Life Changing With The Seasons

Fall has arrived. 

In some ways I am thankful for the cooler days (although in my neck of the woods fall weather means 80 degrees instead of 100 in comparison to the east coast where I am originally from where fall weather means 60's) but, I always dread the end of summer.  Summer is my favorite season.  Life is in full swing, life is blooming, and the opportunity for fun seems right around the corner.  Fall has always to me symbolized the beginning of the end.  It hearkens the coming of winter and the death of all things until spring again.  Yes, I know, everything comes back to life in the spring and winter here isn't even very cold but still, winter to me is not something that I look forward to. 

Coinciding with the arrival of fall is the departure of my husband's former unit as they deploy to the middle east.  This means that not only are the husbands of a few very good friends leaving but I am also losing Ellie, the good friend and army chaplain that I had the pleasure of meeting this summer.  She has been a blessing in the past few months and although I know that I am not "losing" her permanently, I am still feeling sadness about her impending departure.  I m thankful for the time that we did have together but it seems only appropriate for this to happen in the fall season when things seem to be changing along with the leaves.

Please say a prayer for Ellie as she faces new challenges and for the soldiers who will accompany her on this new mission.  God Bless them all and keep them safe from any harm.  May the time pass quickly and may the friends and family left behind find friendship and support in each other.  It has been four months since my own husband left and I still feel lost without him but I am taking one day at a time and know that these spouses too will survive the separation.

Ellie has created a blog where she plans to post sermons that she delivers while deployed and where she plans to share some of her experiences.  Check her out at http://melbaars.blogspot.com/  I hope she touches and inspires your life in the same ways that she has mine.