A New Chapter

While it'd be safe to assume that I've held back from posting on the blog due to a little newborn colicky baby, it's actually just been one component of many moving parts these last couple of months.  Mike has accepted a new position with his company in Omaha!  Or, Homaha as Alexis calls it.  Our new chapter has already started, with lots of travel back and forth for Mike, but we'll be calling Omaha home in about a month.

When I first heard the news of the opportunity, I cried.  Because we LOVE Minnesota.  Because we are comfortable here, and know what to expect.  Because we thought we were going to be here longer.  Because I remember how much work is involved when you move.  And, because I was about to have a baby.

And, I guess that's when you have to take a step back and look at things a little differently.  Funny enough, about the same time as experiencing this new change in direction, I happened to be reading a book about habits.  Good or bad, we love them.  Our brains look to create and find a habit so we don't have to think about every little thing that deals with something new.

Looking back, I remember the exhausting and overwhelming amount of work your brain goes through in a big move.  From big things like trying to figure out where your new house should be - from the neighborhood, to the schools, to driving from place to place.  To little things, like walking around in your new home in the dark, with your hand guessing where the light switch is, because that is no longer an automatic habit.  And everything in between - your kids and building their friends, building your networks, the list goes on!  Then being reminded of all the new habits involved with a new baby.  From figuring out their place in the family as you try to balance everyone else in the home.  Then trying to combine it all at once. 

And, as things progressed with Mike's career opportunity, I was reminded of anther huge thing.  Perspective.  Seems like those who can offer vast perspective in life experiences have that ability because they've taken themselves away from the comfortable, and away from the habits that they know and love.  They've stepped out of comfortable with the courage and faith that things while different, will continue to move forward.  Not that they've all moved from place to place, but they've allowed things to enter into their life to change up the norm, tweek what would be a habit, and develop themselves (and others around them) into something more.

There's a quote that I love and use regularly in my fitness classes.  "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got." (sorry don't know who the original credit that goes to!)

I'm super grateful that Mike is progressing with work and allowing us the opportunity to progress right along with him.  Snuck this quote in his pocket as he was headed out the door for an interview that would either sink or swim the opportunity at hand (thanks Pinterest):



Big thanks to Mike for making this a "swimming" opportunity.  Looking back, it is amazing to see how much growth we've experienced as individuals and as a family coming here.  Dear friends in the neighborhood, through work and through church who we will miss.  But looking forward, I'm excited for the adventure of it, for the chance we have to meet, grow, learn and understand more about ourselves and a new area.  Plus, the shorter drive to Utah won't be so bad either.

How is the move process progressing?  Super.  Checking off things every day which gets us closer to finishing the transition phase and ready to jump into everything new.

And, as we continue to move forward, I think I'll be doing a bit of rewinding on this blog to offer my perspectives on a colicky baby, juggling three kids, getting back to feeling like "me" after a baby, photos of those cuties, and my thoughts on the whole move process.  It's all stored away in the brain for now.