My Plans vs. His

My typical day goes like this, when I'm running on my treadmill, racing around getting the kids ready for school-putting one on the bus and driving the other to preschool, then I'm off to the store for groceries, and back in time to pick up my middle boy from school, making lunch, help my preschooler with his homework, doctor appointments, and home in time for my oldest to get off the bus (from early release if it's a Wednesday). Or if we're talking Tuesday/Thursday you can throw a trip to our home church into the mix.
Even when I'm staying busy with kids, laundry, meals, and everything in between little things like buying a house or paying off the last of our debt are constantly on my mind. Always lingering in the background, even when I don't realize it. Most of the time it doesn't bother me because we have a goal and we're working toward that so I'm pretty content but occasionally I'll see one of the houses I particularly liked sell or list for a rather hefty price and it can get discouraging. Driving by houses I like on a regular basis doesn't help much either. haha And even though we're on our way to Debt Free Boulevard sometimes it still feels like we'll be on Renters Drive forever.
Now, if you're a parent like me you want your child's car seat practically welded into the car. And if you're my size you know that God chuckles while he watches you try to push down on the car seat while tightening it to your bench seat in the car. So naturally, it takes me pushing down the seat and my husband pulling the strap to get the seat tight enough for my liking.
So today, while I was waiting for my husband to finish a job and meet up with me to adjust the car seat I wandered into a neighborhood with my two year old. We were cruising around in the car, browsing at all the houses. I'd seen the neighborhood and knew of the nearby school from a superficial perspective but today we decided to trudge through, knee deep in the pine trees and manicured streets. We ended up behind the little school where there was a park, conveniently enough, loaded with playground equipment the perfect size for my little guy so we went to play while we waited for my husband. It got me thinking about how tidy the neighborhood was and how I'd never considered even window shopping for a house in that area. I started imagining our life there...Birthdays in the park, walking my boys to school while they rode their bikes, listening to the noises of the school and all the kids, walking my dog on the little trails.
Here I've been so absorbed with a particular house near our current rental that I've just fallen in love with and, although I'd still love to buy it, I got to thinking about what God has in store for us. I think many times I, personally, wish and hope and pray for something that I want so bad and all the while the Lord is telling me "Just be patient. I have something so wonderful in store for you! Let me bless you! The time is coming." I completely ignore God's plans for me and how they might be so much greater than what I could ever dream up on my own. And now that I've realized that I feel so calm about is to come. It's a fantastic feeling!