Along For the Ride - Amy Schisler

I’ve written many blogs about change over the years. I’ve always said I welcome change, and I do, even though sometimes change can bring about unexpected circumstances and even trials. Change can be scary; it can be turbulent; and it can be wonderful. One never really knows what lies around the bend even on a road that has been traveled hundreds of times. And sometimes, even anticipated change can bring with it a wave of uncertainty. 2002 waves

Though we had been preparing for possible change for several months, when it happened…

It seemed to hit us from out of the blue.

Over two years ago, the little start-up that my husband worked for was bought out by one of the largest power companies in Europe, based in Rome, Italy We didn’t know what to expect, whether they’d keep Ken on board, if they’d insist he move, or how it would affect his salary, pension, and other benefits. It was a little daunting but also exciting.

For the past several years, we’ve explored most of Italy, traveled around Sweden, marveled at the wonders of Brazil, attended a Shakira concert in Colombia, admired the great castles of Ireland and Scotland, and stomped around England. We’ve made friends throughout the world and have been blessed with rich experiences of which many people only ever dream. While we wouldn’t trade one minute of all we did, it wasn’t an easy life for Ken. While I traveled with him a few times a year, he traveled at least three weeks a month at a grueling pace punctuated by hotel rooms, conference centers, foreign offices, and jet lag. He was ready for a change but not quite ready to fully leap into something new. Now, the decision has been made for him.

It’s been a crazy but thrilling roller coaster ride for our whole family, but we’ve ridden up the last hill on that track and have descended down the decline and into the station of change.

As most companies do after a merger or buy-out has settled, the Italian conglomerate has realigned its workforce, and Ken’s job is no longer crucial to the company. What does this mean for us? Truly, it means anything we want it to mean. For the first time in our marriage, we are at a place where Ken can take some time, explore his options, and think about what he’d like to do for the next ten or so years. With Rebecca getting married, Katie finishing college next year, and Morgan completing her nursing degree not long after that, we don’t have to worry about how to support a young family. We just need to find that last train to take us into our golden years as we plan weddings, watch our children make their way in the world, and wait for grandchildren.

A friend reminded me the other day, whenever God closes a door, he opens a window. All we need to do is trust in Him. At every point in our lives when we weren’t sure what lay ahead, we prayed that God would show us the way, and He always has. He has never failed us, never left us, and never led us astray. 2020 open window

When one of my daughters is struggling with something, I always remind her to pray, put her faith and trust in God, and allow Him to lead her to the right answers, the right people, the right place in her journey.

Ken and I have no idea where this detour will take us, but we’re okay with that. God is conducting the train, and we’re just happy to be along for the ride. 2020 train

Would you like to read more writings like this?

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What I was writing about a year ago this week: Keeping Track.

Amy Schisler is an award-winning author of both children’s books and sweet, faith-filled romance novels for readers of all ages. She lives with her husband and three daughters on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Her books, Picture Me, Whispering Vines, and Island of Miracles are all recipients of Illumination Awards, placing them among the top inspirational fiction books of 2015, 2016, and 2017. Whispering Vines was awarded the 2017 LYRA Award for the best romance of 2016. Island of Miracles has outsold all of Amy’s other books worldwide and ranked as high as 600 on Amazon. Her follow up, Island of Promise is a reader favorite. Amy’s children’s book is The Greatest Gift. The suspense novel, Summer’s Squall, and all of Amy’s books, can be found online and in stores. Her latest novel, Island of Promise, was recently awarded First Prize by the Oklahoma Romance Writer’s Association as the best Inspirational Romance of 2018 and was awarded a Gold Medal in the Independent Publisher Book Awards 2019 for Inspirational Fiction. It is the 2019 winner for Best Inspirational Fiction in the RWA Golden Quill Contest, Best Romance in the American Book Awards, and a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Award of Fiction. Amy’s 2019 work, The Devil’s Fortune, is based, in part, on her family history and is garnering many five star reviews. The third book of Amy’s Chincoteague Island Trilogy, Island of Hope, was released in August of 2019.