Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Stars and Snowflakes

I've reached the point in our packing where I'm wandering from room to room with glazed eyes.

I start packing a few boxes in the basement, then I go upstairs for something and notice that the hall closet has stuff that definitely has to be sorted and combined into a smaller space. Then I go in our bedroom and put a few items of clothing into a plastic tote.

I decided it's time for a break. A little time to focus. It's time for (miracle of miracles!) Focus Friday.

We load the moving van on Tuesday.

Sometimes I feel like we're ahead of schedule and we'll be completely ready.

Other times I look around and wonder if we'll ever be ready. 

I guess we'll keep plugging away and be as ready as we can be on Tuesday. One way or another, we will move to South Dakota. 

I took a little time today to go out for coffee with a friend.

To some, that might seem crazy when we have so much to do, but it was important to me, so I made time for it.

When I got back to Allison, I did a couple of errands and then I worked on packing again. As I worked, I thought about how nice it would be to go out for coffee with more friends before we leave this area. 

Time is ticking away, so that just won't work, but it got me thinking about how important it is to do things when we're thinking of them so we don't have regrets later. 

I shared this quote by Marie Beynon Ray a little over a year ago, but it bears repeating tonight (coincidentally given to me by Joan, the friend I went out for coffee with today).

Begin doing what you want to do now.

We are not living in eternity.

We have only this moment,

sparkling like a star in our hand--

and melting like a snowflake.

There are things I wanted to do while we lived in this part of Iowa, but I never made time for them, and now those opportunities are gone (I know they're still possible, but it gets more difficult when we'll be living six hours from here).

There are people I wish I'd gotten to know better, but I didn't make the effort to call or get together with them, and now distance will make those relationships harder.

There are books I wanted to write while we lived here.

There are songs I wanted to sing while we lived here.

There are letters I wanted to write while we lived here.

There are gifts I wanted to deliver while we lived here.

There are hugs I wanted to give while we lived here.

I've pretty much run out of time.

Those "sparkling star" moments in my hand have melted like snowflakes, and I'm left with little puddles of regret.

I'm left with two choices: Sit and stare dismally at the melted moments I missed, or dry my hands and prepare for the new "sparkling stars" that arrive daily.

I can write the books I want to write.

I can sing the songs I want to sing.

I can write the letters I want to write.

I can deliver the gifts I want to deliver.

I can hug the people I want to hug.

But first, I must finish packing and enjoy our final few days with our church and community here in Allison. There are lots of sparkling star moments ahead...for all of us!

"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit." (Psalm 147:4-5 NIV)

Have you ever thought about how we aren't living in eternity? How can focusing on God help you to do the things you want to do and not have as many regrets?

Super Saturday: Let's Focus on NOT Going Crazy

I don't have time to write this.

Dylan graduates tomorrow and we move a week from Tuesday.

I was feeling pretty good most of the day...

Cook a little.

Pack a little.

Go to an open house (we had three today).

Repeat all day long.

Later this afternoon, I started to hit a wall. More than a wall even. It was that slippery slope that could send me over the edge if I'm not careful.

I started to entertain thoughts like these:

I'm a terrible mother. If I were a good mother, I would have ____________. (bought more party decorations, found more cute pictures of Dylan, made Erin's and Blake's favorite meals since they're home for the weekend, etc., etc., etc.)

We've lived here almost nine years. Why haven't I ___________ before now? (gotten rid of our old homeschooling supplies, finished my craft projects, made that jean quilt, shredded our old financial records, etc., etc., etc.)

On the good side, I recognized these negative thoughts right away and chose not to dwell on them.

I've been teetering on the edge a bit, but I don't have to go over if I remind myself of some positive truths from the Bible:

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you." (Psalm 116:7 NIV)

"Cast all your anxiety on him, for he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)

I had to write tonight because I need those reminders. Maybe you do, too.

Let's keep our sanity by turning quickly to God when life gets stressful and super busy. He can keep our minds in the right place as we do the best we can with whatever event we're getting ready for. 

I know Dylan's party will go fine, especially if I stay relaxed and enjoy visiting with the family and friends that come to wish him well.

I know our move will happen next week, and it will go better if I can work hard but not get upset if things don't go exactly the way I'd like. 

Getting enough sleep helps us keep our sanity, too, so I'll say good night for now and write again next Friday.

"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves." (Psalm 127:2 NIV)

Do you have any big events coming up that threaten to drive you crazy? How can focusing on God help you to do your best and not get upset if everything isn't perfect?

Super Saturday: Let's Focus on Moving

We will be moving from Allison, IA to Platte, SD on May 29. People, that's about 17 days from today!

It seemed like we had plenty of time when Gary announced that he had accepted the call a couple of months ago. 

