mum lesson- changing schedules

God has been teaching us a tough lesson lately in the big T- Trust. Dad's schedule at the hospital keeps getting changed with about two weeks of notice. Then, when it does, a series of things occurs. First, we both feel scared of how this change is going to affect you both, then the others who support us like Noni and Popi and Monica and Casa de Amma. Then, Dad feels bad that he works somewhere that he has not been there long enough to have some control over his schedule. At 37, it is very humbling and frustrating to have someone decide your schedule for you in a casual, last minute way. Third, we have to ask favors of my work where I am valuable but not wanting to wear out my welcome for sure, and Noni and Popi who are so generous with their time because they love you both so much. Before we had you, a change in schedule would have affected us very little. But now- your feeling of stability plus our need to be together as a family are so important. We can't start to develop the fun routine of our family if there is no routine available.

Excuse me while I go tell Jack to stop kicking the wall when he's supposed to be napping!

Anyway-in the middle of all of this- we don't forget that change is NEVER a surprise to God. He's not wringing his hands thinking, "oh, how are they going to work out this schedule? how are they going to share good times as a family, or make sure the boys have a special bond with each of them." He's not surprised at all! He knows that our heart is to share our life with you, teach you about how much God loves you so that someday when a change comes your way that you are not expecting- you say, " oh yeah- God's not surprised- His character is all-knowing and He is most decidedly not worried right now. He's got me in his Hands."

The mumlesson is this-- as you grow, and you watch countless changes come our way as a family- we need to always show you what it looks like to remember God's perspective in the change. He is not wanting us to worry, cry, complain or assume the worst. He is wanting us to remember how many times He's worked it out before, that He'll keep working it out and how He wants us to model that trust to you. As I've said before- we decided to have you, God blessed that decision and you are coming into a crazy world. You are going to need these tools to separate you from what the world is going to be telling you to do- which is freak out!

Pastor Rick said this weekend something that had not occurred to me in this way. He reminded us that our goal here in life is to "bear fruit," or show God's likeness to people. He said- "how can you tell if an apple tree is mature? It has apples! How can you tell if a tomato plant is mature? It has tomatoes!" The fruit you need from dad and I to prove we mature is fruit that looks like trust in God when change comes.