Howdy, y'all.

Do I really have to start talking like that?  I refuse to say those two words ... howdy, and y'all.  Because they are both made up, and I am the grammar nazi.

Well ... Tyler accepted a job in Waco, Texas!  We are excited for lots of reasons.  First and foremost, it is a stable company and the job is NOT a contract! (hooray!)  They have incredible benefits, including 15 days of vacation a year as a newbie, excellent medical benefits, they take 10 days off in-between Christmas and New Years (and that doesn't count against your vacation time) AND they are paying for us to relocate.  Not only that, but all of those benefits start on day 1!  And with a baby coming in a couple of months -- ::gulp:: -- that itself is definitely an answer to prayer.  What else could we ask for?  Well, I guess we could ask for it to be in Kansas City or in the Midwest, but obviously God has other plans.  And we are okay with that.

Stability. Finding a house we can call our own.  A husband who comes home every night after work.  Perfect, perfect, perfect.

It is such a bittersweet thing.  I think this move is harder on me for one reason, and one reason only ... my boys.  I want so badly for them to know their grandparents, not just know OF them.  It kills me to lose my support system that is just hours away.  Okay, I guess I shouldn't say "lose it", because I know I'll never lose their support.  They just won't be able to rescue me when I have a 22 month old naughty boy and a newborn on my hands.  And not just their grandparents, but their aunts/uncles and cousins ... I know our families will always be apart of our lives, I have no doubt.  I just wish they could be apart of our everyday lives.

The second reason it will be so hard is because of our friends.  We have established a second family here in KC through our church and small group.  These people are irreplaceable and will forever hold a spot in my heart ... seriously.  I know the friendships we have with them will not die, and we can only hope our paths will cross again someday (soon).  And our friends that aren't apart of our small group but are still here in KC, including the newlyweds Brian & Angie that we adore ... tears ...

I have a feeling this move will be similar to our California move ... we lived there for almost a year and found work back in the Midwest and moved back 'home'.  Right now, I can't see this being a permanent, forever and ever and ever "until we retire" sort of thing.  Although, if Texas is where God wants us until we grow old and die at 99, then Texas it will be.  We have always prayed for His will to be done, and that will always be our prayer first and foremost.

We are loading the truck early Saturday morning and will leave for that hot, tornado-filled, snake-infested, red dirt state first thing on Monday.

This is definitely going to be an emotional weekend ahead, I can feel it in my bones.