The title of this blog really sums up this week for us. Jehovah-Jireh, one of the many names of God, means “the Lord will provide”. Obviously, since we began this journey, He has demonstrated that in so many ways…both big and small. This week was just another example of His incredible faithfulness to us. We are continually amazed by how He has chosen to pour blessings upon us, when we are so undeserving.
This story requires a little background, so you’ll have to bear with me. Back in April, after Ryan had officially accepted the job with Rubbermaid and we knew that we were moving here, I had to scramble to try and find a preschool with an opening for Lauren. I did some research online and finally found a Christian school that had one spot left for her age group. So, I signed her up and paid the registration fee. This was all done before we had flown back to look at houses. Months later, once we made an offer on this house and it was accepted, I realized that I was going to have a long commute taking her to school twice a week. I wasn’t thrilled about it, so I put her on two different waiting lists with schools closer to our house in Huntersville.
Once we moved out here and I did a “practice” drive to her school one morning, I was dreading the beginning of the school year – it took us 45 minutes without traffic! Plus, the program was 9:30-2:00, which meant that we wouldn’t get home until almost 3:00 on school days. And Lauren is still taking naps each day from 1:00 until almost 5:00. So, that meant that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, she would barely get a nap at all. So, after our drive that day, I began to pray that if this was really the place that God wanted her to be, that He would give me a peace about it. The other negative is that I was really wanting to join the Beth Moore bible study that our Women’s Group at church was going to do in the fall. But, it was scheduled for Tuesdays at 9:30, so that meant I couldn’t be a part of it. Again, I prayed because I knew this would be a great chance to get to know some of the ladies in the church and make close friends.
Monday evening of this week, our phone rang and it was the Director of the Huntersville First Baptist Preschool. She said that one of the families who had signed their daughter up for the 3-year-old class was moving out of state, so they had an opening. I was so shocked I could barely respond. I got all the information from her and scheduled a meeting with her for the next day so we could visit the school and check it out. Ryan and I prayed that night about it and asked that the Lord would make it clear to us where He wanted Lauren to be.
So, the next day, we went to meet with her and see the school. It only took 10 minutes to drive there from our house! The program seemed to be a much better fit for us – it goes from 9:00-1:00 (so she would still get home in time for her nap) and the tuition is less than the other school, too. The only catch is that it will be 3 days a week, instead of 2 (which I am still struggling with a little bit). But, with it being Monday, Wednesday, Friday…that meant I could now join the Women’s Bible Study at our church on Tuesday mornings. We felt an incredible peace when we left the school that afternoon and were amazed that the Lord had answered so many of our prayers, all in one day! But, that’s just how He is, isn’t it?
It reminds me of an old hymn that I love and have been singing all week long:
He giveth more grace when the burden grows greater;
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.
To added affliction, He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
His love has no limit;
His grace has no measure;
His power has no boundary known unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Fun-filled week
Well, I got a little ambitious this week and planned a different outing each day for Lauren and I. The weather here has been sweltering (between 95-over 100 degrees with humidity makes it feel around 107). So, all of the activities I planned (with the exception of one) were indoors with air-conditioning.
On Monday, we went to a mall near our house…specifically because I heard rumors that they had a carousel there. Not only did they have an old-fashioned carousel, but they also had a very cool play area, food court and some fun book and toy stores. She had so much fun riding on the carousel and waving at the people watching, as if she were a parade princess.
Tuesday took us down to South Charlotte near the school she will be attending. I discovered online a local children’s museum and thought we should go check it out. That was one of her favorite places to go back home in Oregon. And, although it was smaller than the one in Portland, it was still a lot of fun. They had different “stations” or areas of play. There was a grocery store where the kids could shop for pretend food and check-out, a castle with princess dress-up clothes and glass slippers, an art station with painting and play-dough, a stage complete with piano and drum set for performances, a pirate ship and a veterinarian office with animals and supplies. We spent over 2 hours there and she loved it. We also got to be a part of their story-time, where they read books and learned songs. We will definitely go back again!
Wednesday morning, we decided to take in a movie. The Regal Cinemas near our house has the free summer film festival, so we went to see Ice Age 2 – it was quite the special treat because she even got popcorn and Skittles!
On Thursday, we joined a mom’s-with-toddlers playgroup from our church. They had planned an outing at Jetton Park, one that we had never been to. I thought it would be a good chance to meet some of the other moms and let her make some new friends. It was the coolest park we have visited since moving here – lots of trails weaving through the forested areas, a huge playground and right by Lake Norman. Other than the heat (it got to be 104 that afternoon), we had a great time!
Friday was Ryan’s chance to take over. I had a dentist appointment that was going to take an hour and a half in the morning, so he took some time off work to hang out with Lauren so I could go. He took her to the local library, which we go to almost every week. They picked out new books to bring home, played on the kids computers and participated in story-time there.
