Change is coming

Sometimes you choose change, and sometimes change chooses you.

When I wrote the very first post of my blog in May of 2015, I had no inkling of the major life changes that were to occur for our family in the next decade.

In the spring of 2015, we had one graduating college, one graduating high school, and one preparing for middle school.

We didn’t yet know our oldest would be relocating out of state, our middle, due to genetics/injury/double knee surgery, would be forced to give up his baseball dreams, or that our youngest would soon be starting a season of schooling at home.

We hadn’t yet learned of an eleven year old girl in Poland who wanted more than anything for a mom, a dad, and a family. We couldn’t have dreamed we would decide to adopt internationally (again), that we’d prepare for a year to bring our new daughter home, only to be crushed discovering the adoption had fallen through, permanently.

That event (whether we were aware or not) prompted us to sell our home and buy a lakefront house with an amazing view; only minutes from where we were but miles away.

The water slowly renewed our spirits and gave us the most wonderful memories: boating and jet skiing, swimming and sunsets, music and dancing, sleepovers and shenanigans, two weddings and a high school graduation.

It was there we were told, within a three month time span, that both of our daughters-in-law were expecting baby girls. Our sons were going to be daddies and we—what?!—grandparents.

Being hours away from them was not an option, so when our oldest said, “Why doesn’t everyone just move by us?” we called his bluff and did.

We’ve lived close to one another almost four years now and the changes keep coming.

We lost my mom to a stroke soon after we moved, and, recently, my younger brother to pancreatic cancer.

This last year and a half, we also grieved two little babies going to heaven before they had time to fully form in utero.

Recently, we celebrated the births of two new grandbabies, again born months apart, a sweet grandson and a third precious granddaughter.

We praise God for the circle of life. We praise God for the babies, here and there. We praise God for it all.

I’m fulfilled crafting a variety of genres from picture books to essays to articles and long-form works.

The title of my blog, 742iloveyou, was perfect when I started because that phrase holds special meaning to me, but it doesn’t serve my writing as well now.

For this reason, I’m choosing change.

Moving forward, my landing place online will simply be https://www.debbieprather.com/

My prayer is to continue connecting with others and allow the new, updated site to grow, expand, and serve readers as best as possible.

I can’t wait for you to join me there!

A heartfelt thanks to each one of you—every person who has accompanied me on this adventure of learning and refashioning. I truly cherish coming alongside you on your unique journey as well.

Here’s to God, here’s to you, here’s to our families and our lives, and here’s to change!

Psalm 96: 1-3 Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.