Lesson 111: A Masters Degree and Two Babies: Part 2 (Making Time at Home Matter)

Find Part 1 of this story here.

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One class does not equal a degree.

And one baby does not equal two babies.

You are right.

When I left you off last time, I had just finished my first seminary class, Samara was 10 months old, and my body was regaining health.

Hebrews-Revelation was soon followed by a week-long summer intensive on the Johannine epistles and two fall classes on the Gospels and Isaiah-Malachi.

I was loving school, loving learning, and loving racking up credits.

Credit Count: 11.

Praise God!

My body was loving it as well, and soon, I was (basically) back to normal.

So healthy was I, that I was actually able to conceive again.

Yes, my friends, this is a story of Seminary and Babies. You knew babies would have to make another appearance!

In November of 2010, Mark and I were delighted to find out I was pregnant! Though I had had dreams of finishing seminary, I could not foresee that being possible with two babies age two and below. I resolved to continue in my classwork as much as I could, but a full degree was out of the picture.

We were both at peace with this.

Unfortunately, just nine weeks later, three weeks before spring classes began, I miscarried.

What a sweet blessing it was to be that baby's mama, even for ten short weeks! We received great comfort and support from our seminary friends during this time, and we were grateful.

It is strange to view things from this perspective, but the miscarriage had implications for my seminary degree. To allow my body to recover (my body always seems to be recovering, doesn't it), I was told to wait three months before trying again.

This left spring semester open with no pregnancy.

Mark and I were in the swing of things with school, understanding time management and scheduling better. Classwork was easier. I was no longer nursing.

With the imposed baby wait time and the way our schedules providentially fell, a degree was now in sight!

It was a legitimate possibility.

Thus, in the spring of 2011, weeks after my miscarriage, I was attending seminary as a full-time student. I enrolled in five classes. It was hard, and it was a lot of work. But it was awesome.

And I healed. 

Credit count: 24.

Praise God!

Right after May finals, we received good news again.

As I told Mark one day in the seminary bookstore storage room, "I passed my test." He couldn't believe I had received my marks so quickly after taking an exam.

I said, "No dear. Not that kind of test."

Now, to understand how I progressed from here, you have to recognize a few things.

First, my pregnancy with Samara was the worst! (This is not an exaggeration. It was the worst!) However, Samara was about the easiest child a parent could ever ask for.

Also crucial, my pregnancy with Hudson was the best! (Seriously, the best!)

So great was it that as I entered my 2nd trimester, I also entered Summer Greek.

What is Summer Greek?

Summer Greek is the seminary gauntlet. It's the do or die, make it or break it, rite-of-passage seminary class. Three weeks of straight Biblical Greek! There is homework every night, a quiz every morning, and a test every Friday.

Summer Greek tests not only the student, but also the student's entire family.

(Thank you, Mark, again!)

In short, Summer Greek is not for the faint of heart!

Hudson took Summer Greek with me. 

He also continued to grow steadily in my belly through Greek II, History of Missions, Introduction to Theological and Pastoral Studies, and Biblical Counseling that fall.

Friends, that boy is primed for seminary!

Credit Count: 40.

Praise God!

Now, here is the part of the story where you might just think I'm straight up crazy. And I'm ok with that. However, I do want you to remember that my pregnancy with Hudson was amazing!

I delievered Hudson on February 1, 2012. The first day of spring classes.

Mark and Hudson with one of our favorite professors!

Six days later, my mom drove me (and Hudson) to Charlotte to attend Poets class.

Two days after that, she drove me (and Hudson) up again to attend Greek Readings class.

My body rebounded quickly. Mark and I were on our games, schedule-wise, but let's be honest. During this period of time with a newborn, a 2-year old, and 7 seminary classes between the two of us, THE LORD WAS SO GOOD!

Credit Count: 43.

Praise God!

Our final year of seminary was great! It was busy, of course. Hard. A lot of work.

But somehow, somehow, somehow, we finished. 

Y'all, we both finished.

Credit Count: 67. 

Praise God!

It is no exaggeration when I say this was one of the sweetest moments of my life.

Lesson Learned: Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Seminary blessings! Baby blessings!


Finish the Series With:
Part 3: Ways for "Making Time Matter" During Seminary
Part 4: During Seminary, I Did Not ...
Part 5: Reflections on My Children's Experience with Seminary