family
So we're at a crossroads. Well, we were at a crossroads. We had been for a long time. And we finally made a decision this weekend. When we got married, our goal was to move overseas. After graduating, we had plans to move to KC. Then we got a surprise phone call/job offer and decided to stay in Columbia. After Adair was born, we thought seriously about moving to either Portland or somewhere in Colorado. After Ingrid was born, we had the freedom to look for jobs. Phil has looked for jobs in a few places - all big cities, far away. Even one overseas. We kept going back and forth, back and forth. (I tell you all this to show you why we are not 5-year-plan people. Things change.) Then, out of nowhere, appears a sweet opportunity for me, right here in Columbia. In 3 days' time, a job was posted, I sent in my resume, I interviewed, and was offered the position. 3 days! The position allows me to stay home, full-time with my girls. But it also allows me to work with an awesome group of students and it provides just the right amount of income to help make ends meet around here. The whole gig seems too good to be true. Anyway, today I made the call and accepted the job.
I think we're conditioned to think that the big decisions we make in life have a lot to do with how our day-to-day lives will look. To some extent, yes. Absolutely. But those big decisions aren't the end-all, be-all. Certainly not. I picked a good husband and luckily he picked me too. We've made two beautiful children since. We've all heard the phrases, "home is where you are" or "home is where the heart is." As corny or overused as they might be, they're true. Home is all I need. This man and these babies. I think we've finally realized that life is comprised of how we live day in and day out, not where we live or the things that surround us. I've got all I need to live the life I've dreamed of, to live the life we're dreaming of together now.
In a big city, sure, life would be different. We'd be away from family and close friends. But we'd be closer to action, excitement, culture. These things are still wonderful and I would like to experience them up-close, in real life, sometime. But today I realize that where we are might not matter so much. We'll still be waking up together, dreaming and loving each other over homemade waffles and crispy bacon. We'll still be reading "Whoever You Are" and "New Socks" umpteen times a day, no matter the view out our living room windows. I'll still sing "From This Valley" to Adair each night, as I rock her to bed. I'll still lay with Ingrid as she gets all the kinks out (as I like to call it) until she falls asleep. These are the things that matter, folks. The little things are the big things. The little things become the big things at the end of the day.
When I think back to my own childhood, sure, I remember some fun things we did, some cool places we went, neat trips we took. But most of all, I remember how my parents loved me. I remember the small things. The day-to-day things. The sound of my mom's singing voice, the sound of her heartbeat as I laid my head on her chest, the roughness of my dad's mustache against my face, the excitement I felt in my head and in my heart as I ran as fast as I could up the stairs, dad chasing behind. Those little things became the big things.
Anyway, I share all this to tell you we'll be around a little while longer. We've got big plans for the coming year. Like CHICKENS!!! (More to come on that!) :)
Love you all-
L
I think we're conditioned to think that the big decisions we make in life have a lot to do with how our day-to-day lives will look. To some extent, yes. Absolutely. But those big decisions aren't the end-all, be-all. Certainly not. I picked a good husband and luckily he picked me too. We've made two beautiful children since. We've all heard the phrases, "home is where you are" or "home is where the heart is." As corny or overused as they might be, they're true. Home is all I need. This man and these babies. I think we've finally realized that life is comprised of how we live day in and day out, not where we live or the things that surround us. I've got all I need to live the life I've dreamed of, to live the life we're dreaming of together now.
In a big city, sure, life would be different. We'd be away from family and close friends. But we'd be closer to action, excitement, culture. These things are still wonderful and I would like to experience them up-close, in real life, sometime. But today I realize that where we are might not matter so much. We'll still be waking up together, dreaming and loving each other over homemade waffles and crispy bacon. We'll still be reading "Whoever You Are" and "New Socks" umpteen times a day, no matter the view out our living room windows. I'll still sing "From This Valley" to Adair each night, as I rock her to bed. I'll still lay with Ingrid as she gets all the kinks out (as I like to call it) until she falls asleep. These are the things that matter, folks. The little things are the big things. The little things become the big things at the end of the day.
When I think back to my own childhood, sure, I remember some fun things we did, some cool places we went, neat trips we took. But most of all, I remember how my parents loved me. I remember the small things. The day-to-day things. The sound of my mom's singing voice, the sound of her heartbeat as I laid my head on her chest, the roughness of my dad's mustache against my face, the excitement I felt in my head and in my heart as I ran as fast as I could up the stairs, dad chasing behind. Those little things became the big things.
Anyway, I share all this to tell you we'll be around a little while longer. We've got big plans for the coming year. Like CHICKENS!!! (More to come on that!) :)
Love you all-
L
