Change In Dynamics

Just over a year ago, I married the love of my life! Ever since that day, I have had constant changes in how my life has progressed. For instance (before marriage), once I graduated high school, I went to college and that was that. Well since getting married in June of 2017, my husband and I both had the privilege of getting to know one another so much better and learn what it is like to live on our own... in the city.. and also in the summer. (Mostly summer for me because I would go back home, city for him because he lived on a farm.) Then school started back up, and he had to get used to me being extremely busy in school while we were married: before, he was not with me everyday, living with me, and experiencing my load. He was extremely supportive, though, and I could not have done it without him. 

 

We have come to realize that God has timing all His own, and our plans were about to change. With my graduating in the spring after student teaching, we planned on me having a year of teaching out of the way after that before we started having kids. With this plan, we would be able to allow me the experience of a first year of planning and running a program as well as pay off all my student loans in one year with just my income! It was a great plan, because we would be debt-free, experience in my pocket, and ready to have kids any time. Having kids would not interfere with anything and having a year of experience, I would be able to go into part-time jobs as a stay-at-home homeschool mom and still be able to build a successful music program wherever I went. Well things all changed when we found out we were pregnant at the end of the semester. The Lord was definitely teaching us patience and reliance on Him. (Still is, by the way.) 

We announced to our families at Christmas and went into the new year knowing that student teaching while pregnant would be difficult, but with the Lord's help we could help me through. Fast-forward to May, and I did it - I graduated! And just in time for me to really start showing (haha). It was a very hard semester, but it was so worth it! I am now less than 3 weeks away from my due date, and very quickly realizing how much will change. I cannot have a normal first year of teaching with delivering right before school starts back up, so I will be staying at home and attempting to build my private studio back up. I will also be looking at working at a homeschool music co-op. Even knowing these things, it is still so odd to think that James and I will have a child... and that we will be solely responsible for their upbringing and, well, everything! I am so grateful we get the opportunity to start our family young, but it can be scary thinking about the increase in responsibility every waking moment. I am constantly being reminded of the words from Proverbs 3: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths." We have experienced a lot of life changes in the past year, but I know that as we continue to trust God and lean on Him, we can make the best of the changes and embrace them, knowing that He is in control.