"For awhile the hobbits continued to talk and think of the past journey and of the perils that lay ahead; but such was the virtue of the land of Rivendell that soon all fear and anxiety was lifted from their minds. The future, good or ill, was not forgotten, but ceased to have power over the present. Health and hope grew strong in them, and they were content with each day as it came, taking pleasure in every meal, and in every word and song." J.R.R. Tolkien
Ian is at the nap skipping age. He may drop it all together by Winter. Most days he looks more like the pictures shown here by one o'clock instead of the sleepy eyed yawning child I had a month ago. The one that asked if it was time yet to cuddle and read has now become a ninja as soon as I say the word rest. The problem is that come six o'clock when we are all sitting at the table to eat he is a WRECK. A complete train wreck crashing into our talk about the day as we pass the green beans.And so for now I am trying my best at one thirty each day to make this wild blue eyed ninja stop a bit and rest that blond head of his. He doesn't know what will come at six o'clock. He is unaware that the energy will fade and the sun will set before he can keep his heart happy and words sweet. But I do.
So this season can feel like an enforced rest time for Jeff and I. We were in go mode for the last ten years. Filling too much into every hour of every day. Living and pouring out fully. Feeling the blessing and the exhaustion of it all. We were ready to go from "go-time" to "go-harder" mode transitioning to Young Life International. That didn't happen and while we continue to raise support steadily and slowly we are entering into a very different season. Since marrying Jeff twelve years ago we have yet to have family dinners every night together until now. Everything from pumpkin patches to birthday parties or dates were book-ended by ministry. And now they aren't. Jeff works hard from eight to six and then we are all together. And it feels wonderful and strange all at the same time.
We are now just under 70%. There are many ways the pie can be sliced when figuring out where we are and how far we still need to go. The budget trimmed and new partners giving has us typing in new numbers to data base with prayers on our lips. I don't think we have yet to get to the percentage we had hoped any of those times. This time we were hoping to reach 75% by October 31st and we are just under 70%. I am finally starting to be grateful for this time that I had fought against for so long. To rest in His timing not just with my words but in my heart also. Enjoying the evening together and the work that has come in for Jeff. Thankful that we have gotten to walk through humbling lessons here with friends and family beside us and not an ocean away. And resting in the knowledge that He knows what the next years hold and we do not. Trusting Him in the resting at one o'clock in preparation for the six o'clock. Thank you for all the encouraging and supportive words as we continue to walk this out one percentage at a time.
