My Dearest Matthew,

This morning we loaded up the girls and headed down for the beginning of a few days of celebrating you. To say I’m proud of you is the understatement of the year. Six years of balancing family, ministry and schooling. I could not be more proud of your choices to take a lighter load as we welcomed three beautiful little girls into the world in their own times. I could not be more proud of your hard work and perseverance as you worked hard, realistically and gave each class’ efforts to the Lord as worship. I could not be more proud as God shaped you and grew you so much in your walk with Him over these past years. And love, I am so proud of the man of Christ you have and are continuing daily to become. It wasn’t always easy…. remember Hebrew? Goodness! And I wasn’t even taking the class! But you fought through it. And, my dear, you have managed to pull off  a 3.9 GPA. 3.9! That means the lowest grade you ever received in a class was a B+. And that was only in one class. I am floored at your ability, in Christ, to overcome so much and work hard… so, so hard at each class on your agenda. I love how you came home from some of your classes with a new plan and new focus on Christ for our family. I love how God spoke to your inner being and it splashed out into our lives. We were and still are so richly blessed by all that the Lord has taught you in seminary. And now, my love, now we celebrate. In Christ YOU HAVE DONE IT!!!

So to my Master’s of Divinity, to my Christ-centered dreamer, to the absolute love of my life I say in a resounding jubilation from the tips of my toes:

CONGRATULATIONS, BABE!!! YOU DID IT!!!!

The wide world is before us. Who knows where God will call us and lead us next?

But as you take the stage Friday late morning, I may resist the urge to blow a fog horn (so as not to embarrass you, naturally) but I will most certainly be shouting for joy inside, to my very core, “That’s my Matthew!!! My Matthew…”

Love you so,

yours.