We cleaned out the room over our garage last
month to receive our new college graduate. The year before, we converted the
bright bedroom at the front of the house into my office. The dining room has
been a dining room, a dedicated library, then back to a dining room. The dark
middle bedroom has been an office and a room for kids home from college to
crash.
Our house seems constantly in flux. God has used
that to teach me a visual lesson about life, for it seems to be in continual
change as well.
Yes, there are some constants. So far I haven’t been able to repurpose the kitchen or the
laundry room, thus meaning I still have to cook and clean! In the same way, my
family remains, even when our proximity and relationship to one another
changes. Right now those relationships are in constant reconfiguration as the “children” navigate their own lives as young adults.
For my husband and I, our professions have
stayed the same, but each of us has had a shift of focus in past few years. We
have had to figure out what this means for each of us individually and for us
together as a couple, as empty nesters and then as parents with an adult child
in the house. No time to get comfortable or complacent! In fact, just as when I
seem to get a room “settled” in our house and the need for change
arises, I find that in my life a measure of peace often becomes a precursor to
some amount of unsettling—even if for good
reasons!
Already I’m wondering what that room over the garage is meant to be when our
daughter moves out later this year. An office? A bedroom for a different child?
A different use altogether—one we can’t fathom at this moment? The not knowing
makes me a little anxious, but I know who does know. And whether in life or in
my house, I can trust that He will reveal each step as I need to take it. For
now, I’ll enjoy having our
daughter into our daily lives for the first time in over four years. And I’ll remind myself not to get too attached to
the way things are. For nothing is certain in life. Nothing except that things
will, indeed, change.
About Anne Mateer:
Anne Mateer has been writing for what feels like her whole life, but
began seriously studying the craft of fiction in 2000. Since then she has
completed eight novels, had pieces published in local periodicals and an
anthology, attended writing conferences and finaled in several contests. She
currently has three published historical novels: Wings of a Dream, At Every
Turn, and A Home for My Heart. A fourth, Playing By Heart, will release
in the fall of this year. But writing is only a piece of her life. Anne is
also a wife of 26 years and the mother of three young adults, both of those
roles much more precious to her than the title of author.
Connect with Anne:
Current release: A Home for My Heart
A sweet story of hope and love set
against the poignant backdrop of a 1910 orphanage
Sadie Sillsby works as the assistant to the matron at the Raystown Home for Orphan and Friendless Children, pouring all her energy into caring for the boys and girls who live there and dreaming of the day she'll marry her beau, Blaine, and have children of her own. But when the matron surprises everyone by announcing her own engagement, Sadie is suddenly next in line for the esteemed job of running the orphanage.
There's one glitch. The matron cannot be married. She must focus her attention on the financial, legal, and logistical matters of the Home. Sadie's heart is torn. Should she give up her plans for a life with Blaine in order to continue serving these children who have no one else? Does she, a young woman who was once an orphan herself, have what it takes to succeed in such a challenging career? And when the future of the Home begins to look bleak, can Sadie turn things around before the place is forced to close forever?
"Full of characters who will touch your heart." --RT Book Reviews
"[A] heartwarming tale of compassion, love and learning to trust that God's plan is best. It reminded me a lot of the writings of Janette Oke." The Christian Manifesto
Sadie Sillsby works as the assistant to the matron at the Raystown Home for Orphan and Friendless Children, pouring all her energy into caring for the boys and girls who live there and dreaming of the day she'll marry her beau, Blaine, and have children of her own. But when the matron surprises everyone by announcing her own engagement, Sadie is suddenly next in line for the esteemed job of running the orphanage.
There's one glitch. The matron cannot be married. She must focus her attention on the financial, legal, and logistical matters of the Home. Sadie's heart is torn. Should she give up her plans for a life with Blaine in order to continue serving these children who have no one else? Does she, a young woman who was once an orphan herself, have what it takes to succeed in such a challenging career? And when the future of the Home begins to look bleak, can Sadie turn things around before the place is forced to close forever?
"Full of characters who will touch your heart." --RT Book Reviews
"[A] heartwarming tale of compassion, love and learning to trust that God's plan is best. It reminded me a lot of the writings of Janette Oke." The Christian Manifesto
Purchase Anne’s books at:
Barnes and Noble: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=anne%20mateer&sprefix=anne+mate%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aanne%20mateer
Christianbook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=anne+mateer&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1
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