He did it!!

Brian had his oral examinations for ordination yesterday, and they went really well!!!! He passed! Hooray!! I am so proud of him and so relieved for him that it is over! No more tests!!! We went to O'Charley's for dinner last night to celebrate (kids eat free). However, when we got there we remembered why we rarely go out to eat with the whole family, unless there is a playground. Hence, our love for Chick-fil-a...the boys scarf down their chicken nuggets and then head to the playground for the rest of time, leaving Brian and I to actually have a conversation with minimal interruptions.

Last night...not so much. We were taking boys to the bathroom (one right after the other, of course, because one didn't have to go at the moment the other brother had to), cutting up food, feeding Jake, picking up messes, taking knives away, pulling kids out from under the table, cleaning dirty hands and mouths, reminding them to talk at a normal level instead of yelling...you get the idea. So no time for a conversation, let alone finishing our own meal.

So once once we got home and got the boys in bed, we had our second celebration...popped some kettlecorn, settled in under a blanket on the couch, turned on the laptop, and watched a couple of episodes of LOST. Happiness. and a little scared at times, too.

This morning my sweet friend Stephanie was so gracious to watch all four of my boys at her house (along with her two boys, as well as hosting playgroup with another handful of kids and a couple of mommies! Wonder Woman, I tell you!!), so I could go to Presbytery and be there for part of Brian's ordination process. Richard Pratt preached (which was amazing as usual and so encouraging and applicable from the year we have had!); and I loved being surrounded by a sanctuary full of men belting out hymns...it was a wonderful sound to hear! There were four men, including my Brian, up for ordination today. They each gave a short testimony and then the floor was open for questions and interrogations. Then the men each gave a 15 minute sermon, which was critiqued by some of the pastors and elders. Brian didn't have to preach this morning, since he had already done his preaching a few years back when he was licensed (which is half of the ordination process. He had already taken half of the tests back then, which greatly helped his load this time around). I am so glad I was able to be there and witness what an honor and amazing calling of the Lord to be an ordained reverend!! However, it won't be "official" until his installation service in February, but the hard part is over! I am so proud of him!!! It has been a long road, but he finally made it! Only by God's grace, for sure!