There's something about hearing words from your mom versus anyone else.
Given the condition and age of my car, my husband and I decided to trade in both of our cars and go down to one new vehicle. It's the same kind of car that I had before but a few years ago its style was changed. So yesterday I drove the new car for the first time to the Y so I could swim laps. When I came out I took a picture of the car and sent it to my mom. As I was driving around running errands, seeing many others of the same car on the road, I realized that I have a grown-up, practical car now. We decided on this car for all these adult reasons-safety, more space, gas mileage.
My mom emailed me back about the picture saying, "That's not a ride-it's a minivan. Plenty of room for car seats and strollers?"
She knows I have a huge aversion to minivans. I have said for years that if I ever have kids I will never drive a minivan because of all it represents to me-a sheltered, suburban lifestyle that I thankfully never had growing up (explains the laugh my mom got from the picture). Not that there's anything wrong with living in the suburbs-it's cheaper, quieter, safer-it's just not for me.
But deep down I knew Mom was somewhat right. We are hoping to start a family soon and the decisions we've made the last couple months, like buying this car, are in preparation for that.
I have a feeling that I as I keep getting older my mom is just going to keep be even more right about things, but don't tell her I said that.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Rubber meets the road
In my last post I wrote about not working full time and my worries about rest and how I would use my time. What's been on my mind the last few days has been another frequent worry, MONEY.
The hubby and I were pretty good at communicating about our finances even before we were married and sat down with a financial planning friend about a month after the wedding to get everything joined together. But a couple days ago we had to take a serious look at our finances and see how we were going to do this on one consistent salary. A very humbling afternoon.
And then yesterday, my car overheated on the interstate. Right now I'm waiting for the call from the dealership and praying. A lot.
I've struggled with trusting God to provide ever since college. The first verse I memorized was Matthew 6:34. "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have trouble of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
Did God provide for me in college? Yes. Has He provided for my needs before and after that? Yes. Did it mean that I sometimes had to sacrifice things I wanted to take care of things that were needed? Yes. Do we have support from friends and family that could help in emergencies? Yes. Will I be able to take it with me? No.
So why do I still worry?
The psalm from Mass today, 68, says, "A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance; you restored the land when it languished; Your flock settled in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy."
I came across this blog post today, another reminder from God about the blessings of poverty.
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-blessings-of-poverty?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NCRegisterDailyBlog+National+Catholic+Register#When:2011-06-7
God, help me in my unbelief.
The hubby and I were pretty good at communicating about our finances even before we were married and sat down with a financial planning friend about a month after the wedding to get everything joined together. But a couple days ago we had to take a serious look at our finances and see how we were going to do this on one consistent salary. A very humbling afternoon.
And then yesterday, my car overheated on the interstate. Right now I'm waiting for the call from the dealership and praying. A lot.
I've struggled with trusting God to provide ever since college. The first verse I memorized was Matthew 6:34. "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have trouble of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
Did God provide for me in college? Yes. Has He provided for my needs before and after that? Yes. Did it mean that I sometimes had to sacrifice things I wanted to take care of things that were needed? Yes. Do we have support from friends and family that could help in emergencies? Yes. Will I be able to take it with me? No.
So why do I still worry?
The psalm from Mass today, 68, says, "A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance; you restored the land when it languished; Your flock settled in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy."
I came across this blog post today, another reminder from God about the blessings of poverty.
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-blessings-of-poverty?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NCRegisterDailyBlog+National+Catholic+Register#When:2011-06-7
God, help me in my unbelief.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Third Time's a Charm
But at least this time, the blog I started still exists!
Yes, it's been 10 months since I last posted. In the meantime, I set up and dismantled 2 classrooms in a new school, moved twice myself, and got married, so the blog was put on the back back burner.
But hopefully I'm going to have more free time to post, so I'm hoping I can get into a routine of writing; I'm inspired by my dear friend at http://beanonparade.blogspot.com.
Not only is it summer and school's out, but my new hubby and I decided that I'm not going to work full-time in the fall. It's been frustrating this semester to try and keep things together at home and at work, so we're hoping that I'll be able to take better care of everything with more time at home, and be less stressed doing it.
The morning of day one this plan sounds great. Right now it's like any another summer. We'll see how I'm doing come August. We both feel this is where God is leading us, but the thought of a lot of free time makes me a little nervous. I pray that my time will be filled with rest and I will respond to what God wants me to do and not just give myself tasks so I feel productive.
One of the routines I want to get into is going to Mass during the week. The gospel I heard today from John 16 says, "But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you in all truth." The reflection I read from Archbishop Luis Martinez really speaks to my hope for this transition:
"As the artist is not content with explaining to his pupil the secrets of art, but takes the uncertain hand of the beginner, and gently but firmly moves and guides it in order that the beauty of his ideal may be expressed on the canvas, even thus does the Holy Spirit takes our faculties and move and guide them, so firmly that they do not stray, and at the same time so gently that our activities continue to be vital, spontaneous, and free."
Yes, it's been 10 months since I last posted. In the meantime, I set up and dismantled 2 classrooms in a new school, moved twice myself, and got married, so the blog was put on the back back burner.
But hopefully I'm going to have more free time to post, so I'm hoping I can get into a routine of writing; I'm inspired by my dear friend at http://beanonparade.blogspot.com.
Not only is it summer and school's out, but my new hubby and I decided that I'm not going to work full-time in the fall. It's been frustrating this semester to try and keep things together at home and at work, so we're hoping that I'll be able to take better care of everything with more time at home, and be less stressed doing it.
The morning of day one this plan sounds great. Right now it's like any another summer. We'll see how I'm doing come August. We both feel this is where God is leading us, but the thought of a lot of free time makes me a little nervous. I pray that my time will be filled with rest and I will respond to what God wants me to do and not just give myself tasks so I feel productive.
One of the routines I want to get into is going to Mass during the week. The gospel I heard today from John 16 says, "But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you in all truth." The reflection I read from Archbishop Luis Martinez really speaks to my hope for this transition:
"As the artist is not content with explaining to his pupil the secrets of art, but takes the uncertain hand of the beginner, and gently but firmly moves and guides it in order that the beauty of his ideal may be expressed on the canvas, even thus does the Holy Spirit takes our faculties and move and guide them, so firmly that they do not stray, and at the same time so gently that our activities continue to be vital, spontaneous, and free."
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