To take a chance .... or NOT.

Ever since our great adventure, a thought goes through my mind: "Is now the time for change?" Maybe I'm being affected by my hubby's seeming Mid-life Crisis, but it seems a theme of my generation right now. One family I know has sold their house and gone to a near 2 year RV excursion around N. America. Another have submitted a leave of absence and took their family to a year long mission work in Honduras. Another friends sold their city house and moved to a quieter suburb acreage. I guess for many of us, we have been on the grind for quite a while, and men and women wonder "is this all there is to life?" We're not getting any younger; maybe we should take a chance and dive into doing something worthwhile.

We've contemplated taking a sailing trip (a LONG one), a RV tour across N. America, and even selling our house and moving to a more affordable place in BC and start a brand new business like B&B. All are pretty big deal. It is exciting, but at the same time it brings a "no-return" reality with its realization.

So I ask myself what is it that makes me look outside of what we already got? I certainly don't want to be ungrateful for all that we do have. What is this unrest within that prompts us to look outside?

The easy answer for me is to say would be: I'm just following the lead of my hubby. But the harder answer is to admit that I harbor the spirit of discontent. If only... has always been my hardest tempter and constant pitfall I kept falling since I came to the Lord.

• If only I had a bigger house I can have my friends over.



• If only we had a property that was paid for, hubby could be around more.



• If only hubby had a better job, he'd be happier.

The list goes on and on. Some of them may quite possibly be true. Yet it only shows one side of the coin. For instance, if we had a bigger house, it'll be much harder to clean (I already find this house to be hard to keep clean!) and there isn't one in this neck of the woods we can afford. Which is also part of the other IF ONLY's reality. If we had a bigger place/property, we wouldn't be in Victoria. Which means, we wouldn't have the friends to call over! The last IF ONLY, too, isn't really a guarantee, either. Job is a job, and my hubby hates politics in the office which you can't escape from as long as you're employed.

So I turn my eyes away from comparison of "what ifs" and start counting the GOOD.

1. I have the privilege to homeschool and stay at home. Even though it comes with a cost, it is really worth it.



2. I have a marriage that we both work on and enjoy which is worth more than gold.



3. I have a home that is just for us and is working just great, and it's even in a beautiful location.



4. I have friends near me that I can count on.



5. I have a church family that love each other, and that is a working body of Christ.



6. I have family near that support us.



7. I lack absolutely no food, shelter nor clothing. I may not be the latest fashion statement, but who cares?

God has been incredible. So I choose today to cast my eyes on these instead and praise God for His unfailing love. To give really where the credit is due. I am richer than I think, or what the world will have me think. So I grab my thoughts and make them obedient to the reality with Jesus' help.

If the Lord chooses to take our family on an adventurous path, I'll go. But in the meantime, I will bloom where He's planted me whole heartedly.