Change of Plans

 Have you ever made plans that didn't happen or they happened in a way you did not see coming? I can definitely answer a big YES to both of those! I know many of you may be able to say yes to these also. When things come up unexpectedly, we often refer to that as life happening. Life has been happening! As we're in this last week of January (that's hard to believe already!), January has been very interesting to say the least! We're currently in the winter season. For the last couple of winter seasons, we haven't had a really cold winter, and we really hadn't gotten much snow. Well, winter 2025 decided to show us different 😉! In the first full week of January, I missed two days of work because of snow days. Then, the second week, there were concerns at the school division I work with that needed to be checked. I got an unexpected call on a Wednesday evening (January 15th to be exact) that school would be closed the remainder of the week to check the boiler at one of the schools. On Monday, January 20th, was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day, and we were already scheduled to be off 😊. I thought to myself about the extended break, "Okay! That's shocking! Here's to an early start to my weekend." I did enjoy those days off 💗. Fast forward to Monday night, I get a call saying they need to check one more thing concerning the water, so school would be closed Tuesday. Then, Tuesday night, the snow happened and we got two more days off. So, the only day I went to work last week was Friday, the 24th. It was definitely a change of plans! I wasn't planning to be at home that much. Also, my lesson plans at work would have to be adjusted. When I went back on Friday, I had to decide what to change and keep in my plans for the day. I did some of what was planned that last Thursday, but I had to change parts of it. Just like I got unexpected days off from work and a mini break (which I needed more than I realized 💗!!). life has a way of bringing the unexpected and unplanned. It's in those moments that we still have to be grateful and take the lessons from it. Here are the lessons I learned:

1. Go with the flow. I had to take each day as it came and not worry. I had to continue to be flexible, which I have definitely learned to be. Moments of worry did rise up in where to pick back up in the lessons and what to focus on. We were at the end of a quarter, so I didn't want to teach anything new, but I also needed to review and reinforce skills already taught. I kept Friday as close to the regular routine as possible, but also added a sort and writing assignment. It worked out as it was just enough! No matter what life brings us, we can trust God and know it will work out 👏!!

2. Keep cleaning your spaces. My extended break brought more time to organize and declutter, which I have been working on. I had no excuse because I had plenty of time! I worked on my room and Momma's closet (the current hot spots I'm eyeing), which was good. I was able to buy a storage rolling cart to help organize in my room. That space looks much better and more organized! Then, there's my closet! Whew! First of all, let me say, my left side of the closet looked great, but my right side looked a hot mess! I don't know what happened with that side, but I worked on it and now it looks great😊. Cleaning in the closet led to finding things I forgot I had or didn't realize I had. We need to keep cleaning the corners of our mind and heart we've talked about before, which leads me to my next lesson.

3. Take inventory of what you have. When I cleaned out the right side of my closet, I found so many treasures  buried under clothes. I found two exercise pants (one with the tag still on it!) folded neatly. I wore the pants that had the tag on it the very next day 😊. I found bookmarks in books I forgot I had (I love bookmarks, by the way!).I found books on my cart I forgot I brought! I found an adult coloring book someone gave me that I hadn't used yet. I also found a pad of paper. I found a Bible that you can journal and write in the margins. That's the Bible I've been studying from now in my devotional time. I was going to buy another one too- thank goodness I didn't! I found an Illustrated Word for women coloring devotion someone gave me, so I've been using that too in my devotional time. I had actually started that as I had colored some of the pages, but I didn't go all the way through with it. All of these felt brand new and like I was getting them for the first time! I have to laugh- sometimes we buy so much we don't know what we have 😂. I can see Momma laughing now saying, "Girl, you are too much!" Before we buy something new, check the resources we already have first.

4. Make the best of everything. I did clean and organize a lot. I read as I finished one book and started another book (one of them I forgot I had 💖!) I worked on an online course for work. By Friday, I finished it- another goal accomplished!! I also exercised, checked in with family and friends, watched movies, and did word search puzzles. I also blogged last week, so check out my previous post, "God-Sent, Not Counterfeit" if you have not yet 😊. Doing the word search puzzles have been the best thing ever! So, I used to do them all the time. For a long time, I just stopped doing them. In my cleaning, I found the books in mine and Momma's room 😊. Now this year, I have picked it back up and I love it! It is very engaging as I try to do one or more puzzles a day. It ends up being like 4 or more!! In the midst of my break, I chose to stay grateful. When our plans change unexpectedly, we have to keep doing the best we can. 

5. Relax. In between all of the things I mentioned, I did relax 😊. Doing word search puzzles was part of that relaxation. I also listened to music, wrapped up in my blanket ( I love those too!) and was able to relax. In this time off, I was able to have a a renewed focus on spending time with God and making sure not to rush that time. 

Change of plans can happen at any time in life, but we can know that God stays the same through it all (Malachi 3:6). As we continue moving forward, let's remember to move accordingly and rest accordingly. Love you all and God bless 💖!