This year we actually made it to midnight on New Year's Eve!! It has been a few years since we have been able to do this...something about the kids still waking up at the crack of dawn. We were invited to spend this New Year's Eve with some dear friends of ours, Roy and Hollie Swart. Roy and Hollie have become some of our closest friends (of the heart, not actual distance since they have moved further away). We absolutely love them and anyone they enjoy spending time with. We had a very enjoyable evening of innovative games and fellowship. We laughed, we cried, we told lies...OK, you had to be there. So, one of the things I really enjoy about Roy and Hollie is they can take a room full of people who really don't know each other and have them spend hours making each other laugh and then reign everyone into a serious conversation. Roy asked everyone to comment on what they hoped the New Year would bring. Everyone had amazing things to say.
We stopped to think about some of the changes that 2008 will bring for us. We are constantly amazed about the changes our lives go through daily with two small children. We are hopeful to add two more beautiful girls to our family and anticipate whatever changes they will bring with them.
I commented on how I hope to better define the roles that the Lord has placed me in. I am first and foremost a mother, but I do work outside of the home. This presents many challenges, but also offers many rewards. I struggle with enjoying my work so much. I almost feel guilty about it, even though I know that I have not been given permission to stay home. The decision to go back to school pretty much solidifies the fact that I will be a career mom. I often wonder if I have enough love and time to give to two more children. I truly believe the Lord has opened these doors for me so I need to have faith that He will give me everything I need to accomplish His plan. I look forward to the Lord working in my heart over the next year in these areas.
Jamie mentioned that it is not natural to him to be home with the children, but he thoroughly enjoys the time he has with his boys and considers it very precious. He mentioned that it is so important that his boys and his girls have a meaningful relationship with their father. His relationship with his boys is amazing and I expect no less from him with his girls. Although the being at home is not necessarily natural he does an amazing job.
We both work part time and we sacrifice some creature comforts for this. However, neither one of us would give up our time with the boys. We supremely believe this time when they are tiny is especially important for us to connect with them and meet their needs. We both find parenting toddlers difficult a lot of the time, but we reflect on the amazing things we gain. Our children force us to be humble daily. We gain laughter and hugs. We gain wisdom and patience. We see the world through children's eyes, if only for a minute at a time. For these things and so many more we are eternally grateful for God's precious gift of children. We look forward to the challenge and the love that our new girls will bring. Our prayer is that this will happen in 2008.
