The Only Constant is Change

According to Heraclitus, who was a Greek philosopher from 535 BC to 475 BC, the "only constant is change".  Hmmmm, 2500 years later his declaration is still ringing true in our lives as the Ewing plan changes weekly daily hourly by the minute.

First, I should admit that I HATE change.  Hate is such a strong word but oh so true in this situation.  I can remember being in Junior High School and wishing everything would stay the same, which is weird because I didn't even like Jr. High.  It's a wonder my poor mom has lived this long after listening to me moan and groan.  Oh my, I'm so incredibly glad I didn't have a child like me!!!

I have gotten better with the whole "life is changing" idea, especially since Spencer's medical condition keeps us constantly guessing which I think of as "Life lesson #1 compliments of God".

"Life lesson #2" came along when Cole decided to pursue his acting career.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, in life is a sure thing but especially not in the life of an actor.

With all that said, life's most recent change came when our condo that we have been renting with Coppelia, for the past two years, has been put up for sale and we all had to find a new place to live.  After a lot of craziness (imagine that!), Cole and I have moved temporarily into our friend Roxie and Eve's apartment.  Roxie and Eve are spending the month of May in Washington and they were gracious enough to let us sublet from them.  It works out great for us because they have a beautiful apartment, Cole and I each get our own room and we're not locked  into a six or twelve month lease.

We moved all day Saturday and thanks to Slade, we got it all done within a short amount of time.  We're in and we're settled and I'm so thankful to have the move behind us.  The funniest thing to happen during our move was when I was trying to park my car in the garage but the parking place is so narrow and I was obviously having a hard time.  This sweet old man rode by on his bike (think 90 years old) and I guess he could see that I was struggling so he got off his bike to help.  He didn't speak English.  I don't speak Spanish.  But he was very animated and kept telling me (in Spanish) how I should go about getting my car in this space and I kept thinking HE wanted to park my car and I could just see me getting out and letting him park my car and him driving off with it and me having to call Brad to tell him my car was stolen by a 90 year old Mexican.  Finally, after much gesturing and hand signals, I figured out that he was showing me how to pull my car up and back it in and when the light bulb finally went off above my head, I did it on the first try.  He smiled and rode off and I almost ran after him to give him a big hug.  

I can't gain even a 1/2 ounce or the only way I will be able to exit the car after I park it is by the sun roof!

Surprise surprise, I got lost driving to church today but I know I will get my bearings about the time Cole has finished filming and we are heading home to Arkansas.

Our plan today, at 8:28pm, is to stay in LA until May 21st or 22nd and then head home to Arkansas for a well deserved rest.  But who knows, that plan could change at 8:31pm!

"Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.  For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."
~James 1:2-3

We Change Plans More Than We Change Our Clothes

The running joke in the Southern/Australian condo (also known as the Ewing/Tingley abode) is that the Ewing's change plans at least 71 times a day.  Plans to leave LA to go to Arkansas, plans to stay in LA, plans to get all of the Ewing's to LA, plans to get all of the Ewing's to Arkansas....see where I'm going with this?  Honestly, I think that we make plans and God chuckles.  My new mode of operation is wake up each morning and try to be open to whatever happens and know that God is in charge.

Last Monday, our plan was to pack up a U-Haul and take everything we currently have in LA and head home to Arkansas at the end of April.  The owner of our condo has decided she is moving back from England and is moving into the condo the beginning of May so we have to vacate the premises.  We thought we would stay home for a while, put our house on the market in Arkansas and see what happens.  Well, those plans changed at 5:11 p.m. last Monday when we found out that Cole booked a recurring guest role on a popular tv show (insert squeal here!).  He will be on set five days a week until the middle of May so Plan B was put into place.  Now, instead of packing the car we are planning on moving back to BESA (Burbank Extended Stay) where we lived when we first arrived in LA.  It's small but we can rent on a month-to-month basis so that as soon as Cole has finished filming, we can head home to Arkansas for some R & R.

The episodes that Cole is filming won't air until January 2015 so we have to be mum on the project but I promise I will keep you all posted.  Until then, while our weekdays are being spent on set, we're spending our weekends in search of fun.  Today, an impromptu trip to Malibu with Cole and Slade was just what we needed to unwind.

Brad, we need a house right here!

Why do boys feel the need to climb anything that is taller than a shrub?

Slade's dog, Merlin came along for the ride and it made my heart happy.  I miss our animals so much.

How long do you think it will take before Plan B is out the window?  I know, I can't wait to see either!!!!

"I will praise you while I live; in your name I will lift up my hands."

~Psalm 63:4

An Interesting Spring Break

Spring Break.  The time of year when parents look forward to having a break from school!  I mean, really.  School cramps my style and I love any break I can get, although this year, Cole's spring break was later than usual which meant that all the Ewing's weren't able to be together for our break from school.  Boo.  What's the use of having a break if you can't all hang out together and be lazy.

So, while Brad and Spencer were in Little Rock working and going to school, Cole and I improvised by...

1.  Going to the beach.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day so we headed to the beach to soak up some sun.  Good thing we keep sweatshirts in the back of my car because we needed them; it was sunny and 57 degrees with a 30 mile an hour wind!  I bundled up in my sweatshirt, wrapped myself in my blanket, and laid on the grass and read my book.  Not much of a tan but definitely relaxing.

2.  Hiking.  There are some amazing hiking trails near us but the one I hate despise don't care for is Runyon Canyon.  Don't get me wrong, it is absolutely breath taking, and by breath taking, I mean it takes my breath away after I top the first hill because it is so steep.  By the time I've made it to the top of the third hill, I'm sounding like I have been unhooked from my iron lung and that I should be on continuous oxygen.  

When you make it to the top of this "hill", there's a prayer box.  Whoever started it must have been like me and was just so thankful they didn't die on the way to the top.  I don't see a Mt. Everest trip in my future.

These two cuties did AWESOME, even though it was Caitlin's first hike since coming to LA.

It's always good to take a picture BEFORE the hike in case everyone on your team doesn't make it back!  :)

3.  Even going to the grocery store can be fun if you let your 16-year-old hang out the sunroof and wave at total strangers and take a selfie.

Cole headed out on Friday with the youth group from church to go camping at Carpenteria Beach State Park in Ventura, CA (about 70 miles north of us).  While he was camping, Katrina and I decided to visit the "Fashion District" in downtown LA.  We spent six hours walking around and looking at all the sights while feeling we were in a third world country.  This city is a conundrum of sights.  After six hours, we walked away with a relaxing day under our belt, our sides hurting from laughing so much and some cute sandals, of course.

How could I pass up anything this shiny!!!!

I left the house at 8:00 a.m. this morning to drive up and pick up the kiddos from the camping trip.

It was an absolutely gorgeous beach.

I love the adults at our church that sacrifice their own family time to mentor our youth.  So awesome.

While Cole was trying to kill me with various adventures this week, Brad and Spencer were having a normal week of school and work.  Spencer was able to pick up some plants on Saturday and planted his spring garden of tomatoes, peppers, cilantro and basil.

Yum!

Cole and I head home to Little Rock in three weeks and I am so ready to see all of my family and friends.

I hope you all have a GREAT week!!!

"Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful."

~Psalm 70:16