18 months:
1/3 down
2/3 to go
All of the sudden the weather decided to be a bit crap (the one thing Arkansas had going for them ;D), but it'll pass and I'm sure we'll soon be in sweltering heat. I'm so ready to take advantage of our pool!!!
Things are improving, slowly but surely. At this rate I'll be blissfully happy by the time we are called to leave. That's how life works, right? Haha.
Jude is two now!!! Can you believe it? He is going to daycare two days a week and that has been awesome for both of us! I'm really hoping that being around other children more frequently will help Jude's vocabulary. He doesn't speak much. He prefers signing apparently, which isn't working for us anymore seeing as how I've exhausted all of my signing knowledge on him and the words "more", "please", and "all done" won't get him too far in life. We've already noticed an improvement in his speech since he started daycare a month ago. I'm sure once he starts I'll be wishing he'd be quiet just for even a minute. Again, that's how life works, right?
Drew is quite busy with his jobs at Biomat and Maverick. His workload is substantial but his schedule, for the most part, has never been better. Until we moved, it was HIGHLY unusual for Drew to have dinner at home. Now he's home almost every night. Love it! Not surprisingly, the center in AR has thrived under Drew's leadership. Duh! My man can do anything. So proud of him.
Then there's little old me.
I've never tried so many different things in my entire life. If there's a meeting/church group - I go to it. If there's a party - I'm usually there. I've joined MOPS, I teach cubbies, and I try to get involved in any church activities I can. I'm finding that I really enjoy it! As a textbook introvert, it can get exhausting, but I think God is helping to sustain me!
The process of 'fitting in' isn't easy. I'm not interested in changing who I am for anyone except God.
I like me (most of me haha) and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. It's the 'refining process' that is a challenge. In trying 'everything' it's only natural to have a bad 'fit' or experience. Boy is that true. I must exhude 'crazy' because that just seems to be the thing that finds me. I've got story after story of things I've experienced that are nothing short of soap opera drama. It's to the point that I just have to laugh.
It can be tough at times. Making new friends, finding out people weren't who you thought they were, hoping the people you've left behind aren't forgetting you. Like I said, it's a refining process.
Pressure makes diamonds. Quality stays.
I'm looking forward to getting to know people better and hopefully forming some strong, lasting relationships. I definitely feel like God is placing certain people in my life for this.
In times of disappointment and frustration I remind myself that every person in my life was put there by God for whatever reason.....and I'm in their lives for His purpose, too. I've come to the realization that instead of worrying so much about what to do/say/be, I need to just pray that I'm whatever God wants me to be in people's lives.
If you know me well, you know I'm a skosh 'different'. That wasn't an accident. God made me that way because He has a purpose for my life. That's what I want. His purpose.
That's how life should work, right?
Talk to you in six months.
Lauren
