Time Flies

I seem to be in a reminiscing mood today (hence the baby picture of our now 5 year old dog). People always tell you "time flies" and even when you know it is true it can still be quite surprising. I honestly can't believe that is has been:

almost 31 years since I was born (oops, I mean 29...see what happens when time flies)

15 years since I learned to drive

13 years since I graduated high school

12 years ago that I met Mike

12 years since I started going to NorthRidge (Temple at the time) and God gave me the awesome privilege of serving on the praise team

7 years ago that I graduated College and entered the working world

6 years ago that we got Married

5.5 years ago that Bailey joined the family

3.5 years ago that Bruin joined the family

3 years ago that my best friend moved away

almost 3 years since my father passed away

almost 3 years ago that we decided to try and add children to our family

2 years since we moved into our new home and endured what seemed to be endless construction

1 year ago that those precious Bettinger twins were born 3 months early at a fragile 2 lbs, so unsure of what the future would hold (and so many other friends blessed with the birth of their children!)

1 year ago that I left my job and was blessed to work with Parker and Lori

almost 8 months since God saw fit to bless us with a pregnancy!

It is amazing how things can feel like they happened just yesterday, and an eternity ago all at the same time. As consumed as I was with so many of these stages in my life, I often feel now like they were just mere moments in time.

I have to admit that this makes me a little sad looking into the future. Everyone says to enjoy your time with your children because it goes by so fast! I know this is true, and I want to strive to make the most of every moment...I really do. Not just with my child(ren), but in my marriage and in every area of my life. We have been so blessed thus far. I pray that the memory of those blessings will inspire us to focus on what is most important and create many more great memories.

Borderline

Borderline. That's the term they use when you fail your glucose tolerence test by 1 point. It means that I don't really have gestational diabetes, but my numbers were not normal either. So what do I have? Glucose Intolerence.

C'mon...I mean...ONE point. Unfortunately, it is what it is...I "failed" the test and they treat glucose intolerence the same way as gestational diabetes (so why bother to distinquish them...I'm not sure). But anyhoo...I have to go and see a diabetic nutrition consultant and check my blood sugar every day with a glucometer. (Yep...the fingerstick...fabulous.)

I was given the option of taking the 3 hour glucose test again, but I opted out of that seeing as I almost passed out several times during the first hour of the test and felt like a truck had run over me for pretty much the remainder of the day. Yea, I'd rather prick my finger everyday for the next 80 days or so. No problem. And, I will possibly have to make some adjustments to what I eat...but to be honest...I have always watched what I eat...so I'll be interested to see what I will be able to change! (I'm sure there is always room for change).

So, this is a minor inconvenience at the least. I'm obviously ready and willing to do what I need to, to keep this little boy healthy and strong. I hope he appreciates all this!

The Next Phase

I've been wondering a lot lately what my life is going to look like 6 months from now, a year from now, even 10 years from now. I can say that I am mostly excited about looking ahead, but naturally I have some reservations too.

There have been many times in my life I have found myself looking ahead, wondering what the "next phase" would be like. Sometimes it came just as I expected, other times it hit me like a semi truck. Often the journey that led me to the place I would end was not at all what I expected. I can say that each time I have faced the next phase of life, whether I faced it with excitement or total fear, God completely and totally took care of me.

My devotion today was about "teachability".
Beloved, let's work on having a more teachable spirit. God often wants to do "a new thing" in our lives, but we resist Him (see Isa. 43:18-19).

18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland".

When we are proud, rebellious, and insist on our own way, the chances are good He'll use a donkey in our lives to get through to us! Unlikely teachers have a two-fold purpose: to bring humility and instruction. Often we will learn no other way. (Second Peter 2:15-16). Sometimes we don't mind something new, we just don't like the vehicle God's using to drive us to that new place. A precious part of teachability is being willing and anxious to learn, regardless of who He chooses as our unlikely teacher.

How many times have I found myself in the middle of a "new thing" completely freaked out and ready to run the other way. God has certainly used plenty of "donkeys" in my life to get my attention and get me back on track. I want to face this next phase of life with courage, excitement, and a desire to learn instead of fear, bewilderment, and a desire to run the other way. I want to look expectedly to Him instead of getting hit by the semi (or the donkey).
Thankfully, HE will help me.