this season & the next

I just finished reading an incredible post by one of my favorite bloggers, Moriah, of Moriah Makes. She is in a very different stage of life and has loads of experience and wisdom which I can only dream of someday possessing. Here's what she said, with some editing on my part:

"...I'm trying my best to be patient, to grow in this season and to be ready for what's next. It's not like I'm at a standstill or anything.... But, there's a big part of me that is having a hard time waiting. The problem is that I want to get through this season as fast as possible with my own hands, think of ways to make progress in my own eyes and get the ball rolling on what I think God has for us... and that's not how it works. So, I'm learning to be patient and continually praise God..."

Ditto, man. I've been looking at this season as one to just get through. (And by season I mean this season, this stage, of life, not the actual season of winter.) I hate not having a full-time teaching job. I hate not having kids. I hate the long, cold days and Joel's constant work load in the evenings. I hate living so far from our families and having to travel for every vacation. I hate the way my schedule doesn't leave much room for running or hanging out with friends. I hate having dental coverage that doesn't cover very expensive but very necessary oral surgery.

I keep thinking if only we can make it through to the next phase... when we get to move... when Joel gets a change of his workload... when we get to have a baby.... when we have a vacation... when we travel somewhere new & exciting... when it's sunny outside.... etc. 

But that's NOT what God has called me to, right now or ever. I'm called to obey him daily, constantly. I'm called to live for Him and love others well in exactly this season, despite my circumstances. So that's what I'll be working on, in this season, with His strength. 

He said, she said

Kelly: If we move we definitely need to get rid of this table.
Joel: The chairs I don't care about, but we could keep the table. It might be good for crafts or sewing or something.
Kelly: Or, we could use it as a LEGO table! If we have kids who like LEGOs.

This weekend I

It was a quiet weekend at the Alberts house. On Friday we watched a movie from red box and ate chili and homemade biscuits on the couch. We did some laundry, some cleaning, and some school work.

We slept a lot and cooked and went running together. (And by together I mean at the same time. NOT the same pace. Or distance. Ha.) Yesterday we had some sweet time with friends. I made an amazing cake (recipe here) and sat in our basement waiting for the laundry to be done so I could move it along.

Today was quiet, too, which was nice. I'm slowly learning to revel in the peace, the slowness, the rest. I'm. Slowly. Learning.

He said, she said

He said: " Gosh!! What are we gonna do when we have kids?!"

She said: " Well, I guess we'll do one load every day or so. Instead of three on a Saturday morning."

my new shoes

I went to TJ Maxx today to spend some gift cards that were burning a hole in my jeans pocket. In the shoe aisle I noticed these bright red Converse All Stars. I tried them on but later noticed a similar pair of black ones. I put both in my hands, wandered around the store, and finally tried them on again.

When I still couldn't decide which I liked more, I bought both with the intention to return one pair. After much coercion Joel said he liked the red best. I decided he was right. THEN I was flipping through on of my fav blogs and noticed Joanna has the same ones!!

Clinched it!

Bits of Christmas

We had a ton of fun in Grand Rapids with Joel's family for Christmas. We ate wayyyyy too much, relaxed, slept in, and played with friends.

We also got a brand new iPad!! Here are a few pics we took using the iPad camera. 

a few resolutions

I'm two days late on my resolutions for 2013, but I really just needed a little time to think on them. It's hard for me to put my goals & dreams out there. I don't usually like semi-cliches thing. Joel and I talked about some stuff we want to happen this year, but they're really not things I can put into written words.

So, without further ado, here are a few resolutions:

1. Take more pictures. I struggle to photograph the daily things. It's hard for me to find beauty in the small-ness of life. But I want to try this one! Really, I do!

2. Run (at least!) three times each week. This can be so hard if I sub twice and teach ESL twice. That leaves one weekday and the weekend. It's really not fun for me to get up and run on Saturday or Sunday, but I need to do it. I've not been at all content with my body lately and it's time to stop being annoyed and just make change happen.

3. Find contentment in what God has given. I need to prayerfully change my habit of comparing myself with others (OH, they have their own classroom. No fair! Aw, man, I wish I lived near my family! Dang, that group of friends hangs out so often! Oh, look, another friend is having a baby! Crap, they make a lot of money! Gosh, what a cool trip; wish I could go there!). I need to rejoice in the constant love of Jesus and the hope I have.

4. Love others well. This starts with loving God well, spending time in the Word & prayerfully seeking his will. After that it means listening carefully when Joel speaks, seeking to find ways to care for him, and making sacrifices for his well-being. Then it means giving of myself to love friends, family, students, co-workers, and neighbors.