Written August 5th, On the Road

So, in just a few days we will be starting our new life in Texas.

I haven't been able to write my thoughts down about this as it happened for many reasons, but particularly because this has been a shocking, surprising, and unimaginable turn of events.

God threw us a major curve ball.

Things happened so fast, yet so timely. So suddenly, yet so coincidentally. So randomly, yet so logically. Gods hands were all over this one.

But, it doesn't make it any easier.

I haven't been able to write about it, keep any of our friends really up to date, or even put it into words. I haven't had a second to process it.

It wasn't until about two weeks ago when I finally let it plow me over and I haven't really been able to turn the water works off since.

What saddens me the most is that we are leaving behind a great life for the uncertain. We have pulled Bella (me) out of her (my) comfort zones and away from her (our) best friends. My heart feels like it is ripping into pieces when she asks when she will see her friends again. We have left a community of friends that we call family. We are leaving our favorite part of the country, a place we longed to live in for years - a place we thought we would put roots down.

So, in an extremely small nutshell, the story is that Charles received an amazing job opportunity in Texas, one that could not be matched in the Pacific Northwest. It happened so fast; there was an interview, a flight out, an offer, an acceptance, a house hunting trip, and suddenly we are on the road waving good bye to the emerald city; Mt. Rainier shrinking in the distance.

Leave it to the Big Guy to close all the doors in Seattle and give us a green light all the way to Texas. Everything was pointing to the Lone Star State...despite the fact that I clearly declared to Charles that I would never live in Texas. God has a sense of humor, too. (P.S. God, I would "never" live in Chicago, Denver, Seattle, or Colorado Springs, either. In case you want to move us again where I don't want to go...)

On the bright side...

We will be within striking distance of our families. We can get home for weddings, babies, birthdays, etc.

Airline tickets are cheaper from DFW.

Sun and vitamin D

Swimming outside and water parks (reminds me of my own mid western days of old)

Crickets chirping at night

Houses are huge!!!

All our belongings are in storage, some things have been shipped to Albuquerque, and the rest of it is in our jeep.

We left august 2nd, drove to Missoula, stayed the night, drove to Yellowstone, stayed last night and tonight, and tomorrow we are off to the Grand Tetons. We will stop there, then head to Colorado Springs, visit cousins, then off to New Mexico. From there, the girls and I will hop a plane to Chicago to visit friend and family. Charles starts his new job on August 15th, the girls and I fly I to Dallas on august 16. We have corporate housing for 2 months. Once the girls and I get there, the frantic search for child care, a home, and a job begin.

I have to believe that God has a reason for all of this, that there is a purpose. I have never felt more obedient in my life than in the last few months and that is very humbling.

Hopefully all the stars will align in the lone star state.