Mutability

Anyone who knows me well knows that I don't deal well with change. Which is an understatement. On the Myers-Briggs scale I am a J all the way. I mean if Ben says to me, "Hey, do you want to go to Wendy's for dinner," I mentally prepare myself for Wendy's. Then, if Ben is like, "Nah, forget it, let's just stay home," this throws me into a tailspin. I have to mentally reconcile the fact that we are no longer going to Wendy's. I will be deprived of the cellulite inducing frosty. Why, God, why?!! I digress. This year has been one big fat change and not just Barack Obama change (don't get me started). It's the obese year of change. ALL THE CHANGE!!! Let's look at all these mind-blowing changes. ((Note: by year, I mean last June to this August.))

June 27: I discover I'm pregnant. This was a good change. Strike that...GREAT, AWESOME, INTENSELY AWAITED change. I spent the next nine months fretting, worrying, anticipating, preparing, planning for our blessed change.

August (in the middle somewhere): My sister moves to Grand Rapids taking a piece of my heart with her. I heart my sister. Despite her being 8 years my junior, I consider her my best friend. She calls it like she sees it with me, and I love that. She also laughs at my jokes, which I also love. I had been so used to her being a 5 minute drive away; this took a little getting used to. I'm glad she was able to do this, but it was not MY favorite change--and isn't life about pleasing me?

September 1: School resumes with pregnancy in tow. Beginning the school year is challenging enough, especially for the insanely uptight...like me. Everything must be perfectly organized, every situation that may arise must be anticipated, everything in it's right place (shout out, Thom). When you're pregnant, hormonal, sweat when talking, obnoxious vomitous, etc...preparing for school is Dante's tenth circle of Hell.

November 3: New president whose campaign revolved around "change". That's all I have to say about that.

December (towards the end): We bought a Wii.

December 29: My grandma passes away...ugh! I hate writing that. Probably the most terrible loss I've ever endured. She was killed by a drunk driver. And that's all I have to say about that.

December 30: Our second niece was born! Hooray for Gigi!

February 15: Our family expanded by one. Enter Elijah Steven Parker two weeks early. I will never watch Beverly Hills Cop the same way (as this was the movie playing whilst I pushed a human out of me--oh, Axel Foley). Life and my waist line will never be the same. I could go on and on and on and on about this beautiful baby who has changed our lives in so many ways, but I see your eyelids are already drooping.

May (towards the beginning): Adam, my sage brother, graduates from his master's program at Gordon Conwell. Changes abound for him.

July 1-10: travel via train to California with a 4 month old (and I didn't die, nor did anyone else). We visited my grandpa and aunts and uncle. It was fun had by all.

Okay, the following is new information to some of you. I hope you can handle it. You may want to practice your breathing exercises.

July 17: I quit my job at Will Carleton. Did you hear me? I QUIT...my job...in this economy...in this state. I quit my TEACHING job. And then my brain leaked out of my ear and I fell writhing on the ground because what are we going to do now? Okay, this was a very, VERY difficult decision. I love teaching like a portly fellow likes cake (was that a nice change?). I also adore the time I spend with Eli, and being his mother is my favorite job. I spent a lot of time in prayer over this. In the end, being a momma to Eli was more important than working. Are we going to have to live frugally? Yes. Are we going to be able to eat McDonald's every day? No. Do we qualify for WIC? Yes. I know that I have to rely on God completely with this decision and know that he will carry us through.

August 1: I get a teaching job at Sylvan. I felt that I needed to do something to prevent my brain from atrophying, so I acquired, thanks to my friend, Megan, a part time job tutoring at Sylvan in the evenings. 2 nights a week and every other Saturday, I will continue to mold young minds. Hooray!

There are some other minor changes, but I'm sure most of you are in REM sleep at this point. Thanks, faithful readers (all 4 of you) for your support and prayers this year. It's been a rough one for a control freak like myself, but I guess that's what I needed.