The Trees, The Climate, & ME Are Having a "Moving" Season!

I looked out my office window yesterday and noticed that my favorite crabapple tree is making an announcement. "I'm 'moving" into Fall. My leaves are changing colors!" Here in Tulsa, it still fills like summer with temperatures in the 90s, but the weatherman reported last night -- cooler temps are "moving' our way! Yay!

Just look at that cutie patootie holding that Texas license plate! What is he saying? He and his family live in Austin now, so maybe that's their announcement. Nope. They did that several months ago. That's MY new license plate. My "season" is going through change and the change is "I'm moving!" Back in July, God said, "Surprise! It's time for a new adventure!" That seems to be how God has had me tracking since my husband's passing. I feel so connected to God's plan because He makes it so very clear when a new season is upon me. God shows up with "Get ready. Get ready. Get ready. Saddle up your horse. You've got a new trail to blaze." Okay, He didn't say those exact words to me, but He made it very clear because my beloved home that I had custom built in Tulsa in 2012.... SOLD.....and I wasn't even trying to sell it. How's that for God giving me a subtle "time to move" nudge?

It's not surprising, because once my kids were all planted back in our home state of Texas, the longing for "going home to Texas" was in me. I've longed for being there to share their lives. After all, my grandchildren are having some really exciting times in their lives and I don't want to miss making those memories with them. AND, I have cousins and other family members and friends there, that I want to reconnect with. Where do those longings come from? I believe that God speaks to us and uses His subtle ways or out-loud ways to guide us. After all, "His sheep (that's you and me) know His voice." (John 10:27). This time, His voice was almost out-loud to me!

I'd like to say this process has been a breeze. The "Canadians" who bought my home, needed a closing date of September 23rd, but because I have ministry and business commitments here until the middle of November, I'll still be hanging around Tulsa a while longer. The movers come next Tuesday and will move all my belongings to a storage unit in Frisco. The icing on the cake was when one of my neighbors invited me to stay at her home because she's leaving town for 2-1/2 months. God sincerely cares about the details of our lives. At the urging of my kids.....I'm going to "gypsy" around for a while and see what God has up His sovereign sleeves for this new season. Some would say that's "flying by the seat of your pants". Moving is that time to amp up because God knows, it can be an overwhelming task, but in so many other opportunities I've faced, I know I eat this elephant.....one bite at a time. I told that to a friend and she said, "Could I bring you some Rolaids?" LOL!

Here's the deal. We don’t have to escape these seasons of our lives because right smack dab in the middle of what seems to be chaos, God brings us calm. And, that's when His strength is made perfect in our weakness and sometimes.....He helps us walk on water!

Seasons Change PURPOSEFULLY

Day 134 of Photo Inspirations -- Seasons Change PURPOSEFULLY

My photo inspirations today come as a result of spending time recently with my sweet cousin and her husband, Mary Ellen & Charles Snow. They are starting a new chapter in their "life book" -- from their Tulsa "roots", where Charles served in ORU's Faculty of Theology & Ministry for over 25 years, as well as serving on staff with David Wilkerson's ministry and then pastoring in Fort Worth, TX.  They're heading back to Texas, where Mary Ellen and I both grew up.  She and my sister were "besties" back in their high school and college days.

As Mary Ellen walked me through their beautiful home in Tulsa, Charles was going through and cleaning out his desk.  He said, "40 years of collections in there!"  They are packing for their move and all the excess will be in an estate sale in a couple of weeks.  That beautiful mandolin up on a shelf WILL go with them.  Too many sweet memories attached to the mandolin that Charles played with a musical group.

It's not easy handling transitions of this magnitude.  Saying "good bye" to friends that are here, as well as so many treasures that they've collected from their ministry travels abroad.  But, they know it's time.  They know their seasons have changed.  I reminded them of what I told others that we held estate sales for.  "You were blessed to have such beautiful treasures for so many years.  You made lots of memories with those treasures.  But now, it's time to 'pay those treasures and memories' forward.  Now others will be able to cherish those treasures and make memories of their own".

I love this couple so much for how they've given their lives to serving God and leading many people to Him, but I love them because they're family.  Mary Ellen is the daughter of my Mom's sister, Shad Ruth.  Aunt Shad was the first one who bought me a pair of slacks.  Oh, what a huge BREAKTHROUGH in my world. LOL!  

As we were walking through their house, Mary Ellen opened the door of a closet and exclaimed, "Oh, Donna.  Would you want this quilt?"  I asked, "Did Grandma make it?"  And she replied, "Either Aunt Lillie Mae or Grandma did!"   I became the recipient of a treasure.  I brought it home and opened the sealed, plastic, zippered bag and there were two twin quilts inside.  And I had a flashback.  For just a period of time, after my Dad had passed away, my Mom lived with my aunt and the two of them slept on the twin beds in her room.  Those are the quilts from those twin beds -- at least 50 years ago.   I am elated to possess such a treasure.  And oh how blessed I am to know that our lives are about seasons, and with each one -- whether in our childhood, youth, married, children and grandchildren, God purposely knows each season.....prepares the way for us to not just survive each one.....but to thrive and flourish in each one.  Yes, Mary Ellen, Charles AND I will continue to thrive and flourish on this side of heaven.....until our new season will be an ETERNAL one!  Accepting the seasons and their changes is part of the Master Plan -- realizing He has our best interests at heart sure makes the journey be even sweeter.