whenever a major life change comes and disrupts the norm, i always long to go back. back to what i'm used to. back to the usual, whether the change can be good, bad or indifferent. i like change (i think i lived in about 13 different houses by the time i was 19... and i wasn't even a part of a military family!), but at the same time i enjoy what i'm used to. i can be type a like that. when my parents divorced, i longed to be a family again, when my dad died of cancer, i longed to go back to when he was healthy (obviously). when i moved across the country, i longed to move back home. when i graduated college, i actually missed the studying, the papers, feeling like i was accomplishing something. i miss the old until the new becomes normal.
having children is always a major adjustment. i would say the second child has been a harder adjustment than the first only because they're so close in age. i dealt with post-partum depression for awhile and felt completely unlike myself. i felt incapable and inadequate. but at the same time, found strength in the Lord. in some ways it was a good place to be. completely reliant on Him. but at the same time, i just couldn't get out of the pit i found myself in. i was dealing with some full fledge hormones that hated me. finally i'm better. thank the Lord. finally i'm adjusted. the newness of having another baby has worn off and i feel capable of taking care of my kids and am enjoying it. the new has become normal. it feels good. i'm thankful.
{enjoying my baby girl}
for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV
35 {comments}:
I'm so glad you shared this today, I tooootally understand. It's good to know the new does become the normal. Hugs!
What a terrific post. :) Thanks for sharing this. I love your attitude!
what a great post! I can totally relate to hormones messing with you... been there, done that. SO happy for you that you're feeling better!!
Change is so hard! I do not embrace it well at all!
Im glad you are feeling better and more like yourself. Post Pardom and hormones are such a tough thing to deal with. Thats one of the things I never thought about having to deal with before I had a baby, so when it creeps in it makes you feel crazy :-( Im so glad God can get us through it though! Its just good to know youre not alone. I like the way you said "new normal" I guess I never thought about it like that!
And I love those tree pictures. There is a huge tree like that on the land of the church where I grew up and I always love to see it change with the seasons. I will be so sad if it ever got cut down!
There are so many emotions and feelings when you become a mom...especially of multiple children who are close in age! Now having a third when my youngest is already 6 makes me just as nervous and I'm already thinking of how am I going to do this all over again and take care of the older two?! It brings comfort though knowing that we all struggle with change, we always get through it...especially when you realize just how FAST the time goes with your babies! ENJOY every second! So glad you are adjusting...You're an amazing mom with two adorable sweeties! Take care! :)
I too struggle with change...I like things the way I am used to them, but God doesn't give us more than we can handle. So glad to hear you are feeling more "normal"...just enjoy those babies while they are still small;-)
I can be like that sometimes...always wishing the present was more like the past! I'm glad your new has become normal and that you dealt with your PPD in a positive way! That last picture is amazing! Is that near where you live?
I struggle with change too - although I haven't had to deal with too much of it in my life. But I did cry the weekend we got our dog because he wasn't trained yet and I felt trapped like I would never have any freedom ever again. I'm sure that is not even close to the change of having a new baby, but I worry about how I will deal with that when the time comes. Glad to hear that you are doing better :)
this is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your heart! I am the same way - I miss the old until I'm well adjusted with the new.
I love the picture - you both are gorgeous!! :)
thanks for sharing...i'm sure others will appreciate knowing they are not alone.
i don't know first hand about PPD i can only assume it's 10 times harder to deal w/a new addition to the family when battling that.
big hugs friend...i'm glad you've got your old normal back! :o)
Beautiful picture of you ladies!! I'm glad that things are better for you. Hope you have an amazing weekend. :)
What a great picture! I am the same way- I am always eager to move on to the"next thing", longing for the future etc and then when I am there I want to go back to how it was before. Until of course that becomes the new normal....and then once again the grass is always greener! It is so important to find contentment in where God has us NOW though!
Glad you're feeling better! Your baby girl is so beautiful!
What a lovely post :) Good for you!
I love that passage from Ecclesiastes. And good for you :) Never forget that God is right there by your side, and He's not leaving!
What a joyful place to be, with Him and where your new is normal.
