Learning to drive, all over again.

Last Friday my beloved finally had time to take me to the DMV for my Driver's Learner Permit. It was a little nerve-wracking, as I was used to the must more difficult British system. Everyone at the DMV office was very nice and friendly, which helped to ease some of my stress. I was surprised at how easy the theory test was, having sat and passed the British one. So now I can finally get on with learning to drive on the other side of the road.

It was a busy weekend, so it was Tuesday before we managed to have my name added to the insurance. After work on Tuesday my darling husband, who used to train racing car drivers, took me for my first go at left hand driving. We went to a new neighbourhood development, so far there are roads etc, but no houses. It was the perfect spot for some basics. It was easier than my sweetheart thought it would be, but more difficult than I thought. We have a pick-up truck. It has to be at least twice as big as anything else I've ever driven before. Staying in the centre of the road was not easy at first, I kept driving too close to the sidewalk. Then using my right hand for the gear stick was another complication. I've always driven mannual gears, but using a left foot and left hand combination. I know that it'll just take a little retraining to become as comfortable changing gears with my right hand, as it once was with my left. Yet the one thing that made me most nervous was driving without "L" plates. Noone on the roads will know I'm a learner here and I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.

As I get ready for another go at driving this evening I am reminded that there are times our spiritual growth mirrors my relearning to drive. This is especially true when we first get saved. We have learned how to do things the world's way, and now we have to relearn so we can now do it God's way. We have to fight against our natural instinct, or learned behaviour/thoughts/attitudes, and really concentrate until we have repeated the process often enough that it finally becomes a part of our new nature. I'm not going to overcome my old driving tendancies in just a few hours. It will probably take a few months of regular and consistant practice. In the same way spiritual maturity is a repeated process, done over and over, that takes a long time.

Where ever you are in your walk to maturity, remember it's the little and consistent that will get you there in the end.

Some recent photos

I had an all day baking frenzy recently in preparation for our Church Ladies Fellowship Relaunch.

We had a traditional British Style Afternoon Tea.

One of the many batches of scones, fresh out of the oven.

Mini Vanilla Cupcakes ready for the oven.

Mini Vanilla Cupcakes filling the home with a wonderful smell.

Iced and ready to go.

Some of the ladies getting ready to enjoy the afternoon tea.

Everyone had a great time and enjoyed all the treats.

Recent Activity

I've not been blogging recently. I did not intend to be away from the computer for so long. In the last month we've finished decorating/painting our home; had houseguests; attended family gatherings; and generally been very busy.

I've been here in the USA for a little over seven months. Most of that time has been very busy. I still marvel at how busy everyone is around me. We were however blessed last Saturday with a day to ourselves. Rob came home early on Friday (Good Friday) and we got to spend the afternoon "playing" (having fun rather than doing chores.) Then on Saturday we skipped the Church Easter Egg Hunt and had the day together by ourselves. It was so nice to be able to feel like the newly-weds everyone forgets we still are. It was a lovely day, nice and hot and sunny. So we went to the beach for a short time during the morning. We can't stay outside too long as I have very pale, "baby-like" skin that burns easily. Later in the afternoon we went back outside again while my husband attempted to give me a swimming lesson. (I need to learn to swim before he can take me out on the boat to fish.) Mostly we just enjoyed spending the day together with no set demands for our time. Days like that don't happen very often, so we try to enjoy them when we get them.

It was also a great day for just talking about everything and nothing. I've had some things on my mind recently that were due to be shared with Rob. He is always so encouraging, and helps me to see how God is growing me. I'm certainly being stretched right now. When we got married we agreed to be open to any/all the children God has for us. It is easy to assume this will mean lots of children. That may not be what is in store for us. The first year of our marriage was spent mostly 5000 miles apart, as we waited for my immigrant visa. Rob came to Scotland several times to visit me, as I couldn't visit him. In many ways it was a blessing not to become pregnant during that time. It would have made the separation even more difficult to deal with. Now that I've been here for over seven months not getting pregnant is beginning to become discouraging.

Each month I battle against being discouraged, but to be honest it gets more difficult as the months pass. While I know in m head that everything is in God's timing, my heart just hears that biological clock tick away. I find myself relating more closely to Hannah in 1 Samuel, as she cried out the the LORD for a son. As I continue to age the possibility of conception becomes less and less. Through all this Rob is a steady rock. He reminds me that everything is in God's hands, including our family size. He reminds me that enduring through delay helps us to grow in patience and lean on the LORD for comfort.

I have no idea if we will ever be able to have children of our own, no matter how deeply I long for that. I know our home is meant to include children. I know that the LORD is in control of our future. I know that at some point in the future we will be parents. We are open to adopting. We are even open to adopting a whole ready made sibling group.

I know that I have to make peace with waiting. I waited fifteen years for the right husband. I waited for another year to be able to join him in our home. Really seven months should not seem like such a long time to be waiting to start increasing our family. The LORD really is in control. The LORD really does know what His perfect will for us as a family is. Trusting Him is a daily, even hourly process. It is up to me to keep my focus above where it belongs, and where discouragement cannot shake my faith.