Time Marches On

For some reason I felt the need to wrap up 2010 with a year-end summary and a anticipatory outlook for 2011.

Overall 2010 was a good transitional year for us, though some of those transitions are still in play.  Aside from life with Josiah (nothing ever stays the same with a baby/pre toddler), the first half of the year was the same old, same old of 2009 that had been one trial after another.  Things began to change a bit in the spring and early summer when I started picking up more and more relief work that I could do on my own schedule.  This boosted our income and my morale a bit as well as creating a few more opportunities for Josiah to spend alone with his Daddy, grandparents and even a sitter without having to be propelled into daycare.  One of these relief positions turned into a permanent part time job about the same time that it became evident that our family would be expanding.  During all of this, Jacob was slowly gearing up to begin beekeeping, which is still in transition and will continue to develop through 2011.

Since that summertime of transition, things have progressed nicely.  Josiah has fit in well in his childcare arrangement, my job is moving along, the pregnancy is going well, and Jacob continues to do lawn care as he develops a foundation in his new passion and works towards making it his source of income.  As I look back at the last 10 years of our marriage, I see that this past year has just been another round of the ebb and flow of our life where God puts us into a time of wait that prepares us for the next phase.  Sometimes it is hard to see where in the world things are going, but he has yet to let us down and His timing has been right on in every instance.  We have had every need met or exceeded and have had a few great surprises waiting for us.

I’m not sure where this next phase will take us exactly or how long it will last, but I know there is a purpose for it and I’m content to know that in some way we are moving forward.  Any hiccups (or great tragedies, for that matter) will be dealt with and work out for the long term.  I’m hopeful that the very first few weeks of 2011 will bring some answers to medical questions we’ve had about Josiah, March will bring a healthy baby boy via a smooth delivery, late spring will bring a smooth start to returning to work and the kids to childcare, and that Jacob will have success with his bees throughout.  I won’t be so brave as to project beyond those first several months, but maybe, just maybe, there will be at least some talk about building our home….maybe.

I hope you all have a safe, healthy, happy 2011.