Whistle while you work...

School finished about a month ago, and I find myself busier than ever. I've got more to study, more to teach, and more to prepare all the while getting things ready for the baby. I think Sarah is definitely going through a 'nesting' period as we do lots of home improvement-type things. Two weeks ago, I painted the basement, removed old blinds, and installed curtains. One week ago, I moved all my books and shelves downstairs. All together, it was a 10-hour job. This past weekend, I installed shelves into the garage, another four hour job. What does this have to do with the baby you say?

Well, I had to paint the basement so I could move my office downstairs. I had to put shelves in the garage so that I could put the Christmas tree (which was in the basement) into the crawl space, and move the camping stuff from the crawl space to the garage. I had to move my office so that it could become the new guest room as I moved the bed and desk from the old guest room (now the baby room) into my old office. This way I could put the dresser, crib, and glider (which took us four hours to decide on) into the empty old guestroom-now new baby room!

Whew...it was almost easier doing it than explaining it. It's like one big sliding puzzle where you have to move one piece before you can move another.

Such is fast becoming my life...one big sliding puzzle. Still, it's been a joy serving my wife, and my baby boy. There's a strange sort of satisfaction in being able to provide for them (must be the nesting thing for myself as well).

Much thanks to Brian for helping me move the dresser and crib upstairs. And many blessings to John and Carol for your wisdom and guidance!

Whew-ew-whew-wheu-whew-whe-wheu (whistling while at work)...

What I'm Wrestling With...

As Sarah's belly continues to enlarge, and little Baboy continues to do the cha-cha in the womb, there are some serious questions going on in the Lee household. I'm realizing more and more how easily convinced we are to prepare for the short-term at the expense of the long-term. I've seen it a lot with marriages-people spend umpteen amount of dollars preparing for the wedding day, but overlook and neglect preparation for the marriage.

Likewise, we spend so much effort and money preparing for the nursery and for the arrival of the baby. How much time have I spent preparing my heart to be a parent? I know that no amount of preparation can ever be enough, but where is my heart as a dad right now?

These are a few of the issues that Sarah and I are wrestling with. Among other things, we really want to have this baby as God-believers, Christ-followers. We want to trust God for the delivery and for Him to provide everything we need. It seems that marketers and baby companies want to convince us that our baby 'needs' their product. We're really trying to figure out what's the best use of our money and resources. Of course, the generosity of people around us has made that really possible.

Sarah and I have been dialoguing over what really are the essentials. We don't want to end up with a lot of junk that the baby will use three times and then we give away. I think there's a balance - a tension if you will - between wanting to provide for our child, and at the same time remembering that we are but stewards of the resources God sends. I'm really wrestling with the idea that already, just by being born into our family, my boy is more privileged than a large majority of the population of children in his generation. How do I best teach him and show him how to handle this incredible blessing?

I'm praying for wisdom right now (and I'd ask for your prayers as well) as we continue to come to an agreement over how much is enough and what truly is needful. We so want to honor God and trust Him with the raising of our son...

May God grant you sobriety and clarity in the way you lead your life as well...