We have lived the in the same house for more than 12 months! It was about three years ago since I could last say that and it is great to not feel like we are bouncing around. The funny thing is, there was a time in life when I had an absolute wanderlust for travel. I loved visiting new places. I loved it when my job required a business trip. I had no problem with the idea of moving to new places and starting all over again.
That attitude is a bit different now. Who knows if it is having a young family, or this growing desire to sleep in my own bed (without tiny elbows in my back) or sit on my own couch (sneaking in junk food while the kids sleep). But either way - I realize I am in a new season. I want to live in the same place, the same community for good! Today was a great reminder why I want to be planted in a community - and that I am in a different season than I was before (it's taken about three years to embrace this whole "season" thing).
Today we visited the Back to School Festival at Oak View in Huntington Beach. The church launched the annual event to the community three years ago and because of either recently moving to the area with a busy toddler, or just having a baby - and a busy preschooler, I was not able to make it there before. We donated items, but I had no idea what it was all about. Today I was able to catch a glimpse. It was beautiful. There was a line of families waiting for their raffle tickets for door prizes for the kids and backpacks for the new school year. There were volunteers getting everything ready for these families to play games, enjoy a lunch and jump to their heart's content in bounce houses that were really a small city set-up to a kid.
What was the real beauty? Talking to volunteers that were there each year seeing the event grow - and other events launched in the community (there are several) who hear from the neighborhood families that they know what the church is doing is something they can rely on. The church is being a blessing to them. I'm sure all the "stuff" is great. But it is the ongoing presence, relationship and trust that impacts lives.
This is the type of community involvement that excites me and I want to be a part of (after school tutoring, mentoring, just being present) and experienced before. But now it seems so illusive. This is where my three-year denial (or fog) has been. I've held this idea of so many things I want to do and feel are needful for me to do, then get so bummed that it just feels like I can't make it all work. But, recently I've really grabbed a hold of this new season. I am a mother of a 3 and 1 year-old. My family is getting its roots in a new community. My husband and I are both employed full-time - and my husbands responsibilities often require evenings, or an occasional weekend day away.
Sure, I could still add-on more. There's always that opportunity and many live life doing more above and beyond what I do. But, it's not for me. What I have is enough. It's okay - the season will come again where I will spend more time serving others above and beyond my family. The time will come when I can model giving with your time. Maybe the little 3-year-old and 1-year-old now will be right beside me helping when they are 10 and 7 (and hopefully beyond). For now, I will place my focus right on the family given to me that I prayed so earnestly for and serve outside of that where I can. There is nothing like the joy on my sons face when I sit to play Star Wars with him or when the family get's a wrestling session in (believe me, my 1-year-old dominates - she loves to body slam).
Seasons come and seasons go. Right? Why did I forget this for three years?
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