Changes...

There's a big, open field about a mile from our house. Every spring, the field is covered with wildflowers. I've taken some truly memorable and wonderful pictures of the kids in that field. So, you might understand why I got upset the other day when I was driving by that field, and saw that it was being torn up, covered with construction vehicles. Something is being built there.

It wasn't even a year ago that my favorite locally-owned Italian restaurant got torn down, and a sports bar (a popular chain restaurant) got built in it's place. This Italian restaurant was unique. It was supposed to look like New York's Central Park, hence the name, Central Park Cafe. It had park benches at the tables, and a huge white gazebo right in the middle of the main dining area. On Friday nights, they would bring in live entertainment, which our kids thoroughly enjoyed. Their favorite artist was a young man who played the accordion. He even took requests. The garlic bread was always hot and dripping with butter, and when you would bite into a piece, it would melt in your mouth. We could feed our entire family with drinks, salads, bread, and entrees, for around $20. And now, it's gone... Replaced by some yucky sports bar.

I'm a creature of habit. Don't get me wrong, every now and then it's fun to mix things up a bit. But I tend to do best when things are predictable. Too much change all at one time can scare me. I like smooth sailing, and clear skies. When changes come along unexpectedly, it can feel like you're in a small boat in open waters in the midst of a big storm that's tossing your boat back and forth. Well, I've recently noticed a change within our family that's left me feeling a bit tossed around. Avery, who has always clung to Isaac since he was a newborn and has always demanded his full attention, has been shifting the majority of her attention towards Samuel. For the past few weeks, it has seemed like the "newness" of Isaac's arrival has finally worn off (2 years later!), and Avery has started to realize that Samuel's a pretty cool guy to hang out with too. Samuel and Avery have always had an awesome bond, and I never even noticed how much things changed between them when Isaac was born.

All of this came to a head last weekend in a rather sad way when I found Isaac, banging on Samuel's bedroom door in tears, saying "A-E" (that's how he pronounces Avery) over and over again. Samuel and Avery were inside the room, laughing. I could tell that Isaac's boat was no longer sailing in smooth waters. A change had occurred, and it was like a big wave had just come crashing down on Isaac. Too much change all at one time had rocked his little boat. Bubba missed his Sissy.

It seems like a lot of people these days are trying their best to navigate their way through the choppy waters of change... changes in their job, living situation, health, and overall sense of security. Change is hard, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what your age. But I would like to end this story on a positive note. Much to my surprise, this is how I found Avery and Isaac last night:No matter what changes we might all be experiencing these days, perhaps we could all learn a valuable lesson from Avery and Isaac, and seek comfort from the people around us who love us most. And perhaps we could even find our comfort in something as simple as the words from a really good book.

"Others went out on the sea in ships.... and a tempest lifted high the waves. In their peril, their courage melted away... they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed." Psalm 107: 23- 29