One Down, Two to Go, Glory to God

I am grateful to God to be able to say that at noon today I finished my first year of seminary. I don't have too many wounds to speak of from it; just a sliced thumb while cooking supper (which required a trip to the emergency room and--not stitches, but superglue!--to seal the wound shut, which is already healing nicely, thank God. My RN, Joe, who gave me my tetanus shot (since I could not remember the date of my last one), had been a pastor for eight years; following the breakup of his marriage, he stepped away from the ministry (wisely so, IMO), and worked as a construction worker to raise his six kids. Alone. (s-p, I thought of you). He then went back to school to be an RN and now does "unofficial" ministry with the sick and the dying. Fewer men have I met who were more joyful. We sang "His eye is on the sparrow" together as I waited for the superglue to dry.

Finals went well. I am expecting all As, with perhaps a B+ in Church History. All in all, as we await the arrival of baby #3 (we find out the sex on the 26th, Lord willing), the prospect of an increased workload is daunting, and will be even more so with a newborn, but we've made it and by God's grace will make it further on. I can honestly say that I've been challenged to really work through pre-conceived notions I've had, and to be honestly critical with myself about these things. To good effect, I think.

We will be moving into an apartment, as I've mentioned, that is twice the size of our current one, though thankfully not twice the price. This move, together with a full-time job as a reading teacher in the New York area, will keep me hopping. No rest for the weary, as they say.

Audra is doing well. Tired, of course, and ready to move into the new place -- again, if anyone is knowledgeable of a way to bring things up from TX/OK to the NYC area or anywhere remotely close, we would appreciate any info.

Your prayers have been and will continue to be appreciated. Below I am posting my Patristics paper from this past semester. Motives for doing so below, but I hope that those of you interested in reading such things will enjoy it.