Always something to decide. Many small decisions take place during the course of a day. What's for breakfast, what to wear and what to do first begins the day. Things that need to be done don't require a decision - just do it! Then there are the things that require some thought.
Well, those decisions are simple and easy to handle. Bigger decisions are on the horizon. Through the years we were always pretty good at making decisions. We weren't afraid to take a chance, make a move or try something new. As a couple and as a family, we were always "up" for something new.
Sometimes decisions are right and sometimes decisions are not so right. I like to think most of the big decisions we have made were the right ones. Like getting married....what a great idea that was! And from that day on the decisions were made for us by the USN. Where to live, where to work, etc. etc. as well as when to move. Moving consisted of loading up a friend's car with all of our belongings and driving a few hundred miles to the north and settling in at a new base. Those were the early ones.
As our family began to grow, the decisions were a little more complicated. With a young daughter to consider, we moved to a town close to the base where there was family support. With two little ones, we moved to the navy town so our family could be together more. The next move required a moving truck as our household goods had increased and at the end a two bedroom apartment where we could spread out and grow together. Eventually, there came the final move where our household goods were put in storage and we flew to a tiny island thousands of miles from family and everything familiar. The next two years were good - a time for growth in our Christian faith and our dependence on one another. Also a time of great homesickness with no chance for a visit with family. We survived.
We continued to survive for the next 52 years. Civilian life was good. Moves were made for schooling, work, and ministry. Children grew and left home. A decision to re-enter the military and, once again, leave everything behind was made. Three of our kids were out of the nest - we still had two more and the four of us moved to the east coast and our final adventure as a navy family. Of course, this also required some changes. Charleston, SC for four years, Patuxent River, MD for two more. Finally, we ended up in Virginia Beach, VA for the last four years as a navy family.
Civilian life found us staying in this part of the country. Oh, we moved a few times. After ten years in our Virginia Beach home, we moved to Norfolk. After four years in this home we moved to Chesapeake. Twelve years ago we moved to our present home in Bedford, Virginia. This has become "finally home" to us. Although our children are not here with us, it has become home to them as well. It is the longest we have ever lived in one home - even as children the rented homes we lived in were sold or for some other reason made unavailable to our families and we were on the move.
Now it is time for us to make another decision about moving. Circumstances do change and we, too, have changed. Having celebrated our 79th birthdays in the past couple of months, we are becoming aware of some physical changes that cannot be denied as we approach our 80's. We are thankful for the good health we have enjoyed throughout our lives. We are thankful for the activities we still enjoy and for the strength God has given us to take care of this home and yard and all that goes with owning something so lovely.
That said, we are depending on God to lead us once again into a move that will carry us into old age. Our children love us and care about our happiness. There is a home that seems perfect for us. No outdoor maintenance, our daughter as our landlord, and plenty of room for us to live comfortably. It would be nice if we could just jump from where we are now to where we'd like to be. It's not that easy, of course. It takes sorting through years of "stuff" that we've saved because it was worth it. We need to make sure our home is in tip top shape when we sell it so the new owner will love it and care for it as we do. I find my mind working long after I need to be asleep at night, keeping me awake with "to do" lists of what I need to tackle in the morning.
Prayer and trusting the Lord to lead and guide us is highest on our list of priorities. We know that He will continue to lead us as He has in all the years gone by and we are excited to see what He has in store for us.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God; to them that are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
No comments:
Post a Comment