Not What I Signed Up For

I never wanted to be a writer when I grew up (not that I want to now, for the record).  For a short while, I wanted to be a dancer.  I never took lessons, but I loved to spin and twirl in front of a large mirror in my parents' bedroom.  And then I went through the astronaut phase, because who doesn't want to float in space and see Earth looking like a pretty marble as you bounce on the moon?

Second grade changed everything.  I walked through the basement door of the old school building to one of my favorite years of all.  I learned math rhymes and how to write in cursive.  I did a book report on Hawaii and got to reach into the grab bag.  I recited "how now brown cow" and went next door for some Spanish.  Most of all, I loved my teacher.  She was also my dad's sister.

From that time on, I wanted to be a teacher too.

I pursued my dream of teaching, even attending the same school that my aunt and my cousin, her daughter, had attended.  I loved every minute of planning lessons and preparing bulletin boards.  In the middle of my college years, I married and switched schools, but continued on the four-year plan to get my degree.  I was blessed with an awesome student-teaching mentor and finished my college career on a Friday in May.  I found out that Saturday that I didn't have the flu.  I was expecting.  A baby.

My plans changed. 

I have never stepped foot in my own classroom as a public school teacher.  I chose the path of stay-at-home mom as my own mom did and blessed me by so doing.  Instead of leaving every day to teach others' children, I walk into my kitchen to teach my own.

I never wanted to be a home educator.  I never aspired to journaling publicly.  I never expected to lead women in Bible study.  I never thought that there would be days when my children would leave me at wit's end.  My life isn't what I expected, and as I recently told my sis, "It's not what I signed up for."

"It's what they, your husband and kids, signed you up for," she replied, "when you weren't looking."

Even while I laughed at this, it led me to this whisper, "It's what I signed you up for." 

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD . . . " (Jeremiah 29:11).

The Lord has a plan.  For me.  For you. 

And though it may not be just what we expected, it is worth signing up for.







Continuing the count of blessings heaped within His plan #322 - 340:

Baby Girl in her nightgown all morning long

daily aerobics with The Stinker and The Princess (sooooo funny)

silent giggles

she dances

second chances

Sunday afternoon naps

growing older alongside the one I love

apple pie

answered prayers

a good Bible study

people who really do care

Fall is here!  Fall is here!  Fall is here!

the leaves are changing

pumpkins

October means Christmas carols, yes it does

an old and unexpected song in the morning to remind me

a great end to the soccer season

a fun fall festival at a new school

a tree skirt with The Thinker's handprint on it

anticipation

Not What I Signed Up For