I feel like you have written things in my own mind! I relate to this so much. I never knew how hard change was for me until I got married and moved away from my home and family. Now were even farther away from them and being pregnant I'm so home-sick. I find myself looking backwards and then looking forward wishing that someday we'll be near my family again and everything will be ok again. I'm trying to stay in the present and enjoy it...but I don't do a good job at it. Thank you for writing this!
it took me a long time to admit that i struggled with some postpartum depression after luke arrived. so happy that you've finally arrived at a good place. :)
can't tell you how much this meant to relate to it. Thanks for the realness and vulnerability.
I'm the same way, always wanted to go back until I realized how great the current season is. Thanks for sharing!
What a beautiful picture of you and Sage! I am so happy to hear that you've found your new normal and are enjoying this stage. You're an awesome mommy and such a blessing to so many! Enjoy your weekend :) xoxo, Kelly
So glad you're feeling better Carissa! It can be soooo hard when we don't feel like ourselves or up to our normal level of capabilities. Much <3 to you today!
Such an important thing to share and let others know about. That picture of you and Sage is breathtaking! Best wishes, friend!
I do hope you have this picture framed and sitting somewhere in your home. It is gorgeous! What a beautiful post! You are precious!
i almost missed this one somehow. you look so at home being a momma. happy as a clam and THAT is more important than blogging ever was/is! happy weekend to ya...glad you are out of the post partum funk. i had that too a little and it wasn't pretty.
Really beautiful sentiments...I was just talking to my daughter (my oldest) about those verses the other day, that there was a time for all things. I love how you put it - until the new becomes the normal. We've had lots of changes in the last 13 years, and I feel like there has never been a normal! I just wrote a post (no kidding) about something very similar...looking forward to a chance to finally find a "normal" after so many years of weird.
The picture of you two is gorgeous. You are a beautiful woman, and that girl of yours has some pretty awesome cheeks. Your beauty shines inside and out!
thanks for sharing. it is SO challenging. Having been there with 2 so close together, I know the feeling. Glad you're coming out of the fog.
Change is hard but I always try to just say that it'll work out for the best in the end!
Thank you for sharing this today. It is a hard adjustment when you add to your family. And those hormones can be relentless. So thankful you are feeling better.
What a great post. I fight change like crazy. So happy you are in a place of contentment with your sweet babies! Great reminder of God's faithfulness and love.
It amazes me how God truly gives the grace to handle changes. And you have such a beautiful way of saying it, Carissa! Thanks for this great reminder from Ecclesiastes - the entire book is full of such rich wisdom for treasuring and focusing on what is truly important.
I really needed this tonight as I contemplate this massive move (aka CHANGE!) ahead of us - greatly reducing our living space - experiencing huge adjustments - but knowing God already knows what is going to happen. And that He will give the grace and strength for it. Thank you, sweet friend. :)
What a great post! I really needed this. The statement that you made about, "i miss the old until the new becomes normal," fits me to a T!!! Thank you...
We are expecting our first child in a few short months, after 14 years of marriage. I am both very excited, but at the same time so used to it always just being the two of us. I know it's normal feelings, but it's just that whole unknown thing...and waiting "until the new becomes normal." Thanks for sharing your heart.
So glad things are better!!!! I had a REALLY hard time adjusting after I had Ellington. I loved her, but I wanted things to be the way they use to be. This is definitely my new normal and I love it!
I don't know how I missed this EXCELLENT post.
First, I am so glad that you found your groove. It's such an adjustment adding a blessing to your family. Couple that with lack of sleep and it become extremely stressful. It just takes time, but when you're in the midst of it you just want to zip right through until it's normal.
You are blessed.
Hello, I started following you today. This was an encouraging post. I do not have kids yet but have suffered from mild depression when I was a teenager. One of my biggest fears is post partum depression. Thanks for reminding me that God is sovereign and gives us strength.
Hey Carissa! I haven't stopped by your blog lately, and I remembered to do so today and read a whole bunch of posts! I love coming here. :)
I can relate with this one so much. I was doing fine when Larissa was born but when she turned 4 months something crazy happened in my mind. I think hormones, fatigue, and things from the past suddenly crashed in and made me lose my mind. I was tormented with terrible thoughts and that gave way to a depression too. A friend said it sounded like post-traumautic stress disorder (from the accident with tiago)...sometimes it takes a long time to appear and it's usually triggered by stress or something like that.
But, I too am feeling better now. But it was horrible to deal with! I don't know what I would have done without God!! I'm so glad that He's always with us in any season, and He is faithful...
May God continue blessing you as a a wife and mom (and everything else!!)
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