If you missed these posts,
Part 1: Seminary and Babies
Part 2: Seminary and Babies
Part 3: Ways to "Make Time Matter" During Seminary
Part 4: During Seminary, I Did Not ...
Today, I'll conclude this portion of the "Making Time at Home Matter" series with a few thoughts about the way seminary affected our parenting and relationship with our children.
Though I was beyond grateful to attend seminary, I did my best to always remember that my first obligation was to my children. We continued in the direction of finishing seminary as long as doors were open for it. However, my completion was never guaranteed. If circumstances had arisen that would have required me to stop, we were okay with that.
(This is part of the reason that I was so excited to finish! The Lord is good.)
Not only were my children my number one obligation, but they are my number one ministry. It does not matter a whip that I can perfectly explain sanctification to PhD's if my own children are not being introduced to the love of Jesus on a regular basis.
Thus, our first "home" goal was for seminary to be more than academic. We wanted the material to penetrate our hearts and effect our lives.
Sometimes we were successful. Sometimes we failed.
There were occasions when it was difficult to understand how memorizing church history dates or parsing Greek verbs connected to raising our kids (or to life in general). But overall, I'd say our studies had a huge impact on our home life. Most importantly, we were shown a thoroughly Biblical worldview and taught just how all of life fits into that framework.
Our second "home" goal was to engage in focused time with our children. Time when they got our full, funny, silly attention. Time when we were just ourselves, just parents, just a family.
Again, sometimes we were successful. Sometimes we failed.
There were definitely days when I built block towers absentmindedly with a book in my hand. There were mornings Samara spent hours happily splashing in the bath tub, while I sat nearby ploughing through Eusebius.
There were days when my children got straight up ignored.
Sometimes I felt guilty. Sometimes I felt justified.
They learned the valuable lesson of playing by themselves. They learned to engage in games and activities without my intervention. They learned some indepence. We saw this as a positive, rather than a negative.
They also learned a love for learning. Samara was "studying," "doing homework," and "going to school" as long as she can remember. For a mama who values education, this pleased me.
They learned to interact with grown-ups. Samara and Hudson were some of the only children in our group of seminary friends, especially at the beginning. This meant they received lots of positive, constructive attention from adults. During a youth ministry seminar this past weekend, an expert in the field demonstrated how vital healthy adult-child relationships are for the well-being of children. I can whole-heartedly say, these babies were well-loved!
In conclusion, I will say the juggling act of seminary worked for our family. Mark and I were open to sharing household responsibilities, willing to make sacrifices to complete work, and honest about the stress everything had on our family.
I will also say we are glad life has a more normal flow to it these days!
We are grateful for the time our family had to grow during seminary. We were surrounded by exceptional examples of godly parents. We asked a lot of questions, and we learned so much. We are still learning.
We received an incredible amount of love and support from our friends. We were able to get through those first dark years (where you hide in your house as a new parent) with relative ease because of them.
Finally, we were somehow able to maintain the perspective that life outside of our own family bubble exists. From the moment we found out that I was pregnant with Samara, Mark was certain that the Lord had given her to us, because He knew that we needed her in order to accomplish his will in our lives. Our ministry, for whatever reason, would be lacking without Samara.
Thus, we did seminary with babies, and we were okay with it. We knew nothing else.
It's interesting. Our seminary friends have
graduated, are beginning new jobs, and are having babies! They are all
in the process of learning the work / family balance. I think at the end
of the day, having children requires that you figure out how to make a
whole lot of moving parts work together. It happens to everyone at one
life stage or another.
We simply had to learn a little before the others.
Lesson Learned: Seminary + Babies = A Beautiful Mess
Showing posts with label seminary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seminary. Show all posts
October 29, 2013
October 22, 2013
Lesson 122: A Master's Degree and Two Babies: Part 4 (Making Time at Home Matter)
Part 1: Seminary and Babies
Part 2: Seminary and Babies
Part 3: Ways for "Making Time Matter" During Seminary
______________________________________________________________________
During seminary, my time was spent in 3 main ways:
1. I took care of my children.
2. I focused on school.
3. I dug into relationships with friends, family, and church members.
Today's post is a list of confessions. Today I will tell you all the things I did not do during our three and a half years of seminary.
I Did Not:
1. Worry about Money: Between multiple scholarships, tuition was almost entirely taken care of. Also, Mark had savings which meant that neither he nor I had to work full-time. We lived frugally, but we did not stress about money.
2. Cook: Mark took care of this. He's wonderful. My brain could not handle it all. Around year three, I began to meal plan, but the execution was still in Mark's domain.
3. Do Laundry: That's not entirely true. I'm pretty sure I did at least three loads of laundry in those three and a half years. Haha, three times y'all. My husband is a rock star!
4. Exercise Often: I went through spurts, but nothing consistent.
5. Clean Deeply: We picked up most days, but there was not much scrubbing going on. Unless my mother-in-law came to town. Then I'd clean.
6. Keep Samara Everyday: For the last two years, a sweet woman from church kept Julia once a week for me, so that I could either study with one less child or attend class. Amazing!
7. Take Samara on Exciting Adventures: We went on four fun mommy dates total: once to an indoor swim park, once to an indoor play gym, and twice to the Charlotte children's museum. During the week, there were no play groups, no library story time, nothing. We'd go to parks and play outside a lot, but I was not creative or willing to leave the house much.
8. Learn Every Single Point Exactly Perfectly: I did my best to do my best. But at the end of the day, I was a mom. Sometimes schoolwork got neglected. I could not be a perfectionist, and that was ok.
Takeaways for You to Make Time at Home Matter:
This post highlights the concept of priorities. You are able to accomplish that which is important to you. It is clear that I prioritized school over housework. I justified doing so, because I understood that seminary occurred only for a season.
I have friends (moms) who prioritize running, baking bread, and cooking. Others volunteer, knit, and throw parties. The extra time they have in their days, they put towards things they care about.
My hope with this series is not to say, "Look how freakin' awesome I am." Rather, it's to encourage you to think through what it is you care about, and then to try and help you figure out ways to direct well-spent time towards it.
One of the most important ways to do this is to prioritize!
Lesson Learned: Prioritizing means that not everything gets the same amount of attention. Something always has to give.
Finish the Series with Part 5: Reflections on My Children's Experience with Seminary
Part 2: Seminary and Babies
Part 3: Ways for "Making Time Matter" During Seminary
______________________________________________________________________
During seminary, my time was spent in 3 main ways:
1. I took care of my children.
2. I focused on school.
3. I dug into relationships with friends, family, and church members.
Today's post is a list of confessions. Today I will tell you all the things I did not do during our three and a half years of seminary.
I Did Not:
1. Worry about Money: Between multiple scholarships, tuition was almost entirely taken care of. Also, Mark had savings which meant that neither he nor I had to work full-time. We lived frugally, but we did not stress about money.
2. Cook: Mark took care of this. He's wonderful. My brain could not handle it all. Around year three, I began to meal plan, but the execution was still in Mark's domain.
3. Do Laundry: That's not entirely true. I'm pretty sure I did at least three loads of laundry in those three and a half years. Haha, three times y'all. My husband is a rock star!
4. Exercise Often: I went through spurts, but nothing consistent.
5. Clean Deeply: We picked up most days, but there was not much scrubbing going on. Unless my mother-in-law came to town. Then I'd clean.
