Application submitted

Well the application is on its way and now we wait...hopefully not a long wait! Please pray as this process takes places. It can seem to have a nerve wrecking effect. Sid had to answer a lot of deep questions a couple of people had to send in references and I even had to write a paragraph about my conversion experience and how I planned on supporting Sid in seminary. They asked almost as many questions as they do when you buy a house. ( I remember telling Sid "I think the mortgage company knows our underwear size")

We truly are seeking Gods will for our family and we believe this is the next step. Please remember us as we wait!

"Not me!"

Have you ever said "not me!" about something! It seems whatever you say this about always happens! My mother grew up a preachers daughter and she always said " I will never marry a preacher". Well she didn't...my dad answered the call to the ministry just shortly after they were married! She would always tell me "don't say you are never going to do something!"

So I "never said never"...out loud anyway! I mean I really felt like after being a preachers daughter, granddaughter, niece, and sister surely I was safe from anymore ministry related vocations! I guess I was wrong because now we are on our way to seminary and this past Sunday, Sid brought the message at church! I laughed Sunday morning and told Sid years ago our last name would have been "Parsons"!

Our preparations are proceeding just enough to let us know just how much work we have ahead of us just to get there! Here are some more prayer request:

-finding good medical insurance
-wisdom in cleaning out and downsizing our home
-to continue to seek God and grow in Him daily
-(this may seem weird but..) pray for the person who needs to buy our house

Thanks again for your support and prayers!

Our entertainment as of late has been studying for Sid's MAT test. We do parts of the practice test in the evenings when it gets quite. They are really interesting questions and they are all analogies!

Here is an example:

Blackstone : (a. medicine,b. politics, c.law, d. teaching):: Roberts : Parliamentary Procedure

answer next time!

When God Talks

Have you ever notice that when we try to not hear God He gets louder? I mean all through the bible this was the case...look at Moses and a burning bush, Jonah swallowed by a fish, or Saul blinded by a light!
Well, I tried to not listen myself...

Sid told me about a year ago, that he really felt God was leading him to seminary. He said he felt like Dallas Theological Seminary was where God was leading us. I immediately gave him every reason why moving to Dallas was not what God wanted for us. I mean we would have to sell our home, leave our church, and family and friends. Not to mention we have a child in puberty and this would be just awful for him. After causing enough doubt in this decision, Sid pursued a different direction. I mean how could God tell Sid all of this and not me? That little small voice was so easy to snuff out.

Well, about a year later...Sid is enrolled at Bethel Seminary in MN, a choice that is doable because it is done mainly online. All of my reasons were now taken care of, no moving, no uprooting, no CHANGE. Then, while Sid is in Florida...I start hearing this still small voice simply saying "he's not supposed to go to Bethel" . Inside, the battle begins. God speaks and I tune out. Sid was content, he was pursuing an education at Bethel....wasn't that enough? The answer I would get was simply...no. Then that still small voice, got louder and louder!

Soon after Sid returned from his trip, he said "so, what do you really think about this seminary stuff"? Oh my gosh, how could he even ask that! I just said " I think we both know you are not supposed to go to Bethel". He looked at me and said " you know it too"? Had God spoke to both of us this time? Yes. Had God spoke to us both the first time? Yes.

See I am terrified of change. I really do love being in a rut! I even order the same coffee at Starbucks...EVERYTIME! Isn't that funny...I am scared of the very thing that saved me. I mean I had to change to accept the gift God gave me of forgiveness, so why would I think God calling us to another change could possibly be bad.

So pray for us as we begin the process of applying to Dallas Theological Seminary! Here are some prayer request you can join with us in:

the application process
the MAT test Sid needs to take
selling our house
our children adjusting to the thought
Sid looking for employment
looking for housing in TX
our extended family

I am sure more will follow! Thanks for your love and prayers!

Here We Are!

Here we are just being us! It has been a pretty typical weekend, for the Emory's anyway! We started our Saturday going to a Rainbow appointment that did not hold and on the way home having tire trouble. Being Saturday, for some reason, all the tires stores are closed. So we ended up going to Walmart. We ended up spending THREE hours waiting at Walmart...on a Saturday!! Later...the boys went to the church to cut grass and me and the girl went to run errands. On the way home I decided to go by Texas Roadhouse and use a gift card I had won in a competition. Would you like to know what is better than free food from a good restaurant on a Saturday night? Walking back across the parking lot and finding 20$!! All in all it was not a bad day!

I plan on using this site to share our wonderings and mishaps. I also hope to share a little of our hearts with you. We have many things coming up in our lives that are going to require the prayer and support of our friends and family. Please check back for more on that later...

"Happy are those who live pure lives, who follow the Lord's teachings. Happy are those who keep His rules, and try to obey Him with their whole heart." Psalm 119: 1&2 NCV

"If I rise with the sun in the east and settle in the west beyond the sea, even there you would guide me. With your right hand you would hold me." Psalm 139:9&10