All in all, it was a very full, but exciting week. I’m so glad that we were able to explore some of the neat places around us and try new things. I am taking advantage of these moments with her, because I’m realizing that once she begins school and then when the baby comes, we won’t have as many chances to do these things, just the two of us.
On Monday, we went to a mall near our house…specifically because I heard rumors that they had a carousel there. Not only did they have an old-fashioned carousel, but they also had a very cool play area, food court and some fun book and toy stores. She had so much fun riding on the carousel and waving at the people watching, as if she were a parade princess.
Tuesday took us down to South Charlotte near the school she will be attending. I discovered online a local children’s museum and thought we should go check it out. That was one of her favorite places to go back home in Oregon. And, although it was smaller than the one in Portland, it was still a lot of fun. They had different “stations” or areas of play. There was a grocery store where the kids could shop for pretend food and check-out, a castle with princess dress-up clothes and glass slippers, an art station with painting and play-dough, a stage complete with piano and drum set for performances, a pirate ship and a veterinarian office with animals and supplies. We spent over 2 hours there and she loved it. We also got to be a part of their story-time, where they read books and learned songs. We will definitely go back again!
Wednesday morning, we decided to take in a movie. The Regal Cinemas near our house has the free summer film festival, so we went to see Ice Age 2 – it was quite the special treat because she even got popcorn and Skittles!
On Thursday, we joined a mom’s-with-toddlers playgroup from our church. They had planned an outing at Jetton Park, one that we had never been to. I thought it would be a good chance to meet some of the other moms and let her make some new friends. It was the coolest park we have visited since moving here – lots of trails weaving through the forested areas, a huge playground and right by Lake Norman. Other than the heat (it got to be 104 that afternoon), we had a great time!
Friday was Ryan’s chance to take over. I had a dentist appointment that was going to take an hour and a half in the morning, so he took some time off work to hang out with Lauren so I could go. He took her to the local library, which we go to almost every week. They picked out new books to bring home, played on the kids computers and participated in story-time there.
All in all, it was a very full, but exciting week. I’m so glad that we were able to explore some of the neat places around us and try new things. I am taking advantage of these moments with her, because I’m realizing that once she begins school and then when the baby comes, we won’t have as many chances to do these things, just the two of us.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Canoe Trip
“Daddy Day” is something I (Ryan) invented last summer. It is one day set aside each month where I research, plan, and pull off a surprise outing for the family. I usually try to plan something that is extra fun or maybe something we wouldn’t normally do.
Now that we are settled in Charlotte, I put the program into effect for this past weekend. I chose to do something that was a big part of my childhood that I really wanted to introduce Lauren to: canoeing. My parents started canoeing with me when I was as young as 18 months old, and by the time I was 10, we had canoed as a family all across America and Canada. It was one of my favorite outdoor activities.
So, last Saturday morning we packed a picnic lunch and headed out to Lake Norman State Park. At the lake, we rented a canoe and all the equipment that goes with it.
Now that we are settled in Charlotte, I put the program into effect for this past weekend. I chose to do something that was a big part of my childhood that I really wanted to introduce Lauren to: canoeing. My parents started canoeing with me when I was as young as 18 months old, and by the time I was 10, we had canoed as a family all across America and Canada. It was one of my favorite outdoor activities.
So, last Saturday morning we packed a picnic lunch and headed out to Lake Norman State Park. At the lake, we rented a canoe and all the equipment that goes with it.
Lauren outfitted and ready to hit the water
With Kimberly sitting up front, and Lauren sitting on a floating pad in the middle of the canoe, I pushed us off into the water. The first words out of Lauren’s mouth were, “I want to go home!”, but once she saw the first fish jump out of the water she forgot to be afraid and started enjoying herself.
In our tour of the lake, Kimberly spotted and pointed out to us a fresh water turtle sun bathing on a limb sticking out of the water. We also saw some egrets hanging out in the shallows, a Great Blue Heron fly overhead, a small flock of Canadian Geese take off and fly at eye level past the boat, and some very cool Dragon Flies with black and white wings. Lauren loved canoeing under the low bridge that separated the two halves of the lake.
The best part for me, sitting in the back steering the canoe, was watching Lauren peer over the side and dangle her hands in the water. I realized that decades ago my parents watched me do the very same thing. It was a nostalgic moment remembering back to when that was me and seeing myself in my own daughter.
It was a hot, muggy day and an hour in the boat was just right. We turned the canoe and equipment back in and then enjoyed lunch overlooking the lake. We made the drive home just in time to get Lauren down for her nap. Later that night we headed out to dinner with Lauren to celebrate Kimberly and I’s 7th Anniversary. It was a great day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
