However, there are times in my life where that first verse seems to be happening in a literal sense. Instead of individual seasons, "every activity under the heavens" seem to be happening at once. These are times when I feel like I'm running at full speed to get down the block, but then when I stop to catch my breath I realized I've circumnavigated the globe...twice! It's at these moments that I discover I have good reason to be tired, and worn out, and lacking motivation.
I've started a number of profound posts that never were finished or published. (Okay, they seemed profound at the time I started typing.) Here are a couple of them...
I started this blog post at the end of August...
"I am taking the day off! I haven't had a true day off in over 3 months.
As a wife, mother, children's pastor, sister and friend my duties are varied and extensive. Being as it is the end of August, I have just finished the busiest season of my life! I participated in 4 weddings, 3 camps, 3 trips out of state and 1 yard sale. In the midst of all this I didn't take a single day of vacation. I didn't need to, I still put in enough hours at to fulfill my work expectations even when I had to be out of town part of the week.
I realized a few weeks ago that the last time I had a day where I did not have to leave the house for any reason was July 5th.
Don't get me wrong, there were some perks to the crazy summer I've had! I had some firsts this summer and I had a lot of fun! I planned my first bachelorette party for a friend, I sang karaoke, I hiked to hot springs, I performed 2 weddings, I met new people and explored new areas, I got to watch my daughter fall in love, I discovered that God has given me an amazing team that can handle things while I'm away..."
And I started this blog post the first week of November...
"It is November!"
I can't speak for everyone, but usually that statement is followed by "Wow, I can't believe it is already November!" Or "Already? Where has the year gone?" Or "Man, this year went by quick!"
Not me! Here's what had followed that statement in my thoughts for the past week...
"It is finally November!"
"I made it to November!"
"Praise God! It's November!!!!"
That's what had been rolling through my thoughts and even escaping from my lips since 12:02 am on November 1st. I know because at that time I was sitting in bed unable to sleep due to the pure euphoria that was bubbling from the very center of my being!
Let me explain...this has been quite a year for me and my family. In addition to being a homeschool mom to my 3 teenage girls, a magic mom to my 7 year old son (that's another post) and lovingly understanding wife to a man who is trying to deal with being unable to do the work he's done for 15 years, I am also on staff as a children's pastor and I fulfill two volunteer positions within the Northwest Ministry Network. I am blessedly busy!
God has given me some unique opportunities this year to serve Him in ways I never thought possible! Speaking opportunities! Camps! Weddings! Add to that the fact that our oldest got her first job and is now engaged! You can guess that I may have been going a little bonkers this year!
Don't get me wrong, I love my life! I wouldn't trade my husband, my kids or my job for anything! I simply have a new appreciation for November!
Why? The hard stuff for the year is over! I have no more major events to plan until January! Next week I get to spend three days with with some of the most fabulous people I know, my peers in ministry, at the NWMN annual children's leadership conference! I have almost three weeks of vacation to use up! I can begin making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas! I can get stuff done around my house! I can focus on school assignments with my kids! I can relax!
Looking over these unpublished posts, I remember them being important as I was writing them, but then busyness got in the way and they got pushed to the side. When I finally had time to work on them again they were outdated and irrelevant.
I know this is just a season...granted, a very busy season, but just a season nonetheless. I am so thankful that in this season I don't have to rely on my own strength to make it through. In the chaos of this life stage, in the midst of the busyness, in the pressures and stresses of juggling all that makes up my life, I can rely on the power and strength that comes from my Savior. Praise God!
