Baby Brother Is All Grown Up

My little brother Paul(who is about 7-8 inches taller then me) graduated from college(with honors) in May! What a fun day to celebrate his accomplishment! All 5 kiddos stayed home with 2 babysitters and Blake and I were able to attend the graduation and go to a celebratory lunch! I am so proud of Paul!

Paul and Joel - Best friends since childhood!

Paul and Laura

Paul and Rene(mentor)

Paul and Drew - Best friends

Kindergarten

The first day of kindergarten for your oldest feels a little surreal. Even if you aren't dropping him off at school or putting him on a bus. Will is being homeschooled. But I still found it hard to see the 5 1/2 year old standing in front of me... 

I'll admit that most of the hard work is being carried out my Mimi this semester. That probably has something to do with why this whole homeschooling thing is going to well. :) But it is. Going well I mean. He is learning quickly. Loves work book pages. Now that he has our phone number and address memorized I'm praying a stranger doesn't ask him because he loves to show off. :) The boy is smart. 

I was texting my mom about 2 new words he sounded out on Friday... "ran" and "ram". I haven't been able to bring myself to delete her response yet: "What a testimony to God's grace. The woman that gave birth to him couldn't even sign her name." It's true. She used her finger print because she couldn't write. 

God's grace in this boys life = God's grace in our life. If only I could slow time a bit. I can't wait to see what God's grace will do for him in the years to come, but today... I want to hand out stickers. And draw smiley faces by traced letters. 

A New Outfit

Blake brought home something exciting... Graduation is less then 2 weeks away!

Smiles

We are smiling in our house today... Blake heard from his professor yesterday evening. He has a defensable draft of his dissertation and he is going to sign off on it! This is a tremendous answer to prayer. Only a few weeks ago, we were not sure that this was going to happen in the time it needed to in order to graduate this December. There are a few days of corrections to make and then Blake will turn it in by Wednesday and will be hands off until his oral defense in October! There will be lots of studying and thinking and practice arguing :) until then, but we can't help but feel overwhelmingly thankful for every step we get to cross along the way. Thank you for praying with us... Please continue. I have become so greatful for this process and all that the Lord is teaching me about himself through it.

Relief

Blake e-mailed the main rough draft of his dissertation off last night at about 4:50 pm!

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary was having their annual "Family Night" beginning at 6:00 pm and we were actually able to go! We met my mom, dad, and brother Paul and had fun like we haven't had in literally months!

Will went right down this monstrous slide!

Paul and Blake raced.  I won't say who won.

 I can not even tell you how much this girl is growing up!

 A prince needs a sword. This prince was pretty happy with his cotton candy! :)

 Don't ask who dad bet would win... Oh, wait!

Did I say "bet"? I mean, "guessed".

The Ring girls absolutely love their Mimi! Don't know what we would do without her!

There are still a few hoops to jump through before we reach graduation, but for now we are thrilled to have a few days without writing! "Relief" was the word of the night. Thank you for praying for us.

Our Good

Updates have been few and far between recently... Mainly because we are still in the middle of utter chaos! Blake's second draft of his dissertation is due in exactly 1 week. Every spare minute is spent at the library. A plus? Our grocery bill has been less because I am seldom cooking! :)

"He has promised to use everything in your life for your good and His glory. This is the kind of watchful, fatherly love He has for you... You can rest in His everlasting arms - now." Give Them Grace, pg. 28

There was a much needed week long break that came after turning in the last draft and receiving it back to make corrections. The amount of time left to finish the corrections is overwhelming. It will be such a LONG week, and yet I wish there was more time for him!  He lives, eats, and breathes the life of Dan Kimbell at this moment and to be honest I am not the least bit jealous! :) I would rather that we push on and finish, then spend longer then we have to with our lives revolving around this man I have never met(though I am sure he is a wonderful man). :)

"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23

I am learning so much about gratitude. There have been few times in my life that I feel have been harder then then the last 7 months. I am learning how to totally depend on Christ. I am learning how to be independent as a mother and caretaker of our home(though I will admit our yard is looking rough). As difficult and stressful as it has been, I am truly so greatful for this time.

