This time last year (2011) I had a very precise picture of what our life would look like. Work, savings, baby, school activities...a very clean, American dream. Of course, we all know now that God has very different plans for us, and thus we find ourselves facing 2012 with hope, nerves, and great curiosity.
The holidays were, in a word, delightful. We had Jenna and Brett, the married version, Jeffrey, Mom and Dad, and two exuberant children sharing in the joy and excitement. One of these days I might actually get around to posting pictures and favorite memories, because we really had a lot of fun!
My new year's resolution was to be intentional with our time and resources over the next 12 months. Brooklyn, and Grayson, and even baby #3 are growing up so SO fast. I don't want to look back on this year and wonder where our time went. I don't want Grayson's babyhood to be forever remembered as my third pregnancy. Likewise, I don't want my third (and very likely, final) pregnancy to just be "in the way of life with the other two".
If in the beginning of 2011 we felt proud and put together, then by the end of the year we felt humbled and lost. Now, about midway through January, I am still feeling humble, but the future finally has some shape to it...some direction. It's complicated and murky, but there is a sense of peace as we seek out God's will in the circumstances He gives us.
Ray is juggling four jobs: Target, McAlister's, YRC, and acting (which technically could be considered multiple jobs by itself since he is a private coach, teacher, and professional going on auditions for theater and commercial work!). Balancing the variable work schedules and struggling to make ends meet are tough hurdles. But I am thankful that he likes the work. He enjoys his coworkers and his time at each place, which is such a welcome change after the poison of the last five years.
Brooklyn is doing so well in school, and I think we probably couldn't have done any better than Mrs. Pope and her team. Even so, we are seriously, prayerfully pursuing a spot at Cornerstone Prep, a University Model School, that combines the best of homeschooling with the best of a public/private education experience. We'd like to enroll her in first grade with a full course load, which means she would go to school from 8:45 - 3:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She'd have math, English, history, science, and two electives (like P.E. or Art or Music...). The other three days of the week she would be at home where I would teach the lessons provided by the teachers. Flexibility + Structure. Time at home + Socialization.
How am I going to do this with two young babies at home? I don't know. I'm thinking blanket time and naps will become very important. Nothing a little structure and flexibility can't fix, right?
Of course the key thing to remember here is that whatever plans we set in motion, we really don't know what tomorrow will bring, let alone August and September!! Which is why I keep James 4:15 in mind when I work my calendar:
The holidays were, in a word, delightful. We had Jenna and Brett, the married version, Jeffrey, Mom and Dad, and two exuberant children sharing in the joy and excitement. One of these days I might actually get around to posting pictures and favorite memories, because we really had a lot of fun!
My new year's resolution was to be intentional with our time and resources over the next 12 months. Brooklyn, and Grayson, and even baby #3 are growing up so SO fast. I don't want to look back on this year and wonder where our time went. I don't want Grayson's babyhood to be forever remembered as my third pregnancy. Likewise, I don't want my third (and very likely, final) pregnancy to just be "in the way of life with the other two".
If in the beginning of 2011 we felt proud and put together, then by the end of the year we felt humbled and lost. Now, about midway through January, I am still feeling humble, but the future finally has some shape to it...some direction. It's complicated and murky, but there is a sense of peace as we seek out God's will in the circumstances He gives us.
Ray is juggling four jobs: Target, McAlister's, YRC, and acting (which technically could be considered multiple jobs by itself since he is a private coach, teacher, and professional going on auditions for theater and commercial work!). Balancing the variable work schedules and struggling to make ends meet are tough hurdles. But I am thankful that he likes the work. He enjoys his coworkers and his time at each place, which is such a welcome change after the poison of the last five years.
Brooklyn is doing so well in school, and I think we probably couldn't have done any better than Mrs. Pope and her team. Even so, we are seriously, prayerfully pursuing a spot at Cornerstone Prep, a University Model School, that combines the best of homeschooling with the best of a public/private education experience. We'd like to enroll her in first grade with a full course load, which means she would go to school from 8:45 - 3:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She'd have math, English, history, science, and two electives (like P.E. or Art or Music...). The other three days of the week she would be at home where I would teach the lessons provided by the teachers. Flexibility + Structure. Time at home + Socialization.
How am I going to do this with two young babies at home? I don't know. I'm thinking blanket time and naps will become very important. Nothing a little structure and flexibility can't fix, right?
Of course the key thing to remember here is that whatever plans we set in motion, we really don't know what tomorrow will bring, let alone August and September!! Which is why I keep James 4:15 in mind when I work my calendar:
Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'
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