Nothing On My Mind

It's been ten weeks since I last blogged, I know because last time I wrote I was a week away from finding out I was pregnant. Today I am thirteen weeks. Wow. Not only are my husband and I overwhelmed by the prospects of a baby on the way but the things we've had to consider and explore and question are nothing short of an explosion to our brains. Don't get me wrong, we spend more time daydreaming about what the experience is going to be like (we're sure we're going to have a holy terror who tries us at every corner), than we spend worrying about it all. But, come on, get real. Did you know college in 18 years is going to cost almost half a million dollars for a four year out of state public school? Well, lay aside the future for now because I'm seeing the costs add up for diapers, baby food and car seats and cribs and therapy. My response? Cloth diapers. Make your own baby food. Thrift store car seats. Craig's List cribs. And gift cards for therapy! Now all these issues are clearly enough on the back of our minds for us to still be ecstatic about blending a little of Jon and a little of me into this cacophony of cells and molecules growing and changing into a little person. 

We're learning so much about family these days. Taking a good hard look at the families that surround us, finding ourselves curious about how they work and what makes them tick. Wondering what ours will look like and if we have control over how we mold it. Maybe it's for that reason alone we've connected with family we didn't know we could love so much and we've shed tears over family we wished we could connect with. For a something that truly shapes our lives, family is one of the most interesting and confusing experiences we ever live through. 

On our minds lately has been the next step in our lives. Jon and I are thrilled to be praying about heading into the wild unknown of ministry. I can only speak for myself, but the ministry life is some of the most riveting and captivating (and difficult) experiences. But I am so passionate about loving on people and encouraging others. I guess I shouldn't proclaim that, because it's really about other people seeing that in me, not the other way around. And I know I can love on people and encourage them anywhere, but heading to a place in our lives where we can do that full time and together is inspiring in and of itself. Jon has two years left in the military before we are completely done. That's two years for him to finish school. Two years to save enough money for us to not have to hurry towards a job. Two years to grow to know what God has called us to. It sounds like a lot of time, but really, it's not. We're going to enjoy it, and we're going to use it to the best of our abilities, but we're excited. 

While we wait for those two years to be up, we get to do it in a whole new place, for the both of us! Albuquerque, New Mexico. It's going to be awesome. Outdoors adventures for the Hubs, art and culture for me. No grass, though. Or rain. Both of which will be incredibly missed. But there's just something about a new experience that brings life to my sense of imagination. We shall see.

Now, all these things are not reeking havoc behind my blue and purple highlights. I don't have time for that, and my morning sickness can't stand up to that sort of onslaught. They just tap me on my shoulder at strange moments raising their concerns and asking me for options. I'm learning to tell them to ask Someone else. A really wonderful person told me recently that the things I worry about or struggle with are just parts of God that I don't know well enough yet. But that's the brilliant thing about God, I will always be learning, but he will always be right there to teach me. 

Exciting new things coming up for the Farley's. Stay tuned.