It is 50 degrees out, sunny, windy, and brown snow is melting away as grass makes an appearance. The January thaw, here for only a short time, but needed none the less!
I woke up today feeling the need to write. It has been several months since doing so, but with some encouragement and words of wisdom from a couple very dear friends of mine, here I go. It fills me with joy, even if its writing about nothing at all, even if it's just about life in all it's simplicity. So don't expect anything mind blowing or earth shattering to follow, this is me we are talking about :)
Resolutions. I had written my own last year, and when New Years Day came just a couple short weeks ago, I sat down to reflect. I found out 1) I wrote WAY too many to accomplish and 2) many were too vague to accomplish. This year I was more specific, and also more realistic :). Here is what I have:
Get a tattoo.
---I know a lot of people would think this is ridiculous, but I love art, and I love tattoos. I find them beautiful and I love the stories people have behind what they choose (be it funny or sentimental). I've got LOTS of ideas for my own, and am excited when I finally narrow down what will be my first tattoo! If you like them, awesome, and if not, that's ok, but please don't think your opinion is going to sway me in mine.
Read 8 books.
---Sad because in 1 year I would hope that I could read more than 8 books, but last year when I said 12 (1 for each month) I was disappointed to realize that I read 5. I want to make a point to read books that I can learn from, laugh at, and most of all enjoy! 1 1/2 down so far :)
Volunteer somewhere.
--I have a heart that loves to serve, yet I get nervous putting myself out there in new situations. I want to work on getting past that, and who knows who I'll meet or what may come of it!
Join a bible study.
-- I am continuing to grow in my relationship with God, but would love to learn with others and maybe even make a new friend or 2 that have the same desire.
Pick a hobby and stick with it!
--SO, as much as I can get irritated with Micah for having too many things going on at once and never sticking to 1 thing at a time, I do the very same thing with hobbies. I find something I might be interested in, try it until I hit a roadblock (ie: needle breaks on sewing machine, can't figure out certain stitch, too much camera info to memorize) and I stop. This year, I'm going to put my focus on learning a new skill or hobby, and sticking to it, even through the roadblocks!
Pay down debt!
--Last year we paid off Micah's car, and my undergrad student loan. We still have a long way to go, but we are determined to get rid of our student loans so that our money can go towards greater things for others.
Life has been good to us, and continues to be. Micah is still working with the Long Term Care facility and enjoying it still. He is still on mid nights and it seems to work for us. Even on weekends, like today. Today he got home at 7:30, I woke up at 8, and have all morning and early afternoon to be lazy and quiet while he sleeps. Some days I'm productive, other days, like today, not so much. The midnight schedule works great during the week, we're able to spend our afternoons together. I miss him at night, listening to his mid-dream ramblings, but have to admit, I haven't missed the snoring :)
I am still in my center based SXI classroom. I struggle from time to time on if it is my life's calling, but the truth is, at this point in my life, I think I am where I need to be. If 5 years from now it feels different, than it'll be back to the drawing board, but for now, I love my 8 students tremendously and am grateful to spend my days with them.
Our lazy days together we play basketball in house (yes...2 grown adults with a mini hoop that hangs from our front door), play dominoes, or work on house projects. Current house project is our entryway. It was the first room I wanted to change when we moved in, and 5 years later, its the 2nd to last room we're working on :), none the less, I'm excited, and will post pictures once we're close to finished!
Our little family is doing well. The 3 pup's run the house, hog the bed, and leave their toys scattered about for me to trip on (I did a face plant in the wall this morning tripping over something to let them out). Milo (crazy cat) likes to split his time between the basement and us. The chickens are good, starting to finally lay again, and are currently ranging out in the front yard under the bird feeder.
Micah and I are realizing that God may have different plans for what our family looks like. We had hoped for a family from early on, and now years later, while it doesn't consist of a mini-human running around (God is still working on this for us, this we know), we are grateful for this family we have in the here and now. He has given Micah and I time to grow in our marriage, in our trust in him, and in finding a sense (and peace) of direction. Our hearts believe that our child is an ocean away. Born yet or not, we don't know, but I've decided to start praying for this little soul. That he or she would know how deeply loved they are, how they've got a life filled with crazy chaos and love in their future, and how they have me and Micah heart and soul already. With that said, at some point in the near future, we are going to begin fundraising of some sort. Not sure what it will look like, but we're going to try to get the ball rolling. Any thoughts or prayers you have for us during this process would be very appreciated. Truth is, I'm nervous. Excited, and very, very, nervous.
