Sunday, October 28, 2007

where did I learn to type anyway....proofread yikes!

Sorry about that last post it's a bit of a mess

Balancing the scales of life



I would be very surprised to discover that I'm the only one struggling with the many areas of life that constantly duke it out to be a high priority in everyday life. Sometimes it's easier than others but now I'm all askew. It's lame feel spread thin because you want to have close friendships or a social life while the back of my mind is reminding me that I should be focusing on school or learning my German diction for an upcoming lesson, or a multitude of other things. I love the comment in Lord of the Rings when Bilbo says he feels "thin like butter spread over too much toast" It's a great analogy for the constant mediocrity I feel when I try to do it all at once. I really want a healthy balance and what I get is frustration when I have a bad lesson, or test for playing with friends or watching a movie, which is much more important to me now anyway. I shouldn't fret too much. It's really not worth it to get all worked up over. I do look forward to the day when I can really enjoy an activity, whatever it may be, even when I have something more pressing to take care of. All I can say is Amen for friends and Amen for the good days when I can feel good and confident for choosing one way or the other.

Friday, October 26, 2007

I can hardly wait.....


I can't even believe it! Nicole and I are going to be parents! We are both very excited and hopeful that everything in the coming months will go smoothly. It's amazing to me that we created life and I can hardly wait to see this little person we get to love and teach and take care of. I'm excited to be stretched as a parent, a spouse, a son, and a friend. I know I'll probably need to remember I said that somewhere down the road when I'm hanging on by a thread trying to finish grad school and Nicole is very pregnant, or the baby has come and we haven't slept at all. It's so new to think that we get to have a family. I am so excited and a bit scared. I found myself journaling about my fears and really laying them down at the feet of God, about the health of the baby, Nicole, our financial status. There could be so many easy things to focus on that could take us away from the joys of preparing for this major change. I also spent time writing a letter to my baby. I asked he/she what they were like. It's a bit odd sounding but I'm very excited to meet this little person. Nicole is going to be an amazing mom and she says the same about me, which I am encouraged by. I happy that my parents are excited for us, too. I'm really glad that my parents and brother come to visit in November. We never get to see each other enough. Who knows maybe they'll fall in love with Eugene? It could happen. For now I am happy, content and excited to be a dad. I can hardly wait...

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Practically midterm!

I can hardly believe how fast fall term has flown by. Nicole has been very busy in her new job yet she is loving the kids and their families she works with. I have been involved in a full load of classes in my second year of graduate school. It keeps me busy, need I say more. We have survived by occasional game nights, TV nights, scrapbooking (Nicole), and our Tuesday night small group. We are both anticipating change within the next year and perhaps starting a family and it is still my plan to pursue my new career passion of academic librarianship. Hopefully, we might find a house within a year as well too!