by: Staci Stallings
As I get older (just turned 51 last Friday), one thing I’ve come to realize is that there really are seasons in life. Looking back, I see there were seasons of growing up, falling in love, going to school, getting married, having kids, having little kids, having bigger kids, their school, them getting older…
At the time, I was working like crazy to keep the kitchen clean and get to the next activity. Now I have only one kid left “in the nest” although the middle one is back a lot with her fiancé who is living here. They are both going to certificate school—her for massage therapy, him for auto body work.
With my youngest a senior, I took the plunge to teach personal finance at his school—something I always secretly wanted to do but never had the push to do.
What I’m finding, with two books left to write in this series, is that writing for now has taken a backseat to everything else. I keep thinking I’ll get back to it, but so far, that hasn’t happened. Instead, I’m doing lesson plans for my two classes—which are crazy now that it’s practically all online. I’m making slides for each class and posting assignments and writing up materials for my classes (does that count as writing?).
There was a time in my life, I could have told you within 300 pages what each Kindle Unlimited page count was for the month for every single book I have out. Now, I realize I haven’t checked it in a week.
I’m glad to know this is a season because I know writing will still be there when this season comes to an end. After all, we’ll have three graduations in May and a wedding in June. I’m just trying to hang on here and enjoy every second of this crazy ride.
However, right now, for me is a time to put down the pen—at least for today, maybe for the week or even the month.
But don’t think I’ve forgotten about Taylor and Greg and the gang. They are still hashing things out in my head—just not in print yet.
What seasons has your life gone through, dear reader? And what is the thing or thing you come back to when all the craziness dies down?
A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. Although she lives in Amarillo, Texas and her main career right now is her family, Staci touches the lives of people across the globe with her various Internet and writing endeavors.
As for seasons I have gone though 3 childhoods. My own, my children’s and the little kidlets at pre-school. I have finally left childhood behind me.
I think that there are a few seasons in my life, although I’m a little bit young to answer that question. But anyways, Happy birthday!!!
I think one of the fun things about seasons in our lives is that when one ends another one beckons.
I’ve been through many seasons in my life. The season I’m in now started eight years ago, and there are things we’re still adapting to. I don’t have children, but sometimes it feels like it with my 96 year old Mom! However, I wouldn’t change this season of being home with her as her caregiver for anything else. Some days are a struggle to get through, but other days it’s great. I’m now closer to 60, and I know there are still seasons ahead; some will be nicer to go through than others, however, God will see me through!
Sometimes I feel stuck in seasons of life, but mostly just happy for each new day😊
Definite seasons in life, and some of them end/begin with little warning. I didn’t expect a “change of seasons” three years ago, but had a serious heart attack anyway. So now my season is post-heart-attack-pre-retirement. In this season, hubby has four years left at his job, the grandgirls are young and enjoy being with their grandparents, I can enjoy hiking, gardening, kayaking, and snowshoeing while having ample time to write novels. I’m loving this season! Even though a lot will change on hubby’s retirement, he is so full of plans and ideas that I can’t begrudge him “cutting into” my writing time later. But I have a lot of stories to write in the meanwhile…
I’m grateful our lives has seasons and that things or situations don’t last forever.
So far my seasons are going to school, teaching at said school (I was a TA for a year), and currently, getting a degree. The thing I hope to get back to after finishing it is reading for pleasure (I really miss it but I know it’ll be worth it in the end).
“Happy Belated birthday!” May God Keep showering you with Blessings! My life has gone through alot of seasons, my growing up , working, getting married (43 years now) having my daughter and our son, being a mother in law, having 3 grandchildren, retired and living a good life, Thanks be to God. Helping being a caregiver for both my dad and my mom until their passing and I would never change that for the world, I was able to give back a little for all they ever did for me. God willing there’s plenty of more life seasons for me. Have a Great weekend and stay safe. God Bless you and your family.
Yes we go through different seasons at different times in our lives. But I found that the most important thing when starting to go through a different season is to put it all in Gods hands and let Him guide me. To give me peace and joy in this new season. I have found that if I pray constantly about His will in this season, my different and new season goes fantastically. Best of luck in your season. There is a reason for each season.
Have you ever walked along beside a river during drought? There may be a little trickle of water along one side of the riverbed, puddles drying to cracked earth. As you walk along, you can see the rocks that would normally be hidden by the river’s flow. Many are small and would be far below the surface. Occasionally, you come to a sloping section of jagged stones that would be rapids were the river flowing at its full height. And maybe, just maybe, you would see a massive rock. It looks to be at least 10 feet tall, surrounded by lesser boulders that would make for a challenging set of rapids by themselves. However, topped by this incredible stone, navigating this section in a canoe or a kayak, especially during spring floods, could be life threatening.
Such are the seasons of life for me, these days. I see things from a very different perspective. And while I may not like hauling my canoe along the shore, I’m grateful not to be headed for that huge boulder in high water. I realize that such a view is a little morose, but God’s mercy sometimes shows itself in ways that we could not possibly imagine. Right now, my stroll along the bank has allowed me to be a novelist for the first time. Though otherwise unemployed, God’s provision shows up in surprising and just-in-time ways.
The changes of seasons in my life have ranged from mundane to magical to the current, rather philosophical bent. I have been a college student, an actor, a graduate student, an aerospace software engineer, a single young adult, a husband, a grieving father, a care giver, a mentor, a counselor, a counselee, a salesman, an unsuccessful entrepreneur and now, an unemployed senior citizen, learning about the depths and certainty of God’s love and care for me and my wife.
