A Gift

I got a gift today from my husband. I'm typing from it right now. Yep, my very own laptop! It's cute and brown with its very own fun case/bag. I'm ecstatic! I've wanted one for so long, and this gift is the biggest surprise I've had in a long time! But my sweet husband wanted to communicate his love for me, and boy did he! It's more than just giving me a nice thing. There are things I've wanted to accomplish in my life that would be easier to do with a new computer, so he's communicating more than just thoughtfulness and love. It's about supporting my goals and encouraging me in my dreams. It's about joining me in them. It's more of a gift of love than I know how to describe. But I have to write about it because I'm going crazy about it right now and because my hubby needs to know: I LOVE HIM. Thank you, Joel. I'm not sure I will ever be able to convey my gratitude. But I'll be trying though!

Does this mean I'll post more on the blog? We shall see. =)

In other news, Jonah has spent three nights in his big boy bed, and it's gone really well so far! I think he's pretty unsure about his new surroundings, so he's not daring to get out of bed at night. He's just a little cautious like that. He's so proud of himself though. He really gets that he's big now and is reminding me of it all the time. I am just a little sad now. I forgot to think about life after the crib. There's nothing left that's baby about him! I can't believe it. He really is not a baby anymore. I don't think I was ready for that realization! So I'm a tad emotional about this life change. I just expected more of a process, and it's seemed like he's just all of a sudden changed so much. I wasn't planning to have him nap in the bed yet, but he was so proud of his nighttime accomplishment that he was going to have no more of the crib. He tested the first day at naptime and got up out of bed before we came to get him, and he realized that he really would have the consequence that was told him. He hasn't tried again! Yesterday and today, he's taken a good nap. It's good. Doing both naptimes and bedtime in the new bed seems more consistent with our whole approach/plan, so I'm good with that. Plus, I'm thinking that he won't be taking naps much longer anyway. For over a month now, he's skipped nap more than he's taken it. At first, I was sad about it, thinking about how I was definitely not ready for my two year old to outgrow naps yet. But I'm starting to see the benefit of it for us. When Parker comes, I won't have to wait so many months before she's on a consistent napping schedule that coincides with his naptime. I've seen some of my friends have a long time before they get both kids napping at the same time. So, if he's having quiet time with toys in his bed instead of napping, I can put him down whenever I want. It could make life easier. I don't know. But some days, he still really needs a nap, so we'll wait to start the training process for quiet time in the bed. I expect it to be a training process because I don't think my son knows the meaning of the word quiet. If at all possible, I'd really like for him to learn it before the baby gets here! But all in all, he's sleeping better and longer since being in his big boy bed, and that restfulness has made for some much more pleasant days around here this week. He's been a blast.

Now. If THAT didn't bore you to death....

I can't escape this feeling of new energy this week. A feeling of freshness that comes at those times when different new things are starting. Our women's Bible studies start next week, and I've worked so much today on updating our inventory of resources and designing a new process to be implemented concerning materials. It's been a tedious job...one that usually stresses me out, to be honest. I do love me a label maker. And I have been known to get excited by the process of alphabetizing. But I'm not much of an administratively-gifted person. Details can kill me at times. And this has been an extremely detailed process. But this time it's a little different. I think because I know the end result of all of this work will be that we'll be ready to help more women get into the Word. And that's just one of the things I'm most passionate about. So I love the feeling that 12 classes will start next week. 12 classes of women studying the Bible together. Some women have been in love with the Lord for more years than I've been alive, and they just keep studying the Bible because they know what it takes to nurture a relationship like that. Some women will have no idea where the book of Genesis is, and next week will be the very beginning of a sweet journey for them. I'm expecting it because I've seen God do it before. I love knowing that He will have so much opportunity to work in lives and do His thing. Revealing Himself in a personal way. I'm personally excited for what He has for me. I'm taking a study that's based on truths I really don't know much about at all, and I'm thrilled to learn. I know I'll be sharing some of that adventure with you once the class starts.

Gotta go. Must get Tums. At the moment, my heart is a-burnin'......