Moving Update

After three weeks of discerning and talking with all parties and thinking and all... we have a compromise that our family is very happy about.

My husband is going to take the new job that is based in Dallas. But the company has agreed to let us live in Houston. At some point we may need to consider moving again, but they recognized several factors we brought up and are going to work with him on running the job out of Houston.

This actaully makes sense for the kind of work he does, but we also repsect the company culture of having all the people centrally located. There were other factors involved, but overall everyone is happy with the outcome.

Now- reflecting.

This has been a different scenario than any other move we have had. And as I posted earlier, we have had several.

It took us as a family deeper. Paritally because our boys are older now. Partially because John and I are at a different stage of life. Also there are many other factors which came to the surface. In the past, we were a young building family with few roots and we would pick up and move and just enjoy the adventure. Every place we lived was a treasure in its own way. And each place brought me growth in my spiritual life. I can even bullet list them..:)

To San Fransicso to become a SAHM- Searched for Christianity and met several dear Protestant friends who included me in Bible study and fellowship. Raised my babies and B was born. God put me around evangelicals and fallen away Catholics.

To Ohio- the Catholic Belt- there my sons enjoyed the salad days of childhood, running and playing in the fresh Ohio air. I converted to Catholism, met Scott Hahn, went to Steubenville conferences and came to know the beauty of the Catholic faith. I discovered and began homeschooling.

To Houston- moved on the heels of becoming a fresh homeschooler and Catholic and my faith journey continued to grow. For the 8 years we have been here, we have embraced homeschooling, my faith and I have some very close and dear friends within a short drive.

God has given us blessings wherever we went. And I knew he would give us the same in Dallas. So, I was prepared to go, should that be the outcome.

But, there were more issues to it than I can share here. Many with my dh and his job and situation as well as financially the best course.

At any rate, this move has opened a lot of doors for my family. I am so thankful the past year has taken me down the road of learning about personality types. The books Please Understand Me has given me so much food for thought. I have watched the way my dh percieves and reacts to situations, as compared to me. And then watching my boys it is amazing! S will tackle a situation so much like my husband and B will attack it just like me.

This move has caused me to become more perceptive and less controlling. I have learned to let things unfold, in large part because of my husband. One friend gave me a great tidbit that has stuck with me. Though we are a partnership, this is really his journey. This is his job and he needs to find the path. Much like my role as homeschooling mom has been my journey. He supports me, but it is my deal.

So, I have tried to support him and let him find the path. Wow, that is hard for a type A like me. But I am learning.

I think this has pulled us together as a family. The boys have been involved in as much as possible. Their thoughts matter, but they know we have to make the decision. But they felt heard.

And it taught them a lot about decisions of life. How to weigh. How to go and ask for more information or request things the company may not have thought of. How to weigh one situation against another. (ie why can't we stay?) How to weigh money and potential security (retirement, etc) against lifestyle.

Not that we have all the answers, but hopefully they will see we don't but are doing the best we can. And that we rely on prayer and trust that God will lead us, even when we can't hear him.

So, we are in Houston for a while. We are feeling content.