rechelle's lifelyrics

Well, after over 4 months of “retirement,” I can tell you I am no less busy, and my volunteer efforts have ramped up to a place I’m really trying to evaluate.

It is the end of the week (instead of Wednesday), and I’m just going to post a simple update instead of a fully planned and polished blog post. After all, I offer my heart in every page and post on my website, and no one has to wade through ads or propaganda to glean what they want from anything I put out on this world-wide-web.

My husband has been sick. In our 35+ years of marriage, he has rarely been sick – especially to the level I have seen him go through in the last several days.

Many things have been put on hold.

I’m not complaining at all, because we both have grace from God to deal with troubled times like this. But things haven’t “normal” in my home, or in my life, in the past few days.

However, I’m feeling like it might be a good time to examine this concept of “normal” as I write this.

When I was homeschooling my kids, I remember contemplating what was “normal,” and worrying if my dear children were getting a good education, if I was giving them “enough,” if they would be equipped to face their own struggles as they grew into the people they were meant to be (even after I would be gone at some point).

When I became a Grandma, I worried if I would be a “normal” Grandma, ready and able to fulfill the undefined role of being a part of my children’s kid’s lives without spoiling or enabling either generation in the process.

When I retired, I worried if I would be able to feel fulfilled in my role as… Well, I guess I wasn’t sure what it was supposed to be or what it would look like.

It’s only been a few days, really, for my new “normal” to take form.

I can tell you that in every stage of life – even the ones I didn’t list – I haven’t ever really defined “normal” as the goal I wanted my life to resemble.

I can tell you I have wanted to make each day matter, and I still strive to make thoughtful choices to that end on a daily basis.

Right now, my “normal” is to be present and helpful to my dear husband who has loved me and been the head of our home through thick and thin, sickness and health, troubles and triumphs with our children – and in our lives together.

Ultimately, my “normal” has more to do with the state of contentment in my heart in whatsoever curves that come my way in my little life. I’m seeking to accept whatever “normal” is for me as this whole world rages on.