The Winds of Change

Home for the holidays! Most of the time the expression is used for the Christmas season but since the term "holidays" seems to be used so loosely as of late I find it fitting for the Easter season as well. This is the second time I have been home all year. College keeps me busy as I have had weekends booked with fieldwork, evenings with classes and homework and the day to day activities of a college student.
Coming home things were a lot different. To start with the town of Worthington has much changed. I noticed a new stoplight by subway, an entire new street reaching from Shopko to Hy-Vee,  Hy-Vee which is also new along with their gas station. The dentist office by the hospital is gone, a new thrift store exists downtown and the skyline to my house that used to be open now boasts 134 new wind turbines.

So it may not be "NEW" but it is new to me. Upon arriving home several changes were occurring within the Kuhl's house as well. We finally upgraded our television from the old 1999 television that was very heavy, big and deep to a flat screen television. that takes up a quarter of the space. Mindy is getting her 37 year old orange shaggy carpet replaced by new carpet. The last room of the house to "upgrade" 

Check out that awesome orange shag!

The process was dusty, dirty and took a little sister-teamwork but we were able to get the old carpet out. After removing the carpet the padding revealed a beautiful hardwood floor. 

Kayli really wanted to keep the hardwood floor but dad informed us that the upkeep of the wood floor is more difficult than carpet, not to mention the 100 year old house has cold winter drafts as is and wood floor would only add to the problem. The carpenter is to arrive on Monday and I will be back at college but the next time I arrive home I am sure to find a modern, non-'70s, made-over, "Mindy's Bedroom". 

There is lots of change going on both in and out of my home and in my life. Today my family (all 6 of us) got together for what will be the last time until probably my wedding. So with that we have the lovely photos our the family. If I had photo shop I would crop out the awkward vents in the background but seriously we don't have any wall that is really "blank" for a good background. So we also attempted outdoor photos. It was kinda bright even with the overcast but it works well enough for the memory.

In a month two weeks I will be in Alaska. In two months Kayli will be in Crailsheim Germany to begin her year long journey as the Worthington/Crailsheim sister city exchange program and in two months Mindy will be in Mexico for her study abroad program. It is amazing how physically scattered our family is becoming yet miles does not separate our love for each other. With the winds of change comes new challenges but faith, and family remain the same. I am so excited for the change and know that God will go with me just as he has thus far in life.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows. (James 1:17).

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)