Things and Seasons and Rules That Don't Change

 So, we're working on a thing.

Two things, actually. 

Well, really it's more like 7 things. 

And now I'm wondering, how did I get so busy, AGAIN?

One of the blessings that came out of pandemic-times was the reset that happened (at least, for us!) where we got to scale back our commitments in their entirety and have a season of home and margin and finding out what we really need and what we really don't need. 

We recognized some functional issues with our home and garden that we wanted to address. (So that's two of the things we're working on now.)

We  realized that if we wanted certain things to happen with our church, we needed to be invested in doing those things. (So, three and four things.)

We discovered that the Lord was opening an exciting new door of ministry for us in Trail Life USA for our boys. (Another big thing.)

We had a major life-changing career move happen with my husband, which is great and exciting but it comes with a season of working a rotating schedule on nigh-shift. (Thing six)

And finally, we still have ties and commitments to our our pre-'rona ministries with their 'rona substitutes and now looking to a post 'rona world. (Seventh thing.)

Thankfully, the first two will be completed over the next month or so. The second two are long-term and ongoing, but there is a fantastic group working with us, and we are just going to have to wait and see how it all plays out--but it's also just the most encouraging and joyful thing ever! Trail Life is going to become one of our staple plan-life-around things, (and we're looking to launch it's sister organization, American Heritage Girls, for little sister next year!) but it's a perfect fit for our family and God has so clearly opened those doors and shut others...you don't ignore stuff like that because it fills out your daytimer! The career stresses are only for a season, and it just happens to be hitting right now--such is life. And the pre-'rona commitments are each winding down and moving on, mostly without us, which makes sense as we're now being called to these other things. 

And how does homeschool fit into all of this? 

Thankfully, I see homeschooling as an opportunity to let kids be kids--not rushing them into being adults. We can take the time to discover and learn skills even as we're learning the basics of grammar and mathematics and the scientific method. We can focus on relationships--most importantly their relationship to Jesus--and growing into resilient, joyful human beings, and follow our interests. 

And as we build a shed in the backyard with the help of handy friends, we see friendships between their kids and our kids blossom; we see wisdom grow as they are exposed to projects with new tools and new situations; and we see opportunities for our family to grow closer and stronger as we face new challenges together with a changing schedule and unexpected obstacles. And our kids get to watch and be a part of the process as we learn to not only survive but thrive in a world with new (and ever-changing) rules.

We know that God's rules don't change. His calling on our life may have new trimmings, but it really is no different from the calling we've always had: To go into the places He sends us, sharing Jesus with everyone we meet, walking alongside, encouraging, and discipling them, and making sure that we are prioritizing God's priorities for us--namely the marriage we are committed to before God, the gift of children He has given us, and the pursuit of His holiness in our lives. 

We can live a fearless and adventurous Christian life no matter what the latest hot-button social issue is sweeping the world--because we are only pilgrims here--our home is elsewhere and we have so much joy before us!