"Thanksgiving - giving thanks in everything - prepares the way that God might show us His fullest salvation in Christ." One Thousand Gifts, pg. 39

I know I'm rambling. Blake has been gone about 12 hours now. "For our good" is what I have been running in my head today. "For our good" is what I whispered to myself after I browned up 2 lbs of stew meat and realized I didn't have what I needed for the dinner I had planned, but was home alone with napping kids. "For our good", as I sat with my friend whose husband started the PhD program with Blake and we let our kids run WILD so we could have a moment or two of adult conversation.

"If the church is in Christ, it's initial act is always an act of thanksgiving, of returning the world to God." Alexander Schmemann

We covet your prayers. Life right now is tiring, but tonight, I can honestly say that I know that this is "for our good".

Study Break

Blake has been spending many evenings at the library writing this summer. On those long days, I try to take the kids up so we can spend a few minutes visiting with him. On this particular night it was VERY hot and the children were relieved to find some relief in the largest sprinkler these kiddos had ever seen. :)

words

"But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think."
- George Gordon Byron

I have alot of blogging to do to catch you up on the past few months. I find myself far too tired to do that tonight. But I did feel led to give a brief update of where our family is in terms of Blake's writing... Technically, the rough draft of his dissertation is due tomorrow. He has been gone several full days a week for the entire summer. For the past 11 days he has been gone from about 8am - 10pm...

"By words we learn thoughts, and by thoughts we learn life."

- Jean Baptiste Girard

At this very moment, he is writing/correcting his final chapter in his office. About 180 pages total I believe...

"For me, words are a form of action, capable of influencing change. Their articulation represents a complete, lived experience."

- Ingrid Bengis

He is tired. I am tired. The kids are tired of things being like this. Just since beginning this simple post, I have had to go upstairs to quiet Will and Riley(who have been in bed for an hr!), not one time, but two.

"I like good strong words that mean something."

- Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Yesterday, I purchased a copy of One Thousand Gifts: Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. As I began reading, I sarcastically thought, "What great timing to begin this book." After the first chapter I was praising God with "What great timing to begin this book!"

"For me, words are a form of action, capable of influencing change. Their articulation represents a complete, lived experience."

- Ingrid Bengis

I find myself extrememly tired tonight... I probably shouldn't have push mowed the lawn last night after putting the kids to bed. When I got home I decided to read another chapter from the book and suddenly find myself feeling so blessed that Blake has the opportunity to be in school. That I was able to bring my children home to a cool home. That tonight(eventually) I get to lay in bed next to the one I love.

"If words are to enter men's minds and bear fruit, they must be the right words shaped cunningly to pass men's defenses and explode silently and effectually within their minds."

- J. B. Phillips

Please whisper words to the Father on our behalf. There is still much to be done tonight and tomorrow and while the break that follows is desperately needed, it will be short lived. Corrections, additional research, and rewrites will come. Pray for the words he types as they are beginning to run together. Pray for the words I speak to my children, as I have spent about 2 hours away since this stretch of craziness started 11 days ago.

"Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world."
- Lawrence G. Lovasik

A Work In Progress

There is our home. There is Ninth and O Baptist Church. Then there is James P. Boyce Centennial Library.

These are the places that call to the my husband.

Before we know if though, we'll be knocking that boring, quiet library off the list.

This crazy amazing man is almost done with chapter 2!

 

Job in Jeopordy?

On Monday, Dr. Denny Burk, Professor of New Testament at Criswell College in Dallas, TX, announced that he is moving to Louisville to become Dean of Bocye College, the undergraduate school to Southern Seminary.

Prior to moving to Dallas, Denny and Susan where beloved members at Ninth and O and their announcement to return to the Louisville area has been received with cheers, jubilation, and the occasional frolicking in the streets (okay, I made the last one up). My only rub with Denny coming back to Louisville is that prior to leaving Louisville, he taught the college students at Nintha and O, which is the position I currently hold. Does this mean I need to update my resume? :) Welcome Home Burks!