Seminary Mommy

Fun snapshot of what’s it like to be a seminary mommy…

I had almost 60 papers to grade this past week (4-5 pages each) and record into the online grading system.  I planned to finish the last dozen or so during Dutch’s nap on Monday, from 1-4, before leaving at 4:15 to get to my mentor meeting at 5pm.  I had it all planned out, including nursing Heidi at 3:45 so I could get her in the car and ready when Jeff was to arrive at 4:15 to take care of Dutch.  Well…from 1pm-3:30pm Heidi cried. Not just whimpered. CRIED and cried and cried and cried.  No matter how hard to tried to sit and use one arm to grade and one arm to rock her, she would only calm down when I walked around.  Why now?!   Finally, I managed to finish the grading and feverishly type in the scores while nursing her, then raced out the door at 4:23pm when Jeff arrived.  When he drove up Dutch was running around the front yard in his socks. 🙂

So I arrive at school and finally get up to my mentor’s office after racing to the computer lab to print off my assignments that were due, rocking Heidi’s car seat with my foot as she began to stir and grunt.  I rush into Val’s office (my mentor) and collapse in a chair.  She wants to hold baby so I pull Heidi out–Oh so precious! She is so sweet and warm and cuddly and hm…grunting a lot…hm…pushing a lot..hm–BLAST!  She blasts off the most explosive poop and Val goes, “Um, I think it’s all over my hands.”  Sure enough she hands Heidi to me and there is poop everywhere–all the way down to her fur-lined boots and all the way up her back.  Val is laughing hysterically holding out her hands which have poop on them.  As she walks to the door to go wash them and as I’m peeling off the layers of poopy clothing on the floor, there’s a knock at the door.  As the door opens her eyes widen, “Well hello Dean Redman!  Um… I have poop all over my hands.” Oh yes. Our new Dean of the seminary of course has come to the door and Val has poop all over her hands.  She rushes past him to wash them and he leaves, then comes back a moment later and peeks his head in, “Is there really poop all over in here?!”  Then he sees the baby and we introduce ourselves to each other, I welcome him the seminary, and apologize that for his own sake I will not be shaking his hand.

It was fun, and as my mentor professor has birthed and raised seven children of her own, she’s had plenty of explosive-poop experiences of her own.  Although I would dare to wager that that was the first time she’s had a poopy baby on the floor of her office.  As I drove home that night, I thought about how many amazing experiences I’ve had in my four years in seminary…and yes, I got all sentimental.  I don’t graduate until May but already I see the finish line, and am filled with mixed emotions.  On the one hand, I am so excited I can’t even describe it.  I’m SOOOOOO STINKING TIRED.  And I’m so ready to spend my son’s naptime doing something other than schoolwork!  But on the other hand, the halls of Multnomah are filled with some of the most amazing memories and God-ordained divine experiences I have ever had.  I’ve puked innumerable times in the stalls of the girls’ bathroom during my morning sickness bouts. I’ve cried. Lots. I’ve paced the halls studying flashcards. I’ve prayed with friends, played djembe for worship.  I’ve heard God’s voice and watched Him move. I’ve carried both children around in their carseats, dropping off papers and going to meetings.  I’ve waddled up the stairs hugely pregnant.

So as May 15th draws closer, I’m just thankful for this season.  And so very excited to walk across that platform as a testimony of God’s faithfulness and grace.  Not because of some master’s degree, which isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on, but because these four years have taken me deeper with my Savior.  Sweet times as a seminary mommy.