Welcome to our fantastic, action-packed, high-charged blog!
So I'll work to kick start this blog by giving a brief description of where Shelby and I are headed next.
We are finishing up a fantastic chapter of life and turning the page to begin another. I am just finishing my Masters of Divinity degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Shelby is completing her last year of teaching at least for a while.
The next chapter begins around the middle of July as we welcome a beautiful baby girl (beautiful because her mom is beautiful) to come rock our Patterson family world. She will be our first child, and we're so excited to be parents. Of course as everyone says, 'parenting's tough,' 'get sleep while you can,' and 'get ready.' All existing parents are firmly on a mission to put the fear of God in us. How can someone so small and helpless be so terrifying?! But of course, we're taking in the wisdom we can get because there will be challenges without a doubt.
Then our riveting novel continues as we move to Edinburgh, Scotland around the beginning of September. I've received a scholarship through the preaching department at Gordon-Conwell to study preaching in working toward a Masters of Theology at the University of Edinburgh during the next academic year. So yes, we'll be taking a nearly 2-month old to Scotland. We'll figure it out together - talk about good family bonding!
Before we can jump in full force, we will need to raise funds in addition to the scholarship money in order to cover our living expenses. I'll admit that fundraising is never fun because money is a sensitive topic for some people, but this is where we get to trust God and lean on our brothers and sisters in Christ. But here is the plot line! How will God meet our needs? Will we be anxious in the midst of all? How will God use all of this for His great pleasure?! As my dad always says, "The plot thickens..."
