Oh, hey there. You know, I didn’t blog for a day and I feel like I’ve been missing you guys my entire life. Like I mentioned on Friday, life has been a little more insane than normal and I told you I’d share. So let’s grab ourselves a cup of coffee and a comfy couch and chat about things.
Here’s the problem – I’m just not sure where to start. I guess at the beginning, right?
Four years ago Nate and I moved out to Colorado to help plant a church. That’s not something I talk about a lot, mainly because I wasn’t really blogging about that part of our life and haven’t for some time. It just seemed so much more intimate than I wanted to share at the time, but that’s what took us out there. In short, the Lord called us out to Colorado for much more than starting a church. He took us to Colorado to change lives – mostly our own – and so we went. I’d love to go into details more later, but in short I’d say that the move and the challenges that we faced there are what brought us together and really made our marriage the incredible union that it is today.
When we moved out to Colorado we didn’t have jobs at all. We had found a place to live on Craigslist, and just left Dallas with a few spare dollars and a hope that we could make it. The first few months were incredibly hard but then suddenly we were blessed with jobs with a great local company (yes, the same one and yes, I got the job first. I’ll never let that go Nate!) that completely provided for us in so many ways. Life has always been good – even when it’s not – but life was really looking up from a financial point of view.
Meanwhile the church was doing great. We were having a blast, getting involved in the community and making absolutely amazing friends.
To make this post a little shorter than it could be, we both got tired of our jobs but felt trapped in them because of the horrible economic state. Then, a little over a year ago, the church that we poured so much of ourselves into ended up closing its doors suddenly. It was devastating to say the least and I’m just thankful that we have such amazing friends and family to lean on and encourage us through it.
For a while I’ve been pretty homesick, missing Texas so much that it physically hurt sometimes. I tried for a long time to get Nate to want to move back, especially since we were about to have a baby and wanted him to grow up closer to family. It was like pulling teeth, so I finally just gave up and figured that if we were supposed to move back we would. I wasn’t about to fight my husband to live somewhere if he didn’t want to be there.
Then Weston was born and not but a few weeks later we were discussing the chances of moving back to Dallas. He started submitting resumes and going through the job-hunting process a little bit later, but hadn’t found anything that was really what we wanted and needed.
Through some amazing friends of ours from Colorado Nate was connected with a company that is going to meet our needs financially but even more importantly it will meet his need to pursue something that he is truly passionate about. We will be closer to family and in an area that is beautiful and that we’ve always considered living in. It’s going to be a big change BUT right now we are in the process of moving to:
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS!!!
This is one adventure that I am incredibly excited about, so now that you guys know where we’re headed let me tell you about the past few weeks. As a way to get moving on going to Dallas we put our house on the rental market at the beginning of August, just hoping that we would be able to rent it out. The job that I mentioned was solidified the Friday before Labor Day, two days after we found out that our house was going to be rented out and that we had to be out by September 15 (this past Saturday). In the midst of all of this we found an amazing rental property in Little Rock that will be perfect for our little family.
PHEW.
SO – over the course of 10 days we (with the help of my mom and our awesome Colorado friends) packed up our entire house in a Penske truck and Wes and I drove down to Lubbock with my mom to spend 5 days at my parents’ house while Nate fulfills his 2 weeks notice in Boulder. On Friday of this week we are going to make the drive to Little Rock and move all of our stuff into our new house in Arkansas. Oh, and then Monday Nate starts his new job.
Crazy, right?
But honestly through this entire process, as in all the way from the beginning of my life, God has provided in ways that astound me, that move me, and that are beyond what I could ever dream of deserving. This is a big move at a major time in our lives, and yet every time I prayed about it, about the stress of it all and (for 2 days) about the anxiety of having to move out of our house without a job prospect, I just heard the Lord saying, “TRUST ME.”
I am so very excited about this next chapter in our lives and can’t wait to share more of my heart and more of our life with you guys!
Oh, I loved reading this!!! We moved to LR right after our honeymoon in June 2012 – Arkansas has stolen our hearts, and we never thought it would!
Hey Sarah! I always get so excited about meeting more Arkansas bloggers – and so glad you’re actually in Little Rock!!!
Such a beautiful post. I’m so thankful to have found your blog, and I’m really enjoying going back post-by-post. Thank you for sharing, and for reminding me to TRUST in the Lord. Love to you and your family!!
Best of luck in your new adventure! Everything sounds so exciting!
Congratulations on the big move!
You took an important and great decision ! To change is not easy. But it will always bring you so much surprises and joy.
I don’t know Little Rock, but if it’s closer to your family, it will be good !
I’m happy for you and I wish you GOOD LUCK to all you’ll start.
thanks Axelle! i know it’s going to be fun!
I’m so going to miss you guys and my snuggles with the little man, but you know this move is fate, I truly believe that it was meant to be. Just like me walking into my beautiful new home and then finding out the buys of my old house were under contract. God moves in mysterious ways sometimes. I’m glad he brought you into my life and the boys and I look forward to visiting sometime – not too soon I promise. Love to you all Ali, Bobby and Frankie
thanks sweet Alison – we’re going to miss you and the boys so much, and you KNOW y’all are always welcome to come visit 🙂 i’ll be keeping up with you guys!
