"a period of time when college or university teachers are allowed to stop their usual work in order to study or travel, usually while continuing to be paid." - cambridge dictionary

a mentor of ours added that the purpose is for growth and learning, while also relaxing and taking time away from the normal. our church gifted us with 4 weeks after our 7 years as pastor of epic. ben decided to take two this year and two the next. it would take place in london, england -- another global city. initially we thought the highlight would be the hillsong conference, but so much more got added to the schedule. and everything that was planned and unplanned has carved into our very lives and we have seen already it's affect on our marriage and anticipate it affecting our family, our church, our city, and this generation. 

i don't know many sabbatical stories. but i can sure tell you ours. 

with every travel guide i post, i am obliged to share this disclaimer. i married adventure and we have a peculiar way we get around. it works well for us, and we think if you try it, you’ll like it. but pick and choose from our guides. we’re always happy to know we helped you enjoy your adventures all the more. this was our second trip to london, so some places i mention were explored on trip one. we haven’t grown tired of london yet. here are our favorites of london in no particular order:

who doesn't just love the smell of new school supplies? i think i'll be buying them when i don't need to anymore. if only these binders, rulers, and combination locks guaranteed a successful year. however, i can tell you from our public school experiences that these 5 actions can lead to a successful year for your family and your school. 

1. cheer on the teachers.

2. everyone make friends.

3. literally walk around the school and pray.

4. be influencers.

5. meet the need. 

look around you.

is the place you are sitting brand new with the price tag still on?

is it where you've grown up, thought you'd leave (maybe you did) and are still living there?

maybe the idea hasn't occurred to you that where you live is important to who you are becoming and to the Kingdom of God. 

i have a growing love for where i live. it wasn't love at first sight. and if i'm not careful, i can get bogged down in what i don't like and what frustrates me. but God has a plan for me. for you. for the places we call home. 

consider these thinking points: 

we've called san francisco home for 7 years now.

our daughter has been in our forever family for 2 years.

we're entering the teenage years and realizing we've got just a handful of summers left before high school graduation.

so we spent the month of june away from "normalville" (as i have coined our san francisco life) and reappeared in july feeling refreshed and renewed.

that's a lot of "re" happening, but so it goes when we take a break from the normal.