As I was doing the dishes tonight, I was thinking over the last decade of my life.  I was teasing my friend who just turned 30--and was thrilled about it--that the 30's were the worst years of my life.  Actually it all started before that when my mom died.  I was 27.  Things went along more smoothly until I was 33, then I had an emergency C-section with my son, and later the same year we moved into a new house.  I began homeschooling my second son the fall before the move, so the year was more than a little overwhelming for me.  Just as I was beginning to settle into the new house, my husband got a transfer to the Investigations department of the sheriff's office where he worked, and although it was less demanding initially, it quickly became hectic as drought in north Florida put all the law enforcement officers on extra duty. Fourteen months after our move, my husband left me.  That was an especially hard thing to recover from, and it took almost two years to feel like I was on top of things again.  I had a year to be on top of things, then my dad died, and I was a for-real single mom. 

OK, so where's the thanksgiving in all of this?  I certainly have NOT had it bad--I know many single moms and married ones who have had more calamity than I have.  But what I found myself grateful for tonight is change.  I am grateful that life is an adventure.  Even when it had been hard and dark and depressing, I have sensed God's presence and grown closer to Him through it.  I am often guilty of using my vivid imagination to escape from real life into my own fantasy one where everything is perfect.  What I find in that world though is that it quickly becomes boring.  I have to change the scenario often enough to keep it interesting.  Don't have to do that in real life.  God does plenty of changing for me.  And He's always there with me.

I am grateful to God for change.  I know that although the last decade (or so) has brought tragedy into my life, it has brought joy also--three new babies, a new house, many friends, a deeper understanding of scripture, an awareness of my call, a new tenderness toward people, and a job I love (OK, am I talking about the childcare one, or the mommy one?  I'm not sure.  I love both!), and many other things.  When my dad died, I found myself realizing how much He had grown me when I never panicked.  I knew God was just changing my direction, and that He would lead and provide.  And He has.

So tonight, I am thankful that things change.  And that God is providentially and soveriegnly in control of all of those changes.