The month of April has been one of the most challenging months in recent memory for our family. It started with a gall bladder surgery for Rebecca on April 1st and is coming to a close with our move into a new flat. A quick breakdown of the fun...
- 2 surgeries (Rebecca's gall bladder and stapedectomy)
- 9 days in the hospital (Rebecca)
- 10 family care days taken from school (Michael)
- 50 classes worth of sub plans written (Michael)
- 10 Baseball games (3 for Justin, 7 for Michael)
- Multiple baseball practices (both Justin and Michael)
- Easter celebration...with snow!
- Attended 2 performances of ICSV's musical "Beauty and the Beast"
- Helped organize last class fundraiser for the c/o 2012
- Austrian driver's license applied for [and received] (Michael)
- Completely moved into our new flat in one day
- Wonderful friends who blessed us with countless hours of child care help and multiple meals prepared for our family
Overall, this month has been crazy-busy. I am absolutely exhausted. There have been multiple times this month when I have thought that I had nothing left. In fact, I am struggling to write this right now because there are so many duties/expectations/tasks looming. Perhaps spending time writing this is just a form of procrastination...but I am hoping that by working through the struggles of this month bloglicly (blog and publicly put together - see what I did there?) and, by sharing what God is doing in our lives through it all, you will be encouraged.
Despite all that, it has been a great reminder of God's faithfulness and provision. I am so thankful for all the people He has put in our lives here in Vienna that have stepped up to help us. It is a humbling experience to ask for help as much as we have had to, but it has been a joy to see people embrace us and get us through this month. The Lord has used this month to provide opportunities to spend some quality time with Kailyn, and in the midst of it, an hour here and there to simply sit and read.
I've been reading a book this month that has really encouraged me; Surprised by Laughter: The Comic World of C.S. Lewis written by Terry Lindvall. I will be reviewing it on the blog for booksneeze soon, but I want to share something now from a chapter entitled "The Quiddity of Life". Quiddity is an idea in philosophy in which you study the "whatness" of something. He states that "The commonplace becomes quite startling and marvelous when one actually pays attention to it and forgets oneself"...in fact, it is usually in those times that you notice that "inconveniences may be embraced as upside-down opportunities for fun".
Looking back on this month it has definitely provided some great opportunities to experience the quiddity of life. One of my favorite days was early in the month while Rebecca was in the hospital. I was able to visit with Rebecca in the morning, and then while she rested I took Kailyn on a walk through the park and sat on a bench with her for a while. This was a great day...enjoying an opportunity to simply sit with my daughter...enjoying God's gift while in the midst of a very stressful and tiring time.
- 2 surgeries (Rebecca's gall bladder and stapedectomy)
- 9 days in the hospital (Rebecca)
- 10 family care days taken from school (Michael)
- 50 classes worth of sub plans written (Michael)
- 10 Baseball games (3 for Justin, 7 for Michael)
- Multiple baseball practices (both Justin and Michael)
- Easter celebration...with snow!
- Attended 2 performances of ICSV's musical "Beauty and the Beast"
- Helped organize last class fundraiser for the c/o 2012
- Austrian driver's license applied for [and received] (Michael)
- Completely moved into our new flat in one day
- Wonderful friends who blessed us with countless hours of child care help and multiple meals prepared for our family
Overall, this month has been crazy-busy. I am absolutely exhausted. There have been multiple times this month when I have thought that I had nothing left. In fact, I am struggling to write this right now because there are so many duties/expectations/tasks looming. Perhaps spending time writing this is just a form of procrastination...but I am hoping that by working through the struggles of this month bloglicly (blog and publicly put together - see what I did there?) and, by sharing what God is doing in our lives through it all, you will be encouraged.
Despite all that, it has been a great reminder of God's faithfulness and provision. I am so thankful for all the people He has put in our lives here in Vienna that have stepped up to help us. It is a humbling experience to ask for help as much as we have had to, but it has been a joy to see people embrace us and get us through this month. The Lord has used this month to provide opportunities to spend some quality time with Kailyn, and in the midst of it, an hour here and there to simply sit and read.
I've been reading a book this month that has really encouraged me; Surprised by Laughter: The Comic World of C.S. Lewis written by Terry Lindvall. I will be reviewing it on the blog for booksneeze soon, but I want to share something now from a chapter entitled "The Quiddity of Life". Quiddity is an idea in philosophy in which you study the "whatness" of something. He states that "The commonplace becomes quite startling and marvelous when one actually pays attention to it and forgets oneself"...in fact, it is usually in those times that you notice that "inconveniences may be embraced as upside-down opportunities for fun".
Looking back on this month it has definitely provided some great opportunities to experience the quiddity of life. One of my favorite days was early in the month while Rebecca was in the hospital. I was able to visit with Rebecca in the morning, and then while she rested I took Kailyn on a walk through the park and sat on a bench with her for a while. This was a great day...enjoying an opportunity to simply sit with my daughter...enjoying God's gift while in the midst of a very stressful and tiring time.
"Setting out to enjoy life's quiddity can lead to an encounter with its meaning. The apostle Paul was speaking of food when he wrote the following words to Timothy, but they could apply equally well to so many of the experiences life brings us: 'for everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude' (1 Tim. 4:4). It amazes grown-ups the number of 'unpleasant' things children can enjoy: dirt, rain, mud, lizards, bugs, etc. But we should all be such children, reveling in what God gives us."
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