War Zone

A title for this post, our apartment, and our life. Actually, war zone is a little heavy for our life. A rollercoaster ride is more like it.

Many of you are probably feeling both the excitement and stress of the holidays. It's the best time of the year for sure, but the gift purchasing, traveling to see loved ones, and trying to bake a decent cookie may have you, like me, caught in a whirlwind of stress and emotions. Couple that with MOVING just a few short days after Christmas and one just might feel like one's life is not only a whirlwind, but spinning out of control. This is our life. A rollercoaster.

Some days are great and filled with anticipation of living in a brand-spankin-new condo. A guest bathroom, a clean carpet, a garbage disposal that operates as intended, almost twice as much room to stretch out. Finally free from living in a place filled with boxes and disarray (ie. our guest bed is set up in our living room because there's nowhere else to go with it). All good things. But most of the time, that excitement is overshadowed by a heaping pile of stress. Most of the time it's filled with fear and anxiety. How the heck are we going to pay for all the stuff we need or some of the things we want? What color are we going to paint the walls? When should the fridge be delivered? Where's the money going to come from? How are we going to get a new sofa here? Will our guests have a bad back after sleeping on this terribly thin mattress? Where'd our savings go??

All this after traveling to see both families in Pennsylvania and then having them both in town at the peak of moving season. A big help and a joy to see, but my need-to-please self is a little apprehensive about how I'm going to keep everyone cheerful, cared for, and fed. Plus, we hate moving. Heavy lifting, a ton of disorganization, and cardboard everywhere (cardboard can be like nails on a chalkboard for me, not fun).

So thank God last week our pastor's sermon was entitled "Hopes and Fears." Can you guess which one rules my life? Hope doesn't happen all by itself, but fear does. And when we don't cultivate hope--when we don't make a conscious effort to live in it--fear can take our legs out from under us and knock us down pretty hard. During this hectic season of life, it's imperative that I soak in the reality and goodness and promises of God. If I don't, the most wonderful time of the year will pass me by quicker than I can say "Waterford sucks" (and let me tell you, that phrase rolls off my tongue pretty fluently).