Clint's been studying to take the PMP (project management professional) certification test for the last 9 months. At first, it wasn't too bad....a study group here and there online...it didn't really interfere with life too much. The last few months, however, have been completely and utterly devoted to taking and passing this test. He worked 10-12 hour days, saw us for a few minutes (usually right before putting the kids to bed) and then studied for 2 hours before bed. Saturdays were spent studying as well. It definitely took a toll on the family and marriage, as well as work and church calling. Life was studying for this exam. We fasted and prayed and fasted and prayed that he could pass this exam so that we could move on with life (and open up more career opportunities).
The exam was last Saturday. He did not pass. We are both devastated. All of that time, effort, money and sacrifice for nothing. To me, this is a trial that I have not learned anything from (yet!). I just find myself getting more bitter and angry with life. I don't feel like I grew at all, in fact, I think I grew worse! I'm hoping I will understand why it turned out this way someday :) And I'm hoping I can become a happier person soon.
So, the dilemma becomes...does he study and study and study some more and retake it in a month or 2? (He can retake it twice before June). Or, does he throw in the towel and we cut our losses and we move on with our lives before we are both completely exhausted and defeated?
I know each and every one of our prayers are heard, but sometimes it just plain stinks that they aren't answered the way we want them to be (especially when it is a righteous desire).
Even though our big prayer was not answered, I did have 2 other prayers answered this week, which increased my faith that they are getting through :)
Jack lost his baseball mitt last week and we looked EVERYWHERE. We thought for sure that it was a goner. Not so. I found it buried deep in our ball bin in the garage last night. Hooray!
We hiked with friends yesterday. Lindsey took off running up ahead with a friend and took a turn at a fork before we could catch up. We had no idea which way they went. A friend and I took opposite trails for a bit and then came back thinking the other one had found the girls. Not so. We got really scared then. We took our backpacks (holding the babies) off our backs and booked it in separate directions. After running hard core for 5 minutes (except for a brief break for a desperate prayer)and screaming at the top of my lungs, I heard a faint "mommy!" Still another minute or two went by before I came upon them. Scary! The worst part was that there was no cell coverage, so I couldn't even let Quinae know I had found the girls. She ended up running for a LONG time! It didn't really sink in until last night how lucky we were and how differently the day could have turned out. I am so thankful this prayer was answered so quickly.
So, I will keep praying and praying and praying (even though not all my prayers are answered as quickly or exactly as I have asked)
Ooh I love this man.
Ooh, it's a good thing the child in the middle is so cute :)
The exam was last Saturday. He did not pass. We are both devastated. All of that time, effort, money and sacrifice for nothing. To me, this is a trial that I have not learned anything from (yet!). I just find myself getting more bitter and angry with life. I don't feel like I grew at all, in fact, I think I grew worse! I'm hoping I will understand why it turned out this way someday :) And I'm hoping I can become a happier person soon.
So, the dilemma becomes...does he study and study and study some more and retake it in a month or 2? (He can retake it twice before June). Or, does he throw in the towel and we cut our losses and we move on with our lives before we are both completely exhausted and defeated?
I know each and every one of our prayers are heard, but sometimes it just plain stinks that they aren't answered the way we want them to be (especially when it is a righteous desire).
Even though our big prayer was not answered, I did have 2 other prayers answered this week, which increased my faith that they are getting through :)
Jack lost his baseball mitt last week and we looked EVERYWHERE. We thought for sure that it was a goner. Not so. I found it buried deep in our ball bin in the garage last night. Hooray!
We hiked with friends yesterday. Lindsey took off running up ahead with a friend and took a turn at a fork before we could catch up. We had no idea which way they went. A friend and I took opposite trails for a bit and then came back thinking the other one had found the girls. Not so. We got really scared then. We took our backpacks (holding the babies) off our backs and booked it in separate directions. After running hard core for 5 minutes (except for a brief break for a desperate prayer)and screaming at the top of my lungs, I heard a faint "mommy!" Still another minute or two went by before I came upon them. Scary! The worst part was that there was no cell coverage, so I couldn't even let Quinae know I had found the girls. She ended up running for a LONG time! It didn't really sink in until last night how lucky we were and how differently the day could have turned out. I am so thankful this prayer was answered so quickly.
So, I will keep praying and praying and praying (even though not all my prayers are answered as quickly or exactly as I have asked)
Ooh I love this man.
Ooh, it's a good thing the child in the middle is so cute :)
