Jumping in & doing it

I’ve been talking forever about writing about our family in a blog & I just keep putting it off. I’m either too exhausted, too embarrassed on bad days to even think about writing anything “good” or overwhelmed by trying to make it perfect that years have gone by and not one post. So here it is, jumping in and just doing it.

I recently rediscovered an old “blog” of sorts (xanga for any of you 👵🏽 out there) I wrote so often and I LOVE that I just wrote about my day or week and honestly, there was some really good stuff in there and random stuff – things I enjoyed reading bc I had forgotten the details. I don’t want to forget the details. There has been so much that has happened that sometimes I don’t even know where to begin bc I feel it all has to have a back story 😅

Well, procrastination stops today. It also helps that there’s an app & I can just do this on my phone instead of firing up the laptop. So I start with today, a Tuesday here in Samoa, March 15 at 10am. I’m sitting on the couch while Tishy is watching Netflix. I’m debating going to the store for toilet paper or moving our laundry to our porch bc it’s been raining so much but actually I’ll probably re-wash it so it doesn’t stink while air drying for the millionth time in between rain showers 🌧 This is the day to day life here in Samoa, nothing exotic or super adventurous – not laying out on the white sand watching the turquoise waters flow in and out of the shore, although i would love a beach day soon. I do the same day to day stuff as anywhere: cooking, cleaning, laundry, homeschool (some days 😆), spending time with Jesus, raising two girls – except for I’ve had my husband home to do this with me for nearly 8 months now. It really is such a blessing that I still cannot wrap my mind around most days.

We had a sort of “plan” when moving here. I mean it was loose but it was there. We knew we were being obedient to the Lord by moving here, but the details of money and work seemed a little vague. I had plans to work from home almost immediately after “settling in” and well those plans got scrapped the week we were leaving to Samoa (last week of July 2021) and we really felt God leading us to trust Him to provide & that we would need a time of rest and bonding after such a long time of waiting to be reunited. We chose to trust God and enjoy the time together. We budgeted through the end of the year as we sensed I’d be off work through the end of 2021 & pick back up in the New Year. Well, January came & went and plans to work fell through, we were back at square one 😳 what would we do?! What is this?! And God so graciously led us to continue to trust in Him and His will & His intention for our family for this time. He has provided for us in amazing ways & family & friends have supported us generously. God has shown us that we need this time as a family, that this season is appointed by Him and He will carry us through, regardless of what our bank account says. I can’t be moved by what others might think (“gosh MUST BE NICE, not working and living in paradise”) or what I put on myself, but to be completely surrendered to Him, the one who holds all things together 🙌🏾😭 He is unbelievably kind and gracious, good & faithful – He has lavished His love and favor on us in ways we do not deserve. And I choose to rest in Him. In His providence. In His Word. In His promises. He has shown us clearly that this season is for us to rest in Him and bonding as a family is what is necessary and needed. It’s not selfish. It’s not lazy. It’s obedience to Him.