Changing gears

I'm doing well, but I'm changing gears... it's like I'm still trying to land from being in Norway for so many years. I'm trying to find my bearings and to learn how to live life all over again with my time here in the States. My room has been complete chaos the last week with trying to put everything away (and get rid of some truly OLD stuff to make room for my new things -- and I thought all of that was OVER!) -- definitely not up to "Gretchen Standards." And then I've had to make some MAJOR shopping trips the last 2 days to get all the basics to start up again -- everything from clothes to toothpaste to a new watch! And even then I still haven't purchased everything I need; I'm constantly remembering things I forgot to buy. And then I just had to buy a new cell phone (with extremely high rates compared to Norway!) because my Norwegian one has decided to suddenly stop working altogether. Then I'm trying to find my place again in my family and with my friends and my home church. And then there's a job and the American working life all over again... And my devotional life is also in the midst of change right now too! I'm reading from a devotional book right now and spending more time in prayer, and just trying to let everything adjust and settle down before I decide on a new devotional plan...

So many things are changing right now, and I'm glad I'm not working right now. I'm looking for jobs actively, but I'm taking it easy and trusting that God will provide a job at the time when I'm ready. All I can say is that everything is changing right now, and I'm not pushing myself too hard in anything right now. I need to take time to adjust and cool down and process. I know things will be difficult these coming weeks, and I will need my friends so desperately. I will need to just talk and PRAY with them and just release all my thoughts and feelings inside. It will be a big, jumbled mess for awhile.

Yet, I know more than anything that it was a good time to come home. God is up to something good. My family needs me. My church needs me. I need to be in LA with lots of sunshine! God is good... I'm sure my ramblings will continue on for many weeks, but ahhhh, it feels so good to get this all out right now. mmmm