Well, I'm Officially a "Retired" Piano Teacher!

I've been teaching private piano lessons from our home since the Fall of 2002. It has been an amazing provision from God to allow me to help supplement our family's income, but be able to fulfill my heart's desire to stay home with our children. It has become increasingly more apparent in the last year, however, that my season as a piano teacher was coming to a close. I had always thought that as our children got older, it would be easier to occupy them during lesson times. Well, occupy - perhaps. But, with busy children come fifty million questions and interruptions. Not interruptions in a "disobedience," just "childish" things -- things that they simply don't understand can wait until the end of a lesson. So, it had become very difficult for me to focus on lessons and, I fear, it had also become a distraction for my students. Plus, with homeschooling kicking up a notch this year (which will only continue), there was just too much! SOMETHING had to give. So, once again, Mike and I began to pray last year for God to somehow provide an opportunity for me to quit teaching piano. It seemed too big a task. There was no way Mike's salary was going to make the leap it would need to cover what I make in just a few hours a week.

But, once again, God proved himself SO much bigger than my worries. (You'd think I'd be learning this lesson by now). And indeed, God gave Mike an amazing provision in his salary this year to finally allow me to stop teaching piano and we are so grateful.

In relating this to our adoption, it becomes a bit of a conflict because while we have funds in our savings account that we could use for adoption fees, that money is actually part of Mike's salary and will be used to fulfill our family's budget needs each month. Remember my pal, George Mueller, from my earlier post: "God Will Supply"? Well, one of the principles of George's financial management philosophy was to only use money for the sole purpose for which it was given. In other words, even when there was no money for food, but he had money in "the bank" for a new building, he would not "rob" that fund to buy food for the children. Instead, he trusted God to provide money for food. And every single time ... God did provide!! We are taking a similar stand of faith. Even though we have money in our bank account, those funds were given for the purpose of me quitting teaching piano to focus more on raising and schooling our children -- not for our adoption. THAT is a tough one. BUT ... God will supply!!!

So, last night, my students played in their Spring Piano Recital. They each did beautifully and I must admit, I was very proud! It was really hard to say goodbye to my "families." Even though I've known some of them much longer than others, collectively, "they" have been such a big part of my life these last five years.

So, beginning this morning, we are entering into a new season. Mike and I will celebrate our 11th Wedding Anniversary this Friday. For all 11 of those years, I've needed to bring in an income. For the first time ever in our marriage, I don't have to do that. I can finally focus all my attention on my family and my home.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)