Can Anyone offer some Wisdom?

Ok, Blog friends and loved ones, I need your wisdom or at least your prayers. Friday morning our Sunday school teacher called to ask if I would consider watching their 2 yr old daughter during the day.

Now, here's a little background. Before we left PA I think I mentioned babysitting for extra income. I really put a lot of thought in to it and was preparing myself to help out financially from home. I felt like I would be able to help some seminary family for a very reduced price compared to most childcare and really help out our family financially. I decided how much we would ask to be paid, what we would require the parents to bring and how I would discipline. I was very thorough. By the time we left PA I had come to the conclusion that babysitting would be difficult. I have a gift for realizing pretty specifically and realisticly what things will be like. So I realized I don't want to add this hard thing on top of what I know will already be HARD! So, I told God that I was definitely willing to do this but I wanted to trust Him to provide for us. I felt that I could trust Him to let me know if I needed to help. So I said, "Lord, if this is your plan, make it happen, I will wait for you." I also prayed that we would not have to use up our savings money or go into debt in order to pay for Seminary. Dan's job is adequate to pay our monthly bills but we have nothing left over to pay for Seminary. That's fine because we have plenty of savings to pay for school.

We have navigated pretty well through several of the hard adjustments we have had to make like, less daddy time, and a tight budget. I am in the process of getting my schedule with the girls back to what I feel it should be. And right when I feel like I am getting things under control I get this phone call. SO WHAT DO I DO? I have been praying and thinking about this for the last 48-60 hrs! I wake up and think about it, I have dreamt about it, believe me this is constantly on my mind!!

My concerns, I know it will be really hard for the first two weeks or so. I do not want to sacrifice my family for a little financial stability. I really like being free to go and do what I want. I realize this would tie me down a little more. I love being able to go see my parents if I want to during the week. I haven't yet But I love the freedom to do that.

Now for the up-side. I think it would be a valid ministry to this family. The girls could benefit from the interaction. I think this little girl would benefit from the interaction. We could definitely use the money. This would encourage me to do the things I have felt convicted to do with my children and have been dragging my feet to get implemented into our schedule like, preschool time, craft time, consistent Mommy time for each of the girls.

IF this is God's prompting to go ahead and do this then I am all over it! But I know we could make it if I chose not to. The real dilema is: Is this God's leading?

Does anyone have any wisdom for me? Is there anyone out there who has done this before and has thought of something I haven't? Has the Lord given you a specific word for Me? IF the answer is yes to ANY of these questions please let me know. I want God's will for our family so badly! Anyone?

Today was Daddy Dan's first day of Seminary class! I was like a proud little mommy. Last night we got his leather briefcase(on loan from Career Kelli who has left the house for an undisclosed amount of time) all packed up and ready for class. Today's class was Contemporary Evangelism. Sounds pretty great.

On Tuesday evening we attended an Orientation event and I actually felt old!! I am not sure if I just felt unstylish or old, but probably both! There are a lot of students fresh out of college and not as many families as I thought I would see. But we had a good time meeting people and that scared, "Please, be my friend!" feeling didn't last too long.

Wednesday was the official Orientation day concluded by a family picnic and Church Fair. It was fabulous. Remember those days in college when all the churches fight for the new college students with lots of free stuff? Well, we hit the jackpot!! And this time having kids made us a hot commodity! Speaking of hot, We were outside for a total of 1 and 1/2 hours and I can not describe the heat we endured! It was sickening, that's the best I can do. I was hot the rest of the day no matter where I was! Gross!

We are starting to settle into a routine and unfortunately we are getting better at having Daddy around less. I am determined to need him less and still enjoy him more. I have a huge fear that I will become so competent with out Dan around that he will just be in my way when he is around. But God is going to use this time for His glory and we are excited to see where He is planning to take us during this time.

My class starts on Tuesday. Oh, did I forget to mention that I am taking a class, too? I will be taking Wife of the Equipping Minister with Dr. Dorothy Patterson. I will learn lots of interesting things like how to dress my husband, how to set the table for a formal dinner, how to entertain, and other really interesting topics that I will need to know as a minister's wife. OK, maybe my description of the course was a little to thick with sarcasm. Why did I sign up, then? Well, it's free with free childcare, and I might just learn something! I really am excited about it and it will be a good chance to meet other wives and Moms. I am trying to take every opportunity I can while we are here and let's just face it, I love SCHOOL! I know I am a nerd, and a brown noser! I can't help it, it's in my blood and I am tired of pretending!! They have a certificate program that they offer for Seminary Wives. The idea is that the husband is being equipped to minister but the wife often gets left behind and out of the education process causing a rift in the relationship and ministry. I am willing to give it a try and excited to have a chance to do something for myself during this time. But, it may just be something that takes up another night of my week and causes more damage than good. So I am willing to try but willing to let go if it isn't beneficial. I'll keep you updated on my progress as an Equipped wife of a Minister.

Life in the Fast Lane

Ok, Sorry. Life has somehow swallowed me up and just living each day has been more than enough to keep me busy.
Our vacation to Pensacola Beach was FABULOUS!! It was the most relaxing and wonderful week we have had as a family. Thank You Uncle Max and Aunt Patty!! What a wonderful visit we had and a great time to refocus and reenergize before our life gets crazy busy. We had a wonderful time just hanging out at the beach. Aunt Patty and Uncle Max are living at the beach right now and the house was just a short stroll to the beach. We spent most mornings on the shore. The girls loved playing in the sand and looking for sea shells. Dan and Aunt Patty found lots of really great shells. One afternoon we got to take FaithLyn and Elise to the movies. We had a blast. We went all out, we got popcorn, twizzlers, and an icee!! WOWEE! Then, thanks to Uncle Max's generosity and Aunt Patty's gracious offer to watch the girls Dan and I got to have a romantic dinner together. We ate out and walked on the beach and just talked. It was great!! We got plenty of sleep and rest and it was just perfect!! A dream come true, really. Then we got to spend the weekend with MiMi and PopPop in Jackson, Mississippi. We had fun swimming in the hotel pool, and we visited the Museum of Natural History. Fun stuff!! The girls loved it!!

Dan started his job the day after we returned and jumped right into it! This week was very taxing for him. New jobs are always stressful no matter what kind of job it is and this week was no exception for Dan. He registered for classes and is currently enrolled for 12 hours!! Yikes!!?? Then took a train to the American Airline Center for a Promise Keepers Conference.

The girls and I were busy making cake and getting the house ready for Olivia and Luke's birthday party. But first I took a holiday with Erin. We took the kids to the Museum in Downtown Fort Worth and hopped over to visit Dan at work. Did I mention that his Community Center, Thomas Place is in the Cultural District? Saturday we did a quick cleanup and waited for Nana and Papa to show up and then Aunt Angie, Uncle Brett and cousin Luke! What a fun day Saturday was!! I wish so much that I could figure out this new connection!! It is preventing me from sharing pictures and we have so many cute ones to show!! I will try to get them all on Yahoo! or somewhere so I can share them. Sunday we joined a church!! Tate Springs Baptist Church is our new church family. We are so excited to get involved! They have a children's choir that starts for 3 yr olds!! FaithLyn will love that!! And I am really looking forward to getting involved in the MOPS group! That's just an quick update. You should all be current on the comings and goings here at the B Casa.