1. Giving My "High-School Sweetheart" a Second Chance :)
Way back however many years ago, as a Sophomore in HS, I reluctantly said yes to a date with my now husband Michael. I was the goody-goody girl and he was the rebellious fball player. We went on a double date with friends of ours and it was...let's just say, not love at first sight. :) I told his friend to let him know not to ask me out again.
A year later, after developing a friendship through late night AIM conversations (anyone remember that??) I was finding myself falling for him. We gave it a second chance and the rest is history. He is the most amazing husband. I adore him and thank God everyday that that first date wasn't the last.
2. Receiving a "false diagnosis"
I was a 21 year old college student, recently transferred and commuting from home, visiting the above HS sweetheart almost every weekend and loving life. And then during one of those weekend visits I passed out, seized and my health began to be in question. After two more passing out scares I was referred to a neurologist, who quickly and haphazardly diagnosed me with a seizure disorder. In a whirlwind of events I had lost my license, was put on icky meds and feeling rotten. To make a long story short, after a second opinion it was not a seizure disorder, but a much more simple explanation and life returned to normal. I can't even remember now how long I was without a license, but what I do remember is that I had to rely on God big-time and it really shaped my spiritual life. I also spent an amazing amount of time with the most wonderful grandparents a girl could ask for. Since I was a commuter, they drove me to and from college. They brought me treats, waited willingly for hours while I went to class or had group meetings and showed me the greatest example of self-less love. We lost grandpa this past June and just a week later, lost grandma as well. Those memories I have with them as a 21 year-old college student are truly treasured.
3. Moving to NC
After Michael and I were engaged we began discussing where we would live once we got married. I was working on my teaching license and teaching jobs were scarce in OH. Michael was going through some family stuff and had no problem "getting out of dodge" for awhile. Some family questioned our decision, but I quickly got a job teaching 3rd grade in NC. In a three-week timespan we graduated from college, got married and moved to Greensboro, NC. It was the best.decision.ever! Our first year of marriage was a honeymoon. We knew no one else so all of the friends that we made, we made together. We avoided a lot of the sources of tension that arise with individual families, friends etc., We found a great church and made great friends. Michael talks about moving back to Greensboro at least once a week. :)
4. Moving back to OH
So even though we were loving life in NC, I was hating my job. A job back in OH opened up where I had student taught and so with several hundred other applicants I threw my name in the hat thinking for sure I wouldn't get a call and that would be our easy answer. However, that's not what God had planned. I unexpectedly got the job and we found ourselves moving, through our tears, back to OH. It took SEVERAL years, but after being back in OH for almost 7 years we can now see that this was totally God's plan for our life. He has blessed us beyond what we could have even imagined. I'm so thankful that we took that step to move back, despite our hesitations.
5. The riskiest decision of all...
I vividly remember having conversations with friends back in the day and saying things like, "I could NEVER be a stay at home mom", or "I would go NUTS being at home all the time"! Humorous to me now that I am that stay-at-home mom that I said I would never be, and I am seriously happier than I have ever been and feel contentment unlike anything I could explain. After a three year fertility journey to have our first child we were happily surprised to find ourselves expecting a second child just 9 months later. Soon after that we began questioning how in the world we were going to keep up our schedule. We both worked full-time and the few hours we got to spend with Ailey in the evenings wasn't cutting it. Here lies the problem...I do NOT take risks. I won't even take up a new hobby unless I know I will be good at it, no, GREAT at it. I'm a tad-bit competitive. So for a full year I convinced myself that since "so and so" could do it, so could I. But God kept poking, prodding and showing us that although teaching is clearly my gift, it was not what He was calling me to do at this time. For me to quit my job didn't make sense according to "the world" and it's standards. Financially, it'd be tight. We became a one car family and have other sacrifices we'll have to make, but we are doing it to invest in our family for this season of our life. God showed himself to us through this decision making process unlike anything I've ever experienced. I fell asleep crying one night and told God that He was going to have to send me a letter telling me what to do because I was lost. Well, the very next afternoon, a good friend of mine sent me an email explaining to me that she felt like God had laid it on her heart to tell me to take a step of faith. (God hears our prayers!) It wasn't an easy decision after that, and I do miss my job and colleagues, but wow was God laughing at me back in the day when I thought the last thing I would do was stay at home. Currently, it is my dream job. Thank you Jesus for showing us that your plans are so much better than ours!!!
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
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