Seasons

I have been thinking lately about  the seasons of the year.

I love the changing of seasons.


Winter has such a peace about it for me. 

I love seeing the newly fallen snow and how it covers everything in white. 

And everything seems to get so quiet. 

If only it didn't have to be so cold!!


Spring is so fresh and I love seeing the new buds growing on the trees. 

And all the birds coming back and new animals being born.

But, it's also always seemed a bit messy to me. 

Everything is wet and muddy and just when you think it's going to warm up, it gets cold again. 


Summer is such a great time to relax and play. 

And to be busy with family and vacations and gardens, and plans, and ... everything!!

At least I finally get to feel like I'm warming up!

But, it's also too HOT!! 


Then, there is Fall, my favorite season of them all!

I love the beautiful colors in the trees and crunching in the leaves!

I love that the weather begins to cool off and I can start wearing sweatshirts and sweaters!

I love that Fall usually means the start of the school year and all the possibilities that come with that!

Maybe that's why Fall has always felt a bit like a new beginning for me each year?

I always get disappointed when the Fall ends up being too short because summer lasts too long or winter comes too soon.


The other day I had a thought.

What if I divided my life into seasons?


Spring must have been my young, growing up years from baby to early 20's. 

Life was filled with newness and exploration and growth.

But, it was also pretty messy.

There was probably a lot of rain and noise.

And not a lot of consistency.

My married life and starting/raising my family has been my Summer.

Its a lot of fun.

And busy.

And it's been HOT!  

I feel like I am in the middle of everything and just sweating a lot.


And then there is Fall.

My kids are starting to grow up and I'm starting to see this light where I'm going to be without a bunch of kids around me all the time.

I'll eventually be out of the "heat" of raising kids. 

It will be a new beginning. 

A cooling off in a way. 

And if Fall is my favorite season, then I want to be excited for this season of my life, too. 


I love the changing of the seasons.

So, I need to recognize how beautiful each season of life is. 

Whether it is the mud and wind in the spring. 

Or the heat of the summer. 

Or even the chill of winter.

The world is beautiful.

And so is life.

Putting God First

I had a wonderful summer of exercising with friends almost daily.

We walked, we ran, we jogged, we pilate-ed.

Exercise (especially with friends) is good for my soul.

I knew when school started back up that I would need to find a different routine to get my exercise in.

Because of my awesome summer, I decided that I wanted it to be a priority.

Instead of trying to figure out how to fit exercise into my life, this time I would try and fit my life into exercise.

I knew it was a good priority to have because of how good it made me feel.

Then school started.

And I just wasn't feeling it.

Well, I was feeling something.

Unease.

Stress.

Discombobulation.

Finally, this morning, I decided that I had had enough and that exercise was just going to have to be put on the lower priority list.

I knew this was the right thing to do, but I had been fighting it.

And justifying it.

Even so, I prayed so intently this morning to God and pleaded that if I was going to just try and "fit" exercise into my life, to please help me find the time.

I got ready to get into the shower and head off to work.

Except....

I didn't have the clean clothes I needed.

Are you kidding me?

So, instead of showering (sorry, co-workers), I started the wash, put my exercise clothes on, and headed off to work.

Ha, Ha. This is how my prayer is answered? with dirty clothes?

I still have to work though; that has to come before exercise.

But, guess what happened when I got to a stopping point at work?

My friends were just starting a workout around the corner from me.

Do I want to come join them?

What do you know? I already have my exercise clothes on! I can totally join!!

I decide to put God first (following the spirit, instead of my wants) and my prayers are immediately answered (having my desires as well as my needs met).

Amen.

Through Trials

Most of us have to go through trials.

It's just part of life.

When I think about going through trials, I envision myself on a clear path.

And suddenly its a dark forest and there are scary things.

But, I know that if I just keep moving along the path, I will eventually come out.

Back to the bright sunshine of life.

Through the trial.


I'm experiencing a trial right now.

My brother is very sick and was only given a 50/50 chance of making it.

I've done a lot of crying and praying and hoping.

I'm trying to get through this dark time and get to that sunshine.


Then I thought about all the trials my brother has had to go through in his life.  

I realized that after every trial, he seems to come out changed.

Through the trial.


Through trials........

I want to learn to focus on what's really important.

Through trials.......

I want to strengthen my testimony of prayer.

Through trials........

I want to come closer to who the Lord wants me to be.

Through trials.