Sunday afternoon = answers to life's big questions

I was minding my own business this sunny Sunday afternoon, reading a nice article on Bonhoeffer for a paper I'm working on, when I heard my phone give its little email notification blip. For weeks now, I've been rushing to check my email whenever I hear that sound, hoping for some news on our future. I had turned in PhD applications to both Princeton Seminary, here in Princeton, and to Fuller Seminary, in Pasadena, CA in January and it was the season for admission decisions.

Two weeks ago, I did hear back from Princeton. I didn't make it into the one spot that was open in the department that I applied to. I was told that I had an excellent application, and even that had I been a ThM student and applied to the program last year, I would have made it in. But this year, they had to drastically cut their admissions due to funding. Jackie and I were both sad at first that we wouldn't be staying here for my doctoral work - after all, we did just make this huge move. But instead of feeling devastated, we've been feeling a sense of relief and peace that we at least had closure on the process of waiting to hear about Princeton. And so, for two weeks, we've been wondering what we would hear from Fuller...

I've been watching the mail box like a hawk, especially this last week. When there was nothing from Fuller on Saturday, I sighed and knew I would just have to keep waiting.

And then that email blip sounded on my phone. I automatically clicked over to my email, and there was a message from Fuller! What?! On a Sunday afternoon? It was a note of congratulations from the professor who will be my advisor at Fuller! He wrote that the competition was fierce this year, but they were happy to offer me admission to the PhD program in Theology. We are so excited to be moving to Pasadena!!!

For years now, we've been wondering if I could actually do PhD work, and if so, where. Today, those daunting questions were finally answered. Yes, I do have what it takes to earn a doctorate in theology, and I'll be doing that work in sunny southern California!

While there are a lot of things about the move we don't yet know, here's what we do know: Yes, we will be getting season passes to Disneyland (it's only 35 minutes away!). We will move directly from Princeton to Pasadena most likely in mid-June. This summer I will need to take theological German before I start on my course work in September. The PhD program is 2 years of course work in residency (that is, on the Fuller campus). The third year is usually spent taking comprehensive exams and submitting my dissertation proposal. At this point, I would be qualified to teach at a university while I take years 4 and 5 to write the dissertation. So, we'll be in Pasadena for at least the next 2-3 years. And then we'll hope for a university teaching job sometime after that.

And so to celebrate, tomorrow we're going here!

This is Harrah's Atlantic City Resort! And it's actually just a coincidence that we're going to stay here on Monday night... Last night one of our neighbors came by our place and asked us if we wanted to go to Atlantic City for a night. They had gotten a really good deal and booked a room here, but then decided they couldn't go. So, they just gave us their room! And what perfect timing! Now we get to experience all the excitement of Atlantic City and really have something to celebrate! I'm sure Jackie will give you the full story of the trip in a few days when we get back. And just a note, it's reading week for me this week, which means I don't have any classes. So, instead of reading, we're going to the Jersey shore!

It's just incredible to see God's faithfulness in our life. This continues to be a crazy journey across the country, just full of new experiences, new graces, new trials and new opportunities everyday. We are so happy to finally know what's coming next. But we also know that we really have no idea what we're in for. And that's what makes life so fulfilling.