Trust Him for Tomorrow

Isn't it a blessing to be sitting in church and hear a sermon that touches your heart and gives you answers to questions you were asking yourself just a a few days before?


During our Valentine's Day dinner on Saturday, EJ looked across the table at me and asked, "What do you think we'll be talking about over our v-day dinner next year?" I honestly had no idea.....
I did however know exactly what he was referring to because there's no doubt in my mind that he has a mild case of baby fever. So I wasn't surprised when he said he thought we'd be discussing what's been on his mind since the day we said "I Do".

I'll be honest -- I'm an obsessive planner. I make tons of lists on a daily basis. I plan our weekly meals every Saturday. I planned our entire wedding with the help of my mom. Our 1 year anniversary trip has already been planned and booked. I could go on and on. However, the one thing I can't seem to "plan" is when to start our family....

I pray every day for God's guidance. When will be the right time for us? How will I know if we're ready? My job requires me to travel 90% of the time -- when will I be willing to leave my jet setting job? Could I even find a job if I decided to leave? Again, I could go on and on.

I hadn't gotten any answers to these questions/prayers until Sunday. Our pastor began a sermon series two weeks ago titled God's Purpose: Right Now. The second sermon of the series told us that as we live out the purpose of God we must remember five things.

1. We WILL face challenges. Sometimes God asks us to endure challenges to get us to a place where He can do future things.
2. We WILL make mistakes.
3. Our work for God will outlive us.
4. God does not always work according to our timeline. We must obey Him today and trust Him for tomorrow.
5. We will have to make sacrifices. Sometimes God asks us to sacrifice the things we love because he has a plan for us that we'll love more.

Points four and five filled my heart with such peace and certainty about the future and answered the questions I've been asking myself for months. So Valentine's Day 2010 dinner conversation may or may not involve baby talk and that's okay because we're obeying Him today and trusting Him for tomorrow.

9 for 9

Following our 8 reasons after 8 months...and in no way inspired by the 25 things chain letter tagging its way through Facebook...its seems lists are a fun and fitting way to count away at the months and memories that Roo and I have shared so far. So here is February's 9 for 9...9 simple memories after 9 sensational months.

June - Roo and I sing karaoke for the first time as husband and wife at Kate's post graduation party. We perhaps later paid $5 to hear the same song played at the grand opening of Charlotte's Howl at the Moon dueling piano bar.

July - We got to share a room on the annual family vacation to Edisto Island...finally! Though my snoring may send me back in with the boys next year.

August - We celebrated 1 year as homeowners...a nice tax deduction from one side, a long honey-do list from another view...from any standpoint, a beautiful home. We also celebrated the birth of baby boy Buxton, the son of Roo's best friend and college roommate. For Roo, it was love at first sight....

September - It wouldn't be an EJ-written blog entry (just as it wouldn't be EJ and Roo) without a hint of Chicago. We tailgated with my dad, Mike, Caroline, Phil and others at the Bears-Panthers game in Charlotte. October - Trick or treat? Definitely a treat to have hosted a Halloween themed baby shower for Bradriane. Brad and Adriane in non-US Weekly talk.

November - This past Thanksgiving will be hard to top and I may never eat another un-fried turkey again. Add Riley's cheesecakes and family to the mix and we obviously have so much to be thankful for.

December - Max celebrates 1 year in our house and in our family. Its not that we had a party for him or anything close to a celebration but our dogs do play such a significant role in our lives that they were due a mention here. I also assumed no one wanted to hear that I was excited to get socks for Christmas.

January - Roo and I camped out...in our living room. Thanks to Blockbuster, Roo's chocolate-covered strawberries and our fireplace. It was the best stay-cation I've ever had.

February - As if we aren't short-changing February enough by only giving it 28 days, we are also trying to force a favorite moment out of the first two weeks? Valentine's Day dinner at the River Rat seems to be the front-runner but with Winthrop's Homecoming at the end of the month, my surf and turf my take a backseat to Scandals, cornhole, and our 1st Annual Homecoming Party. Stay tuned for those stories.

This one's for the guys

Valentine's Day is nearly upon us. I've learned quickly that giving her a ring DIDN'T give me a lifetime free pass to not worry about February 14th. I've also learned that Roo will very easily let me know what she might want for V-Day...or Christmas...or her birthday. All I have to do is ask and sometime not even that much. I guess a few years of giving her practical gifts or playing the "I'll take you shopping to buy whatever you want" card have motivated Roo to motivate me to try a little harder. Not harder, smarter I think. She appreciates any gift, and expects no gift, make no mistake. But she knows I enjoy giving her something she enjoys. So I've got the rest of the week to hammer this out. I just wanted to let the guys out their know that all you have to do is ask. We made it this far on our own. Why not get a little help? But if anyone has any really good ideas...feel free to share.

Nostalgia

I can't sleep. And no, its not because I've been stressed over writer's block and not posting a new blog in 2 weeks. I am most likely apprehensive about the night to come. Riley is the traveler of the family, not me. It takes me at least a night to get used to being in a new place, away from our pillow-top, to get a decent night's sleep. Hence, sleeping in 3 different hotels in 3 nights isn't working out for me. I don't like being away from home. But, I am in Chicago...and better yet, my old stomping ground. Much like Steelers fans needed specific events to take place in the closing minutes of Sunday's Superbowl, it took an alignment of certain cosmic events for me to be writing you from Diversey and Clark in the 773. Yet, here I am. I am travelling this week, my once-a-month away from home that has taken me to Rockford, Illinois and will take me to Manassas, Virginia. Its easier to say Chicago and DC. Our work at the Rockford hospital ended at least a half a day early and left me on my own for over a day in the Windy City. My search for an overnight stay sent me to a place I knew, said old stomping ground in north Lincoln Park/south Lakeview. I took not only the cheapest hotel on my company's approved list but also the closest to where I lived during my sabbatical from the sunny South between 2005 and 2007. I've been to Chicago 3 times now since Roo and I packed...correction...crammed all of my belongings from my studio apartment 5G in the Brewster on the shores of Lake Michigan into an Enterprise mini-van, headed south bound for a better life and a life together. For you trivia buffs, my old apartment while I was at Northwestern was where the movie Child's Play was filmed. For you good friends, this place was one that nearly breaked but ultimately maked Riley and my relationship. So its bittersweet being in the old stomping ground, I tried to reunite with a few close family members and friends, I watched some Bulls basketball and even some Blackhawks hockey. I walked in the brisk gusts that brought negative wind chills. And I laid my head down thanking God for all of it and mostly for Riley not giving up on me. I got promoted today, for the second time in about 6 months. While very deserved, it came quite unexpected. I take pride in what I do and I try to make those around me proud of my work. Again, mostly, I want Riley to be proud of what I am working towards because it is for us, not for me...and yet it all finally comes so naturally. The days when I lived for myself are long gone. The days when I thought I could or had to fight for myself are past me. I know I don't have to nor would I ever want to without Roo at my side. Again, it is bittersweet, and a little frostbitten, to be in the old neighborhood. So many memories, good and bad, come back to me so quickly...but then all of those are overwritten by the memories forged over the past year and a half. I'll probably go get a Chicago-style hot dog with my Uncle Mike on the way to O'hare tomorrow but I don't think any hot dog has ever tasted as good since Roo said I do.

Editor's note: I don't write this stuff just to attract followers or to get "You guys are so sweet" posts. This was mostly written because Roo is a time zone away and most likely asleep while I can't be just that and wish I were a few 900 miles closer. The bed here is very uncomfortable...find me a case where the cheapest hotel option was the best.