6. Keep Samara Everyday: For the last two years, a sweet woman from church kept Julia once a week for me, so that I could either study with one less child or attend class. Amazing!
7. Take Samara on Exciting Adventures: We went on four fun mommy dates total: once to an indoor swim park, once to an indoor play gym, and twice to the Charlotte children's museum. During the week, there were no play groups, no library story time, nothing. We'd go to parks and play outside a lot, but I was not creative or willing to leave the house much.
8. Learn Every Single Point Exactly Perfectly: I did my best to do my best. But at the end of the day, I was a mom. Sometimes schoolwork got neglected. I could not be a perfectionist, and that was ok.
Takeaways for You to Make Time at Home Matter:
This post highlights the concept of priorities. You are able to accomplish that which is important to you. It is clear that I prioritized school over housework. I justified doing so, because I understood that seminary occurred only for a season.
I have friends (moms) who prioritize running, baking bread, and cooking. Others volunteer, knit, and throw parties. The extra time they have in their days, they put towards things they care about.
My hope with this series is not to say, "Look how freakin' awesome I am." Rather, it's to encourage you to think through what it is you care about, and then to try and help you figure out ways to direct well-spent time towards it.
One of the most important ways to do this is to prioritize!
Lesson Learned: Prioritizing means that not everything gets the same amount of attention. Something always has to give.
Finish the Series with Part 5: Reflections on My Children's Experience with Seminary
October 15, 2013
Lesson 116: A Master's Degree and Two Babies: Part 3 (Making Time at Home Matter)
This post answers the "How" question. How was I able to complete a Masters Degree and have Two Babies? If you are curious about the "What" explanation, read the story in Part 1 and Part 2. _______________________________________________________________________
For all you super busy stay-at-home mom's, this sounds outrageous. I can hear you angrily exclaiming, "Oh, your kids must not be real people. It cannot be possible to read Systematic Theology with all those blinky, singing toys and crying babies in the background. Katherine, you are a liar!"
You're right. It's not easy.
(And we've consistently kept loud toys out for that very reason.)
How is it possible to earn a master's degree while having two babies?
I'll answer that question in 3 Parts:
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
Without further ado:
Ways for "Making Time at Home Matter" During Seminary
1. Paying attention in class: Class was the number one opportunity to learn material during the week. If I tracked in class, studying later on was way easier.
2. Taking comprehensive notes: I wrote down every word my professors said. Every. Single. Word. Including random jokes. This kept me engaged and again, made studying easier.
3. Reading and homework every weeknight: We consciously spent time together as a family in the afternoon through to dinner, baths, and bedtime stories. However, when the kiddo's were sleeping, Mark and I were studying. (For me, this almost always included naptime as well. Well, unless I was napping at naptime.)
4. Observing the Sabbath: We did our best to refrain from studying on Sundays. A good Sabbath rest was good for our souls and made the rest of the week way more productive! If possible, we tried to take Saturday off as well, but that rarely worked.
5. Discussing class content with each other and classmates: This was important, because it helped reinforce material without having to do extra studying. The more we thought about what we were learning, the more we actually learned.
6. Making library time productive: Library time was rare, and therefore, precious. We used it well!
7. Reading in advance: No break was ever a complete break. The day one semester ended, reading commenced for the upcoming semester.
8. Digging into friendships: Relationships were one of the most significant aspects of our seminary experience. We always took off for dinner with friends, parties, and so on. This helped remind us that the goal of seminary is ministry and a huge aspect of ministry is relationship.
9. Allowing for "wasted brain time": We let our brains relax. My main non-seminary activity was decorating. When I wasn't thinking about philosophy, I was thinking about furniture. Mark played basketball (when I let him) and watched dumb sci-fi shows.
10. Maintaining perspective: Mark and I consistently reminded ourselves and each other why we were working so hard. I often would groan (weekly during Greek II), that I was going to quit, because seminary was only my "hobby" and it was just too hard. Mark would remind me (weekly) that "we are putting too much time and energy into this thing for it to be your hobby." This would be followed by, "Go do your homework!" We'd remind ourselves that we loved the Lord and desired to serve his church in an official capacity. We'd remind ourselves that he was strong enough to sustain us!
Throughout the course of seminary, I envisioned this moment over and over and over. One day, it finally happened.
- Focus your mind and make it work when you are given the time to do so. (1, 2, 6).
- Consistently use spare time well. (3, 7).
- Work with other people. (5, 8).
- Maintain perspective and envision your goal. (10).
- Rest. (4, 9).
Lesson Learned: There was not just one aspect that made seminary work. It was a combination of many aspects related to time management. And, the Lord is good.
October 09, 2013
Lesson 111: A Masters Degree and Two Babies: Part 2 (Making Time at Home Matter)
Find Part 1 of this story here.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
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
_______________________________________________________________________
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
October 08, 2013
Lesson 110: A Masters Degree and Two Babies: Part 1 (Making Time at Home Matter)
During this "Making Time at Home Matter" series, I'd like to tell you the story of how I earned a Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies from RTS-Charlotte, while raising two babies.
However, I would like to be clear right from the start. I do not think every mama needs to be in school while raising their kids! Mama-hood is plenty good and awesome in and of itself!
I am sharing this story merely because there may be some of you who do think it would be enriching or beneficial to return to school. And so, since I've done it, I thought I'd let you know how.
The story will be told in 5 parts:
Part 1: Seminary and Babies at the Beginning
Part 2: Seminary and Babies in its Completion
Part 3: Ways to "Make Time Matter" During Seminary
Part 4: During Seminary I Did Not ...
Part 5: Reflections on My Children's Experience During Seminary
_______________________________________________________________________
(For time's sake, I'll skip the portion of the story which explains my desire to pursue ministry full-time. I'll simply pick up where seminary entered the picture.)
_______________________________________________________________________
Mark had just broken up with me. (Every good story begins with a break-up.)
Yup, the LOML (love of my life), who was a missionary in China (my desired profession), had cut the cord of our relationship, and I was left alone to figure out what the next step in life should be.
The Lord had been clearly pulling my heart towards full-time ministry, but I felt completely inadequate. I loved the Bible and loved to study it, but I intensely desired further instruction. I wanted the whole picture, as well as the minute details. I wanted someone to teach me!
So, I applied to seminary.
It was the summer of 2007, right before I left for a year-long overseas mission assignment in Dublin, Ireland. I was fully expecting to be a single missionary for the rest of my life, and I wanted a few years of foundational training before setting out. I was hoping to return from the field and find this training in seminary.
In January of 2008, I received my acceptance letter. Wahoo!
A week later, Mark called and said he wanted to marry me. (A story for a different day).
I liked that idea!
We returned to America the summer of 2008 and were married in December. In the meanwhile, Mark applied to seminary and was accepted.
Young and "open the Lord's will for our lives," we thought we might like to spend a few years together in China or Ireland first. We wanted to continue to explore and learn while we were unhindered enough to do that.
However, soon after the wedding, we received some big, unexpected news!
Globe-trotting with an infant did not seem wise, and so, instead, we decided the most responsible course of action was seminary.
Did you catch that? We ultimately made the decision to attend seminary because of a baby! (If you've ever been in seminary, you understand that this is a hilarious decision.)
Fast forward at few months.
We were set to move to Charlotte, so Mark could begin summer Greek in 2009. Four days before departure, my water broke (unexpectedly) at 32 weeks.
Samara was born soon after.
