We are moving from Houston to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my husband will start work at his new job next week. I am hoping that finally blogging about the move may help it sink in a little more. I still can hardly believe it. We have been in Houston for five years, and for all of our married life. We love the community that we have be blessed to be a part of here. And as little as three months ago, we were planning to be in Houston and continue our business for the foreseeable future. I don’t think that Michael and me thought we would be in Houston forever, but neither of us believed we would be saying goodbye so soon.
This summer, Michael and I had many heart to heart conversations about our family’s future, especially with regards to our business and how we wanted to support our family financially. I think it was towards the end of July that we decided it was time to see if God might be opening some new doors–and closing others. After weeks of seeking good counsel, of much praying, and lots of waiting, towards the end of August we accepted one offer to purchase our business and another offer for Michael to work with a great company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Discernment is never a perfect process, but I can say honestly that we were open to wherever the Lord wanted us and whatever he wanted for us. We were even open to staying with the business if that’s what He wanted us to do. There really wasn’t a specific thing that put our thoughts and conversations about a job change in motion. It was more a general feeling that we both had separately for a long while, and then discovered we had in common.
Baton Rouge was one of the cities where we put out feelers about a new job for Michael, but we didn’t really think there would be anything there for Michael job-wise with the kind of work he was looking for. From working in flight control at NASA to business management to catering to lawn care to stilt walking (the stilt walking is for another blog post:), he has had quite a variety of work experience in his life so far, and he was specific on the type of work he wanted to pursue at this point. It was truly unexpected for us that a job right up Michael’s alley opened up in Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge is where I am from and where much of my family lives. Michael’s family live mostly in the New Orleans area about an hour or so away from Baton Rouge. Michael and I both attended LSU and were very involved with different communities and groups in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and we have many dear friends in Louisiana that we have truly missed since being in Houston. My heart is so grateful to be moving “back” to a life very sure to be incredibly rich in the treasure of family and friends.
Ah…but we are leaving a rich life that we have made for ourselves here too.
Friends with kids all the same ages as mine.
Neighbors who babysit for us overnight while we are in labor and boil crawfish with us all Spring.
A wonderful church community.
Girlfriends that go on a Moms Night Out each time somebody is about to have a new baby.
Girlfriends that go on a Moms Night Out each time somebody is about to have a new baby.
All of my wonderful friends and activities with Opus Dei.
And our sweet friend Deacon Jack Dean has baptized all three of our children.
And not least of all, for the last four years our community here in Houston has held a weekly Family Dinner, a potluck meal and open house at the same home each week. For the past year and a half, Michael and I have hosted Family Dinner at our house every Thursday night. There are lots of young families and singles too. There are people who come every single week and people who come a couple of times and people who come a few times a year. All are welcome–as long as they don’t mind a two-to-one child/adult ratio or eating on my living room floor.
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| Family Dinner, Summer 2013 |
It is a bittersweet time for us right now. I am thrilled and grieving at the same time. But I am confident the Lord has plans for good. We didn’t know a soul when we moved to Houston five years ago, and God has done amazing things in our lives since then. We know many souls in Louisiana–not the least of them our precious families!–and I for one cannot wait to see how God weaves the people and places of our lives together in these coming years.
Truth be told, too, I’m really, really excited about having family around to help me out with my little ones. As you can see, I have a lot of friends here in Houston, but it will be nice to have people to call who don’t have multiple young children of their own to take care of. Not that I’m planning on putting my mother and aunts and sisters and family friends to work babysitting all the time…but I kind of am. 🙂
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| “Every time I think of you, I thank my God.” -Phillippians 1:3 |
Hello ErinI It was neat to hear your thoughts and feelings on moving. It's never easy, but God does always provide. Thanks for showcasing that faith, and I'll pray for us both to pursue that as we lead our families through our new journeys. Peace!
Thank you both for the kind words and encouragement! 🙂
Your post brought tears to my eyes, Erin. I know what precious friends and what a precious life you and Michael had there in south Houston. The love impact you had is amazing! Your life here in Baton Rouge will be different, but as you and Michael prayed together and know, God is in it. You will have your family surrounding you here, but I also know that you will also touch your community like you did the one you're leaving. I'm praying for your house in Houston to sell quickly, and just the right one here in Baton Rouge to open up at just the right time. Love you all and can't wait to have you here!
Very excited for you and sad you'll be leaving town at the same time. It's a great time for new adventures and Tyler-Blair says hello and goodbye for him from Oxford.