Not Yet a Habit

I can say that fall has brought many changes in our household.  As I watch the leaves change, the autumn temperatures cool, and the days shorten, I know that I too am in the fall season of life.  My fall season is about adjusting to new habits.  To say that I haven't quite adjusted to the "new habits" would be an understatement.  Now there are parts of our routine that are starting to be familiar but other parts are just a "beating," as my son says.

My horror of all horrors is watching the clock!  On a visit to my mother's house years ago, I went from room to room, which all ticked away with "millions of clocks".  They made my skin crawl, probably because I was just coming out of the full-calendar phase of clock-watching schedules for four super-busy teenagers...and I was tired. I just hated the reminder of time.  As I tried to adjust to "watching the clock" 24/7, I went down and bought a watch.  Oh, I just hated buying that watch... but guess what?  Somehow, I lost that watch.  I still think that keeping track of every minute of my day is exhausting.

As I continue to try to make this new journey of life a "habit," I noticed that I am in phase two. Yes, there are phases to new adjustments and newly-formed habits.

• "The Honeymoon Stage" - Now this one just blew me away, because a honeymoon is something you want to be on...I didn't pick this honeymoon, so that phase passed very fast.

• "The Fight Through" - NOW THIS IS WHERE I AM 

"Inspiration fades and reality sets in. A person finds himself struggling with the positive habit completion and old habits seem to be right around the corner. The key to moving to the third phase of habit formation is to win 2 or 3 'fight thru’s.'"

-Forbes

Here is where I find myself.  I am trying to win 2 or 3 of the "fight thru's".  I am starting to adjust to my business with God, who is so graciously giving me some days off.  I had to really "fight thru" this morning when the weather started out cold...I am sooooooooooooooooo not a cold-weather person. I will be "fighting thru" to get out and going this winter.  

I have won on getting up, but lost on getting up early enough each morning to have quiet time by myself. I see that starting the day running with the "to do list" and rushing with the CLOCK makes for a very discouraged Janette.

I have fought through Benjamin being at school.  God has so graciously answered EVERY one of my prayers for this adjustment.  He loves it!  He is doing great!  My job allows me to be there at the end of his day, go on school field trips and even be the home room mom.  I still get to be involved with his schooling.

Adjusting to my body being tired after big cleans is still a "fight thru" battle that isn't won, nor having a good meal on the table by 6 or making bedtime each evening. I am hoping by December I will have won a couple of these battles.

All in all...I am on my way... winning more each day... watching God's faithfulness during some very big adjustments... delighting in the Lord bringing more "Rachel" jobs during the midst of my "Leah" jobs...  rejoicing over an assistant for some of my jobs...she is a joy, an encouragement and great teammate.

• Second Nature - Not there yet!!

In the midst of all the changes, I am so enjoying my grandson.  He was brought into our life almost a year ago.  They are waiting for the final papers before the law makes him their child legally, even though in our hearts he has been theirs for almost a year.  When they finalize the papers, I will re-post the beginning of this wonderful story.

Here is our pregnant daughter [due Dec. 8th] with my mother-in-law, who is 98 years old.  Along with my oldest son's pregnant wife [due late November], these two new grandsons will add two more great-grands for my mother-in-law's other four great-grands.  These two grandsons will also add to my grandmother's tally of great-great-grandchildren.

Both pregnant women are ready "to be done with this"... their words, not mine!  I so remember thinking it would never come to an end, nor would my body ever stretch that far.  Well, six times it came to an end and six times my belly did expand that big!  The same will be true for both of them as we enter the countdown this month.

As I continue to make things "second nature," I know that just about the time I think I have it down, there will be another curve ball.  That is life......................which means...............I am still alive, but not making my blog post very regular, nor reading blogs.  I am missing it...so I hope to be back to this "habit" very soon.