Change

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)

There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)

And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to be born, a time to die

A time to plant, a time to reap

A time to kill, a time to heal

A time to laugh, a time to weep

-The Byrds

To everything, there is a season - and it seems this season is one of change.


Gradually, over the last couple of weeks, it seems the weather is finally changing. Less clouds, less rain, less fog, and more glorious sunshine. It's a change I'm intensely grateful for. As the sun has come out, I'm realizing that I've also been coming out from under a dark cloud that I didn't even fully realize was there. But as the sunshine and blue skies have emerged, I've realized I'm finally feeling human again, finally feeling like myself again after months of winter blahs. Able to live, able to hope, able to enjoy. It's a good feeling. Who knew the sunshine could do so much?


I'm transitioning out of one job and into another. A good change. A needed change. One that will bring me closer to my goals and the future I feel called to. That's the big picture. 
The small one is full of messy juggling of schedules, obligations, details and feelings of guilt and anxiety as I'm tugged in many directions at once. 


My sweet husband is about to finish school and wrap up his months of online night classes (YAY!!). This has been a colossal challenge for him (and our family) and I couldn't be more proud of his commitment and effort...or more excited that it's about to conclude. 
In addition to that, he's transitioning into a new phase of work with not just one of his two jobs, but both. Major changes. More juggling of schedules, obligations and details.


My precious little girl is growing up (literally - 4 inches in 3 months!). She's in a funky in-between stage as she transitions from napping twice a day to only napping once a day. Schedules are off and it's throwing us all for a bit of a loop. 
Sleep is a big deal. Who knew?
And due to my work transition, we're moving towards weaning her from nap-time nursing. (Not the most fun I've ever had). 
Her will and opinions only grow stronger by the day and I wrestle with how to discipline a 13 month old (any brilliant suggestions?), how to reach her heart, how to guide her towards Christ? Changes.



And quite fittingly, even our home is undergoing transition as we remove it's rags and re-dress it in some much needed new siding. A welcome change indeed.

Helping Daddy work on the house

Change is hard. Even if it is change towards something better, it's hard to adjust, adapt, be flexible and let go of the ever present illusion of control that we so desperately cling to. Change shakes things up, switches up the routine, moves us out of our comfort zone and shows us just how tightly we hold on to our image of how things should go and how much we want to control them. It forces us to recognize our lives, our times are masterfully managed not by dedicated use of day planners, constant access to email and intentional planning conversations, but by our God, our Father, who is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. It is a great comfort, indeed, to be grounded to the eternal Solid Rock who never changes. 

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Cor. 4. 16-18