Goals, dreams, plans...

This past week I was asked where I will be in the next 5 years, and then in the next 10 years. I have so many goals in regards to the future, I just don't know where to start.

Physically, I'd like to be more healthy. I usually gain weight back after losing quite a bit while I'm pregnant, and it seems like this time it just isn't going away as easily. I just feel awful all of the time, and I'd really like for that to change. I am starting to exercise more, but it doesn't seem to be working. I'll probably have to diet as well (I know, duh!). I just hate to diet since I already end up making separate meals for practically everyone in the house, and making a separate one for me just adds to the work, not to mention the expense. My options are to basically torture everyone else who isn't on a special diet in my house, or just make my diet fit someone else's (which probably won't work). I just don't know. I'll probably just torture everyone.

Okay, next goal. Financially, I would like to be more stable. I would like to be through school in the first 5 years so that I can get going on my career so the bills will be more easily paid. I would really like the opportunity to get Tony out of the office work and back to full time ministry, and it seems like the only way for that to happen is if we can do it without much pay. If he doesn't have to worry about supporting the family, I think his ministry will do better. He will certainly have more time. I'd also like for my mom to be able to retire. I want to be able to let her know that she still has a room, but she doesn't have to use it all the time, she can vacation and do what she wants for a while. She deserves the opportunity to relax. I wish I could make it so that she can retire sooner so that she can help me out with the kids while I'm going to school. Unfortunately, at this point that seems financially impossible. Which makes going to school take longer.

Spiritually I would like to have grown closer to Christ over the next few years. I know that there are many things in me that require a lot of work. I can look over the last 10 years and see how far I have come through His work in me, I would like to be able to say the same thing in 10 years, however, I would like to not require all the difficult times in order to gain the instruction. At least not as difficult. I think it took a lot for Him to gain my attention so that I can grow in my faith, and I hope that I have grown enough that I am at least listening so that tragedy doesn't have to happen to gain my attention.

For my kids, I'd like Micah to develop a relationship with Christ and to be more self-sufficient. Six has been such a rough age for him, and from what I've been told, 7 isn't likely to be better. For those of you without an autistic child, it's like having an intelligent 2 and 3 year old. He is learning how to interact with people because he is finally acknowledging that we exist. I would like for him to calm down over the next 5 years, and in 10 years, I'd like for him to really know what he wants to do for the rest of his life so that we can focus on helping him achieve those goals.

Becca and the twins will be teenagers, or at least the twins will be quickly approaching their teens. My goals for them are mostly spiritual. I would like for them to know Christ as their Savior before puberty. Puberty is rough enough with the Holy Spirit helping out, without Him...well it's no wonder so many teens are messed up. Other than that, my only other goal for my girls is that they are active and having fun. I want them to find things that they can enjoy and participate.

Now, of course, these are my goals. I can't really say that I know what is going to happen. I'm just not that arrogant. God is in control.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

I actually find this comforting. God isn't necessarily going to give me what I want. In 10 years, I might look back on my goals from today and see how He has changed them. I am confident that no matter what, those changes that He makes will be far better, even if they don't seem so at the time. Why?

""For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."" Jeremiah 29:11

My life as is

I have decided to move my blog here instead of myspace. No particular reason except for the general negative feedback I get from people who I tell that I blog there. I'll still be on myspace, for those who I speak to there, but I will probably not blog there as much.

My update on life:

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the emergency room because Micah had a seizure. He hasn't had one in a while, and I don't have him on meds for it anymore, so I had him checked out. He's fine. I got an appointment with his autism doctor, so I will be addressing that situation later. I have an upcoming IEP before that for placement for next year. I am planning on continuing his mainstreaming for next year (no matter how much they want to talk me out of it).

Becca will be starting kindergarten on July 30th. Does it seem like I am counting the days? I am. She needs to interact with more people so she has something else to talk to me about besides her imaginary friends. Her best friend right now is her imaginary friend Crispy, and she lives in Mexico. Crispy rode on her skateboard over here today and brought Becca a cake. Becca has a great imagination (however, she does lack geography skills...she is 4 still).

The twins are good. Zoe is growing faster than Ali, though. Zoe's belly is all round, and while Ali doesn't look unhealthy skinny, she isn't the big girl that her younger sis is. She is petite, but she has the attitude problems more often and is far too girly for me.

I am finally done with my first semester back to school. Finals have been awful, but I feel good about my grades. I got a B in sociology. I think that is pretty good for a telecourse that I only watched one program of. I only read a couple of chapters of the book, too. If I had more time, I probably would have gotten an A. I have 4 kids, though. I don't know my grade yet for Chemistry, but I doubt it will be bad.

Well, my time has run out. I leave you with a verse of encouragement:

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,
"He who is coming will come and will not delay.
But my righteous one will live by faith.
And if he shrinks back,
I will not be pleased with him."
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."

Hebrews 10:35-39