A New Adventure!

Remember when you began a new adventure? Remember that feeling of excitement, maybe even nervousness? That feeling of wonder and not necessarily knowing what to expect, but you knew you were onto something adventurous? Yeah, that’s the feeling I’m talking about. I’ve personally just stepped into a new adventure. I can hardly wait to tell you about it.

True Story Ahead

I became a grandma nine months ago. That’s what I believe anyway, but on November 21, 2016, just before midnight, I got to meet my sweet little grandson and hold him for the first time. A new adventure was placed in my arms. I was looking down at a cute button nose; that same nose I’d been looking at in an ultrasound photo for months. Seriously, I expected a perfectly shaped button nose on my grandchild. Now, there this cute button nose was where I could touch it.

James David Barringer has entered my world and with him has come a new adventure. Anticipation continues. What will my life be like forevermore because of this new life that God has blessed me with? What will I get to experience now that I’m a grandma?

One thing I know, this new adventure is going to include lots of love. I mean, my heart’s capacity grew exponentially the moment I saw James and again the moment I held him. Now each time I see him my heart blows up like a balloon. How can this happen? I mean, seriously, how can one’s love increase so much that it feels like your heart is going to explode?

I don’t actually need an answer to that question. I embrace the mystery of love. I’m just amazed once again by the power of love’s ability.

Adventures

Sometimes we get to choose our new adventures. Sometimes we don’t. Many times we plan our adventures, but many times we don’t. I didn’t choose to become a grandma, but I love it, and I’m embracing this adventure to the fullest.

I’ve had many adventures in my life, some difficult, some not. One thing I’ve discovered, all of them have some common traits:

• Feeling of the unknown
• Feeling of excitement and/or nervousness
• Anticipation
• Change is going to happen
• Movement in some way

We can choose to embrace new adventures or we can resist. Either way, the adventure is going to continue. As long as we each continue to breathe in this world, change is a given. I’m just choosing to embrace change as an adventure.

Sure change can be difficult, but change is so necessary for continued growth and development, satisfaction and purpose in life. I can’t even imagine what life would be like without change and adventures. Boring? Lifeless? No thank you!

I love adventures! I also enjoy thinking about the future. What is waiting for me down the road?

With my newest adventure I know one thing that’s waiting for  me: lots of opportunities to share who I am with someone who knows nothing about me…yet.

“J Bear” (as we’ve preciously nicknamed James) has no idea how much this grandma loves him, but he will. I’ve already told him a few times. I love the look in his eyes here as he attentively listened to me tell him wonderful things:

J Bear,
You are loved.
You are loved by God.
You are loved by grandma.
You are special.
You are smart.
You are talented.
You are handsome.
You are full of joy.
Did I tell you, you are loved? You are!
We’re going to have so much fun. Just you wait.

 

Yep! J Bear is intrigued by our new adventure too.

I’m grateful God chose me to be a part of little boy’s life. I’m grateful for this new adventure. I’m grateful for the increase of love in my heart and the excitement this new life has brought into my life. I’m even grateful for this little squirty poo’s dirty diapers I’ve changed. For it means I have new life in my life.

It’s incredible to have a new life in your arms. I want to challenge each of you to ask yourself, what new adventure do I need to embrace? Am I just letting life go by without enjoying the adventure? What can I hold on to that will bring joy, love, and purpose into my life or into someone else’s life?

I hope you’ll choose to embrace a new adventure, no matter if you planned for it, or it was handed to you. See what you can do to look at adventures as opportunities for exponentially increasing your love for others.

Don’t stop having adventures. If one doesn’t just happen to you, plan one. Embrace adventure. Life is so worth living and so full of hope that we each can have a feeling of excitement and wonder every day, if we choose. Open your heart to new adventures and see what God places in your life in return.