If I could have looked into my future 1 year ago & saw where I am today, I wouldn’t recognize myself. I wouldn’t say that it’s a bad thing, but this life of mine has completely derailed and somehow my vision got lost. People say that if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. Well in that case I’m sure God finds me very humorous 
I imagined last January that my husband & I would be living in Pennsylvania, making frequent trips to D.C, Baltimore, N.Y.C and to our home in West Virginia. I imagined that I’d live in a big city and life would be crazy busy but I’d love every second. I envisioned snow, tons of it. Cold, harsh winters filled with lots of hot cocoa. More importantly, I never imagined we’d get the news that London, KY was going to be “home” for the next 3 years. After the initial shock, friends tried to convince me that I’d love this place. To be honest, and a negative nelly, I hate it. I hated it then & I hate it now. Buttt this was God’s plan for me and my little family is making the best of it. We are writing our military love story one day at a time. I have to remind myself practically every week that in 30 years when we are telling these stories to our grandchildren, that it won’t seem so bad, just a distant memory. I imagine we will laugh at the things that we are currently going through right now! I can only pray this part of my “plan” comes true
We moved a mere ten months ago, yet so many things have changed. We moved into a much smaller home, (that came with it’s own cat, Squishy 
We love her so much and she is very much so a Jarvis now!). I became a Christian in July and my heart and soul has never felt better. I’ve re-connected with family members, lost a few “friends” and gained some new ones. I’ve been blessed with a new niece (Laikyn) and a nephew (Blake). I accepted a managers position working at a local gift/specialty store. I love it. I knew from the moment I started that I was going to be very happy there. Life just feels so different now. Along with everything in our lives, I have changed too. & with that I have to make other, new changes to reflect this new life. As of January 2012 I am no longer going to be doing photography. I imagine this will last for the duration of our time in London, but of course….change happens. As for right now my husband and I feel this is the right decision. In order to spend quality time with my husband (which is so hard given he works 80-100 hours a week. No joke.) and our girls, photography just doesn’t fit anymore. As long as it is benefiting our family, mutually, I am happy with it. This was definitely not in my plans but I think it’s a very good thing. I can rest easy knowing I’m not rushing to complete sessions, uploading photos and fulfilling orders. Life is good, minus our geographical predicament.
I’m finding that planning doesn’t really get you anywhere when God has the final word God’s will is what we would choose if we had all the details, so here’s to knowing that my family is in good hands and any further planning on my part is not necessary. I’m sure plenty of other people are making God laugh with their plans, so I’m just gonna sit back and enjoy the beautiful and sometimes bumpy ride.
Thanks, Elizabeth Diane. Happy 2012!
Don’t plan, pray
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
–Reinhold Niebuhr
