A Todd Update :)

So here is Todd, not on most days but on a photo shoot day. I couldn't find a good up to date photo so I went with this one. He has photos taken here and there for his press packets and stuff. 

Todd has been very busy this semester. Teaching, performing, applying for jobs, and taking care of the boys. He is coming up on tenure next year. It has been a long journey and we aren't sure exactly how we are feeling about it. There is no doubt we want for him to get tenure. However, it does mark a milestone of sorts and causes reflection. Since I was applying for jobs and the possibility of change and a move was an option, Todd decided to explore his options as well. In the end, God made it clear that we would be staying here. No major changes for this family and we are both content with this outcome. 

Todd was granted sabbatical this summer and will be working on a book. It is not a Barnes and Noble cuddle up with a cup of coffee type of book but rather a book written for a target audience that has the need for more cow bell... heehee. It is a new endeavor for him and I hope to be as supportive as possible. I am looking forward to posting his final product. 

Right now Todd is judging the state percussion ensemble contest. He does it every year. When he gets back he will be on major Daddy duty. I have a bit of work to finish up before next week and I am totally dependent on him to watch the boys. He has been doing A LOT of Daddy duty lately and I am extremely appreciative of all that he does. (i.e. cooking, cleaning, getting up with children in the a.m., packing their lunches, picking them up) He is quite the SuperDad these days. :) I think it is safe to say that he is looking forward to me being done with school too.  

A Jessica Update :)

This is me on most days. 

Sometimes I work from home (like today). Other days I work from school. When I work from school I wear headphones. At first it was because I was transcribing interviews but then it became a way for me to tune out the distractions outside the door. I am still chopping away at the dissertation. I am getting closer everyday. My defense date is set for June 26th. I am going to keep working and try to keep that defense date. Am hopeful. Some days I am super productive and other days not so much. Below is a little bit of what I feel like I have experienced the last couple of weeks. I think I am just past the panic and despair stages and am well into drudgery now. Ha!

So what is up next for me/us? The truth is I am not sure. I have prayed and prayed for direction. I am simply going to wait. In the fall I applied to about 15 job postings at various universities. I had three phone interviews, one skype interview, and two on campus interviews. I was offered the job at one university and turned it down. I have not heard from the other school yet but if offered I will turn that down as well. While on these campus interviews it became painfully apparent that these locations were not well suited for all members of our family and I feel God guiding me to simply wait. I am not exactly sure what He is calling me to do nor do I know if I will ever actually teach at a university but I am grateful for the experiences and am hopeful that God is preparing me for something in the future. It has not been an easy process and has been rather emotional at times but for now I am trusting that these are not missed opportunities but rather good judgement and Godly discernment. For now, I wait, I write, and I anticipate enjoying the normalcy of non-grad school life that awaits me.