The Future Fast Approacheth

As much as I'm ready to get home and eat some supper, I kinda dread it because I have two papers to write for my writing classes: a personal essay and a memoir. I figure I can complete the personal essay to some degree of satisfaction today, but the memoir will be much less so. But, Lord willing, I'll have both of them ready for tomorrow, and it will be good.

Lana and I have been talking a lot lately about the future, namely, when we can get married. We're looking into some options for housing as well as work, and also trying to estimate what our monthly expenses will look like. I don't guess that sounds like much fun; it's actually a blast. I love talking to her about it.

The biggest concern for me is, and has always been, income. Namely, where exactly will it be coming in from? I feel called to be a writer (perhaps among other things), and writers aren't exactly known for having steady income. But right now I'm looking at this really cool book about freelance copywriting, which basically is working independently and having different companies hire you for jobs that require writing -- press releases, posters, instruction manuals, whatever. It sounds really good to me on a number of levels, the primary one being that I could work at home and be with my wife (and kids, eventually) a whole lot more. But, if I do it, it's going to be pretty hard to get established. Just trusting God that if He wants me to do that, He'll provide a way; and if not, He's got a better job out there for me.

In the meantime, I'm finding out how badly I want to marry Lana. As soon as workable. We'll likely wed either in summer '08 or summer '09. And in case it's not obvious to you, there's a big difference between those two time periods. But, if we need to wait an extra year to get married, I'm willing to do that. I can't deny hoping we don't have to do that, though.

It feels pretty weird to be looking at all these options and wondering about insurance and groceries and figuring out a way to make enough money to put bread on the table. But it's also exhilarating, because I know that answering these questions brings us closer and closer to the time for setting a date, buying a ring, and planning a wedding. You guys simply have no idea how much I long for that, though you will someday.

Today Lana and I checked out Sebastian Commons, the apartments at our own UAFS. We like the idea of living there, if only for the two years before graduation, simply because the housing and utilities would be free under scholarship. We got to tour an apartment, and it was so amazing to think, "Man, in less than a year, we could be living in something like this." It was a lot of fun.

So I ask you to please continue to pray for us. We need the wisdom and guidance that only God can give as we try to sort out all the wonderful issues that come with the decision to marry. We want to make sure that we know the difference between what we want and feel and what God wants. I can't wait to see what happens as He continues to unravel this beautiful tapestry of our life together.

Till tomorrow, all; and, I love you, Lana.