Annabelle and I just finished a special lunch of corn dogs, grapes, chips and an episode of Cake Boss. It has been a long week topped off by yet another super typhoon blusterly blowing outside. It started last night and ferociously woke me up often despite earplugs, but Annabelle not only slept soundly, she slept in! The whistling, blowing, and shaking of our apartment is the second worst I’ve experienced on island. All of the buildings here are made out of concrete and the windows are made to withstand the wind, but when the house is shaking, I forget all about that and tuck deeper under my covers. The worst is over and the only thing that is a loss so far is our grill cover.
Barrett has been deployed for a few weeks now and Annabelle and I are doing our best to adjust to the new normal. This week has been the year openings of many social groups on island and Annabelle and I tried to hit up a few…unfortunately most were during her morning naps! To be honest, I felt like I was back in high school my freshman year. Most of the women knew each other and I could barely hear myself speak over the exuberant chatter. At one event, there wasn’t even a place at a table left for me to sit! Hilarious! Upon picking Annabelle back up at childcare, I was told she cried almost the whole time. Me too!
Our small group started up again and Annabelle and I still go to our adoption group each week as well. Im reading “Adoption Parenting” for our adoption agency requirements and still gathering documents and getting notaries. It’s a hurry up and wait process for sure.
Spiritually, I find myself waxing and waning between a life of grace and one of a Pharisee. There is still so much of me that wants to “do” something, anything, to have favor with God and man…or mostly MAN and god. Being at home without my husband causes either excessive business or excessive laziness. I also find myself having a short temper with Annabelle. I want her to understand how to behave without much effort on my part. =0) So if you think of us Oki Craigs, pray for both Barrett and I to find our satisfaction and contentment in Christ and not in making our circumstances bearable. Pray for patience in parenting and wisdom with how to spend time. I am so thankful for those who check in with us on island as well as from home while we are away. You have no idea how encouraging that is. I have really been missing the fellowship and teaching of our church in Louisville lately. I just sat with Annabelle on our keyboard and played some of Chip’s favorite worship songs and just longed for the sweetness of likeminded grace. We love and miss you all.