How were we to know that 2007 would hold what it did? After all, it began like most years.....surrounded by good friends having a good time. There were no clues that would prepare us for the events ahead. I have no idea of when, but suddenly, life as we knew it began to crumble. It seemed like there was no sacred ground. Every part of our life was touched by something. Our finances were being turned up side down. Brad and I were learning things about our children that were hard to hear. We were having to make decisions about the children that we felt less than confident about making. Brad's job left him feeling unfulfilled. My job.....what job. I needed to find one but had a hard time finding the courage to seek one. Then came health issues. It all came crashing in......one problem at a time. To be honest, I can remember the feeling of being so overwhelmed.....of asking myself, "Which file folder do I open today?" or "Where should I file this? I don't know if I have a folder made for this issue." But time does play its role......I can't remember all of the issues at hand now. What I do know is that this time forced us to look at the core of every aspect of ourselves and our family.
There is one distinct day I do remember. It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in 2007. Brad's side of the family was coming to our home for the holiday. Brad and I went to the church to borrow some tables and chairs for the big day. After a conversation at the church, Brad got in the car and said, "Have you ever thought about becoming a priest?" He had that look in his eye and that tone in his voice......the one I can't describe. I just know it. With those words and that look, I could feel an end to the chaos in our life.
After some more discussion, Brad applied to the discernment process with the attitude of "one step at a time". This is the motto our family has since taken....."one step at a time". It is too much for us to look out at the future. It all seems so blurry out there......looking the great unknown in the eye. Instead, we do have the ability and the strength to look one step ahead. We may not know where that step is going to land on the path, but God has given us the confidence to take it. And the pieces fall perfectly in line. Not as we would have imagined or thought they should have....but the way in which they were meant to fall. And how beautiful it is.......
.......and thus begins our journey. We are now in July of 2009 with our move 3 weeks away. We are at a calm place along the path knowing that our Creator holds us in the palm of His hand. As the cliche goes......"Let go and let God". This has been a challenge but has brought new definition to our life. This trip began with a major bend in the road but leads us to new uncharted waters.
So yes, as Jerry sings, "What a long, strange trip its been"!! One filled with uncertainty, honesty, chaos, and calm.......one stripping a family to the core of who they were created to be....one filled and lead by the Spirit of God.
There is one distinct day I do remember. It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in 2007. Brad's side of the family was coming to our home for the holiday. Brad and I went to the church to borrow some tables and chairs for the big day. After a conversation at the church, Brad got in the car and said, "Have you ever thought about becoming a priest?" He had that look in his eye and that tone in his voice......the one I can't describe. I just know it. With those words and that look, I could feel an end to the chaos in our life.
After some more discussion, Brad applied to the discernment process with the attitude of "one step at a time". This is the motto our family has since taken....."one step at a time". It is too much for us to look out at the future. It all seems so blurry out there......looking the great unknown in the eye. Instead, we do have the ability and the strength to look one step ahead. We may not know where that step is going to land on the path, but God has given us the confidence to take it. And the pieces fall perfectly in line. Not as we would have imagined or thought they should have....but the way in which they were meant to fall. And how beautiful it is.......
.......and thus begins our journey. We are now in July of 2009 with our move 3 weeks away. We are at a calm place along the path knowing that our Creator holds us in the palm of His hand. As the cliche goes......"Let go and let God". This has been a challenge but has brought new definition to our life. This trip began with a major bend in the road but leads us to new uncharted waters.
So yes, as Jerry sings, "What a long, strange trip its been"!! One filled with uncertainty, honesty, chaos, and calm.......one stripping a family to the core of who they were created to be....one filled and lead by the Spirit of God.