Change, Change, Change

It seems so incredibly appropriate that today is the first day of Spring! HOORAY! I really could not take one more minute of winter.

The season's change is coinciding with other changes in my life.

-1-

This weekend was supposed to have been my CRHP Retreat weekend. Due to low enrollment, the weekend is being postponed until the fall. This past Tuesday night, I had to step down from my role as the team's Spiritual Director. It was a very emotional evening for me. I've loved the Spiritual Director role. I put a lot of work into each meeting, and really stretched myself in ways I hadn't expected. I find it to be a testament to God's work that this role I had struggled with in the beginning became a touchstone for me.

My team sent me off with a surprise: a book of devotions that they all signed. When the Lay Director handed it to me, I couldn't even speak for about 5 minutes. I just let the tears come. It's hard for me to walk away from this group. This is "dying to self," giving up something that filled me so much (even while taking so much time) so that I can be more present to my family right now.

-2-

We are all settling in with Niece here. We've had a good week so far. It's been busy, and I am still figuring out the whats, wheres, whys and hows of homeschooling Niece. But it's all good. Just incredibly busy.

-3-

Father and I met for Spiritual Direction on Monday night. We spent the bulk of the time talking about Niece and the changes in my family life. Father teaches high school, so he is particularly helpful in dealing with older kids. I'm used to small kids... you know, the kind you can pick up and put in their rooms if all else fails. When I found myself counting to Niece the other day (you know, one....two...), I knew I was in over my head. Fortunately, he had some good tips!

There's more I want to write about spiritual direction, but right now I can't quite get the words together.

-4-

Speaking of words, I have so many words bumping around in my head these days.... articles and blog posts waiting to be written. There's one on Mary that started on the treadmill yesterday morning, which fleshed out a bit more during some quiet, post-dinner prayer time last night. I just need to carve out some time, somehow, to sit with my laptop and actually write. I'm not exactly sure when or how... but I need to do it before it all floats away.


Well, I'm off to enjoy this gorgeous, spring day!