Did you catch that? We were prevented from moving to Charlotte because of a baby!
Turns out the issue was entirely with my health (again, a story for a different day), but the long and short of it is that what followed Samara's birth was six weeks in and out of the hospital, three surgeries (for me), and whole lot of wreckage to my body!
We also were given the gift of a sweet baby girl! Praise God!
Out of the hospital healing took another six weeks, but by October, we were finally ready to move. (Exactly four years ago today.)
Seminary here we come!
Class officially began in February, and Mark was psyched!
I, on the other hand, was still exhausted. The pregnancy, disease, surgeries, (and nursing), had taken a huge toll on my body. I slept all the time. I lost fifty pounds. And I began to process the emotional trauma of the past six months.
Seminary was going to have to continue to wait.
However, on the first day of school, my sweet friend and neighbor told me she was planning on auditing a night class, Hebrews-Revelation. She asked if I would I want to go with her?
Though I did not really feel up to it, I agreed to go. And if I was going to make the effort to go to the class, I was going to make the effort to do the work for the class for credit.
Friends, agreeing to go to this class was the first step towards getting a master's degree as a mama. I had to show up!
I didn't start out anticipating actually finishing degree. Rather, I remembered why I wanted to attend seminary in the first place. I wanted someone to teach me the Bible. Whether that ended up being one class or twenty, one was better than none.
So I went.
The class was such a blessing, I cannot even describe. In fact, the goodness and richness of that class still brings tears to my eyes.
At seminary, I made friends. Real, loving, gospel-centered friends, who began to sustain me physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I got to act like an adult, dress like an adult and interact with other adults. (This is priceless for stay-at-home moms.) I was required to use my mind. Most importantly, my professor, Dr. Michael Kruger, opened up the Scriptures in a way that I had never before experienced.
Through all this goodness, I began to heal.
Mark and I could not have been more grateful to the Lord!
Now, how does the baby factor into all this?
Well, I was still nursing at night.
And I hated to pump.
So, Mark (my sweet, wonderful, special, brave, phenomenal husband) would bring Samara over to campus during my twenty minute break and I would nurse her in the study lounge.
The typical night went something like this:
- Listen to lecture on different views of eschatology in Revelation for 80 minutes.
- Nurse Samara for 20 minutes.
- Listen to lecture on recapitulation in Revelation for 80 minutes.
And so on, week after week.
Somehow, finals came in May. I wrote the longest, most well-researched paper of my life (in my bed, during nap time), took the hardest exam I've ever sat through ...
And with that, I had 3 seminary credits.
And a 10 month old.
The adventure was just beginning.
Lesson Learned: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Finish the Series With:
Part 2: Seminary and Babies
Part 3: Ways to "Make Time at Home Matter" During Seminary
Part 4: During Seminary I Did Not ...
Part 5: Reflections on My Children's Experience During Seminary
However, I would like to be clear right from the start. I do not think every mama needs to be in school while raising their kids! Mama-hood is plenty good and awesome in and of itself!
I am sharing this story merely because there may be some of you who do think it would be enriching or beneficial to return to school. And so, since I've done it, I thought I'd let you know how.
The story will be told in 5 parts:
Part 1: Seminary and Babies at the Beginning
Part 2: Seminary and Babies in its Completion
Part 3: Ways to "Make Time Matter" During Seminary
Part 4: During Seminary I Did Not ...
Part 5: Reflections on My Children's Experience During Seminary
_______________________________________________________________________
(For time's sake, I'll skip the portion of the story which explains my desire to pursue ministry full-time. I'll simply pick up where seminary entered the picture.)
_______________________________________________________________________
Mark had just broken up with me. (Every good story begins with a break-up.)
Yup, the LOML (love of my life), who was a missionary in China (my desired profession), had cut the cord of our relationship, and I was left alone to figure out what the next step in life should be.
The Lord had been clearly pulling my heart towards full-time ministry, but I felt completely inadequate. I loved the Bible and loved to study it, but I intensely desired further instruction. I wanted the whole picture, as well as the minute details. I wanted someone to teach me!
So, I applied to seminary.
It was the summer of 2007, right before I left for a year-long overseas mission assignment in Dublin, Ireland. I was fully expecting to be a single missionary for the rest of my life, and I wanted a few years of foundational training before setting out. I was hoping to return from the field and find this training in seminary.
In January of 2008, I received my acceptance letter. Wahoo!
A week later, Mark called and said he wanted to marry me. (A story for a different day).
I liked that idea!
We returned to America the summer of 2008 and were married in December. In the meanwhile, Mark applied to seminary and was accepted.
Young and "open the Lord's will for our lives," we thought we might like to spend a few years together in China or Ireland first. We wanted to continue to explore and learn while we were unhindered enough to do that.
However, soon after the wedding, we received some big, unexpected news!
 |
| We were in Scotland with Holly when we found out. Interestingly, she and her husband left Scotland shortly after this picture and came to seminary at RTS Charlotte! |
Did you catch that? We ultimately made the decision to attend seminary because of a baby! (If you've ever been in seminary, you understand that this is a hilarious decision.)
Fast forward at few months.
We were set to move to Charlotte, so Mark could begin summer Greek in 2009. Four days before departure, my water broke (unexpectedly) at 32 weeks.
Samara was born soon after.
 |
| First Family Photo |
Did you catch that? We were prevented from moving to Charlotte because of a baby!
Turns out the issue was entirely with my health (again, a story for a different day), but the long and short of it is that what followed Samara's birth was six weeks in and out of the hospital, three surgeries (for me), and whole lot of wreckage to my body!
We also were given the gift of a sweet baby girl! Praise God!
Out of the hospital healing took another six weeks, but by October, we were finally ready to move. (Exactly four years ago today.)
Seminary here we come!
 |
| Man, I was looking rough! |
Class officially began in February, and Mark was psyched!
I, on the other hand, was still exhausted. The pregnancy, disease, surgeries, (and nursing), had taken a huge toll on my body. I slept all the time. I lost fifty pounds. And I began to process the emotional trauma of the past six months.
Seminary was going to have to continue to wait.
However, on the first day of school, my sweet friend and neighbor told me she was planning on auditing a night class, Hebrews-Revelation. She asked if I would I want to go with her?
 |
| Thanks, Judy! |
Though I did not really feel up to it, I agreed to go. And if I was going to make the effort to go to the class, I was going to make the effort to do the work for the class for credit.
Friends, agreeing to go to this class was the first step towards getting a master's degree as a mama. I had to show up!
I didn't start out anticipating actually finishing degree. Rather, I remembered why I wanted to attend seminary in the first place. I wanted someone to teach me the Bible. Whether that ended up being one class or twenty, one was better than none.
So I went.
The class was such a blessing, I cannot even describe. In fact, the goodness and richness of that class still brings tears to my eyes.
At seminary, I made friends. Real, loving, gospel-centered friends, who began to sustain me physically, spiritually, and emotionally. I got to act like an adult, dress like an adult and interact with other adults. (This is priceless for stay-at-home moms.) I was required to use my mind. Most importantly, my professor, Dr. Michael Kruger, opened up the Scriptures in a way that I had never before experienced.
Through all this goodness, I began to heal.
Mark and I could not have been more grateful to the Lord!
 |
| Mark with our first seminary friend, Trey. He ended up marrying a friend of ours from Virginia Tech! |
Now, how does the baby factor into all this?
Well, I was still nursing at night.