As for writing teaching material counting as writing, I speak on behalf of the half dozen teachers in my family. You bet your life it is!
I’m about a month into a new season. I think it’s going really well. Much better than I anticipated! There was a lot of crying in the months leading up to the change, but now I’m very thankful for the opportunity to experience both of these seasons.
So many seasons in life… chidhood, teen years, college, working, marriage, motherhood, etc…
Craving time to get back to writing.
So many and they all are so short when looking back…
I have three teenagers right now – would it be the hardest one ;)
Blessings!!!
Hi Staci,
I’m like you, planning lessons and getting ready to help students with distance learning. We start next week. It’s been pushed back because of the fires and evacuations around here. This seems like it’s going to be a strange school year.
As for the season in my life. I’m looking towards possible retirement because of all this Pandemic stuff. If that happens then I’ll be able to really enjoy reading as much as I like, spending time with my grandchildren, making fun graphics for authors, and spending fun time doing things with my husband. Life is looking to be less stressful! There’s hope!
I just recently turned 50 in August, so yeah, I’ve seen a lot of “seasons” in my life. I often reflect on those and can see where God has taken me through each one & wrote the story of my life. It’s not all be pleasant or fun, but there has been a lot of that too in my life. Like Ecclesiastes says, there are times and seasons in our lives. Always constantly changing and growing.
I’ve been married twice (first one was bad), raised two kids, was a stay-at-home mom, kids graduated, and now my husband and I have legal guardianship of our 6 year old granddaughter (my daughter’s daughter). So now the cycle has went full circle again it seems….a new season of online classroom instruction for her (she’s going into 1st grade), and a new routine we have to learn. But one thing I know, I don’t know what the future hold for us, but I DO know who holds that in His capable hands! I’m just along for the ride :-) Good, bad or ugly…come what may, I trust the author of my life!
What an amazing opportunity for the students to learn personal finance from you. As I read the post I had shivers down my spine about the experience of teaching the students how to handle their finances themselves. I have a feeling that enabling experience may end up being part of a character’s role in a story you write at a later date. If you set your goals, sometimes the how can be very different to how I expect and way to go that you have the faith to go with that. Wonderful post, so very inspiring, thanks :)
Mary,
My sister recently went back to babysitting, which she had left for 12 years to teach in school. Let’s just say this is a much better fit for her. (For me, it would not be!)
God bless!
Thanks, Marilene!
I appreciate you stopping by!
Lori,
That’s what I tell, especially young people. For me, goodbyes were always hard. I wish someone had told me back then that goodbye to one thing, is hello to another.
Trudy,
I was just reading an article about caregivers, especially those who are taking care of elderly relatives. What a blessing you are to your mom at this stage of her life! May God be with you both as you journey together toward her finish line!
God bless!
Paula,
Very true!
Thanks for stopping by!
Wow. I have no idea why my reply to Paula posted there. :)
Anyway, I’ve been trying to write through every season of my life at least since ’96. But this one is proving especially difficult to find escape time.
Happy writing, gardening, hiking, etc….
Megan,
In the good times, I remember “and this too shall pass.” And in the challenging times, I remember, “And this too shall pass.”
One helps me to remember to be grateful for it won’t last. The other helps me to keep hope.
Priscilla,
Cool season to be in. Learn a lot! It will inform the seasons to come.
God bless you!
Alicia,
Living a full life is all about making the most of every season you traverse through. Sounds like you’re doing just that!
Thanks for stopping by!
Lori,
I think that is so important. I’ve been talking to my son and my soon-to-be son-in-law about taking THIS step, the one God puts right in front of you rather than trying to figure out where it’s all going. I think for me, that has helped me to not be so stressed about figuring out where this is all going. :)
Have a blessed day!
Lincoln,
I love that picture-experience analogy! I did have to use my imagination because we don’t have rivers here–dry or otherwise, but I loved taking that walk with you and seeing it as if I was there. I think you are so right about seeing life from a different perspective. For a long time in life, I was just trying to navigate everything, and those rapids really threw me because I wasn’t prepared and didn’t know what to watch for. I’m a little better about that now. I see both the rapid and what is causing it which helps me to navigate it and to not freak out and do the wrong thing in the midst of it.
God bless you on your new writing journey! I pray it leads you to all the right answers for yourself and for others to follow on the path you illuminate!
Katy,
Oh, I well know that initial leap. I’ve got three people in my current household who are all about a month into a new season. It has been quite the life change around here for us. AND we are all facing a major new season in the coming four months. I’m trying not to get too bogged down in looking ahead and trying to focus on the right now, trusting that God has all the forward days in His hands and I don’t have to worry about them.
May God give you joy in this new season!
denise,
I hear you there!
May God help you find some time to get back to writing…
Peace!
Natalya,
I only have one teenager left. Enjoy it for the craziness of that season! Very soon you will wish for the noise and chaos.
God bless!
Marylin,
I’ve heard this idea of retiring from many teachers around me. What used to be an almost-impossible job has suddenly turned decidedly more challenging! May God be with you every step during this school year and as you make decisions for what comes next.
Trixi,
Definitely lessons in each season. And I’m with you, I’m along for the ride!
Thanks for stopping in and sharing with us today!
Dianne,
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Yes, a couple days in, we did a look at a credit card statement if you just paid the minimum and how long it would take to pay that off. Two of my senior boys decided NOTHING was worth 7 years of their lives to pay off. :) The lessons have already started.
God bless!
My cycles have been student, graduate, teacher, parent, retired teacher, empty nester and separation. I would still love to find my soul mate someday!!