Learning to listen and obey parents when we were little is definitely practice for listening and obeying God-- even though sometimes these days my parents' words and Gods seem to conflict. Making and continuing friendships over the years has been great practice for life, business, school, and now marriage. Being friends with guys has been great practice for dating, and dating, great practice for marriage (and dating my hubby within marriage!). Learning to finish homework (especially for online self-paced classes) is good practice for life-getting to-do lists done and finishing stuff around the house. Learning to be a part of someone else's family has been good practice welcoming new members to our family :) And now, being pregnant has been really good practice for marriage. And learning to wait for this labor thing has been really good practice for life in Godliness.
I'm not saying that having a baby is like following God...although maybe it is! God placed this child inside of me, and no matter how much Michael and I fought the idea of him, he was still there, just growing and taking what he needed from me :) Its amazing to think about. God provided the extra blood and oxygen and food supply for this little fellow, through me alone. But He did it. I think that's kind of how it is with our lives. God has a plan for each of us. Whether or not we know it or agree with it, he carefully picks and provides just what we need at each step, no matter how much we fight it or try to sabotage it. The life I am living in the world right now is in NO way how I envisioned my life at age 23. I imagined I would be back in California, going through the worst part of med school right now. I imagined I would be dating an athlete of some sort. I imagined not being terribly close with my brother, but with our extended family as before. Whew, God really can throw some curveballs. Instead, I am very happily married to the geek of my dreams, as a licensed cosmetologist, in Colorado Springs, pregnant with our first child, whom I will stay home with until he is in school. My brother and his WIFE live close by, while our extended family lives thousands of miles away and I get to see maybe twice a year. We have created our own little family. We have created our own little community. It changes constantly, but it is here and it is from God.
Speaking of being here... My wonderful husband just convinced me to call the doctor. We shall see what today brings, but we know that it will be perfect for us, and it will be just from God, kicking and screaming alike :)
