Accepting changes

   Hey to all my friends! Its been way to long since I had a post but I either haven't had the time, just haven't gotten to it or didn't wanna bore you if I did have anything much to say. Right now I'm fully loving my break from school over the summer and its going way to fast. I'm also excited about the Olympics that are about to start and have been following all the competitions that have been leading up to the them. I'm a big gymnastics fan and thats for the most part the only summer sport I follow.
   Tonight's blog is focused on changes and how I believe it is important to accept them as they come. I'm thinking about this a lot because tomorrow is the beginning of a new chapter for me in a part of my lift that is very important to me. Recently things ended with my piano teacher of 4 years and while I'm not going to give any details I will say that things did not end the way I wish they would have and it has been rather hard on me due to the fact that she was not only the only teacher I'd ever had but was also a close friend. I will also need to be starting with a new doctor soon due to insurance issues and being a type 1 diabetic its a lot bigger of a deal to switch doctors then it is for many people. I plan to write a detailed blog on all that once everything is set in stone but tonight's post is focusing on the things that are changing right now and just accepting change in general.
   I believe I am a person who adjusts to changes pretty easily and I am REALLY want to continue to be that way. I watch people who resist change and see all the pain and stress that puts them through and I don't want to do that to myself more then I have to. Also I know that the older one gets the harder it is to adapt to change so when is the best time to welcome change? When your young! My Grandma has always hated change and now as she is nearly 80 years old it has made things harder for her and those around her. She struggles to accept things ranging from my Grandfathers declining health and things like having small trees in their lawn cut down because they are dead. I believe that accepting small changes that happen regularly and just moving on by making the most of the situation will make it soooo much easier to accept bigger things ranging from ended relationships to moving from one season in your life to the next.
   Another thing that I have learned from going though this experience is that going through something hard really helps you to notice who really cares about you and makes you love them even more (if possible). For me those people are my family. They have given my support and shown their love to me and it has meant more to me then I believe they will ever know.
   Also while going through changes in my life I find it very helpful to use the "glass half full" strategy and to play the Glad Game. Even though it is really hard to see what good is going to come out of a situation when you are going though a painful time, and believe my I know it is, there is often some good to be found. One thing I have to be glad about it the fact that I instantly was able to find an excellent new teacher who I believe will really be able to help me musically. I will admit that I am still struggling to find a lot of good that is coming out of this situation but I am starting to feel that the change was a good thing and there are multiple ways in which I will benefit from it.
   Also I need to strongly bring out the thing that probably plays the largest factor in my ability to accept change and that is the strength I have given to me by God alone. I am a firm believer that God will not give us anything that we cannot handle. We in our own strength are unable to happen things that come are way but it is in those times that God wants us to come to him and trust him with our troubles and trials. One of my favorite Bible verses is Isaiah 40:31 which says "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Another on of my favorites is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
   So tomorrow as I begin my journey with my new teacher I will be trying to look for all the good that can come out of it rather that harping on what I lost. You can think of me as I move ahead tomorrow and in the following weeks :)  And my friends, in closing I just want to say to make things easier on you and those around you, accept the changes that come your way. Hold tight to your family and your true friends and draw close to God though the good and bad times as He will NEVER leave you or forsake you.

Love and Hugs, Leanna