I am known in my family for re-arranging things. I get “that look in my eye” and they all know that something is about to change. It’s always for the better, somehow. It gives us more room, better functionality, has better eye appeal. Children grow, needs change, priorities change...

We expect babies to change; but, we are never quite prepared for how fast! Even as I type, Louis is gaining weight, and testing out new babbling and physical skills. What a charmer he is! This photo is already out of date, and it’s only from last month.

Sometimes change is long-awaited for, like Patrick’s return home from the Army. We have anxiously anticipated and prepared for it. What a relief and blessing to have him where we can give him the TLC he needs. There will be many adjustments for him in the months to come as he finds work as a civilian and begins the healing process.

Here are some other changes going on: Andrea is home from Kentucky teaching; but off to Mexico for 8 weeks of teaching English to a community of German speaking Russian Mennonites. From there, she flies to KY for a quick visit before attending her cousin Jackie’s wedding in CA; back to KY to finish her visit; then home briefly before an educational excursion to Israel for 3 weeks in September.

Lauren finished her Spring classes with flying colors, as well as an academic achievement award from her psychology professor. She is taking the summer off to be an Auntie and is currently in WA with a friend who just had her first baby.

I feel like I’ve watched Charlotte leap from schoolgirl to an amazing wife and mother in no time at all! What a beautiful sight she is in her new realm. Do you realize that she and Fred celebrated their 1st anniversary already?!

Samuel is entering into the workforce phase of life. Am I ready for this? When he walks into the room, I have to check twice to see if it’s Howard, his stature has changed that much. He is becoming the man-in-demand by more than just his mother.

Micah tickles me, because he is the male version of me, when I was his age. It makes it so much easier to be patient with him when I remember that. :)

Ethan’s well-being made some changes lately that are not at all welcome, nor were they expected, nor are they fully understood. His “normal” seizure activity has been to have a session of grand mals about every 2 months. Not fun; but tolerable, especially when you consider he isn’t on any medication. Well, June brought an incredible increase in that activity, which was frightening, to say the least. He had an entire week (seven days in a row!) of 3-4 hour long sessions of intense seizures. He is back on a mild form of medication, temporarily, to break the cycle. Hopefully, he will return to his normal pattern and perky self very soon.

Joshua - my baby - is growing up too fast for me to keep up. I find myself constantly wishing I had more time with him, one on one. He and I are learning to seize moments together for deep, intellectual conversation or to read a book. I am keenly aware that my time is running out to hug and kiss this boy and hold him on my lap.

In fact, I think that is the crux of this whole epistle: Redeeming the time, because we see it running out, as surely as our bodies grow weary with age. Changes are certain. How are we going to respond to them? It takes moment by moment discernment to utilize each circumstance, each phase of life to it’s fullest. My goal is to do that in a way that glorifies God.