Adapting to change

We have had a few changes this week.  Over last weekend we learnt that our next door neighbour had moved out.  It was a surprise as no-one seemed to be aware of it until some men were there emptying the house of things that she hadn't wanted to take with her.  She was a single mother who had personal problems and although she had 6 children, she herself was rarely seen outside so it was difficult to really get to know her.  We are now waiting to see who our new neighbours will be and what they are like.  It is a 3 bedroom house so we expect a family with children.  It will be interesting to see if friendships develop at some point in the future.



The other day the man who has helped me with the large back garden for the past couple of years delivered the news that at the end of October, at the end of the season, he will be giving up that particular job as he is training to be a coach driver.  He hopes to start his new job in November.  We have quite a good sized lawn and knowing that he comes regularly and keeps it under control, is a great help and relief.  For the rest I manage to potter about and see to fruit and vegetables and tend the flower beds.  So come the spring, when things begin growing again, I will have to reconsider whether I'll be able to manage it all on my own or look for someone else to help.  Who knows, our new neighbour might be just the person!


Last Saturday my son started a new part-time job - 12 hours a week as a cleaner at an Express branch of a large supermarket.  He works 2 hours a day for 6 days, starting at 5.30 in the morning.  Fortunately it is within a 5 minute walk from our home but it still means a very early start to the day.  My plan was to continue sleeping and get up when he returns but as I am aware of him moving about, I am usually wide awake by the time he goes out at 5.15 am.  I have found it a very good time of the day to read, iron, catch up on Facebook (or my blog) or just think and organise my day.  Yesterday was his day off (although eventually he will get a Sunday off) and it felt as though I had a good lazy start to the day - I slept until 6 am!



Choices that we make for ourselves often means some change in our daily routine.  The thing in all these situations is that sometimes things happen in our lives because of the choices of other people that need some adaptation on our part to the new circumstances.  I have no control over when other people move house or change jobs but their choices can affect me in some way.  Life is continually evolving and we have to sometimes change direction in order to compensate and cope with the change.  This week I also received the latest newsletter from Martin and Gayle Scott.  He was commenting on things that had changed and people with whom he had connected who had since moved to another country.  The comment that caught my attention was - 

Our strong encouragement is ... not to focus so much on what has been but to look to see where and to whom he (God) wants to connect you.

It's such a temptation and pull to stay comfortable and stick with what we're used to.  We're fine just as we are, thank you!  But in life, the reality is that things keep changing and evolving and we have to move and adapt to the changes - whether physical, emotional or spiritual.  Here's to change!