Road Trip to Louisville

Last Thursday and Friday Ron, Maddie and I went on a road trip. Let me back up a few months to explain why this trip was made.

In the fall, Ron was finishing his thesis and then began the process of applying for PhD work. His love is to teach and his desire is to earn his PhD in Church History. Specifically the area of Patristics. So he applied to Asbury Seminary, Southern Baptist Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. About a month or more back he heard from Southern when they said he had gotten past the first round of the application process and that they would like him to come to campus for Phase II. So that was Friday. He was to come and take an on site 3 hour exam with 3 questions, then in the afternoon he would be interviewed by several faculty in the area of his interest (church history). So, Maddie and I went along too.

Now let me back up a little bit again. When Ron started this application process, we prayed a lot. He went in the fall and visited all 3 schools. I couldn't go at that time, but I prayed not only for good visits, but for some kind of direction just from the visits. He reported back with what appeared to be the best experience from Southern Baptist. So that, in my mind, was an answer to prayer.

Then when he got the information and invitation to come down for Phase II, we again prayed that I could make the trip too. He wanted me to see the campus and be apart of this process. Up until the week before we were pretty certain that this was not going to work. We couldn't take the boys out of school for 2 days and one Grandma was working while the other was having her first chemo treatment. Even our fill in grandparents were planning to be gone for that weekend. So we decided that I would stay home with the kids and just wait for a report. Then Ron's dad called. He wanted to stay with them. Now I know some of you think my boys are good boys, and I guess they are. But believe me when I say they are a handful, especially in the privacy of our home. So Grandpa was taking on quite the task, but we thanked the Lord that again He had answered and provided a way for me to go. The Lord additionally provided a check from an anonymous person that would provide the means to make the trip. Praise the Lord!

So last Thursday, Maddie, Ron and I were off. I would love to say we had a fun night out in a hotel and enjoyed being away for a night, and perhaps I could if our night out was after the exam and interview, but in fact - Ron studied after dinner until bed and again in the morning before leaving to take the exam.

I would also love to show some pictures of him studying, Maddie relaxing, and of our friends (Kristen and Emily) who came to visit us while we waited on Ron, but I can't get them on here.

So I'll just tell you that it is a beautiful HUGE campus and we enjoyed our stay. Ron thought things went well, but we won't hear for sure for about 4 weeks.

So now we wait. There are many unknowns. There are many questions and I have lots of fears. Do we really need to move again? and now? What will a move look like? What will full time schooling look like again, only now with 4 kids? How will all of this work? and How will the kids react to whatever happens?

So many unanswered questions and even more that have yet to be asked. Ron has also been accepted to Asbury to their Masters Program - which they are saying he needs to begin there before applying to the PhD program. Given the fact that he has his MDiv and will graduate in May with his Masters of Sacred Theology, were both leaning away from yet a third Masters.

We are trusting that The Lord of the Universe knows today, tomorrow and our future and we are putting our Trust in Him. He knows how much I love living in Ney and He knows how much I hate the thought of a move, but He also knows the future and sees more than I can imagine. He will take care of all the details and has asked that we simply Trust HIM!

We ask for your prayers too as we Trust in the Lord and wait for His leading!