Major Life Changes

How many major life changes can you cram into 6 weeks? Apparently quite a few--just ask us!

Major Life Change #1: Moving

Yes, we are moving again. (I'm pretty sure we're insane.) Actually, an opportunity came along that would be best for our family in the long-run so we are ignoring the fact that the timing is slightly off and moving full-steam ahead. Our landlords own two rental houses and the second came available at the beginning of January. They asked if we would want to look at it because it is "slightly bigger" (their words) than our house. Well, it turns out it is about 200 sq. ft. bigger (900 instead of 7o0) and bigger in all the places it really counts--kitchen, laundry room (our's is literally a sliver now), and the second (kids') bedroom. The yard is more defined, it has a large deck, it is off the main busy street.... I could go on and on. So many things that have made life difficult here (not enough electrical outlets, virtually no closet space, etc.) will be solved with this move. So we really are thankful for the great opportunity, just slightly overwhelmed in the timing.

Major Life Change #2: Having Another Baby

Baby Girl is due to make her appearance in a little over 5 weeks. It's hard to believe it is getting that close! I have a whole list of things that need to be done before she comes, but it's on hold until we get moved.....

Major Life Change #3: New Job

Yes, Seth has just been blessed with a new job, virtually un-looked for. We are excited for the greater financial and schedule stability this will bring to our lives. Starting this coming Tues., Seth will be working in Purchasing/Inside Sales for a computer services company. This job is superior to his previous situation in several ways. First, he received a rather significant raise in his hourly wage! Praise God for providing a way to make more without wringing more hours out of his day. Second, the hours are consistent. Not only will he have a set schedule that will be the same each week, but he will be consistently provided with the number of work hours he needs every week. (His tutoring job was a flux schedule each week with anywhere between 8 and 30 hours offered. Always up in the air makes it hard to budget!) Third, the work itself will require less constant mental effort. Tutoring requires him to always be "up", hour after hour, client after client. It is a very draining kind of job. This new position will be more of a normal "office" type job, which will be a relief from studies.

Major Life Change #4: Becoming a 2-Car Family

I, for one, am having trouble adjusting to this reality. I have never thought of us as having two cars. We're in seminary, for pete's sake. We're poor! Well, God knows that, but He also knows how insanely difficult it was going to be with Seth working 15 miles away 30 hours per week. I was looking at a pretty house-bound existence. And when doctor's appointments and such did require me to have transportation I would have had to take Seth to work, requiring me to wake Benjamin up early, etc. etc. Not fun! Well, early this week we got a call from some friends who had a broken car they were planning to part with. The repair was about $400 and they just decided it was time for them to move on--it's an older car with lots of miles. They were planning to donate it, but decided to see if we could use it first. They offered to just give it to us, we would just have to pay the repair cost. After doing some investigating and realizing how relatively inexpensive the insurance, etc. would be on this older car we decided it is worth the "gamble," even if we only have it for a short time. So Seth will use the second car to get to work and I will have a way to get around with the two munchkins, if need be.

So, that's what's going on in our lives right now. My head is spinning! Occassionally I slow it down enough to write an item or two on the appropriate categorized "to-do list." I guess this is one way to make sure the fatigue of the third trimester can't take over!

Until next time (whenever that may be....)