Adapting

If there is one thing I have learned, especially since reaching adulthood, it's that life does not happen the way you planned it as a child. When you are a child you have hopes and dreams and expectations of life. You have plans of what you want out of life and what you plan to put into it. The longer I'm alive (I am a whopping 31 in a few weeks) the more I realize that all of those preconceived ideas don't actually come to pass. Well I shouldn't say all, because some of my childhood dreams have come true. My husband is one of those. Awwwwe! But, throughout life your relationships with people change or end. You find your preferences change. People move. People get married. people get divorced. People die. People are born- now that one really changes things! 

There has been a few times in my adult life that I have thought, wow! My life is just awesome. Nothing can go wrong! It's exactly as I had planned. I've come to realize that's the calm before the storm! 

When these situations come along I've learned that instead of wallowing in the fact that life isn't what you thought it would be- embrace what it is now. Live in the fullness of joy that God has promised to those that trust Him. 

Case in point: my mom is getting married in three days. Say what?!  I definitely didn't see that in my future when I was a child. I saw me growing up with my mom and my dad. My children growing up with their grandma and grandpa. I didn't see cancer entering my dad and losing him. But life goes on and you either adapt, or you wallow. Life has too much to offer to waste time wallowing. 

My mom is the epitome of the verse, "in whatever state you are in, therein be content." She adapts like no body's business! Whatever she faces she says, ok so this is what we're doing now, lets do it. This is what life is now- let's go for it. God is with me no matter what so I can face it all. Her strength astounds me and inspires me. When she started dating a man from her church I thought, man, this is not something I imagined I would ever see in my lifetime. When she became engaged to this man I thought, I did not see this coming a couple years ago. And now that their wedding date is approaching I am thinking- yup! Life isn't what I thought it would be, but Praise God, He is still in control and He is still bringing the fullness of joy to those that trust in Him! 

I am very happy for my mom and her husband to be. I can see the love and respect that he has for her (and her for him) and for his Saviour and that is a wonderful thing! 

So life is changing, my family is growing, and I am changing and I am growing...and adapting... I wonder what's next?