Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Bueno, life just always throws curve balls eh? Naphtali and I have a hypothetical 2 1/2 more weeks here in Chile. I say hypothetical because now that I don't have a job waiting for me back in Greenville and he only has one show forcing us to go back by the end of September, well we're just really tempted to cancel everything and stay down here for good...or at least for another 2 weeks.

Yes, losing my upcoming job was one of those curve balls. I was going to be taking over a dear friend of mine's maternity leave. We had it all worked out and I pretty much had the job starting this upcoming November. But the school went on a hiring freeze as well as laid off over 30 people while I've been here in Chile...so obviously they denied her request for an external fill for her maternity leave despite my qualifications!

But I have to tell you, when I got the e-mail from my friend I wasn't super suprised. I was actually slightly relieved. Is that bad? I was so thankful for the flexibility. That was when I found out. Now I'm realizing we have no income other than Naph's business which is still picking up and we still have bills in the States, so we have to get back and get some mula at some point soon!
Still, I know that God has a much bigger plan for us. I have several different job opportunities in Chicago that could move us up there much much sooner than March 2010 which is when we were projecting getting up there before. Now we've considered possibly going as early as the end of October or middle of November.
Coincidentally three other band members and their spouses have actually had an equivalent unstable change of plans as well. In fact one couple just moved in to their apartment in Chi-town two days ago. The other couple is still figuring out what they are doing, one guy found out his lease is up in October and can't renew and one is close enough he can drive in. So we are all sensing God has a bigger plans for us and we are trying to be faithful and listen. I feel like this is easier said than done the closer we get to returning Stateside.

Either way this time here in Chile has been going by at just the right pace. Obviously we'd love more time but I think if I was here much longer I'd be ready for us to get our own place and set up house for good! It's been wonderful getting to know Naphtali's family in a new and more intimate way. We've done touristy things and we've done normal every day things too. I've gotten comfy with driving down here, getting myself to the malls, having phone conversations and paying for things all by myself with out feeling like a complete retard. I know that sounds odd being I'm in a Spanish speaking nation and I grew up speaking Spanish, but let me tell you! Even the Chilenos agree that they eat their words. It's rather hard to follow a conversation when they go from word to word in one single breath! But I'm catching on to all the phrases, and in fact, I'm back to that place where I can think a little bit better in Spanish than in English...it's just easier to express myself I think.

It's been really great to see my hubby interact with his people. This is where his life was for 20 years and he has friends here that he's know that long! It's so cool to see him laugh with them and talk with them as if they'd never been apart. I've seen a more "wild" side of him, in a really good way. He's definitely more alive down here, I think I am too. We both know we were made for something more than the American Dream.
Last night Naphtali and I went an asado (a grill out) and watched a soccer game with a family he'd known since he was very young. The whole family was there, the grandparents, the kids, their kids, the maid, it was just like I remember from growing up. It just feels like this is where we are meant to be, investing in other people, participating in their families, making memories with people who hold such value in the families.

It's been an encouraging trip to say the least. Naphtali and I are going to the coast for 3 days to celebrate our 1 year anniversary...3 months later! But we knew this was when we would want to take the time to do that. I mean it does sound pretty cool to say we celebrated our 1 year anniversary on the coast of Chile! It'll be nice to have a couple days of solitude too!

Well, it's a late one as usual. We'd like to get up early and take advantage of a beautiful day after a full day of rain so I'm going to hit the hay.