And I hated to pump.
So, Mark (my sweet, wonderful, special, brave, phenomenal husband) would bring Samara over to campus during my twenty minute break and I would nurse her in the study lounge.
The typical night went something like this:
- Listen to lecture on different views of eschatology in Revelation for 80 minutes.
- Nurse Samara for 20 minutes.
- Listen to lecture on recapitulation in Revelation for 80 minutes.
And so on, week after week.
Somehow, finals came in May. I wrote the longest, most well-researched paper of my life (in my bed, during nap time), took the hardest exam I've ever sat through ...
And with that, I had 3 seminary credits.
And a 10 month old.
The adventure was just beginning.
Lesson Learned: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Finish the Series With:
Part 2: Seminary and Babies
Part 3: Ways to "Make Time at Home Matter" During Seminary
Part 4: During Seminary I Did Not ...
Part 5: Reflections on My Children's Experience During Seminary
July 25, 2013
Lesson 86: "2013 Goals" Check-In
Christmas in July celebrations are popping up all over social media these days. This has reminded me it's time to check in and see how I'm doing with those New Year's rezi's ...
1. Graduate seminary:As of today I am 15 credits short of a
Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary.
This is five classes. I also have to pass the English Bible Exam. I have
exactly 136 days until graduation. I'd like to not only finish, but
finish strong.
There I am, shaking our new President's hand in the old graduation garb! If I get real reflective at some point, I'll write more about this awesome day.
Oh, and here's my hubby with some of his fraaaands!
2. Practice Good Dental Hygiene:As you may have read here,
December was an expensive month for my teeth.
Definitely doing this with significantly more regularity.
3. Buy a Painting:I don't know if it's come across in this blog,
but I love to decorate my house. I've been saving to buy an original
Charlotte-related painting as a graduation present / remembrance for
Mark and I. Paintings are not cheap! Thus, I have been selling small
items here and there on craigslist and am hoping that by May, I will
have saved up enough, non-necessary money to purchase one!
Meet ... my cows! Oh how I love these friends!
I promise to introduce you more fully to them at a later date!
4. Cut Internet Usage in Front of Samara:I won't go on a
full-fledged rant here, but I hate seeing kids playing with iphones. I
could probably devote an entire blog to my lack of love for mixing
children and technology. That being said, though I don't allow Samara to
use my computer, I am often on the computer in front of her. All this
does is increase her desire to be on the computer as well. I only have a
couple of years left with her. I want them to be spent with us doing
things together in person, not with her watching me learn about
blogging. (She's napping right now.)
I'd say there's been some marked improvement!
5. Continue with the Monthly Meal Plan: FAIL!
6. Get Ourselves a Will: FAIL! In fact, we've taken a few steps backwards here. Apparently there are some other legal matters we need to sort out first.
7. Read the Bible in a Year: FAIL! Started behind and have never caught up. I wonder if I could do it in six months?
8. Exercise Once I'm Done Nursing: FAIL! (and I don't want to talk about it.)
9. Increase Our Gardening Efforts:We will try again for the herbs, and maybe consider tomatoes and cucumbers. I hear these grow, but hmmm, with us, you never know.
Do we have a garden? Ha, please?!?! You can read all about it here, here, here, and here.
10. Generic goals: Continue to cut extraneous sugar.Buy steel
cut oatmeal. Pick up my clothes more often. (This has been made easier by cleaning out and cleaning out again.) Do more loads of laundry.
Read to Hudson more. He is so active, I usually just end up wrestling
him. Try to call people on their birthdays, send cards, or at least do a
facebook shout-out. Do things that make Mark smile. Drink more water.
Send my mom more pictures of my children. (Sorry Mom, I really am.) Spend more time outside.
It could be worse. We could still be living a cow-less life, but friends, that is just simply not the case.
Well y'all, how are you doing with your goals?
(Did you get that Gen 1:1 reference?)
1. Graduate seminary:
Oh, and here's my hubby with some of his fraaaands!
2. Practice Good Dental Hygiene:
Definitely doing this with significantly more regularity.
3. Buy a Painting:
Meet ... my cows! Oh how I love these friends!
4. Cut Internet Usage in Front of Samara:
I'd say there's been some marked improvement!
5. Continue with the Monthly Meal Plan: FAIL!
6. Get Ourselves a Will: FAIL! In fact, we've taken a few steps backwards here. Apparently there are some other legal matters we need to sort out first.
7. Read the Bible in a Year: FAIL! Started behind and have never caught up. I wonder if I could do it in six months?
8. Exercise Once I'm Done Nursing: FAIL! (and I don't want to talk about it.)
9. Increase Our Gardening Efforts:
Do we have a garden? Ha, please?!?! You can read all about it here, here, here, and here.
10. Generic goals: Continue to cut extraneous sugar.
It could be worse. We could still be living a cow-less life, but friends, that is just simply not the case.
Well y'all, how are you doing with your goals?
(Did you get that Gen 1:1 reference?)
July 18, 2013
Lesson 84: A Praise Song and An Ordination
There's a classic Chris Tomlin worship song that was popular during my college days. The lyrics are: "We fall down, we lay our crowns, at the feet of Jesus. The greatness of your mercy and love, at the feet of Jesus. We cry holy, holy, holy, is the Lamb."
I have this great memory of singing this song during a worship service at Urbana, a huge missions conference, in 2006. I remember it carrying so much meaning, because in order to have the "mission" bent, we sang it in Chinese. At the time, Mark and I were dating, but Mark had been in China, serving with a missions organization for five months. I remember feeling like the song was this thoroughly symbolic thing, that Mark and I knew we had to be separated, and it was painful, but it was ultimately a good thing, that the gospel might go forth in China. I had an understanding of the Lord's glory, and I knew that at the end of our lives, whatever we had done or sacrificed for the sake of the gospel, would be given to Jesus. We would desire to give everything we had achieved or earned on earth over to Him, and that there would be no question whether or not a life devoted to serving Him had been worth it.
Urbana was a huge time of "consecration," if you will, of my life to the Lord's service. I thought for sure this meant missions (and it did for a brief time and might again), but regardless of what capacity, I was committed to following Jesus' lead wherever.
A few Sundays ago, the children of our church sang this same song during service, as they had learned it during the week at Vacation Bible School. Their voices were so sweet, and the words so simple. It immediately took me back to Urbana, to a room of mission driven young people, reminded me of my steadfast commitment, and caused me to question ... do I still believe all this?
I mean really. Where has this "commitment" taken me? Seven years forward. Factor in some time in China, Ireland, and Switzerland. Add a marriage, a terrifying disease, two babies, and a seminary degree. Through all of these changes and interesting paths, do I still believe that the Lord is perfectly guiding, protecting, leading, shaping, molding, and using me?
Yes. I do.
It just looks a little different than I expected it to.
I have a feeling this is how it usually works.
It was particularly fitting to consider this most fundamental question on this particular Sunday. You see, right after church, Mark and I loaded the kids in the car and drove to Raleigh to attend the Ordination Service of one of our best friend's from seminary.
It was amazing!
I love ordination services, maybe even more than weddings. It is such a beautiful thing to see a young man, headed into the ministry, surrounded by supporting, loving mentors and elders, commissioned to a distinct calling in the ministry of the church ... and all of it done to the glory of God.
It seems like an ordination service is really the only time a guy in ministry gets singled out. It occurs right at the beginning of his "career", and welp, that's about it as far as recognition is concerned until he dies and gets to meet Jesus.
