Struggling to learn how to function as a family in Cambodia has been a test, but Chris and I are so thankful God has led us to reexamine principles in our marriage. In fact, we are starting over, slowly going through different aspects of our marriage and deciding, after almost four and a half years, what needs changing our needs to be decided. It is wonderful!

Some of the first principles we've made decisions on have been the ones that affect us every day. The first principle is "God is first in our family." Therefore, I have my devo when we wake up while Chris watches the kids, Chris has his devo while I watch the kids, then we have a devo as a family. Putting God first as individuals and as a family in the first daily time slot has changed the way we face our day and made this principle visible.

Another principle is "Husband and wife are equally parents and equally ministers." Because of my long held views of womens' roles, I initially had a hard time accepting this principle all the while tremendously longing for time every day to do things I felt God was calling me to do. Now, Chris does what He feels God wants him to be doing from 8 - 12. We eat lunch together then I do what I feel God is calling me to do from 2 - 6:00. We both feel God has called us to raise our children and we both have other things we feel God has called us to do. This non-traditional schedule helps us honor those callings. It has been wonderful!

So, my daily schedule, though some activities vary from day to day, is as follows:

6:00 Casey Devo, Chris gets ready for the day

6:30 Casey and Maggie cook breakfast while Chris has his Devo

7:00 Wake up Melanie and get girls dressed; Family Devo

7:30 Eat breakfast

8:00 Play time with Maggie and Melanie

9:00 Melanie to bed; Maggie and Mommy have preschool

9:30 Maggie plays with Leak, our helper; I exercise and prepare for the day

10:30 Maggie and I go visiting in the neighborhood

11:00 Reading time with Maggie and Melanie

11:30 Maggie plays in her room; Leak, our helper, plays with Melanie; I cook lunch

12:00 We eat lunch together and sometimes give the girls a quick bath

1:00 The girls go to bed and I study Khmer with my tutor

2:00 I have time to do the five things I feel God is calling me to do: 1) write (books, christian magazine articles, and blogging), 2) study marriage and family counseling as we prepare to serve and teach families here in Cambodia, 3) study Khmer and spend time with Khmer people practicing what I learn, 4) research Khmer families in our area by doing survey questioning, 5) organizing our finances and reporting to Chris so he can spend more time ministering, 6) serving the orphans and widows in our community.

5:30 I come home and cook supper.

6:00 We have supper together, bathe the girls and put them to bed. Chris has recently started playing soccer with some neighbors his age.

7:00 I catch up on a few household chores, study Khmer, write emails and postcards, and get organized for the next day. Chris and I have a planning session each evening to get us ready for the next day and to help us be as productive as possible.

9:00 We rest!

10:00 Bedtime

If you ever wondered what a missionary wife does, here's one unusual schedule. I am so thankful for a husband who desires to work as a team with me in serving God in our marriage, family, and new country.