"Upsetting the "normal" while creating the beautiful." Annette Kruschek |
How do I begin? The pages of this next chapter haven't been written yet. I'm looking at the next chapter that our family is only days away from entering and have such great anticipation of what lies ahead, but God being God has left the next pages blank; ready for us to write along side him. I want to write a chapter filled with fairy tale words and imagery but I've learned that God doesn't and has never proven his love that easy.
In three short days we will be packing up our entire world and begin a new chapter in the country. It may come as a surprise to many but it's been in the making for quit awhile. We didn't know when, we didn't know where and we didn't know how. That part of the story we left up to God to lead the way and that he did. I have learned time and time again that when you put God solely in the drivers seat you need to make sure you buckle up for a ride that isn't smooth and sometimes not exactly "safe". Dan and I made the choice to move for a variety of reasons; always keeping our commitment to our family and our marriage as the biggest priority. I've learned and have seen firsthand how sometimes our decisions; whether it be adopting, moving in aging parents and now moving has created people to scratch their heads and wonder why. I've watch some sit on the sidelines and watch with hopefulness for failure and I have even had to say goodbye to some relationships because they became too toxic for me and our family. BUT I have also witnessed BEAUTIFUL unexpected prayers be answered because of our faithfulness of trusting God with it all. It's almost become like a mathematical equation... step out in faith, add in roadblocks and heartache but in the end the final solution is always God. These past two months have been difficult. It wasn't until we found our new home that we learned Evelyn would need another heart surgery sooner than everyone had expected. Looking back now I see why God did that... had we known we were up against the biggest surgery of her life we never would have never thought about moving. We would have done what we have done for the past several years, put it on the back burner. Whether it was the demands of raising young children, caring for my aging parents, adopting or preparing for a surgery the timing was never right. Well, the timing might not be ideal but here we are... turning the page to the next chapter! This house has 13 years of SO many beautiful memories living inside of it. I am taking them ALL with me. This house was also my parents final resting spot before they allowed our entire family to usher them to heaven. Beautiful but one of the most painful chapters of my life. Death. It feels so final but my Mom and Dad taught me firsthand that life goes on. Heaven is real and this current life is temporary. God ABSOLUTELY made it crystal clear over a month ago that he approved of our move. IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE READ MY FOLLOWING WORDS... Over a month ago I went to bed and couldn't get the worry out of my head. The worry of leaving my parents behind in this home. I felt excitement for the next chapter but also felt guilt for leaving the walls that brought them to their final days. I drifted off to sleep to only see my Mom in my dream. She was healthy, she was standing up straight and the parkinson's disease that claimed her life was no longer visible. It was the most beautiful image of my Mom. As I walked over to her standing in my dining room I said, "Mom are you sad that we're moving?" Her response was one I will NEVER forget... "Oh goodness no Annette. I am coming with you and you will name your new home Sunset Acres." I awoke and did what I always do when I have a vivid dream, I text it to myself before I forget. Without any glasses on I frantically texted myself my Mom's words. God spoke to me through my Mom! The best part of this story... our new home sits on five acres and the front porch faces the sunset! There isn't one single tree to ever block the view of the sunset. I took the picture above last weekend when Dan and I had the blessing of watching our first sunset together. Last week I dug up my Mom's rose bush and peony bush that were given to us in memory of my Mom. They will be properly placed in the front of the house overlooking the sunset. Thank you Mom for reminding me once again that God has our hand in this next chapter that hasn't been written yet. Thank you for once again reminding me that heaven is real and that you and Dad are watching our family and holding us close as we journey together. I'm here to say to all of you, write the next chapter. I've learned that for every new beginning you must need an end to something or it wouldn't be new. It's okay to take risks as long as you keep God in the center of those risks. It's okay to fail, because if you never did you would never know the feeling of triumph. It's okay to be different from others because God didn't create us all to be identical. Sunset Acres is my validation that God is always in control. Every time I witness a sunset from our new home I will be grateful for the narrow path that led us here. If you have stayed long enough to read this entire blog then trust me with my words... God sees YOU today and all the days that follow. Trust him with your life so you can continue to write the pages of your next chapter. Sunset Acres is proof that heaven is real. Keep writing your story.
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AuthorI am a proud Mother to eight children and a wife to my very best friend. I work hard, play hard and love until it hurts. Archives
January 2023
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