At this service, we were charged to PRAY diligently for Crawford and Rachel and their daughter. We were called to pray that the Holy Spirit would work powerfully in their own hearts, in their family and through their ministry with RUF at Duke University. I hope that Mark and I will be faithful to do this.
LOVE THEM!
As Mark is studying for his own ordination exams, and I am transitioning into the role of a Pastor's Wife (gasp), I am so grateful that in one day I was reminded that all of our life's work, regardless of failures or successes, will be handed over to the Lord at the end.
We will do this gratefully.
We will see Jesus, and we will be dying to give Him the glory and honor He deserves.
As for now, we are not to seek recognition for ourselves, but are to be the ultimate deflectors. Everything we do and say should point others towards Christ. I pray that this would be a common thread throughout all of our friend's ministries, whether church ministry, RUF, Young Life, mission work, and so on. Whether in Durham, Charlotte or Clover, Milwaukee, Conway, or New Orleans ...
(or Raleigh or Chatanooga or next door to me. Sorry friend, couldn't resist.)
And I pray that we will be faithful to pray for one another, knowing that without the Holy Spirit, everything is done is vain.
Lesson Learned: It is sobering to be reminded again that our lives are not our own. But it is also wonderful.
Congratulations again, Stevener's! We are so happy to be a part of what the Lord has done and is doing in your lives!
I have this great memory of singing this song during a worship service at Urbana, a huge missions conference, in 2006. I remember it carrying so much meaning, because in order to have the "mission" bent, we sang it in Chinese. At the time, Mark and I were dating, but Mark had been in China, serving with a missions organization for five months. I remember feeling like the song was this thoroughly symbolic thing, that Mark and I knew we had to be separated, and it was painful, but it was ultimately a good thing, that the gospel might go forth in China. I had an understanding of the Lord's glory, and I knew that at the end of our lives, whatever we had done or sacrificed for the sake of the gospel, would be given to Jesus. We would desire to give everything we had achieved or earned on earth over to Him, and that there would be no question whether or not a life devoted to serving Him had been worth it.
Urbana was a huge time of "consecration," if you will, of my life to the Lord's service. I thought for sure this meant missions (and it did for a brief time and might again), but regardless of what capacity, I was committed to following Jesus' lead wherever.
A few Sundays ago, the children of our church sang this same song during service, as they had learned it during the week at Vacation Bible School. Their voices were so sweet, and the words so simple. It immediately took me back to Urbana, to a room of mission driven young people, reminded me of my steadfast commitment, and caused me to question ... do I still believe all this?
I mean really. Where has this "commitment" taken me? Seven years forward. Factor in some time in China, Ireland, and Switzerland. Add a marriage, a terrifying disease, two babies, and a seminary degree. Through all of these changes and interesting paths, do I still believe that the Lord is perfectly guiding, protecting, leading, shaping, molding, and using me?
Yes. I do.
It just looks a little different than I expected it to.
I have a feeling this is how it usually works.
It was particularly fitting to consider this most fundamental question on this particular Sunday. You see, right after church, Mark and I loaded the kids in the car and drove to Raleigh to attend the Ordination Service of one of our best friend's from seminary.
It was amazing!
I love ordination services, maybe even more than weddings. It is such a beautiful thing to see a young man, headed into the ministry, surrounded by supporting, loving mentors and elders, commissioned to a distinct calling in the ministry of the church ... and all of it done to the glory of God.
It seems like an ordination service is really the only time a guy in ministry gets singled out. It occurs right at the beginning of his "career", and welp, that's about it as far as recognition is concerned until he dies and gets to meet Jesus.
At this service, we were charged to PRAY diligently for Crawford and Rachel and their daughter. We were called to pray that the Holy Spirit would work powerfully in their own hearts, in their family and through their ministry with RUF at Duke University. I hope that Mark and I will be faithful to do this.
LOVE THEM!
As Mark is studying for his own ordination exams, and I am transitioning into the role of a Pastor's Wife (gasp), I am so grateful that in one day I was reminded that all of our life's work, regardless of failures or successes, will be handed over to the Lord at the end.
We will do this gratefully.
We will see Jesus, and we will be dying to give Him the glory and honor He deserves.
As for now, we are not to seek recognition for ourselves, but are to be the ultimate deflectors. Everything we do and say should point others towards Christ. I pray that this would be a common thread throughout all of our friend's ministries, whether church ministry, RUF, Young Life, mission work, and so on. Whether in Durham, Charlotte or Clover, Milwaukee, Conway, or New Orleans ...
(or Raleigh or Chatanooga or next door to me. Sorry friend, couldn't resist.)
And I pray that we will be faithful to pray for one another, knowing that without the Holy Spirit, everything is done is vain.
Lesson Learned: It is sobering to be reminded again that our lives are not our own. But it is also wonderful.
Congratulations again, Stevener's! We are so happy to be a part of what the Lord has done and is doing in your lives!
May 23, 2013
Lesson 74: What I Learned In Seminary
A couple weeks ago a friend and I were excitedly talking about graduation, reflecting a bit on what we had finished, and considering what we were taking away from the whole seminary sha-bang. He, being the awesome future-campus-minister that he is, gave the thoroughly sanctified seminary answer which is to say, "I learned just how much I don't know."
I promptly replied, "Booooo!" (As you can see, I am not as sanctified as said friend.)
Y'all, let's hope that after 3 1/2 years, I learned slightly more than the fact that I don't know everything. In order to prove to myself and my friend just how much I've learned, I decided to compile a list for you.
This my friends is a free crash course in seminary!
- I learned that just one class can lead to four classes, which leads to five more, which eventually leads to a degree.
- I learned that as simple as that first sentence sounds, there is still a whole lot of work involved.
- I learned about eschatalogy, that we are living in the "last days", that we are currently in the "already, but not yet" and that this place in history explains a lot.
- I learned that Genesis 3:15 is the first gospel, the proto-euangelion, and that right from the beginning, the Lord had a plan to redeem his people.
- I learned covenant theology, progressive revelation, and the depth of the revelation and fulfillment that came in Christ.
- I learned that a baby can nap in all sorts of places (ex. the bookstore supply room).
- I learned how to love women, how to be a friend, how to have gospel-centered conversations, and how to carry people's burdens.
- I learned presuppositional apologetics, the transcendental argument.- Thank you, Dr. Anderson. Please ignore the next sentence.
- I learned way too much about non-Christian philosophers, and more importantly, I learned how grateful I am for the faithful men who have stood for truth over the years.
- I learned the cheesiest evangelistic line ever. (On an elevator say, "Are you going up? I mean the whole way up?")
- I learned time management.
- I learned that Jonathan Edwards took time out of every day to spend with his wife.
- I learned to trust my husband. Similarly, I learned to trust my husband's call.
- I learned about the early church martyrs and was amazed by their demonstrations of faith.
- I learned to exposit Scripture and teach the Bible in a much more systematic way.
- I learned about the holiness of God. - Thank you, Dr. Kelly.
- I learned to be a parent. (I'm still learning this.)
- I learned Greek. - Thank you, Dr. Cara.
- I learned that Cyril and Methodius created a very important language.
- I learned about Martin Luther's "Here I Stand" speech.
- I learned to think, like really make my brain strain and hurt, think. - Thank you, Dr. Anderson again.
