This weekend marked the beginning of the next chapter. Now that N is a college graduate, he's has to go back to work. This last year was the first time in our marriage that we've had a normal, consistent routine. It was one that included N being home in the evenings. I can't tell you what a blessing this past year was. We've grown as a couple and as a family in ways we never dreamed we would.
Yet, we always knew this was temporary. We knew when N graduated, that would mean going back to our old normal: not having him home in the evenings.
Yesterday we made the three hour drive to the dam, dropped N off and then Zoe and I made the long trip back home. It was bittersweet. Both N and I know this is just a stepping stone to getting us to where God wants us to be. At the end of this 24 month period is the vision of the life we've always had. Over the next 2 years we'll each be doing our part to get us to that place. In many ways this is an exciting chapter. Each week that we are apart, puts us one week closer to having a permanent place that is our home. Each week brings us closer to having N home every evening!
The irony is that to get there, we have to be apart for the next 2 years during the week. Essentially we have to both be independent and yet together. We will, in many ways, live separate lives for the next 2 years. If I'm being completely honest with myself, I've grown rather fond of not being independent. I loved having N home in the evenings, to have him with us.
This is what we have to do. I know with it will come hardships and blessings beyond our understanding. I know it's not us that is guiding these next 2 years, but Him who has opened these doors. God wouldn't have brought us this far to not have a plan going forward.
If we look closely, we can see God's hand in this already. Through this apprenticeship, N has to learn all sections of a dam (electrical, operations, maintenance, etc). At the end of each section, he has to pass testing. The only real area of concern that he has is the electrical. It's not his strong suit. Typically they each get 3 months per section and then they HAVE to take the test. Of course, N's first section upon returning is electrical.
Here's the God thing: The first month of your return doesn't count toward your three month window. It's like a free month of training. Because N starts today, he gets the whole month of July to train, but he doesn't have to take his test until the end of October. It's a free month of training on the one area he's worried about.
All this time he's been dreading this and God has opened the door for extended training.
Sometimes it's signs like those that give both N and me a moment to breathe. It's a moment to know we aren't guiding this course, it's coming from a much higher place. It's Him that holds us together during this time apart.
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