In my last blog, I shared about the freedom of being "Boldly Honest" with Dan, my husband. In Brazil, Dan and I shared our dreams for each other, our marriage and family, and lastly our ministry. We have come to understand more fully that every family is different and, therefore, we must ask God how our family can function best! As individuals we were all created uniquely, and thus, when two people come together as a couple, their relationship will be different than any other married couple. Similarly, when a couple decides to have children, their family will function differently than other families they know. God loves diversity and desires a personal, unique relationship with each one of us, so why should a couple or a family be any different? I believe that we all have to follow what God is calling us to as a family, even if it is unlike other families we know. And as seasons come and go, how you function as a family will change. So how does this realization pertain to Dan and myself right now?
After our time in Brazil, we have really started to walk into what God has called our "GO" family to look like in this season, and it has been fun! It took us a few weeks getting into a new routine, adjusting our daily schedule to include different desires and passions for both of us, but we are walking in a new place as a couple and family. Dan and I have divided our day so that there is always one of us working and the other one is with Olive. It allows both of us time to work and both of us time with Olive. Based on this new model for our family, here are the new rhythms of our daily family.
I, Carole, am with Olive in the mornings and we use ASL. I wake up with Olive, get her dressed, have breakfast with her, and do a Bible story every day. We have some independent time, educational time and then usually go out for a morning trip. A morning trip may be going to Costco or Giant (as I am currently responsible for meal planning and food shopping for our community house), going to story time at the public library, which Olive loves, or meeting a friend for a play date. We come back, have lunch, and then have quiet reading time before a nap. Then Mommy takes a nap too!
After Olive's nap, it is Daddy time and English time! Olive has been loving spending time with Dan. She gets to do things she would never do with Mommy, like play on the mower while Daddy is fixing it or going to Home Depot, the “Daddy store" as Olive calls it. The first time she went to Home Depot, she came home and said, " I went to Daddy store, and it is different than your store. It has a lot of tools, not food." It was so cute! They also have play time every day (Dan is so much better with play time than I am), educational time, and 30 mins of video time. Olive loves the show "Curious George". Dan is responsible for Olive during dinner, so I am able to fellowship with our staff/housemates. Then Dan oversees Olive's bath time and the bed time routine. Before Olive’s bed time, we usually do prayers as a family together.
When I am with Olive in the mornings, Dan is maintaining the YWAM base, as almost every day something needs to be fixed (we do have 4 houses and 4 acres of land to take care of). He also takes the lead with our ASL community meetings and Bible training, although there are times when we switch things up and I will teach or lead a meeting. In the afternoons, I, Carole, am usually connecting with potential students for the next ASL DTS, communicating with YWAMers around the world who are serving with the Deaf community, or answering emails for our ASL ministry. Recently, I have also been connecting with potential new supporters. It is a joy to be able to do what both of us love: Dan working with his hands and me connecting with people. Then we all get to have family time on the weekends.
Dan and I are so grateful for this season, where we can both have the time to fulfill God’s calling on our life while allowing Olive daily, quality time with Daddy and Mommy doing the things she loves to do. God has given us wisdom to operate our family in the way where everyone is thriving.
Enjoy some pictures of Miss Olive Brave.
Educational time with mom: mixing colors
Library Story time: Olive loves Miss Lauren! And Miss Lauren knows Olive by name.
Writing time and Snuggle time with Daddy.
She is such a cuddlier. And Daddy has gotten a lot of practice with Mommy.
As a family, we were celebrating a good friends birthday at an ice skating ring!
