Looks like we will be staying put for now... :)

Some of you already know this & read this in the email we sent, but as promised, here is the latest update with grad school. Most of you know that we have been prayerfully pursuing grad school for Ken and finally, have an answer. Vanderbilt was the school of choice, and they have filled all their open slots. They had over a thousand applicants for 75 positions (all of which are scholarships for the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in the cellular sciences), over half of which were international students. Needless to say, we knew the chances were slim. We heard a few weeks ago that Ken was put "on hold" - meaning, on a wait list of candidates that potentially would be invited to interview should those first 75 not be filled immediately. All open slots filled before they even began contacting candidates from the wait list. So, God has closed that door for now, and we really are content with that. Leaving would have been heart-wrenching for us knowing we'd leave dear family & close friends behind, a community we've come to love to be a part of, a church body that has been an amazing source of fellowship and growth in areas God knows we need to be stretched, and a small group that have become close friends. And most importantly, it just validates God at work in us, here.

Soooooooo, we are glad to be staying put for the time being, and yet will continue to consider applying again next year. Vanderbilt will hold all his application stuff & letters of rec, and said they'd be happy to talk with him this Summer about what might help for next year. (Ken is thinking of taking the Subject GRE's - not mandatory, but often can help a panel of faculty making these decisions get a better idea of a candidates understanding of these fields.) Just in case some of you didn't know or weren't sure - he wants to get his PhD in Cellular Biology. (It's basically like Bio-Chem.) In that 5 year program, he'd study neuroscience, cell biology, chemistry, stem cells, ... just a ton of fascinating fields & then after getting a taste for the different research labs, would decide on his own research for his thesis and hone in on that. (Ken's mind is amazing - I constantly marvel at his retention & passion for learning.)

Thank you all so much for your thoughts & prayers! They were (and are) always much appreciated. We love you!