More Change

My life is currently the calm before the storm, so to speak.  There are some big changes brewing. How fitting was Amanda's Pull of the Moon post?!

My side gig, as it was, is no longer.  Between vacation, my husband's work obligations, and another transition I will mention shortly, I no longer had a whole day during the week to devote to the Center for New Americans for the remainder of the summer. That doesn't mean I am done working with refugees, but I am officially no longer a caseworker aid. 

After I finished my last full day at the Center, I headed straight for Visions for Change, the place I will be working for my internship in the fall, to receive an enormous packet to read for the class I will be teaching in the fall.  One baton passed, the other received.  This is another non-profit agency I probably will be highlighting in the early fall:)  I haven't started the packet yet (shhhhh!), because I have been packing my days with summer fun and relaxation with my kids. 

Because this might be the last summer I am home with my kids.  I can't quite wrap my mind around that yet, but the possibility looms. So I am trying to enjoy this one as much as possible. Everything "summery" is being attempted by us. 

I begged my family to go hiking in the Adirondacks this Sunday, but they wanted to go to church because we hadn't been in a few weeks due to travels.  I couldn't really argue with them.  But I was totally trying to avoid the inevitable. 

Our beloved pastor is gone.  And I was putting off facing the reality of this as long as possible.  And I wish we would've continued to. 

There is nothing wrong with the new pastor.  She is really nice.  She's just ... different than the old pastor.  And I liked him and the way things were just fine and didn't need a change.  Let me be clear in saying that I am determined to stay at church and get used to her and support her.  But she is more conservative than my old pastor.  More formal. 

She does altar calls.  Every Sunday.

I am not a fan of altar calls every Sunday.

But I am also reading Paul's stuff, right?  Which means I've been preparing myself for things like "more conservative."  In theory.

Change can be exciting, and simultaneously frightening.  It can be welcome or unwanted.  But it's part of growth, which is in turn a part of life.  I know a few readers of this blog are facing big changes too: first baby on the way, first full time job after being a mom, starting grad school, etc. 

 I read a lovely little something this morning about learning to float (this is fitting as I am just about to log off and take my littlest to swimming lessons where she will take a "float test" today).  When you stop fighting the water, your weight in it, that's when you can float.  Otherwise, you sink.  I would like to add that you don't sink if you're wearing a life preserver.  So while I am trying to learn to go with the flow and stop struggling, I have the life preserver that is my friends there to back me up.  Sometimes there are too many waves coming fast and furious to relax.  And that's when it's nice to have your girlfriends throw you a lifeline. 

Hang on, ladies.