change

Whoever came up with the saying, the only constant thing in life is change, was right on the money! I've noticed when I get stuck in one pattern, routine, calling, or trial for so long, I get bored (or tired of enduring when it's a trial) and yearn for some kind of change. Sometimes, ANYTHING will do; I just want a break from the monotony! Or I finally get comfortable with where I am, and what I'm requiring of myself. Boom - something comes along to throw off the balance. I've come to value and look forward to change. For example, seasons. Why did the Lord create seasons? Besides what it does for the earth, plants, animals, etc, I look forward to the changes that a new season will bring. It seems when I am at my wits end with jackets and sweaters and layers and boots, and the storage crisis that always accompanies keeping the big, bulky items handy, spring comes along - bright & sunny with cheerful flowers to gaze at, relaxing walks and playing at the park with my kiddos. Summer brings a whole slew of fresh fruits and veggies to snack on! And, who doesn't LOVE summer BBQ's, potato salad, and homemade ice cream? YUM! But, by the time fall approaches, I'm looking forward to pulling out all the winter gear, of cozy days inside doing quiet activities at the kitchen table, roasting marshmallows for smores, hot chocolate, & snuggling by the fire with a good book. What is it about change that renews us?

On the other hand, I value structure and strict routine. I have recognized how much my kids value it as well. Even if they don't really know what it is that makes it different from a day when our routine gets thrown out the window, they are less stressed and prone to misbehave. On a daily basis, I demand a lot of myself and from them. It takes a lot of discipline to stick to it, but I always feel good at the end of my day when I can say, look at everything I (and we) did today! Sure, I get worn out - every night, especially being pregnant, I'm lucky if I make to 8:30! I do a couple of loads of laundry and an hour or two of cleaning bathrooms, floors, or whatever I have designated for that day. It's rare that dishes go undone, that toys aren't picked up, and clothes aren't folded or ironed when I head off to bed. And, yet, I get bored with the monotony of the same routine day after day...

which is probably why Jason's work schedule has changed as of this week. Over the last several months, he's been doing some software research for the company. Not sure how he got roped into it, but in October he volunteered to accompany the CEO on a business trip to Louisiana for a software seminar, and next thing we know, he's been asked to research 40+ softwares and narrow it down to 1, based on the company's needs. By next year, they hope to have the new software installed and running. Apparently, it's a really long process, and is going to take 18-24 months to complete. So, Jason is now at the point where he's having to work on everyone's computers before installing the software and doing data entry. In order to avoid disturbing all the other employees during the most demanding hours of the day, he was asked to change his hours from 8am-5pm to 2-11pm.

I'm not really sure how I feel about having evenings to myself. I feel like 3-bedtime is the hardest part of every day. Kids get restless and antsy around late afternoon, not to mention tired from a long day of playing or running errands with mommy (often both), dinner never seems to be ready soon enough for small tummies. I think most moms feel that way. However, this new schedule will allow a longer stretch of the day with Daddy. Normally, we only see him for an hour or so before he heads off to work and another couple of hours before bedtime. Now, we get him to ourselves for 5-6 hours before he has to leave.

This should definitely be an interesting new adventure - on what I feel like is the eve of my delivery! My ticker says 3 weeks, but even if I have to be induced on the 8th, that brings me down to 2. I feel like I do less of my "to do's" when Jason is home, so I'm going to have to be even more disciplined to keep it up. Yet, I also want to ENJOY this time with him home, and our new baby. We don't know how long he will be required to maintain this new schedule. It could be 3 weeks, 2 months, or until the software is installed, data entry is complete, and the program is up and running.

However long this new change is going to last, it's certainly going to bring with it challenges and an opportunity for stretching and growth. Maybe that's why the Lord gave us seasons - because no matter how disciplined or comfortable we are with our current situation, how we handle change is what defines our character, refines our capacity, and ultimately determines who we are.