Major Goal . . . almost there!

Sometimes it is hard to remember what it was like before Mark started studying for qualifying exams 6 months ago. We are so set into a schedule that includes this. Even McKenna will say "Daddy is studying" when he isn't around. Week after week, Mark comes home from work, eats dinner with us then heads downstairs to his makeshift office (a card table scrunched into the laundry room) to study way past when the rest of us have gone to bed. He takes only Friday nights off for movie night as a family, and Sundays. It would have been so easy to complain about how hard it is and how demanding it has been but instead Mark has used this experience to grow not only professionally but personally as well. Not only has he remained a dedicated husband and father but also maintained his professional and church responsibilities as well. He has sacrificed much needed sleep most nights in order to read a few more chapters.
I'm so proud of his accomplishments. He has been so determined to complete this degree even though he has not been able to do it as a normal accademian would. He has done it while working full time, being a great husband and father of two and all the while continuing to improve as a musician. He has depended heavily on God to sustain him through this time and his prayers have not gone unanswered. Mark could have prayed fervently to just pass the test but instead his prayers were always, "just let my mind not be confounded, let me retain the information I take in and be able to recall it when necessary". In other words "I will do the hard work that is asked of me but please help me to make up for my weaknesses and inabilities" God has answered his prayers everyday as he has shown me and the girls more love, appreciation, patience and tender guidance in the home than ever before. Even during a time in our lives where we have not had him physically around us as much as we would like he has found a way to strengthen our family and make us stronger. What a lucky girl I am to be married to such a good man.
So Wednesday is the day! He will take the second of two exams and finally be done with this part of his journey to a PhD. I have no doubt in my mind that he will pass with flying colors. Then we will look forward to a day that we can spend without "studying" hanging over our schedule . . . that means a whole Saturday that we will have him to ourselves. Bring it on!