Recent musings

I've been doing a lot of thinking (and praying) lately. Mostly about where Robert and I are at in life, and how we got to where we are, and where we'd like to be in 5, 10, or even 20 years from today.

One thing that we've learned is to bloom where we're planted. On October 19th at 10:30p.m., I made my first sale in my Etsy Shop, to someone I don't even know, and have never talked to. We rejoiced, and praised God for His provision, and just for me to be happy with that! On October 20th at 7:07a.m., I was dismissed from my day job. While I was numb for about a week, and we were scared to death trying to figure out how we'd get by on one income, the feeling subsided. I was able to gain enough composure to set up my yearly appointment for the doctor, and get in before my insurance ran out. I'd already been to the dentist, so that wasn't a concern, either. I applied for unemployment the same day I lost my job, and that helped out a lot. Then, within two weeks of us being a single-income family, God provided 3 new piano students for me! Additionally, in December, I called H&R Block (where I'd worked for 5 previous tax seasons), to see if they needed me back for even just a couple shifts per week. I was asked to come in one night a week, for a few hours. God was providing! A few weeks later, I was asked to take over another shift, and I've also picked up about 8 extra shifts throughout the season, which has provided us just enough money to get by. I'm still nannying for the same family, which gives us a little more income as well.

Frankly, that employer did me a favor. I couldn't stand the stress of being there. I hated how I felt about myself, because my work was never good enough for anyone there. In a short amount of time, Robert and I - through prayer and constant communication with each other - learned that my new occupation was to be at home, providing however I could with what God had given me to take on. My job searches post-grad from UW were fruitless - all 86 applications. Same with everything while I was collecting unemployment - all 37 applications. We learned that God would have provided me with employment if that was what He wanted for us, but He was holding back on our account. He wants us right where we are.

We've faced many people passing judgment on us, making us feel lousy about our decision to have me home now. But we know better than to listen. We only have to answer to God. And we're doing just fine. I'm also working a little bit from home, selling on eBay and working with Scott (a friend from a previous company), to get his business off the ground. We have just what we need.

Something else I've been thinking a lot about is to be thankful in and during the trials we face, not just after them. It's a discipline that we've been having to learn over this new season of life.

Also, I've tried to be as frugal as I possibly can be. We save money as much as possible. And by "save" I don't mean that we don't pay as much for stuff, and spend the extra. I mean, we put the money we've saved into our savings account. At the grocery store, from our household bills, etc. Also, Robert's been driving my car to work a lot, so that we don't have to go through so much fuel in the TrailBlazer. Lights don't get turned on in the house during the day. Laundry is done on two specific days only. Dishwasher gets ran once per week only. Robert thanks me every day for all the efforts I've put in to make all this possible. :)

I've also been growing a lot, just in learning about myself and my husband, and in my walk with God, and in learning who true friends are. Something I think about frequently is how we always have enough to get by, and don't have to go without anything. People around the world do. But we don't. We're blessed. Additionally, we are where we're at for a reason. It's not circumstantial or coincidence.

Anyway, that's what's been on my brain lately. :)