1 Year and 1 Day

Yesterday was our 1 year anniversary of living here. I'm blogging a day late, because our neighbor decided to till a garden just inches from the supposed 'property line' and cut our cable for the weekend. Fun times! Nisha and Trevor paid us a nice visit on Saturday, so we didn't miss it too much, I don't suppose. It was just kind of annoying! Here's to one day buying a house with a fenced in backyard!!!

But, yesterday was, indeed, out 1 year anniversary of living here. And, of course, today is the anniversary of us stepping foot into Walnut Memorial as Jamie the Student Minister. On one hand, it seems like the year has flown by. On the other, it seems like we've been here for a long time. It is a familiar feeling, but one that is hard to describe at the same time. And, within the irony of life, the house that we sold back in March was finally moved to its new location on Friday. A year ago on Friday was the last night we slept in that house.

This year has been a true test and learning experience all at the same time. May 2008 is a true blur in my mind's eye. I can remember feeling overwhelmed and scattered with the kids finishing up school, Jamie finishing up his current ministry, and me packing and trying to get our affairs in order. God seemed to be answering some prayers before we even had a chance to think about them though, and if we didn't know already, we were beginning to see even more, the unveiling of our divine appointment.

I can still distinctly remember Jamie and I standing in the kitchen at our house in Murray. It was during the interviewing process, but before the official vote and acceptance of the job. He was having his own worries and concerns about moving 150 miles. I told him, "if you get that job, you've got to take it". I was pep talking him at that time, but there have been times that he was pep talking me. It seemed like we were on a see-saw and we are still there sometimes, actually.

We finally got to the moving day that we had all anticipated and I remember pulling into our cul-de-sac behind the U-haul. People from the church started pouring out of our new home. There were probably 10 or more people here waiting to help us unpack all our things. Most of which were unfamiliar faces. We also discovered that our pantries were full and we were stocked up on cleaning supplies for the next decade (I'm still using some of them actually).

So, after a year, we are much more settled into a new surroundings. Moving brings on many challenges, but so far, we have conquered most of them. I can finally navigate pretty comfortably around. Jamie is still loving his position at the church. We really are enjoying living in town and the neighborhood we ended up in (another answered prayer). God has been very good to us. We feel truly blessed. We do mourn a few things of Murray, but in time, that will get less and less. It has been amazing year (and a day)!