Healing

Warning: I'm not sure if the below makes much sense, as I'm still in my "brain fog," but here are my thoughts, disconnected as they may be.

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." -Psalm 42:1-2,11

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." -Isaiah 55:1

As I've struggled with our current situation (being in limbo/transition and without any idea of when we will find a job and move to Indiana), God continues to bring a few things to mind:

1) Trust. I belong to Him. He will take care of us.

2) Peace. This comes from #1.

And

3) Healing. Use this time in "limbo" for healing and restoration.

Healing- our family is in much need of that right now, both internally and externally. Internally, because packing up ones family, selling almost everything, and moving thousands of miles and across the ocean (even if it is to "return") doesn't happen without causing some pain, and externally because our health hasn't been terrible lately.

When I think of healing, I picture water. Clear, cool, refreshing, soothing water. Water is crucial to life and health. And spiritual water is crucial to spiritual life and health. And so as my body continue to fight this nasty flu bug, my spirit thirsts for God, just as my throat thirsts for water (even if it's a little hard to swallow). And I look to God as my healer, both internally, and externally!

Saying Goodbye

From the time we found out we were leaving until the time we left we had 6 weeks. 6 weeks to sort, sell, and pack up 5 1/2 years of life, and 6 weeks to say goodbye. 2 1/2 of these weeks we weren't even in Jarabacoa (boy's house trip and vacation with Petersons). During the 3 1/2 weeks we were in Jarabacoa we took special care to say goodbye to special people, places, and things. We knew this was necessary to close the door to our time there. So, even if it was silly we had some special "Dominican moments" (like trying food we'd always said we would but hadn't!). One day a friend watched the boys so we could go on a "day date." We went to the park, bought some souvenirs, bought some yummy Dominican food and ate it in the park, then drove to the river and walked along it. Other goodbyes included: visiting the Ark, visiting our church in town, having lunch or dinner with friends, having a goodbye party for Jer in his class at JCS, attending E.C. retreat, making gnocci at the boys' house, church at E.C., eating pica pollo and chimi burgers (and pina juice!), and having one last motorcycle ride (it'd been a while!). And, of course, taking pictures of random things.

This time of closure was critical for us, and I'm glad we didn't let the stress and business of packing up and selling things keep us from those special moments!

Traveling Blessings

Here are the blessings I noted while on our trip yesterday:

1)It was a beautiful clear morning. When the sun came up, the fog lifted and we enjoyed the last sights of the D.R.

2) As the sun rose behind a cloud, the top of the cloud appeared as though it were outlined in gold- a breathtaking sight!

3) Free carts and help in Santiago airport.

4) Of our 6 bags, 3 of them read over 50lbs (in spite of us weighing them beforehand), but they pulled them off right away anyway and didn't even look at the weight.

5) Very tranquilo, sleepy boys throughout the first flight (and an uneventful flight).

6) Friendly, helpful flight attendants

7) Friendly customs person, free carts in Miami to take our luggage through customs (and we managed to carry it all!)

8) A tranquilo Jer (though, sadly, it was because he was sick), and a not-too-difficult Timmy (though he did require more entertainment than the first flight until he finally fell asleep)

9) The reminder that God is in control- as we were landing in Chicago, we couldn't see anything out the window but clouds. After a while Daniel guessed we were in a holding pattern (which we found out later that we were). Finally we could tell that we were about to land, but we still couldn't see anything. It was slightly unnerving. I thought about how much that's like our life right now- we now we're landing somewhere, but right now we can't see where and how soon. And just as we had to trust the pilot, we need to trust that God knows where He's landing us! When we finally came out of the cloud we were only a few hundred feet up and within a minute or two of landing.

10) All our luggage arrived safely (as did we!) and we fit all our luggage in the car without needing to tie any to the top of the roof rack!

And the biggest blessings:

11) We knew we were blanketed with prayers throughout our trip and felt God's loving presence throughout.

Flight #1

Hanging out in the airport

Jer in the airport

End of flight number 2 (no, he didn't sleep the whole time)

All our luggage- 6 checked bags, 6 carry-ons, 2 car seats, two carriers, and 1 stroller

In our Indiana shirts (when will make it there?)

Some More Changes (to Changing Seasons)

So, for some reason, the banner on my blog disappeared. So I decided to make a new one. But when I put that one in, it was too large my current template. Since I'd spent hours on it already (it take a long time to try to upload any pictures or do anything online), I didn't want to go back, change it, and try to upload it again (at least not until I have a better connection!). So I quickly found a new template. I'm not thrilled with it, but it will work until I have time and the connection necessary to fiddle with it. And I've saved my old template too, so I can always go back!

Any suggestions would be great!

Changes at "Changing Seasons"

I’ve decided to make some changes to "Changing Seasons". First of all, I hope to blog more often. This past year has been rough (blogging related). Due to poor internet (making even loading web pages difficult), two busy boys, and keeping busy myself, I’ve let my blog slide. And I’m okay with that. But now I’d like to get back to blogging regularly. Secondly, my readers (if any such exist after my poor blogging habits) will notice many posts related to our re-entry back to the U.S. There are a few reasons for this:

1) I know I will do better at blogging regularly if I have a focus.

2) I know I need (mucho) time to process the changes that are taking place in my life. This gives me a place to process, share my thoughts, work through the transition, and hopefully receive some feedback. J

3) Since the purpose of my blog is to share our lives with those who read (and ultimately give glory to God through it), well, I figure I’ll do that! Hopefully this will not only include sharing my honest thoughts and feelings, but will also include humorous/embarrassing re-entry moments, as well as reactions the boys have to the changes (and lots of pictures once we have decent internet)!

And

4) Maybe this blog will also give encouragement to others who are also going through similar re-entry challenges.

Photo-experiment

Meditating on Scriptures: Habakkuk 3:17-19

“Though the fig trees should not blossom

And there be no fruit on the vines,

Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,

Though the flock should be cut off from the fold

And there be no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will exult in the LORD,

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

The Lord GOD is my strength

And HE has made my feet like hinds’ feet,

And makes me walk on my high places.”

-Habakkuk 3:17-19

This verse has been both challenging and encouraging to us during this time of uncertainty. A few times I have written the verse in my own words to personalize it to our circumstances, almost as a kind of statement of my faith or personal challenge (though I still need help living it out!). Here’s my most recent rendition:

“Though we have no job

And no source of income
Though we have no final destination

And no place to call “home,”
Though we be cut off from what we have known here

And leave this place we love,
Yet I will exult in the LORD
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord GOD is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.”

This isn’t to say that we aren’t looking forward to being near friends and family in the States, but it is a difficult time of uncertainties for us right now. There is so much about here that we will miss, and we don’t yet know what we will be going to or where we will live (after we leave Wheaton). But I cling to the words above- The Lord GOD is my strength! He will do good through all of this! Praise the Lord!

Thoughts

Here's a recent entry from my journal:

Two weeks today until we leave. We’ve never had this much uncertainty before. We have no job, no home, no fixed plans. We still need to find owners for our animals and sell our car, inverter, and many other items. And then we need to figure out how to start all over in a new place. The uncertainty of it all is overwhelming. At times I’m afraid I’ll be swallowed up by it. Nothing yet seems to be “falling into place.” And still other times I see beauty in it and have peace- beauty because I find beauty in the LORD and His ways, and peace knowing that God is in control and that “The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.” Lamentations 3:22

And when I focus on these verses and on who He is my heart lifts because- though the circumstances seem so very big and insurmountable- I remember that God is big. His timing and ways are perfect and I can trust in Him!

“For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.”

-Psalm 100:5