Seasons

Atop Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park-Maine 2009

My husband hates to read.  But not for the reason you may think.  He loves listening to a James Patterson book on CD while traveling with work.  Give him a GE or Roland electronic alarm manual and he will know the system backwards and forwards before installing it on a job.  The reason he dislikes books is because he can't sit still.  Literally, not sure what the ICD-9 billing code is for 'ants in your pants-itis' but he's got a bad case.  Anyone that knows his dad, will say it's in his DNA.  Aaron is always into or up to something.  He's like an Einstein energy theory...squared.  He learns best on the job, doing and learning in tandem. 

Me?  I'm old-school, no E-readers and books on smart phones for me.  One does not curl up with a hard piece of machinery...lose oneself in stacks of Kindles.  (A ripple of horror just ran through me!) A cold glass display has no allure for this girl.  There is nothing I like better than finding the oldest book in a library, rummage, or swap-meet.  I like my books to be a bit like me-rough around the edges, frayed in spots, even unreadable in spots, bendable and softened with time and touch.  Montgomery, Doyle, Austen, Poe, Bronte, Baum, Dante, Twain, du Maurier, Yeats & Kipling are friends that I can lose myself with for hours at a time, take them anywhere, revisit them again and again.  If I have free time, I like to slink off quietly by myself-watching and listening from afar.  Porch swings and lightening bugs, sand and ocean waves...kryptonite.

Our difference in personalities and learning styles has meant often our conversations devolve into 'I Love Lucy' worthy episodes.  It can also mean we run into Cool Hand Luke moments..."What we have here is a failure to communicate." 
Early in our marriage this meant moments of exasperation (his) and hurt feelings (mine).  Thirteen year later it ends up in "Who's on fiirst?" hilarity.  He means one thing, but sometimes lacks the panache to say it correctly.  I'm a woman...so I mean one thing but may say another. 
For example, when I started this blog post, I planned to talk about our summer and phasing into fall.  But, as is often the case, my mind doesn't always connect to my fingers as well as my heart.

The word 'season' to most, is defined by spring, summer, winter, fall.

But personally I like to dig a bit deeper into the definition:
To improve or enhance the flavor
To add zest or interest to
To treat until ready for use
To moderate, temper
To render competent through trial and experience

Our family is preparing to head into another season-literally, fall-but figuratively also. 
Each day we realize God is improving us-growing us up more in Him. 
He's molding and treating us until He's ready to use us to accomplish great things. 
Tempering us with the Refiner's fire.
We are becoming more competent in Him through our life experiences, unafraid to see where He leads.

Isn't life experience's greatest teacher?

Season changes are an exciting part of God's plan for our life.

Jeremiah 29:11