Life Changes

Life Changes

When I was a little kid, growing up in the Chicago area, it didn't seem like much changed.  I went to the same grade school for 8 years, then the same high school for 4 years.  All that time, we lived in the same house, I had the same friends and we went to the same church.  We went to the same grocery store every week - called the A & P.  We got to drink pop (soda) and have popcorn every  Friday night.  Once a month my dad took us to White Castle for hamburgers.  Once a year we went to River View - the nearest amusement park to our home and once a year we went to the Zoo.  Not much changed, year to year, day to day, but I was never bored.  We played outside until dark and then when it was dinner time, my dad would give his loud whistle and we would run home.  We went to the park, we played in the fields, we built snowmen and snow forts and had snowball fights.  We played hide and seek, we played ball, we played school...you name it, we played it.   We were having fun and enjoying life without change. 

In high school subtle changes started occurring.  I noticed boys, had different friends, had some freedom to spread my wings and try new things.  And I wanted to.  I wanted to see my life change, but it was rather scary.

After I got married, big time changes starting happening - I had babies, and with each baby we needed a bigger home so we began moving - first a one bedroom apartment in the city, then a 2 bedroom apartment in the city, next a 2 bedroom house in the suburbs, then a 3 bedroom house way out in the boonies.  With each move there were life changes: new friends, new jobs, new schools for the kids and of course new responsibilities.  Life changes that caused us to grow up real fast. 

Then it happened - the biggest life change of all (so far) ...a move out of state and away from family.  We knew 2 people in our new locale and they did not live anywhere near where we were going to live.  So basically, we were on our own with 4 kids and a dog in a new state where we knew no one.  Talk about a life change.  This was a job transfer so at least we were not jobless.  That was definitely a plus.  But we were in an apartment again for a while and again with new schools for the kids, new friends, new church, new everything.  We knew living in an apartment was not a permanent thing so we were not surprised when we moved to a 4 bedroom home.  This is where we settled for 27 years and made new friends, the kids attended new schools, we settled into church life, community life and we thought this was it.  We would be here till the end.  No more big life changes, no more moving, no more new anything.  Life without change and it was good.

Little did we know God had other plans for us - one more big life change coming our way - RETIREMENT!  and with retirement comes yet another move - Surprise!! a doozy of a move - out of state again and away from family to a place where we know just 4 people.  (That is an improvement!) This time, it is just the two of us and the anticipation and excitement is unlike any of our other life changes.  This time we see it as an adventure.  This time, though things will be new, we are older and wiser and see things from a different perspective.  Our perspective now says "bring it on"  we can handle it.  And if we don't like it, we'll move again.  There is no fear, no worry, just the knowledge that all the life changes we have been through have brought us to this point.  It seems natural for us to be doing this.  At this point in our lives, we are strong in the knowledge that God is with us and directing our path.  We are ready for this life change and we don't think we will ever be bored.  We are looking forward to having fun and enjoying life in retirement with or without any more life changes. And that is good because, That's Life!