Going to bed alone

*Nate and his nightly routine of winding the kids up after dinner - I love it! They love it. This pic reminded me that even when our hours together are short and seem to fly by, the time spent is full of such joy and is so precious.

So we are at the end of week 2 for Nate's classes and I think that the reality of how much we are actually going to be seeing daddy around the house - or lack thereof - has set in.

Last week he had a grueling schedule, but it was week 1 and he had no reading, quizzes or tests, or reading - did I say reading, haha - that he was coming off of. I think he said they estimated 22.5 hours of class time for this week (Old Testament 1: Pentateuch with Bruce Chick - whom I heard affectionately referred to as "Bruce the beast" by one of our pastors) and 25 or 26 hours of study time. So this week, some mornings I will see him as he gets ready to leave the house, for maybe all of 20 mins, but usually he has left or is reading in his office until he leaves. Then he will come home for dinner between 5pm & 5:30pm, will play with the kids, help with dishes and baths, do a bible story with Sophie and then will be back to the school by 7pm or 7:30pm. This week he has gotten home well after I have already been in bed - then we start over the next day.

But with all of that said, I have to say that I am more aware of God's grace at work in our lives than ever. I see how gracious Jesus has been to our family, allowing even the short times we are together to be sweet and satisfying. I am growing in love and affection for my husband daily, even though I see him so much less. I am thankful for the Holy Spirit at work in my heart, the "old me" would have stewed and felt sorry for myself, being 8 mos pregnant, away from home and having to care for 2 small (very wild, lol) children while Nate is away most of the time. But I am truly filled with joy that I am able to serve my husband in these things. God is revealing to my heart the eternal purposes for what I do as a mother and wife, how these things are for His kingdom and His glory. From laundry, to changing dirty diapers, disciplining my 3 year old for the 50th time that day, to grocery shopping with both kids in tow - I am fulfilling God's purposes ... and that is worth going to bed alone for a season.