Seasons of Change

Ramblings from The Corn Rows🌽

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, in the Holy Bible, tells us everything has its own "time." We can see it when we look at Nature and in our own lives. If you're old enough, you might be hearing that popular song released in 1965 in your head right now by the Byrds, "Turn! Turn! Turn!" It is so true, especially for this toddler to teen to middle-aged woman! How did that happen so quickly? The stiffness in our joints or the subtle silver highlights in our hair, and wrinkles appearing in the reflection in the mirror are evidence that time marches on.

 We are currently transitioning from a hot dry summer in the Northeast to a cool, even drier fall.  Here in our neck of the woods, the temperatures are much cooler in the evening while the days are getting shorter. Our cat has been snuggling down in her cozy bed in her cat house on the porch. The corn stands dry and crisp in the fields for the harvest. I like the way it rattles when the wind blows. I especially like when I see the chubby groundhog wrestle off an ear of corn and drag it back to its den by our old woodshed. Shhh, don't tell the farmer!

In the spring of this year, I could see a lot of heavy equipment and machinery taking down trees to the east of the cornfield that was just planted. Hmmm... what are they up to? I thought as I watched the pile of timber grow. You might remember some of the stories I've spun about a particular Shanty hidden between the trees visible from my kitchen window. I have enjoyed the view so much over the years and Change can be hard. I will remain hopeful that whatever the landscape looks like when the fields stand empty of corn, I will be GRATEFUL and still find beauty that will capture my attention. Maybe it will be a family of deer passing through or the wild turkeys that flock together eating the grain leftover after harvest.

The weekend is not far off... It seems like the perfect time for a campfire. I can almost hear it crackle and smell the smoke. I think I have some graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows in the pantry. Come on Andy and Hannah...let's go outside. 🍁🔥

Bears/Believes/Hopes/Endures...It's what we do!

 BEARS - BELIEVES - HOPES - ENDURES

by Jennifer Watson Perkins

1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV

“Love bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.”

⚘🌷🌺...⚘🌷🌺

I love this scripture! It matches so appropriately what our family Journey is about. Although Hannah was born with a muscle-wasting disease, God has used it to "grow" our Spiritual Muscles. The back flap of our Story might use the same keywords from that scripture: BEARS, BELIEVES, HOPES, ENDURES to help summarize what is held between its pages.

I didn’t realize another National Daughter’s Day snuck up on us yesterday. I quickly scanned the photos on my phone and shared some along with all the other proud parents on social media. I then went to interrupt Hannah on her computer in the Fun Room to tell her what today was. A tear rolled down my cheek as I kissed her on the top of her head and told her she was a Blessing and that I love her.

It’s hard to even capture, with words, the thankfulness I feel in my heart. I speak to people about Hannah every chance I get. I want them to see how God continues to use our Life experience to uplift, encourage, grow Faith, and reach the lost. Kind-hearted and well-meaning folks always apologize when I tell them about my sweet daughter the second they hear about her medical diagnosis and life support/total care. “No no no, don’t be sorry or sad! Hannah is the best thing that could have ever happened to me! She’s the reason I came to Jesus. She’s amazing and I wouldn’t trade her for anything!”

I can speak personally as a Special Needs Parent/Caregiver. It’s not always easy and there are many unexpected bumps in the road. We continue to stay the course. I can do this because I know who sits on the Throne and He has a plan that I have grown to trust. Hannah helps us to see Joy in the Little Things. Some days are harder than others, but I am full of GRATITUDE for having another day with her. Our Heavenly Father is working things out behind the scenes and I already know how the story ends, and it is beautiful.

Three things I am most thankful for today

So our season of Summer is quickly coming to an end and we are seeing the first signs of fall, my favorite time of year!  The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are cooler at night, but what amazing sunrises I have noticed. This morning, besides my delicious coffee Andy made for me, I am thankful and blessed for another day :) This tells me God's not done! He woke me again and I am here for a purpose, His.

 Along the way he continues to bless me. Some days are more challenging, but I look for the small Joys that can be found in the Little Things. Besides the Hope I've discovered in what lies ahead, which is eternity with Him. It feels good to let Him drive the bus, as one lady said to me recently. I will sit back and enjoy the view.

Being somewhat homebound, God keeps making a way for Hannah and I. Virtual opportunities have opened a huge doorway to friendships and fun for us. As a matter of fact, this week is jam-packed with arts and crafts, besides joining our SMA family to share a story and conversation during book club. If one good thing has come out of STUPID covid, it is this. Very thankful for the combined effort that has maintained this connection of support for several years now. The same holds true for my ability to place grocery orders from home, online church and related groups, and join our area library and parks and recreation for activities. Admittedly, Hannah and I are pretty good at creating things to do, but it's always more enjoyable to spend time with others and make Memories.

We all know, Life is not always easy. I joke with Hannah on the more difficult days that I'm going to hit Eve with an apple when I reach Heaven. I can't blame Eve for the sin that happened in the garden causing our World to be fallen. I would have undoubtedly been tempted by the serpent also. Heck, I would have made a cobbler from that forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and served it up ala mode. I am thankful when my decisions have led to some good outcomes. And, I have seen how God can even use those bad decisions or a bad season to help grow us into a Light that can shine in the dark places of this World. 

 I had a discussion awhile back with a pastor. I was wondering WHY did God allow us to have sin-nature. Why couldn't we have been created perfect? He explained that our Heavenly Father didn't want a bunch of biological robots. God gave us choices and free will. It's us that make the wrong decisions when we take our eyes off Him. What a wonderful thing it had to have been in that beautiful garden, walking and talking with our Creator each day.

So it is that HOPE of being reunited at the end of this Earth Time and stepping into Eternity with Him that causes me to have a GRATEFUL HEART today. 

❤