now it's official!

We had a PACKED graduation weekend, but what a great weekend it was! I will probably make several posts to show so many different events that took place! We had things going morning & evening for 3 straight days and in between that we were trying to squeeze in some time with Andrew's family members who had been able to come for the weekend!

We are SO proud of Andrew!

He graduated Summa Cum Laude and I KNOW how hard he has worked these past few years. It was exciting to see how that has paid off.

Friday evening we attended the Baccalaurate Service with Andrew's parents and brother and sister-in-law.

We were excited to have a night out - Childless!! my camera was on the wrong setting, so these pics didn't turn out great. boo.

THE WALK!

one of Andrew's favorite professors (am I allowed to say that?!) who is leaving after this year.

us with Dr. Jack & Cathy - we will miss you guys!

graham did so great through all craziness of the weekend!

wasn't a huge fan of the hat though. :)

Some of Andrew's buddies

(Jordan graduated last year)

look at all those cords....smarties....but they've also worked really hard!!

congrats guys.

now splitting to head to Portland, Vancouver, & Pittsburgh.

...................

Stephen, Jordan, Rob, & Andrew

and the wives...also great friends!

All of us are pianists and 3 of us have taught piano these last 4 years to help put our hubbies through seminary.

Sue & I had babies 5 weeks apart, and Sarah & Julie are expecting!

Andrew & his sweet mom

done. complete. finished.

10 pm Sunday night, he sits cranking out his final reading!

4,300 pages read? check.

book of Hosea translated into Hebrew? check.

150 pages of written work? check.

and yes, that was just this semester!

*EDIT*
apparently, the translating was done from Hebrew into English. I didn't know there was a difference, but now I do!

"we" are done with seminary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we look forward to graduation on Sunday!

take a nice long nap, babe, you deserve it!!
we are soooooo proud of you.

Seminary Wives

Last week I attended my FINAL seminary wives get-together.

(these are some of the faces of friends! yes, I took these from your facebooks! don't hate me :~) I wish I had time to put everyone's pic - so sorry if I missed you.

One of the most encouraging aspects of seminary for me has been interacting with the professor's wives and other seminary wives. They would hold monthly get-togethers and I always loved getting together with this group of ladies. Some years I could participate more than others because of my teaching schedule and I wish I could have attended everything!

It was encouraging to mingle with the other wives because most of them were at the exact place in life as Andrew & I were. Most had gotten married and moved here for seminary. So those first few years we were all adjusting to not only seminary life, but married life as well. As we neared the end of our time here, many of us either recently had babies or are expecting to soon! So we had many pregnancy/labor/mommyhood stories to relate!

Learning from the faculty wives who have served with their husbands, not only through seminary, but doctoral work as well and then as they went on to teach at seminary was also wonderful. These women can understand what it means to be married to a life-long studier more than anyone!

So I am so thankful for all the wives who have impacted my life here and taught by example how to love your husband and children, exhibit graciousness and patience, and continually put others above themselves.

I hope these are lessons I will not forget and that God will continue to remind me of my time here and what I have learned.

I want to encourage other wives who are still in seminary to thoroughly enjoy this unique opportunity you have to be a seminary wife. Encourage your husband, let him know that you are happy to be in this journey with him. He needs your full support! Don't wish the time away, but embrace what God has to teach you during this time.

That being said...I am THRILLED to be a post-seminary wife!! Praise God for his graciousness to us during these four years.

Reason to Rejoice #7

s.e.v.e.n.

that number sounds heavenly right now. Today Andrew completed semester #7 of his current seminary degree. Since this degree happens to be an 8 semester course, that means only ONE to go!!! I praise God for his diligence & perseverance during these semesters. though at times the stress & busyness has affected even his health & his sleep and he's had to pass on things that he'd rather be doing... God has always given him the grace to take one more day. And somehow it always gets done! So...AMAZING JOB babe, Graham and I can't wait to celebrate with you the final semester on May 3rd!!

7 down, 1 to go!!

Enjoy your winter break from classes fully!