Big girl

My sweet Halle Anne turned 4 this past weekend! Everyone says how fast time flies and it really does. Let me tell you a little bit about Halle.

Halle is 100% girl! She got some lip gloss for her birthday and has applied it pretty much every 5 minutes since then. She loves to play dress up, and play with jewelry, and things most things are "so beautiful!" She is into princesses and princes, and of course, marrying her daddy. Halle is totally organized, and anal. She likes things in their place, where they belong. You can imagine how this plays out with a little sister whose nickname is "the destroyer." Halle asks for a snack at least 6 times a day, along with watching a movie. She is a very smart little girl, who knows all of her letters and numbers. She can write most of them, and knows how to spell mom, dad, Halle, and Lily. She really enjoys coloring and being creative. Halle is her daddy's girl! She has a very sweet demeanor and is my cuddler. I can always count on her to say "I love you Mommy," accompanied with a sweet hug and kiss. She also likes to run the show. She interprets Lily's babbles and lets me know what Lily wants. She also loves to tell Lily what to do. I think I could pretty much leave running the house up to her! :) Brian and I are constantly amazed at what a polite little girl she is. She loves to say prayers and talk about heaven. She's a curious little one who hardly ever stops talking! We had a great time celebrating her birthday at the beach with her friends! We love you sweet Halle Anne!

Dr. Brian Bradford

This weekend, Reverend Brian Bradford became Dr. Brian Bradford! We made the 14 hour road trip (in 2 days) to Wilmore, Kentucky for Brian's graduation. It was a wonderful reunion with Brian's classmates. Our time in Wilmore was very special. 10 families moved from all over the country for one year for our husbands to study. We lived like we did in college- our townhomes were all next to each other, we were all poor, our kids played with each other every day. We shared so much together. It was very fun to be reunited with all of the husbands, wives, and kiddos. Since we moved away, there are 3 more kiddos in the mix. It was fun to have them all together again. The women I met there are very special to me. As a pastor's wife, you have a unique role that many do not fully grasp, so it's great that we all have that in common. We are friends for life. I'm so proud of my husband for having ambition, having follow-through, and the ability to better himself for our family and for those he ministers to.

Four score and 3 years ago...

3 years ago, Brian and I were getting ready to embark on a new phase in our lives. 3 years ago, we said goodbye to our friends, our church, our ministry, and our teeny tiny house in Marion, Indiana for Brian to pursue his doctorate ministry. We loved our lives in Marion and often refer back to the easy days in our lives. We had a great, growing ministry. We both loved investing in college students. Our Halle girl was born there and it was the only home she had known. We had a great church, and what I miss most, was our wonderful friends. (You know who you are! :)) We really were not in a place where we wanted to move. But Brian was invited into a program we just could not refuse. He was honored to receive a full scholarship for his doctorate work in an accelerated 3 year program. In 3 years, Brian has traveled all over the world, studied countless hours, written many papers, read many books, taken leadership of an entire church, welcomed a new little girl into his life, moved twice, and managed to remain the most amazing husband! Sounds exhausting doesn't it?!

Well, I'm happy to announce that yesterday Brian passed his dissertation defense hearing with flying colors! This means that in just a few weeks, he will graduate with his Doctorate in Ministry. I could not be more proud of him! The past 3 years have been amazing and hard at the same time. We've tried to be faithful to God's leading and will continue to do so. We are so blessed to have been on this journey that God has clearly marked out for us. We are thankful for our time in KY, and for our church now in TX. We still miss our lives in Marion, and are thankful for our fond memories of our time there. And a huge part of me feels that maybe God will lead us back there someday.

But for now, we will celebrate Brian's accomplishment, and now I can call him DR! Congratulations Hunny!