This is the attitude that I recently have adopted for my life. It reflects the idea that I shouldn't always be wanting more, or the next best thing, or whatever else seems shiny and new and better than what I have. It's accepting that I am where I am for a reason and a purpose. I may have made decisions along the way that led me to here, but if I am secure in knowing that I made those decisions prayerfully and purposefully, then I am where God wants me. For now.
It's not always easy, but the easy way is seldom the one that gets you where you want to be. I will admit that there are times that I wish my house was a little nicer, or that I could do more to help out my kids, or that God would work faster in His plans for me (that's the biggest one). But I have to be patient and know that all this is for my good.
I don't need a bigger house, and I don't need fancy, I just need to care for what I have. My kids have my love and support, and I have helped them financially as I am able, and they have grown into adults who know what it is to struggle sometimes and work hard rather than have everything handed to them. And God is still working on me. He has plans for me, I believe that with all my heart. He has given me a heart for those less fortunate, and has shown me that I am needed to increase His Kingdom here on earth, and is using me in ways that may seem small to me but that may be huge to someone else.
So, my point is, I am content with where I am right now. But I'm not complacent about thinking this is all there is. I don't have to settle for the here and now if I truly believe God wants more from me and from His people. I don't have to accept that there is evil in the world and there's nothing I can do about it. I don't have to settle into that rut and let life and its opportunities pass me by. I can be satisfied with what I have but also be aware that there may be more out there and be ready to accept whatever I am called to do, wherever that may be. In fact, I should be constantly striving to determine what that is, constantly examining whether I am fulfilling my potential, and constantly working to make this world a better place.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Saturday, May 25, 2013
I'm baaaaccckkk!
After a hiatus of I don't even want to acknowledge how many months, I am back to writing. I have many excuses for why I've neglected this for so long, none of them good.
There have been changes aplenty in our little corner of the world in the last 10 months. Where to begin? How about with I'M A GRANDMA! We knew last summer that a little bundle would be joining our family, courtesy of Jerry and Jessica, but that's it. Well, beautiful little Jemma Nicole arrived safe and sound on February 12. She is a happy, healthy, chunky little girl, and everything everyone told me about being a grandparent is true. She is one of many joys in my life.
Amy and Andrew are still going strong, after a year and a half of dating and almost five years of being friends. They no longer make the drive between Ravenna and Cincinnati every few weeks, however. That would be thanks to the amazing job opportunity he got last December. He is working as an athletic trainer for the Cincinnati Reds...in the Dominican Republic. Apparently almost every major league team has a team down there to evaluate and develop prospects from Latin America. While Andrew got his degree in athletic training, he wasn't sure that's what he really wanted for his career. And, honestly, he probably still isn't, but this opportunity is one that doesn't come along twice, and very few trainers ever get the opportunity to work for a professional team. There is a lot of possibility for moving up in the ranks, so he's taking this year of being far from family, friends, and familiar foods and hoping it leads to more. Of course, that means he and Amy are now in a very long distance relationship. Thanks goodness for technology that allows them to still talk daily and see each other's faces, although that's not anywhere close to the same as actually being with someone. Which is why she's on her last day of a week-long visit. Oh, the rough life of these kids. He watches people play baseball for a living, and she's spent the last week sitting on the beach.
Amy finished up her first year at Kent State, with one more year to go. Summer classes start in a couple weeks. Next May, after 6 years, 3 schools, and 3 majors, she will graduate with a degree in exercise science. She has blossomed and grown so much in the last couple years. I am beyond proud of her and the way she has picked herself up from some pretty hard knocks life threw at her. The child I once worried would flunk out of college was upset last week because she barely missed making dean's list for the first time ever. Thank you, Lord, for working in her heart and getting her turned around.
My life has probably changed the most since I last wrote. I was just re-reading all my posts from last summer, and I am amazed looking back at how so how many things were right there, at the tips of my fingers, and on the tip of my tongue, and in the corners of my heart & mind, just waiting for things to come together. As I've said before, it's all in God's hands, and part of His plan. The restlessness, the dissatisfaction with work, the need to do something different, all of those make sense now. And it all came about from a God-incidence.
