A Big Merry Christmas to all you who are interested in the comings and goings of the Bohanan family. This Christmas season has been a challenging one for Shawn and I. We are both givers (and spenders) and having a strict budget makes it very difficult to give (and spend, haha) like we want to! I have to take this opportunity to thank the Lord for providing for us in such a great way though. I have a job that takes care of our bills, puts food on the table, and allows us to have a little bit of fun now and then....although the Bohanans don't really need money to have fun! We are VERY happy sitting at home watching Harry Potter and making fun of Professor Snape saying "Exx.....peli..armus!" I'm also thankful for the little bit of business I have gotten for Jaclyn Bohanan Photography. I've had a blast learning and working in my spare time and seeing the potential for what I'd like my business to be in the years to come.
I actually got to buy my 1st lens with my profit from my business, so that was super exciting. Now of course I have a wish list a mile long, but I have to remind myself that my wish, our wish, to become debt free is a lot BIGGER than my wish for new stuff. Because the dreams I have for debt free-ness are HUGE. I have dreams to form a non-profit, to raise a family, give to others, and take my kids to Disney World!
I guess for anyone on this trip, the journey gets rough....last night I had a break down because I'm not happy in my job and in our situation right now. When i think of working at this job for 7 more months I want to ball up and cry (that's pretty much what I did last night). But, what I read in the Word this morning helped me a little, and I'm sure as I meditate on it, it will begin to help me more:
"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
(Psalm 9:1-2 ESV)
I can't really give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart when I am continually negative about my situation and angry at where the Lord has placed us. When I recount all His wonderful deeds in my life, even in this moment alone, they are too many to number! It really puts things in perspective. Maybe the thankfulness post was a little late, but I want to be thankful. I have a husband who loves me, a job, an awesome chocolate lab (who, by the way is learning to turn the light off), a wonderful family, and most importantly, a Savior who came as a little baby to be God with us. I'm so thankful that God is with us---that He's with me right where I am... that He hasn't deserted me or my family. I'm thankful that when i lack faith, He draws me close to Him. I'm also thankful that this little portion of our life in Auburn is making it possible for good things in the future. It's making it possible for many with Autism and their families to be blessed by my husband. This portion of my life has brought me a couple of good friends in Auburn that have made this journey a little more bearable and fun at times (a.k.a. when I'm not at work) I'm also thankful that this portion of my life has brought me to see my husband's 25th birthday. I pray that I will see 25 more!
As far as the finances go, its been tough. It's tough to learn the discipline to budget- to tell your money where it's gonna go (especially when you don't have a lot!) It's hard work to walk around the grocery store with your little ipod grocery app and calculate to the penny how you are going to spend your little dollars. It's tough to make decisions like, "well, this week we can only have $5 spending money if we want to have money to eat with..." It's tough telling friends I can't go out to eat, tough telling Shawn that we don't have the cash to buy new clothes, or that we'll have to wait another week before we get our oil changed. But you know what? It's ok. It's called discipline. Becoming disciplined in our finances has been a great thing for us. Cutting off the cable has allowed us to spend more time together talking. Staying at home instead of going out has allowed me to minister to my husband by cooking, sometimes cleaning, and having nice conversation. I also realize that us learning where to put our money is different than having NO money. There are so many in this world that just don't have anything. They really do live on rice and beans (if they're lucky). So, I will count us VERY blessed. Blessed that we are young and in love...blessed that we have a roof over our heads...blessed that we have options for dinner....blessed that we have cars, cameras, and computers...blessed that we have friends and family. I have a thick head, but thank the Lord He reaches my heart.
If you've stuck around this long to read til the end, thank you for being a friend:) A very Merry Christmas to you and yours. Be filled with peace and thankfulness for God came Near:)
----Jaclyn Bohanan (one day Shawn will write)
