It's been a while since I've written on here. Far too long really. I've tried several times, but school, work and a host of other things seem to get in the way. But now it seems time to take a moment and look back, to reflect on God's faithfulness to us, on the changes, and on the adventures ahead.
In November we bought our first house. Its a recently "flipped' ranch in a neighborhood about two miles from our previous apartment. Can I just say this? I really enjoy being in a house again. I also really enjoyed what God taught me in the process of buying a house. You see, I'm married to an introvert who loves me deeply. (Some of you are shocked when you hear introvert, I know... but it's true). I'm not an introvert. However, my introverted husband who loves me so well, would do anything he can feasibly do to take care of me, and make me happy. This includes the fact that he hates to tell me "No", to anything, unless he really believes it is not for my good, unwise, or unbiblical. This sounds great, and usually, it is- for me. But it was in this home- buying process that he saw me excited, and wanted to give me what I wanted. It was in this same process that God nudged me and told me I needed to try and release him from his self-imposed burden. It is not that I was trying to manipulate Ty, or get my way. It's simply that he loves me and knew I was tired of the constant noise of our apartment neighbors, the rusty stairs to our apartment, and taking my dog "out" in the freezing cold (to name a few things ;) ). So began my lesson. I realized that to love my husband well, I needed to let him know that I trust him completely, and then I needed to shut my mouth. I also needed to shut my mouth and not ask him what his decision was about this or that part of the process every five minutes (because my goal-oriented self likes to know the solution- whatever it may be- and prepare for it). Tyler needs time to think. I needed to not ask him his opinion as to whether or not we should do something and then immediately provide a way that my preferred solution could be executed. :) As I sought to let Tyler know that I trust him more than my emotions, that I wanted him to lead our family, I found such freedom. There is freedom when I don't have to make it happen. There's freedom when I let go, realizing that Ty is accountable to God for leading our family, and that I am accountable for loving and respecting him- and trusting him. I don't think I have this all figured out, and I'm sure I have a lot more to learn, but it was really cool to be able to let him lead, and let go.
So now we are moved in, and I'm grateful not to hear my loud neighbors. We've also met some really cool new neighbors that I look forward to getting to know better. During this time, I have also gotten a new job, which much better fits my skills and my desire to help people, as well as my school schedule. I'm incredibly grateful. But that's for another day, as are other things I could share, I'm sure.
In November we bought our first house. Its a recently "flipped' ranch in a neighborhood about two miles from our previous apartment. Can I just say this? I really enjoy being in a house again. I also really enjoyed what God taught me in the process of buying a house. You see, I'm married to an introvert who loves me deeply. (Some of you are shocked when you hear introvert, I know... but it's true). I'm not an introvert. However, my introverted husband who loves me so well, would do anything he can feasibly do to take care of me, and make me happy. This includes the fact that he hates to tell me "No", to anything, unless he really believes it is not for my good, unwise, or unbiblical. This sounds great, and usually, it is- for me. But it was in this home- buying process that he saw me excited, and wanted to give me what I wanted. It was in this same process that God nudged me and told me I needed to try and release him from his self-imposed burden. It is not that I was trying to manipulate Ty, or get my way. It's simply that he loves me and knew I was tired of the constant noise of our apartment neighbors, the rusty stairs to our apartment, and taking my dog "out" in the freezing cold (to name a few things ;) ). So began my lesson. I realized that to love my husband well, I needed to let him know that I trust him completely, and then I needed to shut my mouth. I also needed to shut my mouth and not ask him what his decision was about this or that part of the process every five minutes (because my goal-oriented self likes to know the solution- whatever it may be- and prepare for it). Tyler needs time to think. I needed to not ask him his opinion as to whether or not we should do something and then immediately provide a way that my preferred solution could be executed. :) As I sought to let Tyler know that I trust him more than my emotions, that I wanted him to lead our family, I found such freedom. There is freedom when I don't have to make it happen. There's freedom when I let go, realizing that Ty is accountable to God for leading our family, and that I am accountable for loving and respecting him- and trusting him. I don't think I have this all figured out, and I'm sure I have a lot more to learn, but it was really cool to be able to let him lead, and let go.
So now we are moved in, and I'm grateful not to hear my loud neighbors. We've also met some really cool new neighbors that I look forward to getting to know better. During this time, I have also gotten a new job, which much better fits my skills and my desire to help people, as well as my school schedule. I'm incredibly grateful. But that's for another day, as are other things I could share, I'm sure.