I was going to sort through clothes, papers, and belongings and get rid of anything we didn't need before hauling it six hours west. We've gotten rid of some things, but we're quickly losing time for thoughtfully going through things. It's time to pack...and sort later.

It really started to sink in when we took down most of our pictures and loaded them in the Mariner. The walls look so bare now!

We loaded our small trailer with exercise equipment, bikes, boat stuff, and other things to fill it up. Then I drove with the trailer and Gary drove his '78 Camaro to Platte so we could get one load out there. 

It felt strange to leave it all there, but it felt right, too. We reconnected with several people from First Reformed Church and felt that sense of excitement about what God has in store for us (and them) in the future. 

We went to Orange City today to move Blake from his dorm room to a third floor apartment across campus.

Sometime next week we'll be moving Allison's things down to Lincoln, Nebraska. She'll be staying with Erin until she finds a job, then we'll move her to her own apartment later in the summer.

That's a lot of moving!

We know we'll get through it. We just need to take it one step at a time.

Make decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of. Pack a box. Keep on top of other daily tasks while preparing for the move. Get ready for Dylan's graduation open house and try to enjoy all of these final days with our church family and community before leaving.

Above all else, we need to stay close to God through all of this. Our relationship with Him is not something to put on hold until we get settled in our new community. 

We need to open our Bibles often, talk to God as we go through each day, and obey the Spirit's leading in everything we do.

That's something for all of us to keep in mind, whether we're making a physical move or just starting a new endeavor in our lives. 

One step at a time. Stay close to God. Trust Him. Read His word. Talk to Him. Obey Him.

If we all do that, we'll get to where He wants us to go.

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)

Are you facing a move in your future? How can focusing on God help you to get there with less stress and more confidence in the "new thing" He has planned for you?

Super Saturday: Let's Focus on FAMILY

Robyn, Jill, and Johnna Start - Christmas 1974

Family.

They can drive you crazy. I mean, other people's families can drive them crazy. Not mine, of course.

There are all kinds of joys and sorrows associated with our immediate families (our spouse and children).

Things get even more complicated when we branch out to our family of origin (our parents and siblings).

I got to spend some time with my parents and one of my sisters this week.

Johnna is the littlest girl in the picture above. I'm the oldest. (Poor Jill is in the middle - I'll focus on her some other week.) Johnna lives in Tennessee. She and her husband Steve own Smoky Mountain Llama Treks.

Check them out if you get down near Pigeon Forge, TN - the llamas are so interesting to watch and Steve does a great job leading hikes and showing people the llamas.

We were able to see Johnna and her family several times while we were visiting my parents. 

We went over to see Cassidy before she left for her prom. She looked beautiful and so grown up. As she left with one of her friends, I realized that she hardly knows us.

This was taken in 2016: Zach, Johnna, Steve, and Cassidy

We got to see Zach and his girlfriend Brittany a couple of times. (They're getting married on May 27!) It was fun to hear Zach's southern accent and see Brittany's little boy show off for all of us - such a cutie! As I watched my nephew, I had that same feeling...he doesn't really know us.

We've always lived far away from my family (except for three  years while Gary was in seminary in Michigan). I guess that's one of the disadvantages of distance. Everyone gets busy with their own lives and we don't get to know family members as well as when we live close by and see them often.

Even riding around with my sister, it was kind of surreal. She's nothing like the quiet, cute little sister I grew up with. (She's still cute! That's not what I meant, Johnna!) She's confident driving around all of those curves on those Tennessee roads. She talks about her friends and family and you can tell she loves them fiercely. 

I learned things about my niece and nephew that I should have known long ago, but I never called to ask. 

She told me about a time this winter when Cassidy was driving to Zach's house on an icy road. She was about a half a mile from his place, talking on the phone with him as she crept along, when her car slid into the ditch. When she screamed, Zach dropped his phone and ran to her. (She was fine and the car was, too. They started walking to his place, then someone gave them a ride.)

That touched me so much. Johnna and Steve must be doing something right if their kids love each other that much. I feel kind of sad that I'm missing out on their lives. (And Jill's kids in Michigan, too.)

Maybe you feel that way, too. 

Distance is hardly an excuse anymore for not getting to know our family members. With texting and video chats, we can check in with parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews. At first it might be a little awkward, but it could turn out to be something meaningful for you and your family member.

Maybe you live close, but there's an emotional distance between you and a sibling for some reason. Perhaps it's time to have that difficult conversation and clear things up so you can have a better relationship. That could be awkward, too, but it could result in something wonderful.

I'm so glad I got to spend a little time with Johnna this week...and I hope I didn't drive her too crazy.

"Love one another with brotherly [or sisterly] affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:10 ESV)

Are you close with your family members or is there some physical (or even emotional) distance there? How can focusing on God help you to make an effort to connect more often and show love to your family members?