Wow, exciting! But you are getting further away from me 🙁 So happy for these big changes for you guys, though, and hope the journey is totally blessed!
i know, i thought about the fact that i won’t be able to meet you and chris at the airport on your way to influence now 🙁 i’m PRAYING that i win that extra ticket from shereadtruth though!
Heather so happy for you and the new adventure. New adventure is always exciting. But you are really saying goodbye to gorgeous Colorado?? And Boulder that is the new silicon valley? Yikes. . 🙂 No, i am sure Arkansas will be a blast!! Good for you for taking new risks! You will have to write about Arkansas though, i am really curious about living there. I need a walking city, (just the European in me) so i only have a few handful cities i can live in the US.
i really am saying bye to Colorado – but Arkansas is gorgeous and super-outdoorsy and fun too! i definitely plan on trying out all the things little rock has to offer and blogging about it 🙂
Wow!! I can’t believe you’re already gone. I’m so sad!! I hope we cross paths again in the future. Wishing you guys all the best! Congrats on this new adventure.
i know, it seriously all happened in a matter of days and then y’all were in costa rica – we will definitely be getting together soon though. we still own our house there!
Oh my goodness yes! So happy for you heather and nate! God is good! Wish it were austin, but i have great friends in LR. They love it and go to a wonderful church.
hugs.
well, my sister’s in ATX so i’m thinking we’ll have to rendezvous there soon anyway – i’ll be letting you know! or maybe we’ll see you in LR?
Congratulations! That’s so exciting, and I wish you the best of luck with your move!
this is so exciting. i am glad god has found a path for you–can’t wait to read about your new adventures.
thanks sweetheart – i’m definitely going to be sharing them! (p.s. can i come to Mama B’s birthday next year? 🙂
Oh Heather, I just love you and your little family and am so excited for your new adventure!! Congrats and best of luck in the move! xo
GAH! you are too sweet Aggie 🙂
I’m so happy that you are happy about this move AND Nate is happy about it as well. I wish I really could pull up a seat, cup of coffe in hand, and have a chat with you, because I’ve been going through the same thing. Not moving, but feeling like I’m living in a place I’m not meant to be in and desperately wanting to move back home to Virginia (though, I’d take Colorado too, love it there!). But it’s not the right time and not conceivable at the moment. My husband wants to (rightfully) stay in CA because of his job. I need to do as you did, trust that God will offer the right time and place to make this happen and that we’ll end up where we are supposed to be one day. Maybe it’s here. Maybe it’s back East, but only He knows and will do what’s best for me and our family.
So that’s enough about me, but best of luck to you as you move and congrats on an exciting new adventure!
i’m pretty sure i could write an entire book about this topic (or at least talk myself hoarse about it!). it’s hard being in a place that doesn’t feel like home anymore, but everything happens the way it should and when it should. seriously feel free to email me if you ever need to just talk!
Thanks, Heather! I may have to take up on that sometime 🙂 Yes, I fully agree that everything happens for a reason and that we are meant to be where we are!
Congratulations, Heather!! All the very best to you and your beautiful family. What a wonderful adventure!! I’m so happy for you all!! 🙂
thanks Julie!!! miss ya 🙂
Congratulations!! I’m so excited for you and this new adventure. God Bless and stay positive, everything always seems to work out.
Congrats! I’m excited for your new adventure.
Congrats, lady!!! Moving is so fun, albeit stressful, but you are going to embark on another great adventure of your life and there are SO many to come. Life is beautiful, and you are taking it by the reigns. xoxo!
amen girl! 🙂
I just came upon your blog through Twitter, but it sounds like you’re going through a lot of exciting changes right now! Congratulations, and good luck with the move!
thanks Emily! i’m so glad you found it and definitely hope you come back 😉
Wow, how exciting for you guys! It sounds like you’re being led to exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Congrats Heather! Moving can be SOOO stressful {especially with a little one!} but it’ll be so worth it in the end!
thanks Laurie! it’s definitely a lot easier to move without kiddos, but wouldn’t trade it for the world 🙂
Congratulations! What a great opportunity and adventure awaits you. Enjoy the journey!
Congratulations! What a fun adventure for you guys to go on!
thanks Beth! adventure is right!
Definitely a major life change but I am so happy for you guys! May God continue blessing y’all as you begin this new chapter of life. 🙂
thanks sweetheart 🙂
That’s so exciting!! Though I do question your sanity a little bit in leaving Colorado 😉 Little Rock is pretty close to my corner of the world. Congratulations and good luck!
you’re not the first, I know, but Arkansas is absolutely gorgeous and has a really incredible outdoorsy lifestyle too! plus it’s in the South and closer to family – WIN 🙂
Your absolutely right about the great outdoorsy lifestyle. If you guys are looking for some hiking trails or short weekend trips once you get settled, let me know!
So many changes going on for your family – but it sounds like you’re in a great place mentally and ready to take it on!