They say change is good....

They say change is good. They say change is difficult. They say change is inevitable. I think it is safe to say that even though I don't know who "they" are, I have found these three statements about change to be true for me.

I have eight children. It doesn't seem that long ago that all ten of us lived under one roof as a family. One family living, sharing, fighting, loving, annoying, and laughing together. However when I think about how long ago it has been since we shared the same home I realize that it has been seven years now. Seven years! When did all this time pass and how did it pass by without me knowing it? Four of our eight children have graduated high school and are on their own life's journey.
And in many ways my own life journey has taken a new turn as well.


One month ago I and four of our children left Kearney, my home of nearly thirteen years, to join my husband (and child #6) in Salem Oregon where he had been living and working for the previous four months. It was with very mixed emotions that I started my car and began the trek 1500+ miles across the country to join them in our new house. Waving to me in the rear view mirror was my oldest daughter and her husband (who will soon give birth to our first grand child) along with our oldest son, our third child, and a couple of dear friends.


This past month has found me experiencing life in vastly different surroundings. Everything about where I live and work is different. I expected vast differences especially in terms of our terrain and climate. But there are differences that one never anticipates until you are right there living and trying to function in a new environment such as: where do you buy groceries? What isle is the lemon juice in? Why can't I pump my own gasoline? Who are these people we are calling neighbors? Where is the dump? How do I find someone to cut and color my hair? Which schools do I enroll the kids in? How do I choose a parish, by boundaries or by where I want to worship? Where is the liquor store?
There is a lot to be learned and a lot to adjust to. Most of the time I feel as if my world has been turning, spinning and rotating and I am just trying to stay upright.
I have found that when I can go to the beach and just sit by the ocean then I feel more solid, I feel more grounded, I feel a sense of peace in my world.
I hope to get to the beach more often until I don't need to go to the beach as often.