Montana on my mind...

Backyard views!

Hey everyone!
 
It’s SO great to be back! Ramsey and I had an incredible few weeks in Montana and have been as busy as ever since we’ve been back on island!
 
Montana was absolutely amazing.
 
It was such a refreshing time for both of us. We had so much fun with my family, got to be part of all the graduation festivities for my little sister, played basketball, went horseback riding, took my grandma to Yellowstone, went on a hike, tagged along to work with my dad, spent time with grandparents, caught up with friends and so much more! Not to mention enjoying the incredible beauty of Montana all around us. Words can’t even begin to describe it, so here are some photos. (Click on the pics to enlarge!)

Just…. Wow.

PRETTY AMAZING, RIGHT?!?

Montana puts me in such awe of God, His majesty and His creativity. It's just so open, so vast, and SO BIG!!
 
While the views are incredible, it’s crazy for me to see how much things have changed since I left. On more then a few occasions I caught myself driving around town saying things like,

“Back in my day, THIS wasn’t here!”

“Bozeman has gotten so crowded! I don’t even recognize it anymore!”
 
“How long has THAT store been in town?” or “When did we get THIS restaurant?” (yes, don't be fooled. Montana actually does have stores and restaurants and real live human beings.)

People are realizing that Montana really IS the “Last Best Place” and it’s becoming more and more developed. Hikes are more crowded. Campgrounds are packed all summer long. Farmland is being subdivided. There’s more traffic on the roads. Times are changing. Montana is changing.

Life is ALWAYS changing.

But if life is always changing, why is it so hard? Why do we get bummed out about change? When things aren't the way they used to be we shake our heads and reminisce on what it was like in "back in the good old days". When seasons come to an end, when life transitions happen, why do we wish things would just stay the same?

What I've learned about myself is that I'm okay with change. Selective change.

I'm okay with the kind of change that I can choose. That I can control.

For example, living in a different house, sleeping in a different bed, on a different side of the island every week ...I'm okay with that. It’s actually kind of "fun" change! We can say yes or no to housesitting jobs and we make our own schedule of when and where we'll be staying.

For those of you who don’t know my story, I've had about every job imaginable in the past few years. I've been a lifeguard, a barista, an artist, a swimming instructor, an office assistant, a waitress, a coach, a mechanic, and a housekeeper... just to name a few! I've worked on boats, in restaurants, in an auto body shop and at a swimming pool. Talk about CHANGE! And yet, I've loved the craziness of it! In fact, I thrived on it! Doing something different every day and sometimes every few hours fueled me! I loved the change!

But then there are things that I don't ever want to change. EVER.

Like my grandparent's place. Like my uncle's farm down the road. Like my grandma's house in the canyon. Like the house I grew up in. Like the pasture and creek we played in. Like the lake we'd go camping at every summer. Like the dirt roads through farm country. Like Montana.

These things all have a common thread. They're the things that are home to me. They're the things that DIDN'T change during my childhood. They gave me the sense of safety and peace and comfort and place. They hold 24 years worth of memories, so many good times, great stories and moments that are very near and dear to my heart.

And yet all of these things are completely out of my control. ...Which is why it's so hard when they change. It's not up to me when or how these things change! They're part of life. Grandparents get older. Younger siblings graduate. There's an empty nest at home. Property is bought and sold. Family and friends move away. Marriage. Kids. Weddings. Funerals. THIS IS LIFE!

Ecclesiastes 3 says:

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens:

   a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
   a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
   a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
   a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
   a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
   a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
   a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace."

So if there is a time for everything, if everything in life changes what can we do?

I'm learning that the things I don't want to change are the very things I need to release from my tightly clenched hands and give to the only One who doesn't change. The things I want to stay the same are the things I need to let go of to the One who "is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow." Because I'm not in control of them, He is! And when I stop trying to control them and let God back on the throne of my heart, that’s when I can experience freedom and actually EMBRACE the change! 

Instead of being so torn up about the fact that one day my grandparents wont live on their property anymore and spend hours thinking about how I could make it work out to keep their land in the family and make it happen the way I want, how I want and when I want ...I can let go and let God. I can trust that His plans are a thousand times better than mine and find so much peace in knowing that it will all work out for the best. And who knows! Maybe it will end up the way I hope! …God has a funny way of doing that when we scoot over and let Him back in the driver's seat.

Instead of momentarily wishing that things could just go back to the way they were six years ago when I was home ...I can rejoice and be thrilled about all the amazing things God is doing in my family right now! My younger siblings have graduated and are on to new and exciting things! My brother and I are both happily married to incredible people and my parents are embarking on a whole new chapter of life! How awesome is that!?

Instead of being bummed out about how crowded Montana (and Hawaii for that matter) have become, instead of being salty about all the new developments and how things aren't how they used to be ...I can change my perspective and embrace that now more people can enjoy and be inspired by the beauty of Montana the same way I have! God didn't make Montana and the rest of the world beautiful for me alone, for my enjoyment only. So I can stop being selfish, and let God show off HIS incredible creation!

It's hard to change my perspective. It's much easier to complain. 

It's not easy to open up my hands. It takes a lot of practice.

Change can be hard, but it doesn't have to be.

​....How freeing it is when we let God control the change.