Sophie's solution to her crazy brother

So Sophie and I were having a conversation about our new baby coming very soon. I told her, "we're gonna have to protect him from 'Chasey-boy' (a nickname given to Chason by her) so that he doesn't hit the baby too hard or be too rough with him, cause Chasey can be crazy, huh!?" We both laughed and she thoughtfully replied "maybe we should send him to Minnesota." Caught off guard by her seemingly well though out and calculated answer, I asked her "Who?" And she so matter-of-factly said "Chasey, maybe we should send him back to Minnesota."

Going to bed alone

*Nate and his nightly routine of winding the kids up after dinner - I love it! They love it. This pic reminded me that even when our hours together are short and seem to fly by, the time spent is full of such joy and is so precious.

So we are at the end of week 2 for Nate's classes and I think that the reality of how much we are actually going to be seeing daddy around the house - or lack thereof - has set in.

Last week he had a grueling schedule, but it was week 1 and he had no reading, quizzes or tests, or reading - did I say reading, haha - that he was coming off of. I think he said they estimated 22.5 hours of class time for this week (Old Testament 1: Pentateuch with Bruce Chick - whom I heard affectionately referred to as "Bruce the beast" by one of our pastors) and 25 or 26 hours of study time. So this week, some mornings I will see him as he gets ready to leave the house, for maybe all of 20 mins, but usually he has left or is reading in his office until he leaves. Then he will come home for dinner between 5pm & 5:30pm, will play with the kids, help with dishes and baths, do a bible story with Sophie and then will be back to the school by 7pm or 7:30pm. This week he has gotten home well after I have already been in bed - then we start over the next day.

But with all of that said, I have to say that I am more aware of God's grace at work in our lives than ever. I see how gracious Jesus has been to our family, allowing even the short times we are together to be sweet and satisfying. I am growing in love and affection for my husband daily, even though I see him so much less. I am thankful for the Holy Spirit at work in my heart, the "old me" would have stewed and felt sorry for myself, being 8 mos pregnant, away from home and having to care for 2 small (very wild, lol) children while Nate is away most of the time. But I am truly filled with joy that I am able to serve my husband in these things. God is revealing to my heart the eternal purposes for what I do as a mother and wife, how these things are for His kingdom and His glory. From laundry, to changing dirty diapers, disciplining my 3 year old for the 50th time that day, to grocery shopping with both kids in tow - I am fulfilling God's purposes ... and that is worth going to bed alone for a season.

My First Week - ST 1

Week one is complete! Last week was my first class, which was "Systematic Theology 1", with Jeff Purswell. It was phenomenal - lots of work, but amazing. Jeff has to be the most brilliant guys I have ever met, and I am humbled by the fact that I get him as a professor and dean for the entire year. Amazing. Read more about Jeff here.

The class focused on the doctrine of the word of God - so areas such as scriptures authority, inspiration, trustworthiness - and ultimately, seeing the Bible as the culmination of God's revelation and redemptive acts for his people. I leave you with a stand-out quote from my studies:

“Scripture was written by the Holy Spirit that it might serve him in guiding the church, in the perfecting of the saints, in the building up of the body of Christ. In it God daily comes to his people. In it he speaks to his people, not from afar but from nearby. In it he reveals himself, from day to day, to believers in the fullness of his truth and Grace. Through it he works his miracles of compassion and faithfulness. Scripture is the ongoing rapport between heaven and earth, between Christ and his church, between God and his children. It does not just tie us to the past; it binds us to the living Lord in the heavens. It is the living voice of God, the letter of the omnipotent god to his creature. . . . Divine inspiration, accordingly, is a permanent attribute of Holy Scripture. It was not only “God-breathed” at the time it was written; it is “God-breathing.""

Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics 1.385.

This weeks class is "Old Testatment 1", with Bruce Chick.

PC class Intro to CLC

This Sunday morning we were officially introduced to Covenant Life Church. Following announcements in both services, a slide show was played showing all of our families and where we were from and then we all lined up on stage - receiving the most humbling round of applause that brought many of us to tears. The reception we have received from this church body has been indescribable. Jeff Purswell spoke and gave some stats unique to our class and then Gary Ricucci prayed for us. Here is a list of some of the details of PC Class of 2010:

· 17 Students (16 married, 1 single)

· Students ages range from 23 to 40, with the average age being 32 y/o

· 36 children in the class ranging from 3 weeks to 15 years old

· 7 women currently pregnant (Formerly 8, one gave birth 3 weeks ago - that's 1/2 the class having PC babies!)

