Operation: Get A Job {Update}

So, I left our journey off on a sad note earlier this week. I feel the need to update now that some things have happened. The biggest of which: William has a job. As of this week. The bad news: it's temporary {a month}, and he's definitely over-qualified. The good news: he has a job! :) As well as: he gets home at 5pm {what?!? that actually happens?!}, it's local, within accounting, and he's actually getting additional software experience to buff up his resume! Woot woot!

Although I think we're only at the beginning of this {potentially long} journey, it's been so wonderful to see how thoughtful, tender, and encouraging our friends and family have been to us. {Thank you again, Ruth, for your encouraging conversation!} Having a solid support system has made going through this bearable. W has had some great conversations with men who've been here before when they had a young family. My girlfriends have been praying for us and one, Elizabeth, recently lent me a beautiful album by JJ Heller. Um, instant fan. So many of the songs speak perfectly to where we're at. I basically have the track on repeat whenever I'm in the car...so much so, Ezra knows some of the lyrics now.

This week has been more about letting go, for me. Letting go of what the future holds and whatever plans we had for the year. I can honestly say I have no clue what the future will look like. And now there is no illusion of control. I've also been grappling with the difference between plans and dreams as well as how those align with the Lord's. Neither are inherently bad, but I feel like they may steal our joy at times. I still have dreams for our family, but can no longer really plan them out. Perhaps that's the intended joy of letting go and seeing what the Lord has? He's good at providing more than we can ever anticipate, isn't he?

 For now, I'm enjoying our everyday freedoms and God's little gifts of grace. Freedom to decide what our day will look like and who we'll spend it with. I'm still so thankful to be home with my kids. The freedom of a two-day weekend. The gift of this temp job. Trying to live in the moment without thinking five or ten steps ahead. Surprisingly, this week has been super smooth with the boys. I delight in the fluidity of  "daily life", even if the kitchen is a mess, the dishes aren't done, I'm tired, and my hair is in a pony all week. The rain, reading books, seeing friends, playing ball, extra time to make yummy meals and cozying up with my two boys are really the bees' knees.  Life is short, but it is also wide. I'm thankful that there is a lot to take in even within the boundaries of every day life. I'm excited to see how the Lord will work in our lives both internally and externally in the up-coming months!

Best of My Days Update

You may {or may not} remember our adult table favors for Thanksgiving. If not, read here.

W and I have started to fill in our January with a favorite moment from each day. And to be honest, we're both learning that it's a great exercise. There are some days {particular to it being tax season} where we both struggle to come up with something good. Many of W's week day best moments are when he gets to come home finally. 

 

via

Sometimes it's dang hard to see the good. A few we had to stretch a little just to come up with something. That's why I look forward to us sitting down for dinner {some days after the kids are asleep} and looking back on the day. And to see how fast a month can go by without remembering! I think we're really going to love having these by the time December rolls around...

 

Some of my favorite include:

"E actually listening and obeying the first time: pressing the unlock button moments after I realized that both boys and my purse were locked in the van."

"sleep"

"tea with J"

"preparing and having a romantic dinner {with homemade Challoh bread}"

"understanding audit/review work papers"

"hearing about beach trip"

"hearing about theo rolling over for the first time"

"mastering bathing two boys"

"being able to get out of bed today"

"spontaneous trip to the park {tunnel giggles}"

"flying kite with E"

"Having W home before E's asleep"

Life is good even amongst the mundane.

Reason #708,534 Why He's So Great

...Taking care of this gigantic pile of clean clothes so I don't have to...

{Threw Theo in there just for size comparison. ;)}

Making This Possible

iphone text conversation this weekend...

William Swenson to Dave Arterburn--

Thanks for making this possible.

Dave Arterburn to William Swenson--

Thanks for making this possible!!

Thanksgiving '08

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Week! William and I went over to my parents on Weds afternoon to do a full-on cooking/baking session. It was so fun to have 4 people in the kitchen working together. I set the table with some decorations that we brought from my classroom and brought out the fine china. Thanksgiving was great too. William was in charge of the games and somehow we still had a "kid table" after all these years. :)

On Friday, we had a splendid day in the city with the rest of the bay area population. I can't wait to go back for our year anniversary-- we actually stopped into our hotel since it was so close to Union Square!! I love the city..and the shopping! Our men went with us so Mom and I were extremely tame. I only bought some tea! But a great place to people watch. This weekend was good. We went to our monthly game night at our friend's house and had a blast, went to church, and tried to walk off as much turkey gravy as possible!

Good News!!

I officially signed on for another year at Vintage Hills in 5th grade. I'm so excited to continue what I've started here & especially to be able to continue to work with such fabulous women!! And an expectual bonus: no moving! Yahoo! :) I'm so grateful to be able to grow roots & learn from my colleagues and friends.

My Dad

My dad saw that his name wasn't in the thank yous in the previous post & I felt awful. I then realized that he really deserves his own separate post so I quickly became very please with my horrible error. My dad is the silent type so when he speaks it's always been very important to listen up. Of course, I didn't always think it was. And I'm not sure if him singing the Amador Fight Song counts. But I still cry from his tender letter at the end of my graduation scrapbook. I am continuously amazed at his servant-like heart and his strong work ethic. My dad is another breed of systematic, stoic, moralistic, pride in a work well done, and strong fiber that just isn't present in men anymore. He's a great mix of goofiness and hardworking. He may need to work Saturday mornings but then rides his motorcycle on Sundays. He's a great man and someone I admire very much, although he can be very intimidating. I see many of those admirable characteristics in William too and I know now what a great model I had when it came to selecting a life-long mate.

With this upcoming wedding, my dad spent so much time researching for our father/daughter dance. He selected "My Girl" after a laborious lyrical study. Again, I was reminded that he is so thoughtful and loving even if it's not the way I'm use to. He is also working very hard on his toast speech. My dad is not the sentimental type so these little things speak so loudly. It's been a hard road understanding my parents because I see I'm so much like them but simultaneously they seem so different and foreign to me. I hope that as I enter into a new life stage that I enjoy learning about my spouse and continue to get to know my parents, especially my father.

Dad, thank you so much for being my dad: for your listening ear, advice on hard issues, patience during my belly-flop decisions, lovingness amidst my selfishness & for being a great man! But definitely don't hold your breath: I'm no sports fan nor cable watcher!

A BIG Thank You!

Thank you so much for all the family and friends who have helped us get married so soon!

~Wesley & Carolyn: For their beautiful invitations, setting up our website & blog, and the occassional webchat
~Kenny & Sarah: Hosting our OC bridal shower, programs, driving up to visit us!, bridesmaids' wraps, emotional support & help :), and much more
~Moms (Edie): All the time, money, and detailed effort for planning this bash as well as the input and fun
~Mama Judy: Support, flexibility and love for her newest and youngest couple
~Margaret: Her creative and artistic decorations & ideas
~Diane: The wonderful Pleasanton bridal shower full of near family and friends
~Pastor Larry: His openness to do pre-marital counseling on a short notice & for marrying us during the holiday time (technically his time off)
~Our bridesmaids & groomsmen: their love and availablity to be present & stand with us as we dedicate our lives to each other in God's presence

The list could really go on. We have been so dearly blessed by our family and friends during these past 12 weeks. Thank you for being open to a quickly planned event & for being so willing to help!! We love you all and cannot wait to share our united life together with you. And for all you moving/moved out of CA, get your guest rooms ready!! We like to travel and visit. :)