Sometimes the Plan Changes

# Embracing Life's Unexpected Moments: A Weekend with My Son

## Finding Joy in the Changes

Good morning, friends. ♥️

My coffee got started this morning, but before I could really settle into it, it was interrupted by a quick trip to urgent care with Clayton. He got home last night running a fever, still had one this morning, and isn’t feeling good at all. We’re pretty sure it’s strep throat, so we’re waiting on the medicine and hoping we can get it started quickly.

It’s never easy to see your child not feeling well, even when that child is 20 years old. I suppose that’s one of those things about motherhood that never really changes. They can grow up, move away, go to college, become adults, and live their own lives, but when they’re sick, you still want to take care of them. You still want to make sure they’re okay.

• 

Clayton is such a busy guy. I’m sure part of this is simply that he’s been running himself ragged. But what else do you do when you’re in your 20s? You stay busy, you do all the things, and sometimes your body finally says, “That’s enough.”

Adjusting Our Plans

So our plans for the weekend have changed a little. We were supposed to go to the movies today, but I’m not sure that’s going to happen now. I’ll probably run by the farmers market while we’re waiting on his medicine, and then we’ll see what the rest of the day looks like. Honestly, I’m okay with the change. I’m just glad he’s home.

We don’t get many opportunities to have everyone together anymore. I’ve learned to appreciate every single one of them. If spending this weekend doing his laundry, making sure he takes his medicine, and taking care of my sick 20-year-old is what this weekend looks like, then that’s okay with me.

Maybe God knew exactly what this mom’s heart needed this weekend.

Reflecting on Blessings

I’ve been thinking a lot about Clayton lately and watching his life unfold. God has blessed him in so many ways, and I love watching the story God is writing with his life. He has such a good heart, and he truly is one of my greatest blessings. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in our plans that we forget to recognize the blessing sitting right in front of us.

We had plans. God had something different in mind. And that’s okay.

I don’t always handle changes to my plans particularly well. I like to know what’s happening, where we’re going, and what the day is supposed to look like. But life doesn’t work that way. Sometimes the plans change because someone gets sick. Sometimes they change because something unexpected happens. Sometimes God simply takes us in a different direction than the one we thought we were going.

Finding Joy in the Unexpected

That doesn’t mean the day is ruined. It just means the day is different. And today, different looks like having my family home, taking care of my son, making a quick trip to the farmers market, and enjoying whatever time we get together. There will be other movies. There will be other weekends. There will be other plans.

But I don’t know how many more weekends I’ll get to have my 20-year-old home needing his mom to take care of him. So I’m going to enjoy this one.

Planning for the Future

I’m also going to spend a little time working on my holiday plans. I have some really neat projects in the planning stages. I’m not quite ready to tell you about them yet, but I’m getting excited about what’s coming. I love this time of year, and I’m looking forward to sharing some of these things with you when the time is right.

And that actually brings me to a question for you. As I start planning the holiday season for Three Hearts Keepsakes, what would you like to see? What kinds of things would you love to find for yourself, your family, or someone you love? I’d really like to hear your ideas because sometimes the best projects start with simply asking people what they want.

Embracing the Moment

So today, I’m going to slow down a little. I’m going to take care of my boy, enjoy having my family close, drink my coffee whenever I actually get a chance to finish it, and remind myself that plans changing doesn’t mean blessings disappearing. Sometimes the blessing is in the change.

Until tomorrow…

Keep your coffee warm, your Bible close, and your heart open to the unexpected blessings God places in your path. I’ll meet you back here tomorrow—with another cup of coffee and another conversation.

❤️ Mandy