Am I Prepared for This?

(As I sat down to type this, I realized that the title is quite similar to what I wrote about earlier this week. The content is a little different, I think though... Similar, but different! AND. There are pictures this post! Woohoo!)

One of my girlfriends who just (successfully) went through the spousal interviews with her husband gave me a list of questions to be prepared to answer on Friday. Ian and I have been discussing the answers to the questions, so he could help me put my thoughts into words. Of course I know that he has certain strengths and weaknesses, but putting those into words sometimes can be difficult.

But this last question has definitely been on my mind a lot - and last night, as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep after midnight, the Lord finally brought something to mind.

"Are you prepared for this?"

If by "this" they mean the next step in our journey - Ian going to FRL and us preparing to move and then moving to Elizabeth City. We are prepared. Our boxes are (getting) packed, we have planned where the kids and I will stay during his training class (FRL), we have already been looking at rental houses in EC that we want to check out when the time is right. We are prepared for the next step.

If by "this" they mean all the hardships we will face as Ian begins his new career - the L-O-N-G hours,  getting to know a new team and all the difficulties that can bring, establishing ourselves in a new community and making friends and building trust, LIVING WITHOUT A TARGET NEARBY, all the craziness we can expect in the next year - then no, I'm not necessarily "prepared" for all of that. But. I am ready. I'm ready for the Lord to prepare me for each next step. I know He will not give me a burden heavier than I'm prepared to carry. I know He will provide me with strength and patience to make it through the tough times. I am ready. And I know that if I remain in my "ready" position (imagine me, squatting down at third base in the "ready position" that Coach Stoming DRILLED into my high school softball team, glove on the ground - ready to receive the ball, knees bent - ready to move to the ball) I will be able to handle whatever is thrown my way.

So. Am I prepared for everything the next year will throw at me? Absolutely not. But I am prepared for this immediate next step. And I'm ready for the Lord to prepare me for every step along the way.

(Do you think they'll just let me hand over a printed copy of my answers to all these questions during the interview?! Have I mentioned that I cannot wait until SATURDAY because that means Friday will be behind me?! Haha!)

I promise you will not believe this, but Cayman is faking it! He went to snuggle with Daddy Sunday morning before church; Ian was still sleeping, but Cayman was wide awake when I took this picture.

Hello! How could you not hire him?! :)

Helping mommy pack!

We have new neighbors! Charis is thrilled that they have a cat that hangs out right by their front door. By the way, I'm sure there will be more pictures to come of our neighbors. They have two little boys - ages 3 and 5! Cayman got to play with them for the first time last night and they had a BALL!!!