A Year's Worth of Thoughts

Today is the year mark of moving out of our home in Ventura and following God's calling on our family to Atascadero. So much has happened in a year. There's no way I could have predicted then what our life would look like now. And I have seen God's hand through all of it.

It was a hard year. I am not a big fan of change, so leaving the comforts of a home that we poured so much of ourselves into and leaving friends and family and our church was against my nature. Not to mention watching my daughter experience loss as well. I think part of our human nature is to look and strive for comfort, and this last year was the opposite.

When we first moved, this is where the dog spent most of his time, under the kitchen table.

But it seems that it's always in those hard places where we learn the most about God. I wanted the comfort of familiarity, but God was teaching me that He is to be my place of comfort no matter where I am or what my circumstances are. A year ago I could not see what our life would look like now. We had only just found out where we were going to be living a few days before moving! But God knew, and I can say with confidence that His words to Joshua, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," (Joshua 1:5) have been true for us.

That's not to say that I am always at peace and never have moments of doubt or worry. It's a lesson I have to be reminded of. Just as our time of waiting for Caleb was a lesson in learning to trust God and surrender my plans to Him, it's been the same for this season but in a bigger way. But the result of being obedient to whatever it is God is calling you to is far better than anything you can imagine. And while it can be easy to write those words, it's challenging to live out, even when I've seen the fruit from the past of  God's faithfulness in those trusting moments. My default is comfort, and we are not always called to a life of comfort, but to rest in the Comforter.

So, time for a family update. Hannah started second grade at the end of August. We're excited to have a full year at Trivium. She loves going to class, but also says she enjoys her home school days as well. And I have to admit I am enjoying them more too. I read a very helpful book over the summer called The Well-Trained Mind and feel like I have a better grasp on this whole classical/home school thing.

Caleb started preschool this month two days a week and he is loving it. He has great teachers and comes home exhausted. He doesn't even want to eat lunch, he usually takes his nap first. 

Chris is keeping busy at Shoreline, and also getting ready for a hunting trip with his dad in Nevada. I'm keeping busy at home, keeping the children and animals alive. Somehow the days fly by.