The Biggie

Alright, the post you've all been waiting for has finally arrived. Admittedly, this writing could be all over the place due to the welling-up of emotions I experience every time I try to discuss this subject.

The short version: We're moving...to TEXAS!! Yeeeeehawwww!!! Stop reading now if that's all you wanted to know.

The long version: Over the past few years, mine and Jared's lives have changed...then changed again...then changed again...and again....and again. This constant flux has often left our heads spinning and left us searching for what is 'normal' for us. We keep hearing ourselves say things like, "once we get married and live in the same place, then we'll feel 'normal'." Shortly thereafter, we were saying, "once we have this baby, THEN we'll feel 'normal'" (heehee...now THAT's funny to me). Anyway, at some point in the pregnancy, I think we both realized that 'normal' just may not be in our lexicon for a long time. In fact, we sort of came to expect the crazy stuff...and forget all about that notion of normal. I think the ''lightbulb" moment came this past summer when we decided to just focus on praising the Lord for the adventure that He is giving to us. Afterall, God knows us better than we know ourselves...and we like it that He knows how much both of us don't like to be bored.

So...our newest adventure. We are picking up our little family and moving to Houston, Texas. I'm sure many of you (especially our FL family) have lots of questions. And, to you, I can only say that the answer to every single question is...Jesus. Hey, come to think of it, that's a lot like life, isn't it?

Over the past year, Jared has faced increasing work stress. This has nothing to do with his job, per se, or his boss...both of which he (and I) love dearly. It's the hiccups, the angry customers, and the mistakes made down the line that equate to trouble coming back to him. He was returning home more and more despondent, and being that I was all kinds of prego, I think my burgeoning belly just added pressure on him to figure it out and be an even better provider (like that's even possible). This, as you can imagine, was turning him into one very sad panda. So, around that time, we started praying together (and separately) for 'patience, wisdom, less mistakes down the line, happier customers, personal attitude adjustment, and perhaps, if it was His will...a change.'

Very soon after that, the powers-that-be at his company offered us an amazing opportunity to move to Atlanta and set up shop there. At first, we thought this may be our Answer. However, after prayerful consideration of it, we both felt that God was telling us to stay put. We were very scared of disappointing the powers-that-be, but at the same time, Atlanta just wasn't sitting well with either of us.

Then, the baby came, and with the baby, came my family - mom, dad, and sister. For two and a half weeks, life felt easy. Jared was happy to know that I was being taken care of at home...and that helped his workdays along. During that time, the challenges of having a wittle bitty baby were abundant, but the ability to share all of it with family on a daily basis really filled our hearts to the brim. I spent the entire time they were here pretending that they were never going to leave, and when the day finally came that the last of them (my mom) headed home, the tears fell like rain. It started when we were getting ready for the airport...it became convulsive on the way there...and when my mom got her stuff out of the car, I felt like I should walk her inside, but I didn't do it because a) the baby needed to get home and b) I had a feeling that if I got out to walk her in, I would want to walk her all the way to her airplane seat, and then I would find myself wanting to walk her all the way to Texas, and that would just be what one might call 'counterproductive' to my marriage and baby. :)

On the drive home from the airport, we barely spoke. I think Jared was scared of me...and I couldn't have talked if I wanted to for all the waa-waaing that I was doing. Sometime the next day, when I could put together sentences again, I told Jared that he shouldn't worry about me and that I would be okay. And, you know, I truly meant it. I have always and will always believe that Orlando is where we were supposed to begin our journey together...even if that means homesickness from time to time. In fact, it is one of the rules of our marriage that I never use the far-away-from-my-fam card in any conversation or argument. The rule, as he knows, is unnecessary though. The thought never entered my mind to resent him for moving me over here, because Jared didn't do this Orlando thing to me...I chose to do this life thing with him.

So, as I mentioned before, we were gettin' our prayer on for wisdom, patience...etc. etc. We were also keeping our minds open to any transfer that the company may ask us to make. Since Atlanta didn't pan out, we thought something else may be cookin'. Then, in September, we went to Houston for Jared's work. Okay, he went hunting in Austin with a bunch of guys from work...I went to my parents' so I wouldn't have to be home alone with a two-month old. While we were there, I kept looking for a sign that the transfer was coming...and maybe it would be to Texas (not a far reach since the company is based there). Jared did too. But, at the end of our time there, it felt all wrong...like we were trying to force something that wasn't meant to be. So, we returned to Orlando with new initiative to develop our life here -- Nana and I hung out a couple times a week, we took the baby all over, visited with friends, wore ourselves out making plans, and waited.

Over the course of the next month and a half, work called us back to Texas two more times. The first time, I really really looked hard for a sign that it was the place that we were supposed to be...and got nothing. Same thing for Jared. And we talked about it too....how, nope, we weren't feeling it yet. We continued to wait.

Then, we went to Houston for Halloween weekend (again, Jared went to Austin for work...I was the one in Houston). We were there from Tuesday to Sunday. On Tuesday, nothing. Wednesday, nothing. Thursday, Jared met up with me in Houston...and still, nothing. Then, on Friday, something changed. I was driving past my old elementary school. The sun was shining perfectly through those tall Texas pines, the sky was crisp and blue and perfect, and I had a moment of what can only be described as 'divine peace' about being right there in that sweet neighborhood with my husband and my son.

Some have called this type of moment "God preparing your heart," Jared says it's the "check being taken off your spirit," but no matter what you call it...it has only ever meant one thing to me - good news is coming.

So, was I surprised only two days later, on Monday morning, when Jared's boss asked if we would be interested in a move to Houston? No, I wasn't surprised. Was I surprised to hear that it was an offer too good for Jared to professionally pass up? Nope. Was I surprised to learn that my dad had just told my mom that same morning that he was going to write me an email to tell me how much he wished we could be in the same place all the time? No, not surprised. Am I surprised to hear that part of Jared's new job is going to be taking clients to sporting events (a long-time dream of his) and/or the golf course (a long-time dream of mine that he would need me for golf lessons one day...heehee) from time to time? Nope...not even a little.

Why? Because, THIS IS AN ANSWER TO PRAYER and to quote a favorite of one of our dearest friends here in Orlando, we believe in a God that "is able to do exceedingly more than all we ask or imagine." This is no coincidence. This is not dumb luck. This is the plan He has for us....and we are excited (and maybe a little nervous...but mostly excited) to embark on this next great adventure together.

Although the weeks and months ahead will likely prove to be difficult and, in many (many) ways, bittersweet, there is nobody on this earth I would rather have by my side to face this storm than Jared. We have painful goodbyes to say, belongings to pack, a house to sell in a buyers' market, loving family that needs way more quality time with the H-man before our February move-out, and the list goes on.

But, one day, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, we'll be all moved and we'll settle in to something close (but not too close) to normal.