Monday, December 12, 2011

The Graduate

 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)
Oh, the excitement and the anticipation of the day...!

The applause, the laughs, the tears of joy.

The accomplishment.

The honor.



After 3 years of intense study, my dear husband Seth graduated from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Practical Theology.  He not only graduated--he graduated WELL.  He received the honor of Suma Cum Laude with a GPA of  3.96, and was also the top Christian Studies graduate of his graduating class.


I'm so very proud of this accomplishment.  Tears of joy well up as I write.  I'm so very proud of my man!


This is evidence of God at work for sure!  How else could a 34 year old man with a demanding loving wife, 2 very active preteen/teen kids, and a full-time youth pastor position possibly have time for school and then do so well while there?  It's absolutely an amazing thing!  Praise God! He is SO good.

The kids are pretty proud of Dad, too!


What's next?

Well, Seth is pursuing graduate school or seminary to get his Master's degree now.  He will take the spring semester off and then start back up full swing in the fall of 2012.

I think he's earned a break, don't you?





Wednesday, December 7, 2011

I'm at a loss...for words

I have been cruising along here just fine with my blog lately. I've been loving the wonderful scriptures and lists that the LORD has brought to my mind.

Why then, have I gotten derailed?  I can't think of anything!


Maybe it's because I have too much going on right now.  End of year stuff is crazy.  My job, my family, the schools, church, the youth group......my calendar is a mess!  I never thought that my love for writing would come in around 8th place in my priorities this time of year.  It has been very surprising to me.  I run around the house picking up, or cooking, or getting someone ready for something and I look at my computer and long to sit and type my thoughts.  But, I don't have any thoughts to type right now.  What is up with that??

As I sit here in my office and type this blog post, I'm thinking to myself, "You DO have thoughts.  You are typing them right now, silly!"  Hmmm.....

But they aren't interesting thoughts.  They are just my normal, everyday thoughts that I am sure nobody wants to read.  But, as I type those words, I am thinking that maybe that's where I need to be in order for God to speak through me.  I need to be at a loss for words so that HE can give me the words to say.....

Wow.  God is speaking and directing my thoughts throughout this entire blog post.  That is awesome and I am so humbled that He would spend time with me today on such a trivial thing.  Selah.

 It's not trivial to Him, however.  My dependence on God  is the key to successful blog posts.  He gave me the desire and He is equipping me with the skills to do His work.  I am so honored!  As a smile creeps across my face, I am comforted that I don't have to KNOW what to write.  I just need to be willing to be obedient.

Blessings will follow.  :-)  *sigh*