- I learned how to have fun in the kitchen with girls, preparing for an event. - Thank you, Tari!
- I learned about typology. Seriously, WHO KNEW?!?!
- I learned the categories of prophet, priest, and king.
- I learned at least 9 questions and answers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism ... and then promptly forgot them.
- I learned that such a thing as grade idolatry exists. It is not pretty. - Thank you, Steven Chitty (not for suffering from it, but for exposing it.)
- I learned grace and forgiveness.
- I learned about Biblical Counseling ... and that it is amazing!
- I learned what it felt like to study for an exam in which I actually cared about the content.
- I learned that the Proverbs 31 woman is an ideal, not an actual person. Phew!
- I learned about the Great Awakening, Wesley and Whitefield, and how even Benjamin Franklin was impressed by these guys.
- I learned to appreciate the humor of Hebrew prose, especially in Judges.
- I learned that commentaries exist ... and that they are helpful.
- I learned about the recapitulation of Revelation, and my mind was blown. - Thank you, Dr. Kruger.
- I learned to cry more. - Thank you, Holley Gregory.
- I learned that there is much more to the Puritans than Hester Prynne and "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."
- I learned how important genre is in interpreting Scripture.
- I learned the power of consistent prayer before the Lord, especially in the darkest of circumstances. - Thank you, Lindsay Franks.
- I learned about Adoniram Judson, the first American missionary.
- I learned about the Church, the body of Christ, and how dearly the Lord regards her.
- I learned more fully the heart of the 10 commandments.
- I learned that all those dry bones passages with Joseph and Ezekiel are connected and important.
- I learned about gnosticism, pelagianism, arianism, modalism, adoptionism, and liberalism ... and that they are no good.
- I learned that worship should be both transcendent and immanent.
- I learned to sit under the preaching of newbies ... and have my heart changed.
- I learned how to be married and how to make friends as a married couple.
- I learned to mourn with a community of Christians, as one of our own lost a sweet baby to the Lord.
- I learned a ton of beautiful hymns.
- I learned about controversies in my denomination: genre of Gen 1-2, federal vision, Sonship, and I hopefully learned how to winsomely engage with brothers and sisters who come down differently than I.
- I learned the gospel ... again and again and again.
- Y'all, I learned about the Lord, and as I learned about Him, I grew to love Him more. I became more steadfast in my convictions, more joyful in my faith, and more hopeful for our future.
This really is just a snapshot. I could go on and on. What a wonderful, enriching time this has been! I am so grateful!
The Lord is so good!
Lesson Learned: Even if this list was exhaustive concerning my knowledge attained, I am still humbled by just how much I still don't know. Maybe we were both right?
I promptly replied, "Booooo!" (As you can see, I am not as sanctified as said friend.)
Y'all, let's hope that after 3 1/2 years, I learned slightly more than the fact that I don't know everything. In order to prove to myself and my friend just how much I've learned, I decided to compile a list for you.
This my friends is a free crash course in seminary!
- I learned that just one class can lead to four classes, which leads to five more, which eventually leads to a degree.
- I learned that as simple as that first sentence sounds, there is still a whole lot of work involved.
- I learned about eschatalogy, that we are living in the "last days", that we are currently in the "already, but not yet" and that this place in history explains a lot.
- I learned that Genesis 3:15 is the first gospel, the proto-euangelion, and that right from the beginning, the Lord had a plan to redeem his people.
- I learned covenant theology, progressive revelation, and the depth of the revelation and fulfillment that came in Christ.
- I learned that a baby can nap in all sorts of places (ex. the bookstore supply room).
- I learned how to love women, how to be a friend, how to have gospel-centered conversations, and how to carry people's burdens.
- I learned presuppositional apologetics, the transcendental argument.- Thank you, Dr. Anderson. Please ignore the next sentence.
- I learned way too much about non-Christian philosophers, and more importantly, I learned how grateful I am for the faithful men who have stood for truth over the years.
- I learned the cheesiest evangelistic line ever. (On an elevator say, "Are you going up? I mean the whole way up?")
- I learned time management.
- I learned that Jonathan Edwards took time out of every day to spend with his wife.
- I learned to trust my husband. Similarly, I learned to trust my husband's call.
- I learned about the early church martyrs and was amazed by their demonstrations of faith.
- I learned to exposit Scripture and teach the Bible in a much more systematic way.
- I learned about the holiness of God. - Thank you, Dr. Kelly.
- I learned to be a parent. (I'm still learning this.)
- I learned Greek. - Thank you, Dr. Cara.
- I learned that Cyril and Methodius created a very important language.
- I learned about Martin Luther's "Here I Stand" speech.
- I learned to think, like really make my brain strain and hurt, think. - Thank you, Dr. Anderson again.
- I learned how to have fun in the kitchen with girls, preparing for an event. - Thank you, Tari!
- I learned about typology. Seriously, WHO KNEW?!?!
- I learned the categories of prophet, priest, and king.
- I learned at least 9 questions and answers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism ... and then promptly forgot them.
- I learned that such a thing as grade idolatry exists. It is not pretty. - Thank you, Steven Chitty (not for suffering from it, but for exposing it.)
- I learned grace and forgiveness.
- I learned about Biblical Counseling ... and that it is amazing!
- I learned what it felt like to study for an exam in which I actually cared about the content.
- I learned that the Proverbs 31 woman is an ideal, not an actual person. Phew!
- I learned about the Great Awakening, Wesley and Whitefield, and how even Benjamin Franklin was impressed by these guys.
- I learned to appreciate the humor of Hebrew prose, especially in Judges.
- I learned that commentaries exist ... and that they are helpful.
- I learned about the recapitulation of Revelation, and my mind was blown. - Thank you, Dr. Kruger.
- I learned to cry more. - Thank you, Holley Gregory.
- I learned that there is much more to the Puritans than Hester Prynne and "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."
- I learned how important genre is in interpreting Scripture.
- I learned the power of consistent prayer before the Lord, especially in the darkest of circumstances. - Thank you, Lindsay Franks.
- I learned about Adoniram Judson, the first American missionary.
- I learned about the Church, the body of Christ, and how dearly the Lord regards her.
- I learned more fully the heart of the 10 commandments.
- I learned that all those dry bones passages with Joseph and Ezekiel are connected and important.
- I learned about gnosticism, pelagianism, arianism, modalism, adoptionism, and liberalism ... and that they are no good.
- I learned that worship should be both transcendent and immanent.
- I learned to sit under the preaching of newbies ... and have my heart changed.
- I learned how to be married and how to make friends as a married couple.
- I learned to mourn with a community of Christians, as one of our own lost a sweet baby to the Lord.
- I learned a ton of beautiful hymns.
- I learned about controversies in my denomination: genre of Gen 1-2, federal vision, Sonship, and I hopefully learned how to winsomely engage with brothers and sisters who come down differently than I.
- I learned the gospel ... again and again and again.
- Y'all, I learned about the Lord, and as I learned about Him, I grew to love Him more. I became more steadfast in my convictions, more joyful in my faith, and more hopeful for our future.
This really is just a snapshot. I could go on and on. What a wonderful, enriching time this has been! I am so grateful!
The Lord is so good!
Lesson Learned: Even if this list was exhaustive concerning my knowledge attained, I am still humbled by just how much I still don't know. Maybe we were both right?
May 21, 2013
Lesson 73: Happy Faces
(Been planning that pose for years.)
And we still love each other!
