The Beauty of Autumn and Embracing Change

Over the past few weeks I've been soaking in so much of the beauty that Autumn is bringing to my world- walking, running, or just day to day life- seeing the colors in the trees makes me so happy.

I thought about the process last week on my run. 

The beauty of letting go, to make room for the new. That's what God is showing us through this display in the trees. These leaves that fall, were born this year in the beautiful season of Spring. A season where they joyfully came out of winter and gave birth to a whole new set of green leaves. 

Now, spring and summer are over, and to make room for the new, they must let go of these leaves. I think the leaves become most beautiful in this process of their life. 

If a tree did not let go of it's leaves, the leaves would soon die on the tree, unable to survive the winter. Then, when spring comes, there would be no room for the new growth that the tree is meant to have- all because it didn't let go.

Honestly, I don't really know what this means for me. 

I know I'm definitely in a new season at the moment- being married, applying to live in a country that I am not a citizen of, working on getting my dog over here as well, and eventually going through another legal process of changing my last name to my husbands (which I can't wait to have). I'm literally starting a whole new life. 

That's a huge change of season.

I know God's been drawing this out of my heart for a reason, and maybe He's just showing me the beauty in such a big change. 

Yes, I have been learning to let go. Especially since I've been single and independent for such a long time- one of the first things I had to learn to let go of was my independence. It use to be me and God- I had my own life, my own place, my own way of living and doing things- much of which I've learned, is very "American". 

Now I'm learning to do live with someone, learning to come together and let go of independence- to be a half so I can be one with my husband. Learning to do life in a whole different culture as well.

But I'm embracing it with all I have- because it's even better than I've always dreamed of. 

My Other Half.

This morning I was looking at my blog, and realized I have been writing this blog for over 6 years. 

So I scrolled back to my very first blog entry, reflecting on where I was when I wrote it, what I believed, and how far I've come (learning to walk through so many, many different seasons- but with each season a new growth in learning who I am as a Daughter of God.)

Here is the link to my very first Blog titled "Me" if you would like to read it: 

"Me"

(Yes- that's a pic of me kissing my dog on the lips.)

I love that there are some things within me that also have remained the same, and I started this journey on my identity. I was a dreamer, I loved health and fitness, I still love coffee although I don't drink nearly as much caffeine as I use to, lol... and of course I still have a huge heart for India, and I still unashamedly kiss my dog on the lips :P

But I also loved seeing the things that have changed... the biggest one being me learning to let people in. Basically, me learning to let myself love and be loved, as well as to be known- Overcoming the fear I had of being myself.  

That is what letting go, season after season, has done for me... as well as so much more.

I remember writing that first blog, and going through one of the most difficult times of my life.

I remember that this blog actually helped me process and get through some really difficult things I was about to go through that year (2010).

As I read that first blog entry, I have been filled with so much Thankfulness- I'm so thankful for the process God has taken me through since then. So Thankful that I walked through the pain, and even the lies I was believing, because if I didn't walk through them I would never have experienced the healing needed, or the truth that would be revealed in those seasons of healing. 

And comparing that girl, to who (and where) I am now... I can say my life is better than I could have ever dreamed of. Because when we trust and walk with our creator, knowing no matter what hard process we are walking through in the moment, He has something great on the other side- and the destination is better than we could ever dream of. 

The Wind of Change. Acrylic 2015