Stuff

[Morgan, Jon (JJ)]

I was glad to hear back from you. I was just thinking not so long ago about the leadership conferences and how we were moved into our first Shepherd apartment around the time that they were going on. In fact, when I returned Shepherd was finally our hometown. Also, I think that was the year when the leadership conference was in Midland, making that the very first time that I had ever set foot inside that city. Ironically enough, now that I work for Dow Chemical Midland has become like a second hometown to me...I've started to get to know it quite well sometimes out of necessity but most of the time out of curiosity.

 

The kids are growing up so fast. A couple of weeks ago, I took them to the Egg Drop at the CMU Finch Fieldhouse. They both did such a wonderful job of collecting eggs and prizes off the ground my eyes were nearly welling up with tears. But, of course now the next we ask them to pick up their rooms we know they are more than capable based on how well they picked up the floor in Finch Fieldhouse. They had a great time overall, although Josh was a little torn between being with me or being with the other kids. I was quoted in the Morning Sun that Sunday before Easter. The reporter talked to my kids too.

 

My job at Dow Chemical is going pretty well. I will have been here for 2 years as of this upcoming October. If I can stay with the position for another year-and-a-half then I will break my "curse." My last few jobs only lasted for a couple years before I moved on for one reason or another.

 

The kids and I have been attending the Westlawn Church of Christ in Shepherd. It is a church that is located across the road from our old apartment at Tara Court. Strangely enough I had been thinking about starting to go to church with the kids for a while, and since I didn't know too much about the churches in the area the one church that I felt the most familiar with was Westlawn. We used to walk to the church and back when the weather was nice enough. One time, we were resting at the curb and someone who was walking in stopped and invited us to attend sometime; she said that they had a great nursery. That has always stuck in my memory.

 

Then shortly after we had moved into our house on Clark street we met our new neighbors, the Hollidays, who just happened to go to the Westlawn Church. They invited us to attend their church with them and as I thought about it I decided that we should give it a try. This was around August so Kayla and Josh were older. Theresa was working the day shift on Sundays (she still is) however other events in our lives were inspiring me to attend church.

 

It was around that same time, towards the end of the Summer, when my Uncle Russ passed away. During his funeral, some of his favorite hymns were played. As I listened to the songs I realized that I didn't really have any favorite hymns. It also made me think seriously about my relationship with God and how prepared I'd be were I to die. In short, I wouldn't be ready at all. Even my Uncle Russ had his doubts as he faced the last few days of his life.

 

So, I knew that I was missing out on something big by not going to church and learning how to be more spirtual. Worse of all, my kids had not been going to church regularly so we ran the risk of depriving them of the chance to learn about religion.

 

At first there were a couple of Sundays where we almost went to church but instead had false starts, then eventually we attended a service for the first time. Kayla and Josh had a hard time being in Sunday School and the nursery on their own, but then they got better at it. Kayla will walk off to Sunday school by herself now, and although Josh will at first cry after I leave him in the nursery he has gradually gotten better about being away from me during church.

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Laughlin, Belinda Jane [mailto:cai...@cmich.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 4:18 PM
To: Morgan, Jon (JJ)
Subject: RE: Hello

Things are going well.  Very busy at work with the April Confrence this weekend. Just leaving but wanted to get back to you.  B

-----Original Message-----
From: Morgan, Jon (JJ) [mailto:JMo...@dow.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 3:58 PM
To: Laughlin, Belinda Jane
Subject: Hello

Belinda,

 

How are things going?

 

Please write back soon,

 

Jon