Life

I just realized that there are so many things I haven't updated the blog about. So many. So, this is going to be a dump of thoughts and updates.

First, Joey's mom had back surgery about 8 weeks ago. She had needed the surgery for awhile and kept putting it off and putting it off because she knew it was going to put her out of commission for quite some time. And it has definitely done that. I think she is slowly but surely starting to regain some strength and mobility, but she is a LONG way from 100%. It has been really hard on her and Tom, but we are so thankful that she has him. He has been a wonderful caretaker for her during this time. She hasn't been able to keep the kids for us because she can't lift anything. So, that's been hard for all of us. Her days of keeping the kids may be permanently behind us. I don't know if she'll be able to do it again or not. It just depends on how she is once she has fully recovered...which is still months away.

My daddy began dialysis about 6 weeks ago. He started out doing it manually during the day, but for the last two weeks he has been able to do it at night while he sleeps, and we are so thankful that that is an option for him. It frees his days to do what he wants/needs to do. Dialysis is definitely not fun, but he's maintained a positive attitude and I think he is starting to slowly feel a little better since the toxins are being flushed from his body. We also got news a few weeks back that he had been approved for the kidney transplant list, so that was a MAJOR praise. Major. The average wait time for a new kidney is five years, but that's okay. We are trusting in God's timing. He will get a kidney at the exact time that God ordains him to.

We've started going back to church at Watkinsville First Baptist, and it has been wonderful. We really never should have left in the first place 4 years ago. It is so clear to us that it's where God wants us to be, and it's so wonderful to be EXCITED about church and anxious to go. We've started going to Sunday School, and maybe one day in the future we will start going to a small group too. But, I've already been able to sense God moving and speaking each week. My soul feels refreshed and rejuvenated.

I've taken a hiatus from Facebook during the Lent season. It's been a huge eye opener for me. I knew I had a *slight* addiction to checking it countless times a day, and I really felt like I was missing out on life. It sounds so stupid, but I would get on FB and look up and an hour would have passed by. Such a waste of my time. Since I got off, I've consistently had a quiet time, I've really lived in each moment with my family, I've gotten more done around my house. It's been such a freeing experience for me. And there have been breakthroughs spiritually and times of God speaking so loudly to me. I really feel like by quieting out the world around me, I've been able to really hear Him more. So, I don't know what I'll do after Easter. Maybe I'll get back on. Maybe I won't. Regardless, I will definitely be way more mindful of how I use it and how much time it consumes. It's been crazy to me that I haven't even missed it (although I definitely feel like I have no clue what's going on with any of my friends).

One of the most monumental changes that has come in recent weeks is that I was approved to go part time next year. Another teacher and I will be job sharing. One week I will teach two days, and the next week, I will teach three. This has been something Caroline and I have been talking about since January of last year. We've prayed, planned, researched, stressed, talked. And then we presented it to our principal in August of this school year. Then we prayed some more. To be totally honest, I was scared of the answer either way. I was scared of being told no because I wanted it SO badly. I've wanted to go part time (or NO time) since Tripp was born. So, this is something I've been praying would be a possibility for 8 years. BUT, I was also scared of being told yes because it's such a step of faith for us financially. It really doesn't work on paper, and the last thing I want to do is cause stress on my marriage and family due to finances. So, I did all I knew to do. I prayed. I called out to Jesus and begged Him to make it abundantly clear to me if this was His will for me and our family. And He did. He made it SO clear. And once I was told yes by our principal, the flood gates opened and I started crying. I was just so overwhelmed with gratitude. It still doesn't necessarily work on paper. But, in the last few weeks, there have already been small moments of God showing us that He's going to take care of us and provide and we're going to be just fine. We really are. And, I'm going to get more time at home to be a momma and wife. Which is really all my heart truly desires. When Addie Grey came into our life, the desire just became that much stronger to be with her as much as possible. I've already witnessed first hand how quickly time with your children flies by. I want to be a part of each and every second of it as much as possible. God is good. Really, really good.

I guess that's it for now. Lots going on with the Lancasters. But there always is. I'm learning so much on how to rely on God's grace, strength, and mercy to get through my days.