Change. It’s a good thing. I think. We fight it of course, for many reasons, and I suppose all of our excuses are different. Maybe we resist change out of fear…ugh, the fear thing again. I think fear can often be evidence of a faith deficiency, a deficiency as detrimental to life as an oxygen deficiency would be. It can suffocate and suppress dreams as it tries to scare us back into what’s comfortable. What’s familiar. What’s safe. What’s ordinary. But here’s the thing. We weren’t made for ordinary. We were designed to live for Him, and nothing about Him is ordinary. We were divinely created to do good works, for He has even prepared in advance for us a purpose and a promise land waiting for us to claim. But will we do it? Will we accept the gift, put one foot in front of the other, and say “I’m all in”? Will we genuinely desire that we would decrease, to make room for Him to increase?
This looks different for all of us, we each have different choices to make at different seasons of life; but for me today, I am in the midst of big choices and big changes. Homeschooling begins in about 3 weeks, give or take my ability to get my act together. It is not so much the homeschooling alone that has me standing on the edge of great expectation; but it’s homeschooling combined with all the other background noise that seem to be shouting the same theme to me in perfect unison. I’m starting to sense that homeschooling itself is not the big change I’m in for, but rather the means by which God is going to show me (and my family) something more. Perhaps we will see that obediently saying “yes” to keeping our girls at home, may suddenly widen our view to something bigger. Something different. Change. And God directed change is always a good thing.
I love that the timing of my blog redesign came right now on the threshold of new things. It just seems right. Isn’t it a great new look! The mastermind behind figuring out how to make this happen is Brittany of Gallery No. 8. She is my newest favorite person that I have never met in real life. She has a gift, of both design and patience. She helped me through this blog change thing with so much support, so that I could spend more time focusing on the change thing going on in my heart. So Brittany, from the bottom of my changing heart…thank you!
I love that you sweet readers are here for me to talk to during all things new around here. As I have said from the beginning and will genuinely mean all the way till the end, it is an honor for me that you visit here. So welcome to the new look of Playing Sublimely, thanks for friendship and the listening ear you offer, and may there be much to come between us that will bring much glory to Him who is worthy.
Hey girl…..pretty blog changes! Love the “flag stickers” on your pictures in the right column.
Contemplating change here, too, and it’s hard. But, I was thinking exactly as you said above…apprehension about change = fear. I’m all about fear. God is not all about fear. I choose him. Admittedly, I have to choose him over and over, again as I let fear back in and even invite it to come and have a tea party.
Prayers for you in all your changes!
Dear Amy,
I am so encouraged by your beautiful website! I have recently started refinishing furniture and it is a wonderful way for me to decompress after much effort poured in to my job of housewife, mother, homeschool mom, and Crossfit Trainer. (Not to mention the efforts of being a friend, sister, daughter, and the myriad of other roles women play in our world!).
I wanted to encourage you in your walk of obedience and choosing to bring your children home. I don’t meet many moms who have been given a similar request directly from God, and admit it! At times I ask myself, “at the end of my life here on earth, will anything else really matter? Will money, will career, will social position, will anything compare to the reward of giving my children these 18 years of coaching, teaching, and training? With an eternal perspective, you will do an amazing job “training up your children in the way they should go”.
I have been homeschooling my two children for 11 years. (I have an 11 year old and a 10 year old). It is both wonderful and challenging to say the least. Honestly, the children are not as challenging as the changes God wants to make in our lives. The saying, “Iron sharpens Iron” never rang more true than the journey of having to homeschool a daughter like myself! We are so alike and so different. Many mothers say, “I could never homeschool my children, we butt heads too much”…etc.
Other than marriage, I have not found anything in my 40 years of life more conducive to “dying to self” than homeschooling my children. The grace and love God pours into our lives are ever more abundant to accomplish this daily task. You are an amazing woman and you hear from God. Stay the course and do not grow weary in doing good. For in due time you will reap a harvest…”
Your new homeschool friend!,
Luila
Amy, your blog looks beautiful. Change can always be a good thing if not always frightening! I know that God is leading you down the perfect path for your family and I can’t wait to get to follow along!
Hi Amy,
Your blog is beautiful in both content and design. I just went through the process myself, and even though my blog is relatively new, it was indeed stressful at times. I wish you peace and a smooth transition as you make the change to homeschooling. I look forward to your posts and thank you for sharing.
Love it, I didn’t know you were going to change the layout but it looks great.
You will do great with your homeschooling, why? because you have wonderful children. I know, spoken like a true Grandmother! I have to say I was worried (a littlle) in the beginning but now I’m not. After spending last weekend with you and the children, I’m convinced you will all do fine. Those girls are so responsive and they are very excited about the homeschooling, that there is a great beginning. Just like your new friend Luila said, stay the course and all will be fine. What sweet words from your new friend, encourgement is so needed in the beginning, isn’t it? So, don’t fret, your faith, knowledge and love for your children will get you off to a lovely start. Love you my girl and your precious children! ENJOY! this time, it goes by way too fast!!!
I love the new design( although I loved the original too)! Your words are alway inspirational to me and I wish that you could write every day!
Love your blog makeover! It looks great! I don’t do well with change and there’s a lot of it going on here too. My oldest is changing high schools and my youngest is going off to kindergarten. I’m a bucket of nerves. I keep putting my worries in God’s hands. Then I forget I put them in his hands and I worry all over again. Then I reput them in his hands. Haha! That’s pretty much the cycle I’m in right now. I hope all goes great with your homeschooling! It’s a big change, but I think you’ll do great! You’ll have to keep us up to date on how it’s going!
Oh Amy, what a lovely post! And thank you so much for your kind words! You are my newest favourite person that I have never met too
We must find a way to change that at some point! It was truly an honour to help you with your site; I find you so inspiring and I am truly so glad that God brought you into my life.
I’m right with you on changes! I’m done school, working on my design business, trying to figured out what the next step is and learning that maybe right now, I’m just where He wants me to be. I was worried about moving home after graduation because there’s not a lot of design related work here, but He has brought me so many wonderful opportunities both online and in real life that it’s hard to doubt. I don’t know what the next few months or years hold for me, but I’m learning (somewhat slowly aha) that saying ‘no’ to what I want and ‘yes’ to what He wants produces far better results than I could have ever dreamed!
I’ll be praying as you start this new adventure! (but I know you’ll do wonderfully!)
xoxoxo
Oh, girl, do I know about CHANGE! I’ve never liked it, never craved it, mostly avoided it. But here I am. Smack dab in the middle of it in BIG ways. And right at the center of it all? My Lord and Savior. Saving me every single day! Thanks for sharing pieces of your heart so beautifully here.
love,
Linsey