Lesson Learned: Yeehaw!
May 18, 2013
Lesson 72: The LAST Paper
I am currently writing (not writing) my last seminary paper. You would think that with twenty-three under my belt, this last 8-10 pager on marriage would be a breeze. Unfortunately, Mark and I went on a pre-finals graduation beach trip through yesterday, and well, I don't want to write it.
Here is a list of things I would rather be doing:
- Sitting on a couch in the beach house, playing cards, doing a puzzle, and being with friends.
- Looking at the new Elle Decor magazine.
- Mentally decorating my new house.
- Putting together fun touches for a graduation party we are hosting on Wednesday.
- Catching up on missed Glee episodes.
- Taking a shower.
- Reading a book about Montessori schooling, or really, anything not related to marriage.
- Hanging out with my husband (who is writing a sermon).
- Organizing my sock drawer. (Ok, not really. But, I was trying to sound slightly dramatic.)
Most importantly, I would rather be chillin' here blogging without an unfinished paper looming in the back of my mind.
Alas, I must go write. As in, I must go write my paper, not a blog.
I think I wanted to get this post up while I was still experiencing some of the assignment angst which is characteristic in seminary. Because y'all ... in three days, it will no longer be there!
I will be done.
Lesson Learned: Write all your papers before you go on vacation, not just most of them.
Here is a list of things I would rather be doing:
- Sitting on a couch in the beach house, playing cards, doing a puzzle, and being with friends.
- Looking at the new Elle Decor magazine.
- Mentally decorating my new house.
- Putting together fun touches for a graduation party we are hosting on Wednesday.
- Catching up on missed Glee episodes.
- Taking a shower.
- Reading a book about Montessori schooling, or really, anything not related to marriage.
- Hanging out with my husband (who is writing a sermon).
- Organizing my sock drawer. (Ok, not really. But, I was trying to sound slightly dramatic.)
Most importantly, I would rather be chillin' here blogging without an unfinished paper looming in the back of my mind.
Alas, I must go write. As in, I must go write my paper, not a blog.
I think I wanted to get this post up while I was still experiencing some of the assignment angst which is characteristic in seminary. Because y'all ... in three days, it will no longer be there!
I will be done.
Lesson Learned: Write all your papers before you go on vacation, not just most of them.
February 05, 2013
Lesson 64: It's the Final Countdown
I sat in my first seminary class of the semester today.
It was the first class of my last semester.
I experienced a mixture of emotions.
Excited to finish and move on to something else.
Sad to be finished and leave what is here.
Eager to dig into this semester's work.
Ready for all that work to be completed.
Reflective on how far we've come.
Curious concerning all that lies ahead.
It's an interesting place to be for sure.
A long time ago, before seminary, I read everything I could get my hands on by Elisabeth Elliot. Her late husband, Jim, said, "Wherever you are, be all there."
At this point, I am poised between the beginning of the end and the end. It's where I am. It is where I must be.
Lesson Learned: "Wherever you are, be all there." - Jim Elliot.
It was the first class of my last semester.
I experienced a mixture of emotions.
Excited to finish and move on to something else.
Sad to be finished and leave what is here.
Eager to dig into this semester's work.
Ready for all that work to be completed.
Reflective on how far we've come.
Curious concerning all that lies ahead.
It's an interesting place to be for sure.
A long time ago, before seminary, I read everything I could get my hands on by Elisabeth Elliot. Her late husband, Jim, said, "Wherever you are, be all there."
At this point, I am poised between the beginning of the end and the end. It's where I am. It is where I must be.
Lesson Learned: "Wherever you are, be all there." - Jim Elliot.
January 09, 2013
Lesson 59: 2013 Goals
Disclaimer: I just finished reading three friends' (moms') blogs, all regarding their New Year goals ... all written nine days late. I feel as though I am posting right on time.
My sister-in-law gave me a book over Christmas entitled, FIVE. Subtitle: Where will you be five years from today? The cover has a giant number 5 on it, and it's full of inspirational quotes and penetrating questions concerning the future. It gives guidance towards accomplishing goals and relates personal success stories. I'll copy just one part as it is concerns my alma mater.
"According to Dave Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech, people who regularly write down their goals earn nine times as much over their lifetimes as the people who don't, and yet 80% of Americans say they don't have goals. Sixteen percent do have goals, but they don't write them down. Less than four percent write down their goals, and fewer than one percent actually review them on an ongoing basis. Guess which one percent?"
Did you catch that? The most successful people in the world write down their goals and regularly review them! Good work blogging moms who are my friends mentioned in my disclaimer. You will one day rule the world. (Or at least achieve more that you desire over the course of your life than the rest of population).
My sister-in-law gave me a book over Christmas entitled, FIVE. Subtitle: Where will you be five years from today? The cover has a giant number 5 on it, and it's full of inspirational quotes and penetrating questions concerning the future. It gives guidance towards accomplishing goals and relates personal success stories. I'll copy just one part as it is concerns my alma mater.
"According to Dave Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech, people who regularly write down their goals earn nine times as much over their lifetimes as the people who don't, and yet 80% of Americans say they don't have goals. Sixteen percent do have goals, but they don't write them down. Less than four percent write down their goals, and fewer than one percent actually review them on an ongoing basis. Guess which one percent?"
Did you catch that? The most successful people in the world write down their goals and regularly review them! Good work blogging moms who are my friends mentioned in my disclaimer. You will one day rule the world. (Or at least achieve more that you desire over the course of your life than the rest of population).
December 06, 2012
Lesson 56: Finals Encouragement
I should be studying for the Genesis - Joshua final I am taking tomorrow. I only have 115 pages of notes to master. No. Big. Deal.
Instead, I'm listening to hymns reminding myself of why I'm doing all this studying in the first place.
Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ in this world.
I get chills thinking about my classmates, their families, and their life work that they will be engaged in in the next few years as we all leave seminary. All Christians are a part of the royal priesthood and have immediate access to our Father. And yet, some have been set apart for the purpose of teaching and leading the church. This is who Mark and I are in community with in seminary, listening, learning, studying, working, and preparing.
And right now, these guys (and girls) are in the midst of some pretty difficult exams. If you think to this week, pray for them (and us).
This song by Keith and Kristyn Getty always gets me. Sorry that the images are a bit corny. Just pay attention to the words and friends, remember again the purpose of our lives.
By Faith
Lesson Learned: The Lord is good and faithful, enabling us to complete the task which he has given to us.
Instead, I'm listening to hymns reminding myself of why I'm doing all this studying in the first place.
Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ in this world.
I get chills thinking about my classmates, their families, and their life work that they will be engaged in in the next few years as we all leave seminary. All Christians are a part of the royal priesthood and have immediate access to our Father. And yet, some have been set apart for the purpose of teaching and leading the church. This is who Mark and I are in community with in seminary, listening, learning, studying, working, and preparing.
And right now, these guys (and girls) are in the midst of some pretty difficult exams. If you think to this week, pray for them (and us).
This song by Keith and Kristyn Getty always gets me. Sorry that the images are a bit corny. Just pay attention to the words and friends, remember again the purpose of our lives.
By Faith
Lesson Learned: The Lord is good and faithful, enabling us to complete the task which he has given to us.
August 22, 2012
Lesson 36: The First Day of School (Back to School Series)
Today marks the beginning of the end.
