Crazy Days

Good morning Bloggy Friends,
     I mentioned awhile back that our family was facing some changes.  So true!  Here is the biggie.  My dear hubby is a route/salesman for BBU (commonly known as Oroweat) and recently he was shifted to being a relief driver which requires more flexibility than the two of us "like to have routine in our lives" sort of people, along with our precious children, seem to muster up naturally.  Believing with all our hearts that this is from the Lord to grow us, among other things, and thankful with all our being to have a job, we've been working at making the necessary changes in our lives (with much needed grace from the Lord) to receive this daily unpredictability with joy.  My husband is a planner...he's a "make a plan/work the plan" guy!  Now from day to day he does not know until the day before what route he is going to be running, when he will need to get up or go to bed, if he'll be working with someone or running solo, etc.  And the ripple effect is like a wave crashing down on the whole family.  Will he need a short or long nap when he gets home (thus requiring our activities to be very quiet for the duration), and how will the events of each day flow in relationship to his ever-changing needs?  It makes planning MANY things interesting :-). But I have to say, the Lord is rich in mercy!  He has blessed us with good communication, unity of mission as a family, and joy in the journey as He walks us through this latest adventure together.  Instead of seeing the limitations (resulting in frustration, dissatisfaction, and bad attitudes), we're trying to see how God is working this together for our good -- because that is what He promises to do, isn't it?  The result has been growth in working as a team, increased joy in God, and thankfulness to Him from whom all blessings flow!
     Another temporary change was that I agreed to proof/edit Doorposts' revision of For Instruction in Righteousness.  I work from bell to bell already, so trying to sneak in a 40 hour project might be considered by some to be a sign of insanity, but again, the Lord is gracious.  He has given me a skill and I REALLY enjoy working with Pam Forster on her projects that are geared towards equipping parents to train their children up to love and serve our Amazing God.  She has afforded me the privilege for the past 10 years or so.  Thank you, Pam...I really do count it a privilege!  The demands on my time have increased since those early years, and I very well may be crazy, but the job is DONE and yesterday I handed the book back to Pam...it is her turn to have some fun, making all the corrections/changes and then off to the printers it can go.  I encourage you to consider their products.  I have recommended them before and will probably do so again (and no, she doesn't pay me to promote their works...I do so simply because I think they're helpful).
     The kiddos are taking swim lessons for the first time and LOVING it.  T-ball for Paul is coming up.  The girls take piano, art classes, practice with the girls' choir, etc.  There are doctor, dentist, orthodontist appointments, etc.  Life is so planned and scheduled...so many things to juggle in between homeschooling, hubby's work, care of the home, etc.  I am wearing a compass pendant on a chain this morning (and have been for the past couple of weeks)...it is my reminder to live "by the compass and not the clock", as a friend recently encouraged me to do...to be directed by the Master of Life, not my little-kingdom-of-me-to-do-list.  All the to-do's and schedules or lack thereof need to be subjected to His plans, and His plans are good and do-able with His grace.
     So changes, yes.  These are crazy days, but good days.  We continue to taste and see the goodness of the Lord in our lives.  He is with us!  Whatever the day holds, it comes from His hand as an opportunity to enjoy Him and make much of Him...there is NOTHING I would rather do.  I yearn to know Him better! 

Thanks for stopping by,
Connie