Wow.  It has been a long time since I've been here on the Blog site.  My title, Creating A New Lifestyle, has not yet found a conclusion.  The roadway of this life has many turns and twists, and no matter what plans you have, what arrangements you have made for those plans, what dreams you may have, the road twists, and one finds that abrupt and severe changes must be adopted.  It is wonderful to know, that I am not the one in charge.  Therefore, I need not panic.  There have been questions, concerns, and "what if's".  It has, rather, been interesting, and see how the One in charge had already smoothed out the torn up roadway, and made the crooked way straight.  I am so happy to say that because I have trusted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I have been adopted into God's family.  He is my Heavenly Father, and He is the One in charge. 

So the last time I wrote, we were considering a life change due to my husband's open heart surgery; and, as a consequence, a change of diet.  Since that first surgery, he had to have four more, all in a matter of six months.  Hence, he could no longer work and had a forced retirement.  In a short time, because he could not be left alone, he went to live with our youngest daughter and her family, a distance of about 3.5 hours from our present residence.  I traveled weekends to be with him, and maintained our home and my job.  That, too, took a sudden twist.  The law firm found it necessary to cut employee hours and wages; and because my dad and my husband had medical needs, it was decided that I, too, should retire earlier than planned.  I moved in with my husband and daughter's family.  That was, I believe, in 2012.  

And once again, we adjusted our lives to accommodate a new and completely lifestyle, living with children.  How blessed we were.  Our children wanted us.  They wanted to help and wanted us near them.  But I had no job.  I didn't know what to do with myself.  Yes, I had my crafts, sewing, creating, quilting, but not working left a tremendous void in my life.  I broke down.  My daughter sat on the steps with me and asked the question:  "Do you think your job defined who you are?"  I shook my head in the affirmative as tears rolled down my cheeks.  I discovered that I had to redefine myself.
God worked on my heart and my mind.  To me, it was undergoing spiritual surgery.  I had to left all that I was, had been, behind.  I was still Wife.  I was still Mother.  And best of all, I was Grandmother.  I focused on the grandchildren.  Bonds were developed that otherwise would not exist.  Being a part of their lives and seeing them grow and develop is greater than any amount of salary ever could have been.

We traveled to our oldest son's home in western New York State, and it seemed that each summer we stayed longer and longer.  Richard worked on some projects our son had for him to do around the house.  Then, out of nowhere, he and his wife asked us if we would come and live with them--get to know their children before they all grew up.  After a lot of discussion, and mostly prayer, once again our Heavenly Father, smoothed out what seemed an impossible mangled roadway, and we relocated from the South, back to the North.  Yup.  From the warm, sunny South, to the North where winters can be brutal.  

I have come home.  I am so content here.  Nothing dramatic has changed in my daytime hours.  I have my crafts, my sewing, my quilting.  I read and otherwise entertain myself.  But I am home.  Their oldest had already graduated college and moved south where she obtained employment as a high school honors math teacher.  Their oldest son was a high school senior.  We were so blessed to be a part of his life, his sports, his successes, and his graduation, and to see him go off to college.  Their younger son is in high school, and it is fun to be a part of his life, watching him develop academically, musically, and as an athlete in soccer and basketball.  Their youngest is eleven years, and is challenged with Downs Syndrome.  She is amazing and a tremendous blessing.  It is a privilege to interact with her and to be a part of her life.

Yes.  Our roadway has had many unexpected twists and turns.  Our Father has been involved in every bit of it, going ahead of us, and "where there seemed to be no way, He made a way." 

Quite recently, we experienced an episode where we had to take Richard to the ER.  He was diagnosed with a severe UTI and an infection in the E coli family.  He was there four days, and released.  A day or two later, we took him back to the ER after speaking with a doctor, because of some pretty serious debilitating back pain.  The doctor had mentioned that (1) the antibiotic may have stopped working, or (2) the infection may have spread.  On the way to the hospital, I began thinking of all that could be involved if the infection spread.  Immediately, I was reminded by my Father that I do not have to go there.  I do not have to have these thoughts or let them discourage me.  He is the One in control, and He gives peace and rest and comfort and courage when all are needed.  I rode the rest of the way in complete peace, and sat in the ER waiting, knowing He, my heavenly Father, is in control.  He was diagnosed with lumbar muscular sprain, given pain meds, and sent home.  I love my Father so much.