Life Lately Q&A {Fall 2023}

I put out a call for questions last weekend, and the overwhelming majority of you asked the same two questions. 🙂 In this post I’ll answer those and a few others, along with some other life updates. Let’s get into it!

Are you still hoping to pursue adoption in the future?

Our adoption journey began July 2021 and came to close at the end of July 2023. If you haven’t read my adoption update from August, you can click here to read it. Paul and I believe that we followed God’s leading through each step of the process.

However, we feel confident about closing that chapter of our lives. We hold our hands and hearts open to what God desires, but at this point we are not considering a future adoption.

As I shared in my very first post about adoption, Paul and I are really happy as a family of two. It has been a little bit of an adjustment after immersing ourselves in adoption culture for two years, but we happily embrace the situation God has given us.

At some point I hope to be able write a blog post about the things God taught us along this journey. Right now it still feels like we’re sorting through it all.

Are you back to working outside the home? Did you return to your old job?

I went back to work in September after having the month of August to regroup. Sadly, I did not return to my old job. They graciously gave me an adoption maternity leave at the beginning of 2023, but my position had to be filled when I decided stay home with our kiddos. It was the best job I’ve ever had and I’m so grateful to have spent almost four years there.

The Lord provided a similar job for me this fall. I have settled into my new/old routine of morning and evening homemaking, with full days in the office.

What are your plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas? Are you hosting this year?

I love this question! My brain switches to holiday mode in September, and I’m so ready for all the festive fun we have ahead of us this year! I decorate for Christmas the second weekend in November and I’m currently scouting for a new tree + a good spot to display it in my very narrow living room. So fun!

We don’t have anything planned for Thanksgiving right now, other than knowing we aren’t traveling. My not-Thanksgiving-Thanksgiving menu is always an option for this holiday!

This year will be Ham Fam Christmas (for the first official time since 2020!) and I’m very excited to celebrate with my family in Tennessee. We have a landmark birthday and some big life events to celebrate on both sides of our family throughout December. It’s going to be a fun month!

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So far, 2023 has been my least favorite year of adulthood. It’s been a rough one! But knowing Jesus and holding fast to him in love brings peace and joy even when life is hard. The last two months have definitely brought some fun days with lots of family time, date nights, fun new experiences like local theatre, and a chance to hear my Dad preach.

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I have shared this truth before, but I find so much hope and relief in the knowledge that to everything there is a season.

If things aren’t the way I like, I just have to hang on because it’s only a season. If things are exactly the way I like, I need to savor it because it’s only a season. It also reminds me that I don’t live in a perfect world – but I’m headed to one some day.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11

Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. Psalm 91:14-16

Thank you so much for being here! I am praying that the comfort I’ve received from God’s Word will encourage you in the struggle you face today. ❤