September 23, 2015.  The first day of my favorite season: Pumpkin Everything, also known as Fall.  I cannot believe it has been nine months since my last update.  Wait.  Who am I kidding?!  I excel at irregular blogging, which needs to change.  Enough said.

In January, I wrote a reflective review of Andy Stanley’s “Building a Better You to Build a Better Relationship.”  I had really high expectations, as usual, that this year would be different and I’d finally learn the discipline of consistency.   Consistent at rising early, consistent at exercising, consistent at writing, consistent at being patient and gentle with my children, you get the idea.

So, how have I done so far?  Honestly, a lot of variability.  Since my blog is dedicated to redemption through grace, which by the way, if we don’t receive it we cannot extend it, to ourselves or each other, I’m going to reach for a big heaping helping of grace.

In March, our family of five sold our first house which we had called home for a decade.  A lot of hustling and bustling to declutter and pack, and when it sold within the first two weeks, the scrambling continued to find a new house.  With three kids in tow, a ‘should-be-fun’ adventure was mostly stressful and rushed.  When we were less than three weeks from closing and still without a house, things started looking hopeless.

Thankfully, we found THE house in early May, but couldn’t close until two weeks after we had to be out of our old home.  Through the loving grace of friends and family, we managed to find temporary housing and storage, as wild as it seemed, and we closed on our new house May 29.  That’s when the fun REALLY ramped up.

We found a house that had everything we wanted and MORE, but it was a true ‘diamond in the rough’.  Eddie and I both stared straight through the smoke stained ceilings and ’67 decor, and knew we could make it a gem.  Of course, we both tend to overestimate our abilities and underestimate money and time.

At moments the renovation process has been so staggering and mundane  (2,860+ square feet of priming and painting, and that was just my task), that we find ourselves overwhelmed, to say the least.  However, when we step back and look at how much we have accomplished in three months with three little ones to boot, and we remind ourselves of what a blessing this house is/will be for our family, we know it was the right choice, and soon, our house will feel like home.

What does all of this have to do with my New Year’s resolution?  I now realize if I wait for the perfect weather to make my goals a reality, I may never experience the life I want, the life I know is available for the taking.  I have to accept the reality that life is hard, and change requires effort, and good things require work.  What am I waiting for? What are you waiting for?  GO!