One Rainy Weekend in NOLA

No joke - this is a picture of how the streets looked when Brad and I arrived in New Orleans Saturday night!! I was a little...ummm...nervous. Just a little. They've had issues with flooding in the past, ya know!!


Brad had to go to campus to take finals for this semester, so I went with him. I just love going so very much - I love to be on campus with him - it makes me feel a little more a part of the whole experience. But, the traveling and weather conditions this trip were anything but enjoyable. We arrived in heavy rain and, as you can see, minor flooding on Saturday, and left on Monday afternoon in thick fog and a terrential downpour . But, I'm hoping and praying for Brad that our luck with the weather will not be the case with his finals!!

When we've gone to New Orleans in the past for Brad's classes, it's always a whirlwind trip and we haven't had a chance to enjoy the city. Sunday evening we had an opportunity to go downtown, and we went to eat at the Cheesecake Bistro on Saint Charles (in the Garden District). A ministry friend had mentioned that we needed to go sometime, and it was oh so very delicious! Thanks, Cindy :) We also shopped a little bit, and finished our Christmas shopping - YAY!!

Well, that was our weekend - LOTS of rain, many hours in the car, some yummy food and a little shopping, and a crazy amount of studying. Typical weekend for us.

Except the rain.

And, the hours in the car.

And, the studying.

OK, basically the eating and shopping are typical.

20 Hours in N'Awlins

Yep, that's how long I got to spend in New Orleans...we spent 12 hours traveling there and back, and 20 in "The Big Easy". But, I loved every minute of it! Brad is taking Hybrid classes this semester - he goes to campus once a month where he's in class 6 hours - and, the rest of the classwork is online. I decided to go with him on his whirlwind trip for the month to keep him company while he drove. I absolutely love to go to the seminary with him - it's such a BEAUTIFUL campus, and there is peace when you go through the gates. I know that sounds kind of crazy, but it's true. I've always felt it every single time, and I know it's the presence of God.

We left as soon as church was over Sunday morning, and headed down. We stayed at Providence House, a hotel owned by the Seminary, and Brad had to get to studying for his classes the following day.


While Brad was in class, I decided to take a walk and take some pictures...

Hardin Student Center - this is where all of Brad's classes are this semester.

What do you think of when you see the Christian Flag?? I ALWAYS think of Vacation Bible School...it's flying high every day though at the Seminary!

Beautiful, picturesque Leavell Chapel standing tall in the middle of the Seminary grounds.



River City Cafe

John T. Christian Library

There are these gorgeous old trees everywhere! The "Gateway to the World"

This is a garden that Brad and I always seem to end up at :)

I LOVE the beautiful architecture of all the old buildings!
We had a great trip, and I'm already looking forward to tagging along again in November! There is so much peace and contentment that we are following God's will for our lives - and we have such an excitement in our hearts for this season of our lives...we are so blessed by what the Lord is doing with us and through us!

NOLA Bound!

Well, even as I type this, Bradley is on his way to New Orleans for orientation! I was supposed to go with him, but with all the many things that needed to be done before my students start school on Monday, it was best for me to stay home this trip. So, we packed his things, and I ironed his clothes last night, and I felt a little bit like a nervous mother sending her baby off to school the first time as he left this morning! I can not even describe to you the range of emotions that both of us have went through leading up to this weekend...fear, excitement, anxiety, joy, uncertainty, peace...the whole gammet has been covered!

I ask each of you prayer warriors to pray for very specific needs:

~ Financial Needs: obviously seminary is not free!!

~ Time Management: Brad will continue to work for now at his secular job, but as most of you know, his job is incrediby demanding of his time...yet, he will need to put a good amount of time into class work/studying and of course continue to be the Children/Youth Pastor...and, oh yeah - be a husband!

~ Brad has been out of school for 10 years...he is very nervous about getting back into the groove of studying!

~ And, most of all - that we will follow in faith as the Lord leads us!!

Thank you so much in advance for praying with us during this new chapter of our lives!! We are so excited about what God is doing in our lives, and what the future holds!

Love y'all!!

Crazy Things are Happening!

Ever noticed how God likes to do things that seem a little crazy? In the past 8 years that Brad and I have been together, we've seen some surprising and down right crazy things happen in our lives that have been orchestrated by God. And, once again, He is calling us to do something that to many of our friends and family probably seems crazy. Brad and I both have very good jobs, live in a nice home, live close to all of our family, have a wonderful church family...basically, from the outside looking in everything is going great and we should be comfortable living our lives. But, God doesn't like for us to get very comfortable, does He? If we're comfortable, we're not being refined into His image. Brad has been in children/youth ministry for over 10 years now, and has always been bi-vocational. We've both felt for so long that the Lord was calling us to do something more, and that calling is full-time ministry. After much prayer, planning, and anticipation... Brad is going to Seminary! We received his acceptance letter, so it is official! This is something that we have prayed about for sooo very long, but the timing just hasn't been right...until now! And, after looking and visiting, it is very apparent that the Lord is leading us to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Please be praying for us...this is incredibly scary and exciting at the same time. For the time being, I will continue to work here and live here...Brad will be commuting - yes, commuting - to New Orleans and only be home 3/4 days a week. It's going to be a major adjustment for both of us, and difficult we know.

Are we eventually going to move to New Orleans?

We don't know.

Does this mean that we'll never live close to our friends and family once Brad is finished?

We don't know.

What are our plans for the future?

We don't know.

But, one thing we are sure of - we are taking a leap of faith and trusting God as He leads us. Crazy, huh?

You better be prepared...God may do something a little crazy in your life next!

"Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one that serves me." John 12:26