Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Learning to be content...

My view from our enclosed patio room

My view from our enclosed patio room

I've lived in Mount Vernon, OH now for 4 years.  It's really hard to believe it's been that long already!!  It's by far the smallest town I've ever lived in so it's been a different experience for our family for sure.  When we moved here I had this romantic view of living in a small town, but the first time I wanted to run to the mall or Target and couldn't because they're 45 minutes away, I  realized that small town living may not be for me:).  I do miss the big city and all the activity and people and restaurants...and, of course, the malls:).   But as I sit on my patio on this beautiful Spring day to do some work, I have to say that there is a lot to love about living in a small country town that I don't always take the time to appreciate.  It's so peaceful and calm.  I love to open the patio doors and listen to the birds, see the squirrels and chipmunks chasing each other, and hear and see the woodpeckers in the trees.  The other morning I even saw a red fox run through my yard and we see deer in our yard almost every single day.  A few months back, we saw a huge red tailed hawk swoop down and get a squirrel and then fly off.  These are things that I've never had the opportunity to witness in my own yard living in the city, but I have the opportunity everyday to see it from my own patio living here!

I really have to work on being content with where I'm at and not focusing all my time looking ahead to the day when we can live back in a big city.  I do love my house and I even love living on three wooded acres...it's beautiful!  We've made some wonderful friends that I know will be life long.   I know that someday we will move again...but until then, life is good and I do feel blessed with all I have.  When I look back on all the places we've lived, I can find the pros and cons with each one....I know that no place is perfect.  The neat thing is that I have always been able to see God's hand in the midst of each move we've made.  

Big changes are in store for our family in the near future....the University where Scott is chaplain will be looking for a new president, as our current president will be taking a new presidency at a University in Seattle.  Not only is this a huge change for the University, but we will miss our dear friends terribly as they leave to take this new position.  I'm so sad to say goodbye to one of my best friends, my shopping buddy and my running pal.  As well, Cody will leave for college in the fall which, as I've said before, is going to change our family as we know it now.  Zach will turn 16 and be driving soon and and before we blink, he'll be graduating too.   Life is constantly changing and whether or not I'm going to be content and happy with where I'm at is my choice.  I am constantly reminded of the verse in Philippians 4:11,  "not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in".  I don't want to strive for comfort or what I want...I want to strive for contentment, no matter the situation, where I'm living or what I may think I need.  Life is good!