We can't seem to get past the three year mark in our household. That is the record time we have ever been in one place, throughout the course of our 8 1/2 year marriage. That being said, I am super proud of my husband! Yesterday, he accepted a new role as Coke's National Account Executive for Kroger stores. It is a big, big job for him and I am so excited! He works really hard and does an amazing job providing for our family. He starts his new job January 1st, and it will require us to relocate to Cincinnati, Ohio! Good-bye mountains, hello mid-west.
We have known for almost a year that an upcoming move was inevitable. The Coke organization is going through a re-structuring and the new layout just doesn't off much opportunity in Denver. Though I have known a move was coming, Cincinnati was not really on our radar. We were a bit shocked last month, when they began talking to Tommy about it. At this point I have had several weeks to let the shock where off, do some research and start adjusting to the idea. We will have our house on the market just as soon as the relo people are ready (everything is taking forever due to the large number of people involved in this re-org). Tommy will probably be traveling back and forth some until we get the house sold and are ready for us all to head that way. We have narrowed down a town there, though neither of us have ever been to Ohio. It has been like that with all our moves. My first trip there is the house hunting trip! I am sure it won't be long before Tommy goes and can make sure we are on target with the area we picked.
So, many of you think we are crazy. And, in some ways, we probably are. But, this is just what we do. We made a deal early in our marriage that we wouldn't turn down promotions and that we would follow his career path, so that I could stay home with our kids. We always pray God's will over each move and ask him to guide us to the right place. Looking back I can see in each place we have been....Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston and Denver, why God had us there. We have been blessed with great church homes and amazing friends in each of those cities. We keep in touch, go to visit, and have visitors from every place we have called home. Our marriage is stronger, because when we first arrive to a new place, we only have each other to depend on. I have seen so much of the world and experienced many things that I would never have gotten to see if I had stayed a Texas girl forever.
Denver has been a great experience for us. Though the winter is LONG and COLD, it really is an amazing place to live. It is beautiful. The sun shines bright, most every day. There is more to do than we have even had time to get to, and we have the most perfect neighborhood anyone could ask for. Though I never in a million years would have picked Denver, I could live here forever. The thing is though, that I would say that about all the places I have lived, and with the exception of California (because I wouldn't want to raise my kids there) I would move back to any of them in a heartbeat.
So that is the news. We are moving again. Crazy, yes! But, it is an adventure. Will it be hard to say good-bye, absolutely. Will I have a few months of loneliness and learning the ropes of a new place, sure. But, we have prayed long and hard about this. We are thankful that Tommy is receiving a promotion, while so many friends/co-workers are being let go, and we are excited to see what the future holds.
As for the girls, moving is always an on-going conversation at our house and they have been promised a trampoline at their new house. They rarely say a negative thing about moving. Addison is sad to leave her kindie teacher she adores, and Reagan once said she just wants a new house closer to Mackenzie (a neighbor that lives just down the street). They are excited and we tend to think moving will build character in them and provide them with some great life experiences. They LOVE snow, and never would have even seen it if we were still in Houston. I am praying everyday that we find them great schools and that they are blessed with teachers as loving and wonderful as they ones they have here. They are going to miss their friends like crazy, but like there Mommy and Daddy they will have great friends all over the country.
Remind me of this post and my perspective in a few months when I will most certainly go through a long period of loneliness and adjustment!!! :) And, I must admit, in all this moving I do hope someday to get back to the warmer locations on the map! Maybe a beach house will be next on our checklist!
Reagan claimed Major and Addison claimed Oliver. They stuck with the same dog the entire night.
Gracyn is trying to coax a puppy out from under the couch.
Reagan and Major all snuggled under the covers. She was just sure he needed a blanket.
Steve had smores for dessert on his newly acquired fire pit. The girls were thrilled.
Reagan lit a few marshmallows on fire.
Precious Gracyn loved playing drums with Steve.
At the end of the night, I went way out of my comfort zone and said good-bye to my girls. They were in good hands and thrilled to get to spend the night with their aunt and uncle, I am just not used to leaving them! Steve built them a tent to sleep in, they stayed up way late, and they had a fun morning of crafts with Dannea the next day. She also took them to visit Steve at his work and to see her classroom. Mommy survived the night and was happy to reunite with my girls the next day. Steve and Dannea.....get ready, next year Gracyn will want to stay too.
