Soooo

It's been a while. My apologies.  Here are a few updates.  First, I bailed on gluten free. I did it for about 3 weeks and things just got crazy.  I traveled a lot during the month of July and could not figure out how to do gluten free while traveling. I'm about to hit the road for 2 months for work, so I was incredibly overwhelmed.  I plan to try again around January when all of my work travel is over and I would have months to figure it out before I get thrown into a bunch of craziness. We will see.


Secondly, and way more importantly, Eric got a job!!  A full-time job, which happens to start on my Birthday. August 1 will be a great day for many reasons in our household! We are so thankful for this opportunity.  He will be working in the library at Ouachita. If you know my husband, you know this makes him excited as all get out! I am excited for us to finally be on the same schedule. How wonderful will this be! We can ride to work together, eat lunch together, it's going to be great for our relationship, for our finances, and for Eric as he will now feel better about his contributions to our family.  This for sure seals the deal that we will be in Arkadelphia for at least 2 more years.  Now that Eric has a full time job, he will back off on his B.H. Carroll load. He should graduate May 2014 as of now. Then, who knows. But it is nice to finally sort of understand the way our life might be headed. Because we all know the Lord has a crazy way of shacking our plans. But for now, we have a direction. And it is good.

More unknown

Eric had always planned on graduating next May. He pushed through his first year of seminary like a champ taking more classes than anyone would dream of taking in order to graduate "on time" with our grand plan.  All of that was well and great until the seminary broke his thesis class in to two terms so it is impossible for him to graduate next May.  Which is sort of a blessing in disguise. This past year was hard on him and on our marriage, so it is nice that he can slow down his pace and spread it out over two years. 
He has worked part-time this past year in order to have more time to focus on his studies. Now that he is spreading things out, we are looking in to some full-time positions. He really enjoys his job at the church, but he only works 19 hours a week. Now that he has the time to dedicate to a full-time position, it is definitely a better option for us. Now on to the nerve wrecking part of finding jobs to apply for and getting interviews :)

Future?

When Eric graduated last year, moving away for seminary was never even discussed.  We never looked or talked about any other options than B.H. Carroll.  He is now half way through that program so it's time to start doing something. I have never been open to the thought of moving away. I like Arkadelphia, I like my job, I like our friends, and I refuse to live any further away from home.  Well, that was until this week. Something...switched.  We began discussing what his options are after finishing Carroll and I found myself excited. Excited? Did I just say that? (deep breath). Yes, yes I did.  I never thought I would look forward to moving and starting a new adventure. I do not accept change well. Never have.  But maybe that is changing.  I don't think there is any way we could have moved last year when Eric graduated and me still have been okay.  It would have been too much of a change, a shock, for me.  But I feel that I am finally ready. I'm excited for us to research, discuss, and visit new potential homes. I'm excited to continue watching my husband grow into the amazing teacher/pastor/? that he will be.  Wherever God leads him (us), I know Eric will do great things.  And I am so excited.