PJay graduates today...

[AustinBoston]

We're not camping this weekend, because today (Saturday), at 12:30 PM, PJay, my lovely wife of 24 years, walks across the platform and receives her degree.

She will be graduating cum laude from Bethel University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry with a minor in Theatre Arts.

It's been a long road.  We met at Barrington College (a school that was once in Rhode Island but today only exists in people's memories) in the fall of 1979.  From there, she attended Colorado Christian University (when it was Colorado Christian College) just outside Denver for one semester.  There just wasn't enough money.

We were married a short time later.  Three kids and a zillion miles later, I saw a spark in her eye.  She got excited helping our oldest find a college.  While DD#1 didn't seem to care about Bethel, PJay was very excited about it.

I refused to let that spark die.  In 16 generations on my father's side, I'm the first to live anywhere but southeastern Massachusetts, having left in August of 2003 so she could attend Bethel full-time.  We gave up friends, family, home, traditions, and many other things I had grown up with and she had grown to love.

But I believed I saw the call of God on her life, and I was not going to argue with the will of the Lord.  I have seen her come alive in a way that I don't think anything else could have done.

Her senior practicum was with Timber Bay Ministries and she has accepted a support-based full-time position with them.

Husbands and wives, the greatest thing you can do for your children is to love their mother/father.  And the greatest way to love your spouse is to make their dreams come true.

Austin

[cyclone]

Congrats to PJay - and to all of you for supporting her.  What a great accomplishment!  Enjoy all that life has to offer in the future.

[SkipP]

Hats off to PJay.....and A-B! Takes a lot of guts, determination and faith to make such a life-changing decision. I'm certain that the rewards are well worth the sacrifices made.

Congratulations!

[sequoyausa]

What a wonderful inspiration! The two of you are confirmation that God continues to work miracles in our lives. You are both heroes to me.

[SpeakEasy]

BIG congratulations to you both! A-B,  I'm glad you shared the details. I've developed a high regard for you and your opinions based on the wisdom I've seen in your posts. Now I have even more respect for you. My wife and I have taken turns putting each other through school. It has been tough but rewarding. However, neither of us had to pull up roots and move to a different part of the country to make it happen. Well-done!

[tlhdoc]

Congratulations!  I hope now you have time to camp.