So I found I am suddenly living a different life. Those TWO little lives growing inside my wife are reshaping my world before they take their first breath. Don’t misunderstand me; I am excited about this double blessing. It is just a strange experience.

I am being ruled by two very demanding little people (cause that’s what they are, they don’t need to be born to prove it to me). I have yet to see or hear them except to see their reflections as sound waves bounce off their bodies and to hear their hearts beat like they ran a marathon.

And despite their currently unimposing forms they are imposing their wills.

Imposing on Amber with “morning till night” sickness and an increased awareness the changes she needs to make in what she takes in (whether or not she can keep it there).

Imposing on me with increased needs from Amber, numerous grocery runs, sole overseeing of the house (cleaning, laundry, dishes, budget and bills) and an increased awareness of everything that needs to be done in preparation for their arrival (preparing the “nursery”,  getting rid of clutter, working to increase my income and renewed focus on being healthy).

So now I am living a different life. I expected my life to change when they were born but I guess I never really thought about how soon my life would change when faced with the reality of their arrival.

[That last sentence just made me think about my faith. How different is my life in the face of the reality of the future arrival of Jesus? In some ways it is obviously different but is my life impacted as deeply and fully as it would be if I lived every moment in preparation of Jesus’ coming? Ok, so I wasn’t writing this to preach but I can’t help myself I suppose.]

So back to these two little life changers. What is most amazing about my life being hijacked by these two is that apart from a few moments of exhaustion from the present and worry about the future, I don’t really mind and I am even excited about their pending arrival.

There are a lot of good things about their arrival. Superficial things like finally cleaning out rooms and having pictures to put in all those frames we got for our wedding. And important things like giving me motivation to exercise to improve my health and extended my life (as much as it is in my control to do so). I have attempted to lose weight and eat right at various times throughout my life but the motivation was always anchored in external things. The motivation here is anchored in an internal desire to model health for my children to participate in their lives not just spectate.  I want to spare them (as much as I can) from forming unhealthily habits.

That is one really great thing about these newcomers. We have the opportunity to provide a perspective and an experience that might just help them make some of the choices we wish we would have made earlier. Now I know kids don’t listen to their parents.  That’s why I need to live it.

I bought a trainer for my bike (thanks for the Christmas present Dad).  Now I can ride my bike in the house for the winter so my body (read bottom) will be ready when it warms up. No more excuses about not being in bike riding shape.

What was so great about my old life anyway?