seasons of life.

there seems to be different seasons to life, you know? so much is happening, so much is going on in my life right now. i can’t even begin to count the ways that the Lord is working in my life right now…i’m so thankful. just for starters, i have the most precious husband anyone could ever ask for (and we celebrate our one year anniversary next month wooo!) he is a hard worker, loves the Lord, and i could go on and on. he is an example to me and i love him dearly! we have a little baby boy on the way, leland (who is doing karate kicks as i write this)…who i cannot wait to meet!

life is about to change for me…i mean really change. we are building a house that we will be moving into next weekend. and then, in just a few more weeks after that, leland will soon be arriving to the world…which is just a huge deal in itself. i’m going to be adjusting to the daily tasks of caring for a new baby and the responsibility that comes with it, and the joy. it will no longer be just jay and i…running around wherever we want, whenever we want, with whoever we want. it’s really not going to be about what we want anymore, at all. i will be honest and say that i’m a little sad to see this season of life go so quickly….from just jay and arielle to jay and arielle and baby. however, i am beyond blessed.

people ask if it’s hard to grow up so quick and a part of me says yes, it’s very hard. so much more responsibility, so many more opportunities to lay your life down than a lot of people our age have. i could still be in a dorm room right now, heading off to my college classes, getting a degree in who knows what, working whenever i want. things could be totally different. but i wouldn’t be where i am today…honestly, what a sad thought that is. i’m so thankful for where i am at, to be married so young, to not have to deal with the breakups and heartaches of college relationships or the strong temptations.

i used to really care about what people thought about me buying a house in northern kentucky, where i have been. dreaming all along of going somewhere far away, but i’ve learned to just not care. i’ve moved away…different times…and every place has been similar in one way or another. the Lord can use you anywhere, no matter how near or far. it is not settling for merely a husband, a baby, living in a house somewhere in what some people would think of as ordinary. no, this is life for me right now. my God will be glorified throughout my daily life of laying down my rights and wants….He will be glorified by the fruit of my life. i may not be involved in a campus ministry or overseas somewhere at the moment, but He will be glorified.

i’m young, with what seems like a lot of responsibility or “growing up” for someone my age these days….but i wouldn’t change that. i do not have to be someone in this world to be chosen and loved by Him. i’m excited, blessed, and thankful :)

“the smallest things become great when God requires them of us; they are small only in themselves; they are always great when they are done for God, and when they serve to unite us with Him eternally…”~francis fenelon