Turning the corner

I turned 30 this year. And maybe it's that that makes me sentimental. But, in reflection, it has been one of those memorable years. One that stands out like "The Year We Got Married" or "The Year We Moved to California". A few months after hitting the big 3-0 we had Baby #2 (Ethan). And I thought having one child was an earth-shattering experience... 2 little ones can totally rock your world! Talk about a total loss of "me-time". We spread our kids out a bit, figuring it would be easier if Andrew, our first, was almost 3 when #2 came along. Now, as we try to sleep train one while we potty training the other, we are reminded that "the best made plans"...

Ah, plans. Back to this epic or memorable year. I also was recently laid off from my full-time teaching job. I have been teaching middle and high school English for the past 8 years, and now, with the current teaching market, and with the needs of our family, it looks like I may be on a break from that career for a indeterminate amount of time. Finances, we're fine. We'll just need to tighten up the budget a little. But me not being a teacher for a while or forever, that is going to be harder to get used to. It's a bittersweet transition, but God closes doors sometimes, and I know that He has a wonderful plan for me and my family in this new phase in our lives.

So, I realized that as I turn this corner, I have a choice. I can wallow in the "what-ifs" and mourn the loss of the old life that I knew so well and took so much pride in. Or, I can embrace the new and choose joy. I can live in the now and treasure every second, every mundane and beautiful moment home with the kids while they're still little. I may not be serving God in the classroom, but I can wait and see where He wants me to glorify Him now. I can see our new circumstances not as a hardship, but as a gift.

So this blog is part of the new start. I want to get back to what I have always loved doing, but neglected or lost somewhere in the business of being mommy-teacher-wife. I want to make time to Read, Write, and Run again.

Jeremiah 29:11