to everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

It seems that our family has been in the "time to uproot" for a while now. In 5 years of marriage we have had 5 addresses (add 2 more if you count the 6 weeks we lived with my parents right when we moved to Abilene and right before we left Abilene). This season of life is hard. I know there is a purpose to it though. Every year about this time we start thinking about moving again. Keri is called to be a head coach. The way to get a promotion in his line of work is to move which explains our nomad status for the past 5 years. So to help me get through these next few weeks when we're in limbo about staying or moving I'm writing out what I've learned during the last 5 years.

Plano May 2002-May 2003
Keri and I moved in to our first apartment together after marrying May 25, 2002. We both taught in Plano schools during our first year of marriage. At first the thought of living in "the big city" was a little daunting to this small town girl. But I grew to love living in Plano and was stretched a lot by living 3+ hours away from family. This first year of marriage Keri and I really got to form our own independent family and being "alone" in a new place really made our marriage have a strong foundation.


Abilene May 2003-June 2005
After one year in Plano Keri decided it was time to get his master's degree. He applied to 3 or 4 places and got accepted at Hardin-Simmons University. He went to school full time while I worked full time. These two years really taught me a lot. I remember before we moved being terrified of living on one salary. I didn't think we could do it! But God was faithful even in my doubt and I'm happy to say we survived and thrived. I loved teaching kindergarten in Abilene where you aren't afraid of having to be politically correct (like in Plano). Keri learned so much in grad school and coaching at the college level for two years. I'd say that we also learned a lot about the body of Christ through going to Beltway Park Baptist Church and getting involved in a life group. It was wonderful to live close to my parents-we had so much fun seeing them often!


Little Elm June 2005-March 2007

This move was a rough one, I won't lie! We moved when Addie was 11 days old. I was a nervous wreck as a first time mom and transitioning from working woman to stay at home mom was so hard! We knew NO ONE close by! I take that back, we knew one couple in Frisco and one in Dallas. I really struggled the first few months with loneliness. God brought us to Bent Tree Bible Fellowship and that was probably the biggest blessing of this time period. It was at Bent Tree that I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and boy did God bless me (and us) for it! We experienced the body of Christ again through a life group, through MOPS, and through all the friends we made. We were challenged week in and week out as we listened to God speak through Pete, our pastor.

May 2007-??? Garland
If I had to sum up this past year in one word it would be humility. We've been humbled a lot this year. We've had to ask for help quite a bit and that's something that I don't like to do. I guess it started when I was so sick during the first 4 or 5 months of pregnancy and I had to ask for and accept help for the simplest of tasks. Another way we've been humbled is in our current living situation. We are very blessed to have found a rent house that we could afford and the landlords have been wonderful (you're the best Laura!)but going from homeowner back to being a renter has been interesting!

I think the theme of the past 5 years would be that no matter where we go, God is always with us. He may put us in a familiar situation, he may put us in a totally foreign situation but He is there no matter what.

So if you have a second say a prayer for our family-that God would give us wisdom in any decisions we have to make, that He would put us in a place where we can grow in Him, and that he would keep me sane while we wait it out!

I love you Keri and no matter where you lead-I'll follow!