Returning to normal

What is normal?  I do not know anymore.  The last six months of my father-in-laws life was a whirlwind of activity, silence, and prayers.  In the midst of his short illness (if you call 6 months short), we had so many changes within our own family. 

June brought the end of our homeschooling with the "graduation" of our youngest. We have homeschooled for eleven years.  This summer will not be spent gathering item to use next year, but will be spent selling and purging items we have used over the years.  The floors in my house will groan with the weight that is going to be lifted off of them.  Books weigh a lot!!  We have shelves and rooms full of books.  There is not one room that is spared from a bookshelf full of books.

Tonight is the last event for gymnastics for our son.  It is an end of year banquet that is done annually for the athletes of the previous season.  With this dinner, our life of gymnastics is over.  Our son still works at the gym, but since he drives, he is able to get there and home on his own.  My responsibility is basically over.  No more weekends out of town, no more driving to the gym 6 days a week, it is simply done.

Our daughter and son made certian choices that will forever change them. Some good, some bad, but every choice anyone makes will change them. It is the free will that God has given us, even though He knows what will happen with each choice given.
Our daughter has slowly been stretching her wings.  She is working and spending more time with friends.  She will be transferring to a 4 year college in the fall and will most likely move out permanently in the next year or so.
 
Our son is working, but unsure of his future.  I was always so sure of what I wanted, but then that changed too.  He will find his place, I just have to remember it is in God's time, not my time, that He will show our son what his destiny will be.

So what is normal for me anymore?  I'm not really sure.  I still clean the house and make the meals.  I attend Bible study with my husband of Tuesdays and with a group of women of Fridays.  But my normal included so much with my kids and then with my father-in-law.  I am floundering a little these days.  After the funeral last Friday and the emotional turmoil, I am starting to know that I need to find my new normal.  Life changes and life stays the same.  I still have my husband of 24 years at my side.  He will be retiring in the next couple of years, and then things will change again.

So I ask again, what is normal?  I think it is taking each day that God gives us and being the best we can be for that day.  Remembering what is important and not letting the world get the best of us.  There is so much to be thankful for and I think that is the normal.  Thanking God for our daily life and giving us the strength when things get tough.

May you be blessed in your daily life.