I was registered for a women's retreat through my church last fall, and had been looking forward to it for a while. The week before the retreat I came down with a stomach bug and missed three days of work. Right up until a few hours before I was to leave on Friday, I really didn't think I was going to make the trip, but I plowed ahead. Wow! By the end of Saturday, I knew why God pushed me to go, and why Satan had prodded me not to. Suffice it to say that God had something to say to me that weekend, and I was finally quiet enough and obedient enough to listen to Him and say "Okay, whatever You want me to do, I'll do it." Being an engineer hasn't been enough for me, because it's not enough for God. He's calling me to more, and I'm still not sure how, when, or where He's going to use me, but I'm praying and exploring the options that are laid before me. I've had the blessing of being able to cut back my work hours to three days a week, dedicating the other two days to whatever God wants. It's the best decision I've ever made in my life, and the last few months have been amazing. More on that in another post.
So, that's the update on where I've been, what's been going on, and a tease about where I'm going. I won't let another ten months go by before the next one. Here's hoping you'll stick around.
There have been changes aplenty in our little corner of the world in the last 10 months. Where to begin? How about with I'M A GRANDMA! We knew last summer that a little bundle would be joining our family, courtesy of Jerry and Jessica, but that's it. Well, beautiful little Jemma Nicole arrived safe and sound on February 12. She is a happy, healthy, chunky little girl, and everything everyone told me about being a grandparent is true. She is one of many joys in my life.
Amy and Andrew are still going strong, after a year and a half of dating and almost five years of being friends. They no longer make the drive between Ravenna and Cincinnati every few weeks, however. That would be thanks to the amazing job opportunity he got last December. He is working as an athletic trainer for the Cincinnati Reds...in the Dominican Republic. Apparently almost every major league team has a team down there to evaluate and develop prospects from Latin America. While Andrew got his degree in athletic training, he wasn't sure that's what he really wanted for his career. And, honestly, he probably still isn't, but this opportunity is one that doesn't come along twice, and very few trainers ever get the opportunity to work for a professional team. There is a lot of possibility for moving up in the ranks, so he's taking this year of being far from family, friends, and familiar foods and hoping it leads to more. Of course, that means he and Amy are now in a very long distance relationship. Thanks goodness for technology that allows them to still talk daily and see each other's faces, although that's not anywhere close to the same as actually being with someone. Which is why she's on her last day of a week-long visit. Oh, the rough life of these kids. He watches people play baseball for a living, and she's spent the last week sitting on the beach.
Amy finished up her first year at Kent State, with one more year to go. Summer classes start in a couple weeks. Next May, after 6 years, 3 schools, and 3 majors, she will graduate with a degree in exercise science. She has blossomed and grown so much in the last couple years. I am beyond proud of her and the way she has picked herself up from some pretty hard knocks life threw at her. The child I once worried would flunk out of college was upset last week because she barely missed making dean's list for the first time ever. Thank you, Lord, for working in her heart and getting her turned around.
My life has probably changed the most since I last wrote. I was just re-reading all my posts from last summer, and I am amazed looking back at how so how many things were right there, at the tips of my fingers, and on the tip of my tongue, and in the corners of my heart & mind, just waiting for things to come together. As I've said before, it's all in God's hands, and part of His plan. The restlessness, the dissatisfaction with work, the need to do something different, all of those make sense now. And it all came about from a God-incidence.
I was registered for a women's retreat through my church last fall, and had been looking forward to it for a while. The week before the retreat I came down with a stomach bug and missed three days of work. Right up until a few hours before I was to leave on Friday, I really didn't think I was going to make the trip, but I plowed ahead. Wow! By the end of Saturday, I knew why God pushed me to go, and why Satan had prodded me not to. Suffice it to say that God had something to say to me that weekend, and I was finally quiet enough and obedient enough to listen to Him and say "Okay, whatever You want me to do, I'll do it." Being an engineer hasn't been enough for me, because it's not enough for God. He's calling me to more, and I'm still not sure how, when, or where He's going to use me, but I'm praying and exploring the options that are laid before me. I've had the blessing of being able to cut back my work hours to three days a week, dedicating the other two days to whatever God wants. It's the best decision I've ever made in my life, and the last few months have been amazing. More on that in another post.
So, that's the update on where I've been, what's been going on, and a tease about where I'm going. I won't let another ten months go by before the next one. Here's hoping you'll stick around.
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