Having Kids Yet???

Happy FRIDAY! One thing I did not cover was our "catch-up" when Brandon and I got re-connected. He had, during the years since we had went our separate directions, created his own horseshoeing business until about 6 months before we got back in touch. At that time he moved his business back to part-time and went to work full-time for his dad's construction company. I had gone to the police academy and went to work for the Oak Ridge North Police Dept. in Jan. of 2003. I started out working on patrol for the first two years. In April of 2005 I was offered a position working in the office covering all of the administration, including the property and evidence room, walk-in's, and fingerprinting.
I just have to say how proud of Brandon I am. I know there may be things about him that are not perfect but one thing about him is that he is the hardest worker I know! He knows that his work reflects himself and therefore tries to always do the best job possible. I love to see him at work whether it's trimming a horses foot or running job equipment.
Also, while Brandon and I were talking about out future, what we wanted for our future, and when we were talking about getting married, we tried our best to go over as much as we could. We are two people that are serious about marriage and we both knew that there were important topics that needed to be talked about before we promised to commit our lives to each other. Our religious views and our faith and relationship with God was not much to be discussed about, although it is one of the biggest topics I think a couple looking to get married needs to agree on, we already knew how each other felt. Some memories that I have of our dating relationship from the past are of me and Brandon going to church together. We were both raised in a strong Baptist background. We both very much believe in the Lord and that He has to be the center of our marriage in order for it to have true joy! But one of the biggest things that we, as a married couple, get asked about is having kids. That was also one of the most important things we talked about when we were talking about getting married. Brandon was firm on the fact that he did not plan on having kids. I felt so blessed to have God bring us back together that I accepted how Brandon felt, knowing that I was happy just to be getting such a wonderful husband, a life long best friend and maybe that's all that God wanted for us. Yes, since we have been married for 3 1/2 years now, we do discuss having a baby but we are not in a hurry and will try when we feel it's the best time for us and that God is telling us it's time. That is the best answer I can give right now. I have been asked a lot, I have told a lot and I know that people are curious but I suppose that couples will have kiddos when they are ready. No need to ask, right? They will have kids when they announce they are expecting. Some couples have them before they are ready, and that is something that they have to go through and handle because we know that having kids is not any easy task and changes your lives forever. Brandon and I don't want that added stress to our marriage of having kids before we are ready, if we decide to have them. And yes, everyone has their own opinions of "being ready" to have kids. Those that have kids that were not planned will firmly say that you can never be "ready" and those that plan kids will say that yes, you can be ready in your own ways before you have them. No, you can not have enough money saved up just specifically for a baby but you can be better financially set before you introduce kids to your marriage like having items paid for or paid down so that that you as a couple are not struggling as much as you would otherwise. There are definitely times that I have "baby fever"! I am in my 30's now and naturally have the desire to have a baby. My biological clock is ticking! I believe that God instills the desire to have babies in every woman.... but does He not also cause some men and women to be infertile and sterile? I am then reminded very strongly that there are things that happen in our lives that sometimes we will never understand or ever have all of the answers to. So, while I may have the natural desire to have a baby right now, I don't feel that is God telling me and Brandon to get pregnant "right now". I do believe that we will try to get pregnant in the future and it will be the most amazing and exciting time of our lives because it will be God's timing for us! And that is the answer to so many questions I get, "So when are y'all going to have a baby??"..... When God is ready for us to! I mean, who am I to question why He waited 7 years to bring us back together when I worked ONE mile from where he lived? Why did it take seven years? Well, because that's when the Lord had it planned for us to. And it was perfect as I believe the rest of his plans for us will be! I have to give MANY thanks to our awesome parents; for these are the people that are hoping & waiting for our children more than anyone else and have NOT been over bearing or pressuring at all! I hear of couples who have parents that are constantly on their kids about having kids and it makes me all the more thankful for ours and their patience! I suppose that is what you get from parents that know that this is in God's hands. And dont get me wrong, I do have the desire to experience all (well, maybe not ALL) that comes with having kids. I want to experience pregnancy, labor (that certianly is questionable!), the love that everyone says you could never imagine, giving our parents the joy of grandkids... etc. We just arent ready... yet.
I do ask myself sometimes, "What if it isn't in God's plans for us to have a baby?" .... Well, He hasnt led us wrong and I dont believe He will, we trust Him and will accept whatever his plans are for us.