It's The Final Countdown!

I cannot believe that I am finally about to begin my last year of grad school.  This year is looking to be the most hectic year I've had yet.  In addition to juggling my double life of minister as well as Duke student, I will also be working on commissioning.  For anyone who doesn't know, becoming an ordained minister is no easy task in the United Methodist Church.  There are several steps and this is a journey that I have been taking since my senior year of high school.  I became a certified candidate my junior year of college, and now is the first of a two step process for becoming a full elder.  If all goes well, I'll be turning in a HUGE stack of papers in January about the doctrine of the church, as well as my call into the ministry.  And in March, I'll be going before the Board of Ordained Ministry for what I'm sure will be the scariest interview of my life.  

Classes start back soon and I'm so excited for what will be my last year of school EVER.  I have to say that I have really loved being a student at Duke.  I really feel like I have grown so much in the last three years.  I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest theologians and preachers and I would never trade that experience for anything.  Of course, Duke has been a great source of stress as well, but it comes with the territory I suppose.  I think that I might actually miss the challenge of grad school.  I mean let's face it, I've been in school for the past 21 years.  I love school and it's going to seem strange to not be starting back to school this time next year.

I'm looking forward to the new adventures that are ahead of me though.  Nathan and I have been married for over a year, and things are going great.  I look forward to seeing what God has in store for us in the year to come.  Nathan will be working towards ordination while I'm working on commissioning, so we are going to be one stressful household.  One thing that I am going to be better about this year is keeping my study sabbath.  I realize that term is a bit of a conundrum, because sabbath isn't supposed to include studying.  But this year, with the course load that I have and the fact that I'm also working on all this commissioning stuff, I have to be intentional about keeping that time set aside.  

As always prayers will be greatly appreciate for Nathan and I as we continue to fulfill our call and take on the task ahead of us.  Blessings to all of you!  <><