As I sit here, I am waiting for my husband to get home from his ongoing commute to his office in Washington DC. It has been our schedule for three days a week since January. And sometimes, like this week, those three days of commuting get stretched to four of five days in the week.
On the three days he commutes, we're up at 5. He gets up and gets ready. About 10 minutes before he leave, I help him get his coffee mixed with sugar and cream while he makes his breakfast protein shake. He is then out the door around 5:40, and I crawl back into bed.
While I am sleeping and waiting for the boys to wake me up to "officially" start our day, Keith is driving into Philadelphia to catch the train to Washington DC. Usually around 9, we check in with each other over IM to make sure he made it safely and to let him know our plans for the day.
And then we go on with our day while he works three hours away. I have tried to keep the boys busy with trips to the Y, day trips out with friends, "cool" movies from Netflix, and things like that. And me... I'm kept busy just keeping everything flowing for our day.
After Keith's day at work, and while I'm getting the boys supper and ready for bed, he is on the train back home. On a "good" commute day, he is home around 7:30. On a long day, he is home around 9:30. If we are lucky, he works from home the next day. If he has to go back to the office, he's back up at 5 the next morning.
It has been an interesting three months with this schedule. He did try to commute and stay in DC overnight, but honestly, we all slept better with him home at night. And there is just something about coming home after a day of work compared to a hotel room.
Over the past three months, I've realized how hard it has to be for single moms. They don't have a contract end date in sight like I do. They don't get a weekend break from the kids. They don't get that nice extra check after all the long hours and hard work has been done.
And now I see that contract end date even closer: 2 weeks to be exact. I have to wonder, what is next for us in this journey. When Keith took this contract in January, we knew it was "officially" only for three months. But it has been a tremendous blessing for us and a gift from God in so many ways.
And now we wait. Will he be extended? Will he end up at another contract? Will it be a local contract? Will it require more travel?
Yet I'm not worried but at peace. Yes there is only 2 more weeks to the end of the contract, but I know God will provide. He's reminded me that in little ways this week. There was the unexpected home owners insurance refund check - yes it was only $45. But unexpected. There was the bag of gently used clothes my neighbor dropped off today for my boys.
Yes God knew I needed some clothes for Kory. God knew I needed that extra little $45 (even if it was only for spending money). And God knows what is next in our crazy contract-filled life. Keith's been a contractor/small business owner since 2004, and not once has God let us down with work. And I know he will provide again.
I just wonder how and when :)
2 comments:
As always, thanks for sharing your insight, Jessica!!
How interesting........I did not know that was your life now. I was with your mom and sister this morning at a baby shower. We heard the story of your mom's fall and sure had a good laugh....because the way your mom was explaining it:)
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