Winds of Change

Who else has days where every little thing makes you feel poetic? With the fall weather settling in and the winds of change are literally blowing 40mph down the street right now, It just feels like such a cozy day! Turning off lights and TVs, I can smell my pot of coffee, I'm contemplating making potato soup, our cloth diaper laundry is drying, both of my kids are sleeping... this moment feels frozen and all I can hear is the wind busily blowing through the trees outside and my fingers as they hit the keys on the keyboard.

Life is beautiful, isn't it?

I married the love of my life just over 3 years ago. It's funny, I love this time of year. It was this time of year that he and I really began to connect and fall in love. So much life has come and gone since then. When we were early in our relationship I attended an emotional growth program called Pathways, during the 4 months that I was in this program I also underwent an abdominal surgery to treat my Endometriosis. Just a couple of weeks after my surgery, Jason proposed to me while I had strep throat. Our fairy tale together seems to be watermarked by real life in such a poetic way. We have both lost grand parents, changed jobs, become home owners... We have seen dark days individually and together... at times it seems that the only thing that comes easily for us is laughter... and I thank God often for that amazing staple in our life together. We're opposites in many ways, but those differences keep us honest and genuine.

On August 4th, 2013, I gave birth to a fire cracker. Gemma. She is so full of life. With my history of Endo, I told Jason early in our relationship that I didn't know what my fertility would look like. I robbed myself of quite a bit of day-dreaming-joy by assuming the worst. Endometriosis caused a lot of pain and stress for us and Jason was held captive by it as well. It was paralyzing. All was on hold when my pain episodes would begin. The surgery I mentioned earlier was an incredible relief for me physically, and for us together in our relationship. Now, two babies and 3 years of marriage later, I can see God has been such an incredible craftsman in my life.

I don't consider myself blessed BECAUSE of what he has done or what he has given me... no, I was blessed long before all of that. I am blessed because I have never been alone. The winds of change has blown rather steadily through my life. Missing my siblings is the closest I can relate to feeling "home sick"... because I have moved so many times that no one place truly stands out in my mind. I miss my family all the time. I miss being face to face, I miss their hugs, I miss watching movies together, I miss driving around with my sisters, I miss laughing so hard I pee myself. I miss playing spoons and speed, I miss sleeping in the same bedroom on Christmas Eve. I miss our pointless debates and arguments...YES. I miss those things. But I have never once missed God. I get cold chills as I type this out. He has never changed. He has never been far off. He has never called me names. He has never been too far away when I needed comfort. He has never missed a holiday. He never changes. He doesn't move our of state. He's with me. My fairy tale relationship with God is also watermarked with real life. I have been angry, I have be flaky, I have been childish. I have aimlessly sought to find self worth outside of His arms...but none of those things have ever threatened to take Him away from me. HE. IS. STEADFAST.

I frequently feel lost. Like everyone else has a script and I don't know my lines... but He helps me navigate life. Learning to appreciate life's watermarks can be hard sometimes, and the winds of change can be wild and scary... but i'm captivated by it.

Would you be swept away?

Off your feet?

No road map?

Gone with the breeze?

Would you be swept away?

Into a fairy tale?

Where gravity is gone

Where you cannot fail?

Would you risk it all?

Would you let this go?

Can you silence your fears?

Can you forget what you know?

Would you stake your life

Your comfort

Your joy

On the here and now?

Are you happy enough to keep what you've found?

Or are you like me?

You're somewhere in between...

Happy, but sad.

Observing the breeze...

Would you be swept away and be free?

Mexico

My spirit has felt off for a few days now with a heaviness. I feel like I am holding the mic and have been staring at my feet unsure of why I asked for this opportunity. I have talked to Jason a lot lately about my upbringing, moving around a lot and having my heart all over America… I told him it’s been something that my subconscious just doesn’t want to put down, but I couldn’t fathom why. I sometimes feel like a secret agent because I know three languages, one of which is Spanish. I have overheard WAY too many awkward things because people chose to speak freely, I mean… “who would understand!?” (I have blushed way too many times to count, just FYI… it happens a LOT.)

Earlier this week Mexico had a record breaking storm coming for it… (Picture the devastation of an EF5 tornado across a large portion of Mexico…) my head and heart were in agreement that this was exceptionally scary. I lived there for a year and a half before coming to Tulsa. I made many trips to central and southern Mexico as a child and I have MANY heart-family members down there (We named Gemma after a child I taught in bible class and I have nieces and nephews I haven’t been able to hug in over 4 years). I know you guys get what I’m saying, but my heart wants to paint a clear picture… that storm was going for my heart. In a turn of events that no one can easily explain, the storm quickly downgraded to a tropical storm once it made landfall. The “miraculous” nature of this was not predicted. By nature, hurricanes are strongest in warmer waters… which the coast of Mexico is full of. If that Cat 5 storm had made landfall at full strength, I am not exaggerating to say that 100s of thousands of impoverished people would have been in mortal danger.

So we all know that my heart paints pictures and wants to give you all the full effect… but among my great joy and relief for my loved ones to be safe, I am reminded again of how far my roots reach. I didn’t grow up “normal”… which I was naively bitter about while growing up. We spent holiday and vacation money on long drives to Mexico to serve and love on people I couldn’t understand or communicate with. A PRIVILEGE that I didn’t understand, nor did I truly see, until I lived in Mexico as an adult. At this point when I hear people talk about going to Mexico, I always envision rural or inner city… but frequently I’m met with descriptions of places like Acapulco or Cozumel.

I know I am not alone in this, which makes this sentiment even richer. I have many relationships with others who have experienced the heart of Mexico. But I want that family to grow. I may have grown up as a nomad moving and traveling quite a bit (a freaking cool experience in hindsight)… but my heart is beginning to realize what I missed. I feel like I’m dancing a new dance and I don’t know what to do with my hands. I saw this storm approaching and saw my newsfeed fill up with prayers and support for the country I love and my eyes filled with tears. Thank you for loving on my heart family. I sometimes don’t feel worthy to claim that beautiful country as a second home, but that’s my truth- my story. I have spent too much time trying to pretend like this longing has faded. So, this is for you, mis queridos… this is a portion of a poem I wrote in 2010.

“Desde que les conocí, han sido un parte de mi.
Si,les quiero, mis corazónes, y tengo un millón razones.
Y cada amanecer me acuerdo que no estan aqui a mi lado.
en mis sueños siempre ustedes serán”