Hoping things slow down this summer...

Bran and I have been working non-stop for approximately a year now. That's not entirely true, of course. There was the honeymoon, and then the move, and then renovating the house, then going to Seattle with the girls, MD for Christmas, Oregon with the in-laws, and that camping trip in there somewhere. But beyond that we've been working constantly. It's getting a little old!

Something I never realized about school is that it ENDS. First you have the school year: 9 months of class, then 3 months of summer break. Work, then relaxation. Then you've got high school: 12 years of schooling ends with 3 months between high school and college. Then with college, if you're lucky, you get a break about every 8 weeks, and then after 4 years (or 2, if you're smart like us and quit to get married) you're done! Then what? Work. A million years of work with no end in sight. Well, except for death. So basically, work until you die.

That sounds horrible to me! Bran, on the other hand, would have it no other way. He loves the occasional break, no doubt, but the idea of getting to live his life while working hard sounds wonderful to him. The differences between men and women are amazing. I would much rather be home cleaning, taking care of kids, cooking, and did I mention cleaning? That sounds wonderful to me. But that's not where God has me yet.

As I try to guide my little discussion of work, I've realized that it sounds a little like I'm complaining. I'm not at all - I know that this is where God has us right now, and that it won't be this way forever. When we have kids, which will be whenever God decides it is, I will no longer work. Right now I'm working because I can - we figure that we may as well save up as much money as we can now to help ease things a bit for us later. But once I have a baby, I'll "get to" (never thought I'd put it like that) spend my days doing all those things I crave: cooking dinner all the time, cleaning, changing diapers, etc. Maybe that is why God has me where I am - so that I'll appreciate the not-so-glamorous aspects of motherhood when the time comes.

I've learned a lot over the past year about being thankful for the situation we're in. When Bran and I had our miscarriage, I realized that when I get pregnant again, it won't be the same as it was the first time. And if we miscarry again, that won't be the same either. When we have our first baby, it will look completely different than it would have had we not had a miscarriage - we won't be praising God in the same way. We will be praising him as a couple who knows first hand what a miracle it is when pregnancies come to term.

Wow that was way more serious than I intended! I guess I needed to clear my head a little. :)

As for right now, I'm happy watching Evie and working at the Pantry - but let me tell you, I can't wait for that little stick to show two pink lines again.