life as un-normal

I am beginning to think this is the new normal.

Crazies!

I feel like it's been a non stop million miles an hour train ride through the last few months. Since our family beach trip in September "life" as we knew it has been far from a reality.

I am not one to lavish times on the lower end but I can't sugar-coat the truth either. I feel like the last 12 weeks have been full of not so fun stuff. From watching a grandparent enter eternity, to celebrating the small details of wedding preparation I would say that the emotional swing has been pretty large.

Upon arrival home in September the idea of wedding has seemed to consume this house as a whole. Invitations, dresses, patterns, material, decorations, showers...and the list could carry on! I have really enjoyed being able to be so hands on/in this go 'round. With my oldest sister's wedding I was only 14 and slightly on the teen aged self absorbed stage. I didn't "really" care what happened. This time I feel like I have been more involved and I want to be. I am thankful that my job has allowed it! Just this past week my sister had her dress fitting for alterations. The parents of my babies were able to work it out for me to head out about half an hour earlier than normal so I could make it in time to be a witness! Thank you Father for helpful and considerate people to work for!

October was pretty busy and emotionally heavy...for me. Standing on the vague side for consideration I had to watch abandonment from 2 sides with a family that I love dearly. I had to learn to let go of someone who is currently thinking they are living what's best for them. I began watching it weigh heavily on other members and hurting for them. My dad always says something and it played in my mind constantly. People are messy. Getting involved with them means you might get messy too. They hurt. I hurt. Thankfully though it's brought a ton of wisdom that wasn't otherwise there. Just the other day the youngest member asked me (in reference to Mary, Jesus' mom) if I thought God could think that highly of her too. Thank you Father for being present in their lives even when circumstances seem so huge! You are some much greater!

November opened with a new set of challenges. My ailing grandpa had been continually getting worse. After suffering a stroke mid month things went from a slow gentle walk to a fast pace glide down hill. Suffering yet another stroke and paralysis of the body he was on hospice and a week before Thanksgiving we said goodbye. In all of it though God remained faithful to provide the right amount of encouragement from family and friends! The day that I took my sisters to church after we had gone to say goodbye He provided a source of encouragement from one of my youth leaders from high school. She had not been at that church in several months. I had not been at that church is several weeks. Thank you Father for your timing and your perfect ways.

In the midst of all this, work hasn't slowed down, ministry is still pulling from me, I am still watching my Friday friend choose a life that suits her, and witnessing the dissolution of a marriage of a friend.

A week into December and things seemed to be just as busy. Nothing near as emotionally heavy. I am learning in this though that He is faithful. He has never, just like He promises, left us or forsaken us. God says, "yes" to His promises.

For that, I am thankful.