a wonderful opportunity for Moira

It is finally Moira's turn.  A turn to 'try out' her future calling.  I've written a lot about Isabella's experience of working for her dream, horse riding.  Moira has been waiting for her turn.  Sometimes patiently, sometimes not so patiently.  It was recently, in the past month that we had a discussion that if her plans for her future are the Lord's plans then they will come to pass in His timing.  I know it is easy to agree to that in theory :-)  She was receptive to what I said, but it is hard when you are 15 and having to wait your turn.

So, Moira's dreams....what are they?  She has gotten the travel bug gene from my sister.  Thankfully it sounds like maybe some of her children got the artist gene from me....so I say it's all even :-)  Back to Moira.  She wants to see the world, experience different cultures, foods, land and all that travel entails.  She thought about ways to make that happen.  After all one would have to pay for such a thing.  Becoming a nanny overseas was an idea.  There have been other ideas as well.  But how does one prepare for such a thing?  She tried getting babysitting jobs.  The odd thing is she is SOOOO good with kids, yet she never got a bite from Care.com.  She just started volunteering in the church nursery once a month.  We are hoping that will give her more experience.  Even though she is second oldest of 8 children, I do believe that people are looking for experience outside of taking care of her siblings.  Which is unfortunate as Moira does indeed have a LOT of experience behind her.

And then God moved.  Not just for Moira.  Some of you may have read about my sister and her family waiting for the Lord to make a way for them to move to their land.  They have been waiting for 3 years.  On top of the wait, has been the immense struggle for my sister's health.  She has suffered greatly with topical steroid withdraw.  It has been very hard on she and her whole family. But finally, finally, the long wait appears to be over.  Although they are not moving directly to their land, they will be very, very close to it.  This is the next best thing, and something they feel the Lord has a plan for.

I have been overjoyed for my sister!  I told her if I could, I would have done a happy dance, but I was afraid I would hurt myself!  Ha, ha!  So after a few things that fell through it appears all the pieces are coming together for their move next month.  But there was a wee catch to all of this.  They need money to move.  Moving is NOT cheap!  Oy.  That means she has to go back to work. That means she could fall ill again.  So to help safegaurd her health (a small token anyways of help), she was looking for someone to help with her children so she could rest when she needed.

You can see where this is going right?  Moira had already told me she was interested in helping her aunt if there was a need.  So in a conversation the other day, as my sister was telling me of their inability to find the right situation to help with their kids, I offered Moira's services. Both parties benefiting, both fulfilling their dreams!

But here is the thing.  My sister has to come to NC for business reasons....next week!  This would be the most cost effective way to get Moira up there to my sister who is in NY.  I was worried, as Moira had two major (for a teen anyways ;-)) events that she would have to miss out on, along with numerous smaller ones.  You see, my sister needs to work for 6 weeks.  After that they will make the move to their land in another state, taking Moira with them for the unpacking phase.

When I brought this up to Moira, the girl didn't skip a beat!  She said she *knew* this was her answer to her prayers just weeks ago.  Although she is bummed that she has to miss out on those two big events, she also knows that this is a HUGE opportunity to make her future dreams come true.  Just the fact that she will be traveling (her first goal is to travel the USA, so she will have a couple of states down!) was amazing to her.  Then on top of that she can say she had experience as a live in nanny.  Hey, it won't be her siblings....no one has to know they were her cousins.  The girl needs to break into the nanny business somehow!

Needless to say I am overjoyed for both my sister and Moira.  But this is quite sudden (for Moira to be leaving), and I find myself realizing that there are a ton of things I have neglected to do with my children.  Or neglected to teach them.  I know, I know, she'll be coming back...in 8 weeks!  Gulp.  But this gets me to thinking about Isabella, who will be 18 this summer.  Double gulp!  I really think we can get into this groove of the everyday-ness of stuff, and we neglect to see the bigger picture.  We focus on the dishes, the school work, the illnesses, the laundry, the dishes, the playdates/sleepovers, the dishes....anyways, it left me feeling that I have not fully embraced what was truly important, and let me tell you...it's NOT the dishes!  I have failed to tell my children how much I love them each and every day.  I have failed to tell them about all the wonderful things that the Lord is working on in their lives.  I haven't apologized all the gazillion times that I should have.  I haven't been patient when I needed to.  I focus too much on the negative, and what they are messing up on, instead of all that they are doing right. (and I might add that we joke about Aubrey's 'only' good thing is that he is cute :-))  I know this will give me the opportunity to change things.  I need to be praying that the Lord would redeem what the locusts have eaten.

Oy!  Enough!  This is about Moira's amazing opportunity, not about me missing her.  Oh, who am I kidding, it's both!  I will miss her terribly. Boo hoo!

Ok, I'd write more, but I have a crying 3 year old, and a young goat that needs a dewormer shot.  Please pray that everything goes well with my sister working, and their move, and for Moira to not get terribly home sick.  (She better get homesick!  Ha, ha!  I'm teasing)  She will be in good hands, for that I do not worry.  Pray that all their travels would be safe.