· 3 students born internationally

· 1 student being prepared to plant a Spanish speaking church in the Miami area

· More than half the students come from church staff positions - which is usually not the case

· 3 of the churches represent Sovereign Grace adopted churches - 1 from WA last year, ours from MN last month, and one in the process of adoption from MI

Our CRAZY kids, changing every day ...

...which I guess can be both good and bad :). I shouldn't say bad, just a constant challenge for mom and dad, which in essence is good because it is pushing us towards Jesus more and uncovering our desperate need for his grace and help in our parenting these 2 (soon to be 3) very active kids (yes, I am already experiencing the constant activity of baby boy in my belly, don't think he sleeps - at least not at night!).

Nate began school on Monday and that very same day, Chason decided that he no longer wanted to take his morning naps - sigh. Though, since the day we arrived in MD, he has been sleeping through the night all on his own (before he would still wake up at least once, usually twice at night - I think him being in his own room is a big contributing factor to the change). He grows crazier and more daring every day, seriously ALL boy! And he is usually wearing proof of it on his forehead in the form of a bruise - one clears up and he's climbing and jumping off of something else to replace it. He's starting to say more words, his newest phrase is "look at that, look at that!" It's hilarious. And he loves puppies, so anything that looks remotely like a dog, or if he hears one bark, he'll point and exclaim "look at that pup-pup!" It's really the cutest.

Sophie is still facing some challenges adjusting to the move. It will be 1 month we've been here on Weds, and I still have battles getting her to bed. Her new thing is to sneak into our room in the middle of the night with her pillow and all of her blankets and to sleep in our doorway. I've let her do it, but I am starting to put her back into her bed, I just don't want this habit to be something she is still doing when the baby comes in a couple months. Aside from that, and some potty training reverting issues, I am trying to discern if the attitudes, behaviors, etc. are "adjustment" related or if it's just "3" - which I am finding WAAAAY more challenging than 2 ever was.

Though she did show us a glimmer of hope the other day, really, God in his goodness and grace towards Nate and I showed us - but we were eating dinner and out of the blue she looks at me and says "sorry, I forgive you for pushing you, I forgive you..." and at first we were puzzled, then I remembered that morning when she woke up she was very grouchy and I went to see her when Nate was holding her on the couch and she kicked at me and pushed me away. So I asked "you're sorry for when you pushed mommy on the couch?" and she said "yes, sorry, I forgive you." Nate and I just looked at each other and my eyes welled up with tears and I told her that I forgave her :). Especially struck me that the incident had happened 8 hours earlier and still she remembered and felt the need to ask forgiveness (in her own little way). So though I may have tough days and feel like I am failing as a mom at times, Jesus is still at work in my little girl's heart despite me. SO thankful for that!

I do NOT have a Minnesotan accent!

Ok, so I guess living in MN for 11 and a half years it is ok to give into the fact that I have traded my California valley girl slang ("like, oh my gosh!") and have now adapted, "dont'chya know", to the long drawn out "O's" of Minnesooota. Not proud, but i'll accept it, LOL!

That's what happens when you get with a group of people from all over the U.S. , they kindly point out things like this :). We had our 1st official event of the PC year, our Ladies Luncheon, yesterday. It was so wonderful to finally meet face to face all of these women I have been facebooking or whose family's pictures I have been staring at on my fridge for the last several months. I came home trying to explain to Nate what an amazing afternoon I had and couldn't even speak I was so choked up (No! Hilary, choked up??). But really, I am realizing more and more how blessed and priviledged I am to be a part of something like this and am humbled that Jesus has our family here, for this specific season.

Betsy Ricucci said many things that stuck with me yesterday - I quickly learned I never want to be without note taking supplies when I am around her - but one that hit me, "This year will never happen again". We will never do this Pastors College thing again. Oh how my heart aches at the thought of missed opportunities and regrets being had at the end of this year. If it was up to me, that would happen, but I am thankful for his grace that it isn't.

Matt 6:8 says "...for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." And Romans 8:32 says "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he also not with him graciously give us all things?" I am clinging to these verses this year, ever grateful that he knows our hearts, our sin and our shortcomings. We are so undeserving, yet through his Son, Jesus, he graciously gives us all things! We serve a mighty, merciful and GRACIOUS God! So looking forward to what this next year holds - Orientation tomorrow, then Nate's 1st day of school Monday - we're really doing this thing!!

