Looking for adventure

I really want a change of scenery. And not just any change of scenery - one that I feel certain is in the center of God's perfect will and somewhere I can (ideally) feel excited about.

We've been really hoping that this next season will open up doors to new places. Our hopes have been set on Canada, but we're not sure if that's really in God's plan for us just yet. However, I love the idea of "going home" and living in Ontario again.

Thankfully, I'm also ok with staying put. For now anyways, not for always. I don't want to be in the Cleveland-area ten years from now. Maybe not even five years from now. Or two years. But God has a way, thankfully, of making things happen at just the right time, whether quickly or not too soon. The trick of course, is finding contentment in those holding places that God keeps us in sometimes.

I feel like Cleveland is a holding place. It's always been a layover between more desirable locations. A place to rest before moving somewhere else. I didn't think I'd be camped out here for so many years - in fact, I'm starting to feel like we may be stuck here forever! But then lots of good has come from staying, so I just have to keep trusting, trusting, trusting.

We're praying that even if we are here for a few more years that change will still come but more from within, I suppose, than from obvious outside circumstances. As we look ahead to the very near future, we're praying for:

1) A true sense of close-knit community

2) A new job that provides for our family

3) Support for when the next baby comes

4) A closer walk with God - the kind you can't go back on; the kind that transforms you forever.

I'm trusting God to provide all these things. I've been reminded over the past few days that God is the only one who can work this situation for our good.

Answers

For the past year, Tim and I have felt somewhat unsettled with the path we're on. Not because we felt it was out of God's will, per say, but rather that we felt He wanted more for us and more from us. However, either of these things just didn't seem to be happening with the current situation.

More and more we've been pressed to ask for God's clear direction on what's next for us and in the last month (since finding out I was pregnant) it's become a desperate plea. Even though our hearts were being pulled in a new direction, we wanted God's confirmation before taking any definitive steps and I was beginning to think that He was just going to let us figure it out for ourselves.

But of course, as God's timing often calls for patience, it wasn't until this week that we finally received confirmation on what to expect in the coming months.

And it's good and it's freeing and it leaves so much room for uncertainty. Which could (and should?) freak us out, I suppose. But for the first time in years I feel like an adventure with God, free from any obligations to man, is truly in front of me. And I'm excited.

Still sick

I've been sick for two months. And not pregnant sick - just normal person sick. Except not normal because this chest and head cold is hanging on for dear life. It's resulted in a whole lot of laziness and lack of motivation across the board. On top of that, I am pregnant sick. Thankfully (I suppose) I just suffer from a whole lot of nausea that never results in a trip to the bathroom - just a whole lot of moans and groans and generally feeling sorry for myself. Speaking of pregnancy I have my first appointment with the doctor today to check on how things (or the baby, rather) is developing. This pregnancy has been one of shock more than it has been... excitement.... so I'm still sort of in a daze about the whole thing.

Oh - and did I mention that Jack turned 1 year old?!! I debated writing a whole post about it the day of but as I said... sick and tired doesn't equal much motivation to put things down on virtual paper. His actual birth-day was a quiet affair at my parents with dinner and cake (vegan banana cake) which turned out to be scrumptious and we had the joy of watching Jack literally shovel it into his mouth in the way that kids do. He got a dump truck and a pail with tools for the beach (we're going to Goderich!!!!!!!!!) which he was very excited about, as well as some nice outfits which he didn't pay much attention to, but we loved.

And that is the story of my current health and Jack's first birthday.

The End.