Before we found out that we were pregnant (in January 2008), we planned to head to England immediately following Ben’s graduation for both of us to earn PhDs in something like Philosophy or The Hisory of Ideas. We had also entertained thoughts of joining AmeriCorps in order to have our student loans forgiven. However, now that we have received the gift of Sophia, our vision has been shortened and stretched in new directions. We’re still trying to figure out who we are and to what we are called — as well as learning to lay down the dreams we dreamed when we were younger.
Jen finished her masters degree (MCS — Masters in Christian Studies) in April 2009. She cares for Sophia during the day and teaches ESL in the evenings. Ben works part-time at The Well at Regent and is researching and writing his thesis on the Oxford Movement and the relationship between the Church and its socio-political context, to be turned in — hopefully! — by the end of 2010. Then Ben will prepare for and take the GRE and begin applying to PhD programs. We’re praying that we’ll be moving by the Fall of 2011 to be near the university where Ben will begin his final degree. But perhaps something better is in store… we’ll keep you posted.
