Blessings!

Big changes are coming. Justin received an offer from BP last week. We have discussed it thoroughly and have prayed incessantly about it and all the ramifications of such a change in our family's lives. We both believe strongly that this is the place that the Lord is leading us to. It will mean us selling our home, uprooting all that Claire has ever known, changing jobs, churches, etc. Where are we going? West Houston. Where are we going? West Houston. Where are we going? West Houston. (Sorry, Dora the Explorer song slipped in there) The job is exciting for Justin as he will get to work for a huge international company and have lots of opportunities. It is exciting for me as I begin to look for a new home and job. Claire doesn't really understand our excitement but she does know we're excited because she keeps walking around the house saying, "You're happy Mama!" It sorta makes me wonder if I've been a grump for a while now. Not really, but it's neat to see that she picks up on that sorta thing. Sensitive sweetheart. It also means us finding a new church home (thanks, internet) and a new school/day-care for Claire. Since she'll be 3 we're looking at mostly preschools rather than daycare centers but we're excited for the change this will all bring. There are some drawbacks however as with any move. We've really made lasting friendships at our church here and right now we're 10 minutes away from Justin's parents which we truly enjoy having them so close...Claire does too! So there will be some sad moments through all this. But West Houston is only about 2 hours away so we will have frequent trips back to visit, I'm sure!
One of the strangest things about this move is where we're moving to. I grew up in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. When I was 8, my parents uprooted everything my siblings and I had ever known to take a church pastorate in West Houston. We moved there and lived there for 3 years. After that, we moved back to Michigan. During those 3 years is when we found my mom's cancer that prolonged her life 7 years. I also was able to witness the beliefs of my parents and their trust in the Lord first hand as they moved us cross country, financial struggles, health struggles, church struggles, and probably more struggles than they let on to their youngest daughter. I truly believe those 3 years have impacted my life greater than several other years of my childhood. It also was another reason why Justin and I are together. When we first met, one of the things that truly attracted me to him was the fact that he was from Texas since I had lived there and had such a positive experience there. Even though he wasn't from the same place I had lived, it was somewhere I could relate to a little better and was interested in. And now? for Justin to receive this offer close to 20 years later after the first move to West Houston and it be 10 minutes from where all those memories, influential people, and life changing moments happened is simply unbelievable to me. I never would have dreamed in a million years that I'd end up back there through the Lord's guidance. I guess that is one of the biggest reasons why I believe so strongly that this is the Lord's will for us at this point in our lives. I cannot thank the Lord enough for all of His blessings. "My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord" Psalm 149:21a