Best Made Plans...

There is a saying that goes "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans". Well, I would like to think that I have done my best to keep God chuckling lately. 

We made quite a few plans for 2022. Yet, those plans haven't exactly gone as we had laid them out. Scheduling conflicts, rising prices and most importantly the weather has delayed the build and setup of our greenhouse and barn for months. A few minor medical issues and equipment breakdowns have sidelined the indoor projects a bit. It makes a person wonder if anything will EVER get accomplished. 

Proverbs 16:33 (NLT) says "We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall". I know that I am not a patient person and that when I make a decision, I want it to happen........YESTERDAY. Personally, I had accepted this flaw in my personality and was happy to do all the things that needed to get done, even if it did cause a bit of extra stress. I am starting to think that God is trying to teach me how to be more patient. While that may be His plan (the better plan), I'm a slow learner and have been fighting it pretty hard. As it usually happens when we humans try to oppose God's plan, I am losing. 

This isn't the first time that my plans haven't gone as desired. Looking back at those times, I realize that my life is better because of the many plans that have taken a detour or rerouted me to a different path. 

    - I had planned to own a small pharmacy where I was going to cure the world, one patient at a time, by weaning them off of their meds. Yet, I am now no longer even working in pharmacy. I'm truly happier now that I am not carrying a portion of the broken healthcare system on my shoulders. 

     - I had left home after high school with no intention of returning to the small-town life. Now, I am living within a few miles of my childhood home. 

    - I had doubted that I even wanted to have children. Now, I'm not only raising, but homeschooling, four of them. I couldn't imagine a life without those amazing beings. 

     - I had ignored most domestic lessons that my grandmother and mother tried to teach me as I "wouldn't need it". Now, I'm struggling to learn how to bake bread and would give anything to have my grandmother around to teach me how to make her famous biscuits.  

 I have been taught over and over that my life is better when I let go and rely on God to take control. Maybe it is different this time because I still feel that we are on the right path and am anxious to "get it done". Maybe it is because I can't see the future and that is scary. Maybe it is simply because I am a sinful creature that wants my desires above all others. 

So, I'm trying to accept the new changes and challenges in life. Maybe one day, I will have learned enough to accept these changes with grace and humility rather than fighting it. But for today, it has taken me a while to wrap my head around the biggest change. I know that it is truly a blessing, even if completely unexpected. 

In my long-winded way, I am simply trying to announce that we are expecting Baby #5 in August 2022!

You may have a few questions.

      - Aren't you too old to be having another child? In my opinion, yes. In God's opinion, no. 

       - Were you surprised? The term shocked does not adequately describe how we felt when we discovered this news. 

       - How are you going to make it work?  I have no idea. Good thing is that I have a few more months to figure out some of the details. The others will have to work themselves out.  

       - Isn't there a big age difference between your other kids and this new one? Yes. It almost feels like we are starting over as new parents. 

The best lesson that I have learned so far has come from my other kids. They have been more adaptable and excited from the very beginning. They didn't wonder the how's, financial costs, etc. They simply embraced the new life as another blessing to be rejoiced. They helped me to put my concerns aside and simply be happy.

             -- My oldest has reminded me that since there is such an age difference between him and the new baby, he can practically raise the new baby by himself if needed. This was said with the ignorant confidence that only a teenager can express. 

              -- My youngest has agreed to share the title of "the baby" with the new addition. She refuses to give up the title as she has found it very beneficial to her way of life. She simply informed us that our family will now have "two babies of the family". 

               -- The kids have been remarkably patient while waiting on me when I have been forced to sit with my feet up (luckily short term). 

                -- They have repeatedly offered to defer their math lessons so that I may take a nap as I "look so tired". 

While this may not have been in my plans, I'm sure that it is for the best. It will definitely add excitement and more crazy stories to our life. Are you prepared to hear about them?