Shelley gets Philosophical

I pray you will allow me a few minutes to get a little philosphical. I promise it won't happen much and that I'll keep you updated on all the goings on in our family, but ocassionally the mood strikes and the blogworld affords me the opportunity to share my deep thoughts. (Sorry there's no pictures, so you have my permission to skip right over this post.)

On the TV, they tell me it's already 2006 in several cities around the world. We had planned a New Years' Eve party at our house with close friends tonight, but this morning had to cancel because David is miserably sick and I feel like I'm relapsing with the same thing. We're a pretty pitiful bunch. So to me, it feels like just another Sat. night.

But this evening, the weather was so pleasant, the neighbors were all out in their yards playing with their kids, so I forced my sickly family (did I mention Samuel's getting over the same stuff) to put their shoes on and go for a walk. "The fresh air will do us good." The topic of discussion for the walk was 2005 in review.

As most of you probably know, this has been a very hard year for me personally. In fact, David & I agreed that it has probably been the hardest year of our soon to be (next weekend) 12 year marriage. Not relationally, mind you, but just in general. A year ago this week, we pulled up very deep roots and moved to what I would consider a small town with no family (other than ourselves, of course), no friends, no church, no ministry, and no idea of where to find any of those things to replace the ones we had left behind. We felt certain that this was what the Lord wanted, but it hurt. Bad!!! I think it hurt me harder than the rest, because Samuel & David were both thrown into social realms where I was left with a long hard search (Jeremiah of course, transitioned beautifully).

Anyway, that's enough of the whining, back to the walk. "Let's remember some of the things that happened in 2005."
-we went to Mexico to visit Sara
-Samuel learned how to ride a bike without training wheels
-Jeremiah turned one year old
-we found a new church home (that we love, btw)
-we made lots of new friends
-Samuel started kindergarten
-David ran a 10K (his '05 New Years' Resolution) as well as biked over 100 miles in two days
-Shelley started exercising regularly (for the first time in her life)
-Samuel turned six

The list could go on and on (notice I didn't mention David's or my age). All really good things. This is a good exercise in realizing how God takes care of you, even when it seems like He's making you do something you really don't want to do.

But there's more to my philosophy. I said, "Let's think of some things that will happen in 2006." Samuel immediately piped up, "Aunt JoJo's going to come in 2006." Aunt JoJo, or as the adults in her life call her, Joyce, is coming tomorrow (New Year's Day) to spend the night with us. I didn't think anything of his comment at the time, but went on to list other things that should happen in 2006 (1st grade, etc.) But as I thought about it later, I realized I should probably share more of this 6 year olds' outlook on life. It doesn't matter what's going to happen in 2006. We can make grand plans, but as He proved in 2005, He is able to come along and change those completely. And I want to be willing for Him to do that, even if it hurts. All I have is today (or as Samuel looks at it, tomorrow too) and I know that Aunt JoJo is going to come. That is going to be loads of fun. It doesn't matter what happens after that because, as pointed out from the list above, He is in control and He is good.

So I guess my New Years' Resolution (other than the standard: lose weight) is to take one day at a time. To thank God for each day, to relish what He has given me and to not get too caught up in looking back or looking forward. Larry Calvin once said something in a sermon that stuck with me (in fact I printed it out and framed it - it's in the boys' room still) "Today is a gift. Tomorrow has not yet been given." Appreciate the gift you have now. If tomorrow comes, enjoy it too. But don't bank on a gift you haven't received yet.

I pray you all have a very Happy New Year (or at least a regular Sat. night spent with people you love).

BTW, we've had a major happening in the Park house in the last 3 days. We are officially crib free! That's right, Jeremiah is now sleeping in a big boy bed. He has had officially 3 naps and 2 full nights of sleep. He hasn't gotten up once. We keep waiting for the gig to be up, but as I've philosophized about already, we're thankful for what we have now.