A time of Paradox

I'm not sure exactly how to explain to you the place we're in right now...very likely because I'm not exactly sure how to explain it to myself. We are in the midst of a time of paradoxes. We are feeling joy and pain, peace and frustration, patience and anxiety, all of which we are experiencing at the same time. At the moment probably the thing that is provoking these feelings most is experiencing so many "lasts". But the paradox comes in that in experiencing these lasts, they by nature mean we are experiencing firsts.

One of the "lasts" we are experiencing now is this is our last week in our home. There is pain in that as we sell or otherwise get rid of the majority of our stuff. Someone just walked out the door with mine and Carolyn's bed, a couple weeks ago we got rid of our beloved trampoline, Alex's loft bed was taken last weekend...just to name a few. But as we walk out the door of removing so many of our possessions from our lives at the same time we are walking into the door of readjusting our priorities. "OK, I guess I don't really need a trampoline or bed to be happy". (By the way, I did tell the kids they could still go and jump up and down on the rocks where the trampoline used to be). The box we need for what we consider a true need or truly important is becoming smaller and smaller.

Another last we experienced just yesterday was the last trip to the Denver Zoo, at least for a few years. God really blessed our day as a family and it was something we really needed, as the busyness of the move has stripped us of any family down time. Not that we are that attached to the zoo but it just won't be an option anymore. But it was fun to discuss with the kids their feelings and how this is all impacting them. We are all in agreement that some of these modern "luxuries" and conveniences will be missed but we are also collectively excited about the unknown adventure that awaits us. All of these earthly things that excite and woo us are so easily replaced by the next best thing. I think what we are most looking forward to are the experiences and relationships and moments that impact our hearts that no one could predict or dream of until they happen...and experience them together.