-timing addition to the Stock Household.