Many of you know we are a military family, and the time has come for us to decide whether to stay-in or get-out. After much prayer and soul-searching, we've decided that it's time for us to join the civilian world. The Navy has been good to us- very good- but it's best for us to separate. J is looking for a job in Texas where my family lives. We plan to go home for Christmas and stay home!
This is a time of dreaming and preparing! I've bought books on gardening (permaculture, to be exact!) and raising free-range chickens. We hope to eventually add bees, and if J has his way, rabbits. J has some good leads on jobs-even this early on- and we're having fun looking at houses on-line. It's exciting!
We also had to decide whether or not to renew our home-study. It was set to expire this month. At first we thought no since we're technically not eligible until November and plan to move in December. Not only does that not give us a large window of eligibility, but it would be a crazy time to have a new baby. But after praying and praying about it, we did not have a peace about letting it expire, and so started the process to renew it. We're not ready to say YES- but we're definitely not ready to say no. We're crazy to even consider it, I know. But we want to be prepared for whatever the Lord calls us to. (Plus supposedly it makes it easier to renew our home study once we get to Texas.)
To add more craziness, we cannot possibly adopt again until we get a larger vehicle. So we're casually looking for mini-vans. Can you imagine if this were to happen? We'd pay for a car, a house, and the cost of an adoption all at once! YIKES!
So that's what's new with us! Praying, dreaming and planning!
19 comments:
Oh how exciting! Our Good Lord WILL provide! Thanks for your faithful witness.
Wow that is amazing news! I'm so excited for your family...and future family!
So exciting!!!! I've been dreaming of minivans too. :)
I have got to get back up there before y'all move! Hannah is ready for her road trip. :)
Wish you were moving closer to our neck of the woods, but I am happy for your family to be following your dreams!
We let our foster care home study expire in April because I had to start working 50 hours a week in order to make ends meet. We can't possibly add to our family when I will be caring for 5 kids under age 3 by this fall as it is.
Our dream is so me to work (watch kids in our home) for 2-5 years. By then we should have our adoption loans paid off and can see where the Lord leads our family at that time. We are both at peace that God has us where He wants us right now. Before my heart can yearn for another baby, I will have twin newborns in my home to keep me in check! Lol!
Oh my gosh!! Back to Texas!! And not too far!!!!!!!! I am sooooooo excited for y'all!!!! Loved hearing the news and am anxious to have the opportunity to get together more often next year. :-) Will be praying all goes well!
Wow, I am so excited for you guys! That's great J has some leads on jobs already too.
I think renewing the home study is a great idea too. You just never know. We got a house, a new car, and found out we were pregnant pretty much all the same MONTH. Not gonna lie, the expenses are stressing us some lately, but at the end of the day, these are all GREAT, HAPPY reasons to spend money. :)
How exciting! I know God will provide and provide well!
Ahhh, the excitement of moving and all things new! Yay!
Civilian life is pretty sweet, I gotta say :). There was no doubt that we were going to get out when our time was up, because we were so deployment and TDY weary...
Such exciting news all around!
Awesome! Thanking your hubs for his service and you for your sacrifice! :)
So excited about your new life change!
Girl, get thee a minivan! I could live in mine! I love it, absolutely love it! I mean ADORE it. :) It's stripped down, wasn't expensive either. :) The doors open on their own. Getting h in and out is a breeze.
Hmmmm, might head down when Karen comes to see you.....Hmmmmm how far is it? LOL
We got a new minivan, a first house, a new dog, and a new baby all within four weeks last June. Hope your Christmas will be equally as exciting! :-)
Awwww that is so exciting! I just love your openness to God's plan! You are such an inspiration and encouragement to others! :) Here I was just worrying about a $130 dental bill for one child and cringing about how much it would cost once Ian is old enough for dental appointments, on top of my filling I have to get next month...and thinking "how do people with more kids pay for everything?" I just gotta let go and trust God! :) And you know, there is a great freedom in that if I can just remember to do it! LOL!
What a big decision - congrats!
Wow--prayers for your discernment all around! BTW...I agree with Sew...do not fear the minivan! We got an 8-passenger when we had just 2 kids and I can't imagine how we'd get by without it.
I can't tell you how happy I was when I read you were renewing your home study. :) Bring on the babies!
Very excited for you all and these decisions...God is so very good!
We're also joining the civilian world in just a few short months! We're flexible on the location, but there are tons of jobs in B's field in Houston, so who knows. Also, is J working with a headhunter? B is, and it has been great so far.
So exciting! Let me know where in Texas. We aren't in Texas, but we are close and have lots of family in Texas. We'll have to get together once you are closer.
Oh wow! So exciting! So excited for you! And can't wait to be able to see you more often! Whoop!
Love,
A
P.S. Colorado is also a great place to raise a family and chickens and bees.
I'd love to hear about your discernment process as it applies to adding a new member to your family. As a family blessed with high fertility ( 4 sons in 4 years) followed by a very serious medical complication that prevents us from being open to add to our family through biology we adopted our daughter. Well she is 9 months old and our home study expires in March and we are trying to discern if we should renew our home-study even though if we were discerning on a more month to month basis, the answer would be a resounding no, we are not called to add to our family at this time, and honestly I can't see my answer changing in the near term, but maybe God sees that changing. I do have five children age 6 and under and like you have reached the capacity of our vehicle and my patience. ok i kid. maybe.
Such an exciting time for you guys, Lauren! Praying for God's wisdom in all your decisions. And I'm looking forward to having you close(ish) by!
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