Lord willing, just nine short months
from now, Mark and I both will cross the stage at Christ Covenant
Church to receive our seminary degrees. I get chills just thinking
about it. Sometimes I cry. The Lord has been good to bring us this
far.
I've always loved the first day of
school. In elementary school, I would lie awake all night, wondering
who else would be in my class, if my teacher would be nice and how I was
going to fare with the year's difficult task of say, learning cursive.
I would envision my outfit over and over. A “cool” girl, who was one grade older, lived across
the street. Whatever she had worn the year before on the first day of
school, I would wear the next year. I distinctly remember a floral
silk blouse and matching shorts with white Keds one year.
August 19, 2012
Lesson 33: Introducing the "Back to School" (Back to School Series)
Last week on "I Don't Have a Clue", I got on a series kick. I posted five times about decorating with the color white. You can start the series here if you missed out! I apologize to my readers (Paul) who do not care at all about decorating with the color white. Perhaps direct your wife in my direction?
This week, I've decided to continue to take the themed route. Mark and I are beginning our fall semester of seminary on Wednesday. This means that we have spent the last week preparing and planning!
Mark's tasks included changing our water filter (we're on a well), getting internet installed (our neighbors moved), taking our 4-runner for an oil change, fixing a turn signal, ordering an immersion hand-blender off groupon (he wants me to make soup), registering Hudson for a birth certificate (a few months late), and compiling our reading lists.
My tasks have been much more important!
I tackled formulating a meal plan, completing back to school shopping, scoring as a lazy couponer, and organizing a very important portion of my house! This and more is what you have to look forward to this week, along with some reflection hitting around Wednesday! If you prefer the more written posts, this is your day!
To get us in the right mindset, what do you think of when you think of going back to school?
Lesson Learned: If I pick a theme, I am able to stick with it for more posts. I am not convinced I want to go the series route always, but I'm experimenting right now!
Keep Reading!
This week, I've decided to continue to take the themed route. Mark and I are beginning our fall semester of seminary on Wednesday. This means that we have spent the last week preparing and planning!
Mark's tasks included changing our water filter (we're on a well), getting internet installed (our neighbors moved), taking our 4-runner for an oil change, fixing a turn signal, ordering an immersion hand-blender off groupon (he wants me to make soup), registering Hudson for a birth certificate (a few months late), and compiling our reading lists.
My tasks have been much more important!
I tackled formulating a meal plan, completing back to school shopping, scoring as a lazy couponer, and organizing a very important portion of my house! This and more is what you have to look forward to this week, along with some reflection hitting around Wednesday! If you prefer the more written posts, this is your day!
To get us in the right mindset, what do you think of when you think of going back to school?
Lesson Learned: If I pick a theme, I am able to stick with it for more posts. I am not convinced I want to go the series route always, but I'm experimenting right now!
Keep Reading!
May 03, 2012
Lesson 7: Roses and Thorns
You know the old saying “every rose
has its thorn.” Well, turns out its true. In fact, every rose on
the gigantic rose bush in my front yard has many, many thorns. I know
because I just spent the last hour “dead heading” it and ended up
with minute prickers all over my body. Dead heading is a new term for me
having nothing to do with people who follow around the Grateful Dead
(bad joke, sorry). It's actually pretty self-explanatory. It means,
cutting off the dead flower heads on a bush. The goal is that by doing so, the
plant will actually bloom again and again and again.
This particular rose bush was
inherited when we moved into this house nine months ago, but it is so
absolutely beautiful and smells so deliciously good that it really is
a source of pride for me. Until today, I personally have not actually
done a thing to maintain it (Mark cut it way back last fall), but as
its the biggest and most colorful thing you see when you pull around
the bend to our house, I feel as if it sends a message to guests
about the beauty and good smells (?) that lie within. Thankfully,
it's planted directly next to the place we keep our trashcan, aka
outdoor diaper pail. I digress.
Today the rose bush came to my
attention because we are hosting a graduation party for some of our
seminary friends in two weeks, and as the showpiece of our yard, it
is essential that the rose bush is on the top of its game. The party
is going to be awesome … yard games including frisbee golf,
cornhole, volleyball, kickball, croquet, bocce, you name it, we've
got it! Late night is going to include a sweet fire pit with s'mores
and perhaps a dance party under our Christmas light lit carport! And
for food, what else but a giant smoked pig, southern style! No less
important, the party is marking a really important milestone in our
friends' lives. We are celebrating the completion of years of hard
work and sacrifice. Their graduation from seminary puts them one step
closer to being ordained as ministers of the gospel.
Awesome.
And yet, as the saying goes, even this
rose has its thorn. See, when you graduate from high school, you and
your friends cry a ton, write really emotional messages in each
others' yearbooks, and promise to visit during college. My friends
and I even recorded a video with a short segment of everyone doing
their best talent … on VHS. You think to yourself, I will never
make friends like these again.
Then you get to college and realize,
it is possible and even more so, because now you get to live with
your friends and that in itself means there is a party every night of
the week. So fun, but alas, college cannot last forever and
eventually, that too ends, bringing separation from more friends and the
definite conclusion that you will never make friends like these again. And this is true, for most people. People end up living where
they get a job, and are lucky to have a few good friends close by to
make the awkward transition discussed in my first blog post bearable.
People then get married, have babies, and life phases continually
move various people in and out.
Ya'll … but here's the thing, if you
go to graduate school, especially a small seminary like the one we
do, you can make that group of friends again! Only this time, you
are married. My friend loves to describe seminary by saying it's
like college, only better because you get to live with your
boyfriend! It also has a different dynamic because everyone there is
pursing a goal similar to your own. It is a breeding ground for sweet
friendships (and babies, but that's a different story).
About a year
ago I found myself thinking about the girls I had met at school and
thinking, “wow, I'm really glad my friend Jenni married such a nice
boy.” “It sure is good my friend Rachel has such a sweet husband.
He really is good enough for her.” What's funny about this is that
these girls were already married when I met them. Their husbands had
the prior claim to them, not me. I had actually gotten to a point where I had forgotten that I haven't actually known them my whole life. Still, it is always nice when you
like your friends' husbands.
Back to the rose / thorn thing. Though this party marks an great accomplishment, it also means we
will be saying good-bye to some of our really good friends. We are
proud of them and super excited for what the future holds for each of
them, but honestly, it would be way more fun if that future could be
located in the same city that our future is located in. It's probably
not going to happen.
There's a line from a song that always
comes to mind at times like these, times of reflection over a
specific period of time. “Lately it occurs to me: What a long
strange trip its been.”
I don't plan on drawing conclusions
right now. Conclusions are for when you've gotten to the end of the
matter, but seeing as the next two weeks bring paper deadlines and
finals, the end is not yet here and thus, I don't need to conclude.
Rather, I need to continue to ready our house for the party and
continue to process the way this newest end will bring about new
change … roses and thorns.
Guesses on who sings the song?
Lesson Learned: Gloves are not a bad
idea when pruning rose bushes.
New note: Hi. For some reason, this post continues to generate a fair amount of weekly traffic even though it is very old. I'm curious about how you ended up here. Why did you decide to read this post? Leave a little comment if you wouldn't mind!
Thanks! (Aug. 16, 2012)
New note: Hi. For some reason, this post continues to generate a fair amount of weekly traffic even though it is very old. I'm curious about how you ended up here. Why did you decide to read this post? Leave a little comment if you wouldn't mind!
Thanks! (Aug. 16, 2012)
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