God's PERFECT provision

Most of you know the quick process of Nate's getting accepted to Sovereign Grace Pastor's College out here in MD (applied end of April I believe, got word of his acceptance the 1st week of June, moved out here 1st week of August), but my favorite part is how Jesus TOTALLY made the way for us to get here, and provided down to the detail for this new season of our lives.

First, financially, we have been so blessed by our church family at Oasis. Without the generosity and selflessness of our brothers and sisters in MN, I don't know how we would be doing this. We are so humbled by each of you and the love and support you have shown us. Most of all, we glorify God because of the evidence of God's grace at work in each of you. Your giving is not just for Nate to go to school, but for the furthering of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the expansion of the church for whom he came and died. We love you guys so much and are expectant of all that God has in store for you this next year and can't wait to be back with you to witness all that he has done!

Secondly, our house renting - WOW, now this is a story (I'll give you the abbreviated version, lol!). So we are less than 2 weeks away from moving, and we still have not had any serious prospects. We get a call Tuesday from someone who saw us on craigslist. They come over Thursday to look at the house and call Friday evening to say they want it! Nate emails over a copy of the lease for them to review and Sunday night they call and say "would we be able to do a 10 month lease instead of a 12 month?" ABSOLUTELY!! That in itself was an answer to prayer, Nate graduates the 1st week in June, so we were going to have to find somewhere to live for up to 2 months in the interum, but now we get to go directly home to our house! Also, I was heartbroken that we were going to have to paint over the mural that my mom did in Sophie's room when we got renters (it's REALLY pink, butterflies, cherry blossom tree...). Our neighbor suggested we wait to do it, just maybe the renters that came along would love it - and they did!! They have a little girl that will be 2 in Sept and loved the room as is :). So they came over Monday evening, signed the lease (5 days before we were moving out mind you) and moved in Saturday morning! We drove out of MN on Monday praising God for his perfect provision and timing and that we have a wonderful family living in our house till we get back.

Ephesians 3:20-21 " 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen"

Our New Home

Hi everyone! So we are finally getting settled in and things are starting to feel more like home. We got in Weds evening Aug 5th at 6pm and after some late nights of unpacking and situating - took us about 6 days - house is pretty much set up.

We are living in a townhouse in the cutest neighborhood (only about 5 minutes down the road from the church), where we are literally surrounded by loving and helpful people. I joke and say that if I ever need help, all I have to do is stand on my front porch and yell "somebody, help!!", but really it's true. Along with the other 4 Pastor's College families who live within a rocks throw, we have lot's of neighbors who are pastor's at, or attend, Covenant Life Church. And the kids - there are TONS of them!! And they are all amazing. I am excited that God put us in this specific neighborhood, I know that I am going to glean so much from these families and grow and mature in my mothering just by being in fellowship with them.

Looking forward to this next year and all that God has in store for us! We have a little more than a week till Nate starts classes, so we are savoring his free time together as a family, attempting to establish routines again with the kids (Sophie has had an exceptionally hard time with this transition, she is still not herself, please pray for her and for us, that Jesus would grant us wisdom and discernment on how to care for and lead her in this), and all in all just praising him for this once in a lifetime opportunity that is going to transform each of us and first and foremost bring God glory and make much of his church.

Our New Church & School

Covenant Life Church will be our church home while we are here. Joshua Harris is the senior pastor, surrounded by some amazing leaders and pastors. I have had the privilege of meeting many already. Last Sunday was our first Sunday here, and it was a wonderful time to worship with the people. They are passionate worshipers and treasure God's word.

Covenant Life is around 30 years old I believe, so we look forward to learning so much during our time here.

Here are some pictures of the class room area where I will be learning:

Lecture Hall









Library








The PC Coffee Shop

Trucker Heros

We had the joy, privilege, and honor of having two amazing men help us get our truck, load our truck, and drive our truck, and unload our truck - all asking nothing in return.

Daryl Hanson and Bear Little were stellar. Through rain, fast food, weigh-in stations, the mega-hills of PA - you both were
amazing, and we had so much fun.

These men served us so well, allowing me to drive my the fam to MD in our car, care for Hilary and the kids - all the while, me knowing the truck and all our house stuff was in safe hands. They even stuck around a couple days, and were able to assist with getting heavy items moved and set-up.

Thank you men for all you did and gave. You make much of the Savior.



Our 26 footer loaded up.







Us trailing the guys in the long drive while it was raining.



View Larger Map

Our driving route.