What to do...what to do?

There is always that weird time after you make a major transition. You know...like when you finish school for the summer break or you graduate from high school...for the next few weeks you feel like there is something you should be doing, but in reality there is not. Before we left Washington I was taking an infant to work with me 4 days a week, working with the youth group at our church, packing a house and tying up any loose ends that I could think of from our office move a few weeks back. Now I am jobless, away from all responsibility, aside from Charlie, and feeling like I don't know what to do with myself. I am keeping up with the laundry pretty easily and trying to cook a little and taking daily walks with Charlie and Daisy (our beagle). I do have a mommy and baby play group this Thursday...that will be fun..and I am trying to catch up with old friends...but how many lunches out can I really afford. It is not a bad thing, but I find myself feeling guilty for having this free time and not filling it all with something productive. Looking for a place to live is high on our priority list...started that today without much luck. I know something is out there. I will get plugged in at church soon. I have always had a passion for youth ministry and could always do that...but I want to really be used where needed so I want to take my time and ask around. I know that so many people say that they just cannot find time for themselves and that life is out of control busy...I am sure as more kids come along and get older my life will resemble theirs. I am trying to focus on my relationship with the Lord, my husband, son, friends and family. The rest will all catch up with me in due time.

We have arrived!

So with a few days to pack and 2200 miles behind us...we have arrived in South Bend, Indiana. I had it very easy, as I was able to fly home. Brian, on the other hand, drove all those miles with his dad in a moving truck. They are serious Road Warriors. They drove the whole thing, including stops, with a dog in 37 hours straight. They pulled in after barely staying awake to needing to wind down before hopping into bed for some much needed rest. Since then we have unloaded the truck in various places, and are settling in at my in-laws, where we will stay until we find our own place to live. What a blessing it is to have a place to stay...and with a relaxing and beautiful riverfront view! It is never entirely easy to merge two families together in one house, but we are all very understanding and considerate people...and we know it is temporary!
Charlie is adjusting well..he misses his baby friends in Washington but has already had a play date with some new ones. One is being born today, as a matter of fact. It is a strange feeling to get where you have been wanting to be. I have been away from my home town for about 4 years now and I feel as if I have never left and yet a stranger at the same time. Half of my friends are gone and the other half are split between the singles and the marrieds. I am a part of the group that married young and now have a baby. I still love to be with my single girlfriends but really can't relate to their lifestyle anymore. It is nice to have some married friends with kids to share experiences with. The other dilemma is my hubby is 7 years older than I am. We grew up in the same town but in a different generation. It will be interesting to see who we really bond with and both enjoy spending our time with. One really exciting thing is we are close to my brother and sister in-law. We love spending time with them and I really want Charlie to know his only uncle before he leaves for the mission field. Brian starts his new job on Monday, so we are trying to enjoy our time off together before "real"life starts up again.

All in God's Timing

Well, in my first blog I mentioned that we were in limbo waiting for some answers about Brian's job...and boy did we get them. Last Thursday Brian was notified that he would be getting the job in Indiana. This was not a formal notification in writing but everyone just said that they had heard it was happening...so be ready. Monday comes around and he gets the formal job offer and is told his report date is the 14th of this month!!! What?!? That is only a few days away. We have to pack the house, arrange help, schedule one of our cars to be shipped and fly family members out to help drive and deal with infants. FEW! Well, we have a great start and I think we are going to make it. Brian is a packing maniac, I'm organizing my things at work to make the transition easier and my mom flew in to watch Charlie so we could get the work done. It is so surreal that after being away from home for almost 4 years that we will be back with family and friends. There are so many emotions going through me right now. Excitement, to be with family and lifelong friends...Fear of finances and feasibility...sadness for leaving the great church and friends we have made in Washington...and Relief to finally know what our future holds. It was really difficult for Brian to not know what he would be doing in his career and definitely a growing time for both of us in the patience department. We are products of the I want it and I want it now generation. Fortunately we had such great parents that we managed to not become spoiled brats of society. We still get used to looking something up on the Internet, texting and shopping at mega stores, which allow you to get answers and things when you want and for the right price. I am thrilled that the time to move has finally come and I can't wait for it to be over. I have the strangest dreams at night...forget things all the time...and wear two different shoes to work(it really happened today). Stress reveals itself in so many ways. There is no need to stress, because God is so clearly in every part of this process and I know he will carry us through to the end.

New Territory

Well, when you have a baby you are constantly entering into new territory. The trip to the grocery store isn't near as quick and easy but you now want to buy healthier food all of the sudden. You are so conscious of what you are putting in your child's body and how eating well is so important for good living. You also had no idea that you could carry an extra 20-25 pounds of stuff and kid with you all the time. The thought of getting into a car accident is beyond terrifying. You know your own threshold, but your child is dependent on you for boundaries. You notice so many new things around you because now your child is reaching out for it. You appreciate the quiet and then you are thrilled when they wake up again.
This last week and a half has been quite a bit of new territory with a little rough terrain. Charlie cut his first tooth. Being a new mother and pretty much only knowing what you have read and heard...I just knew my son was too young to be teething. They drool and chew on stuff for months and it just becomes routine. One day he was gnawing on my finger and I felt something on his gum. A TOOTH! Poor baby and his incompetent mommy! I could have been doing several things to make him more comfortable and yet I was oblivious to his pain and discomfort. Well, not totally...I knew he had been a little bit more fussy and needy but they go through stages like that. Since then, I have noticed a couple of other teeth close to the surface and I am realizing that this process will not be over soon. It does excite me to think of all of the foods he will get to eat and experience with those teeth! On top of all of the crazy teeth...he developed this horrible rash. You can imagine that babies don't like having a rash any more than you and I do...PLUS they have limited muscle control to itch and adjust for comfort. Poor things! We went to the doc and we are on our way to getting healed up. Through that process I realized that I don't really care for our pediatrician...that's a whole other entry. I know it seems like I am venting and complaining quite a bit...but I can say that Charlie is such a great baby and is really putting up with me and my own learning curve!