Dreaming Big & Moving On

I've been absent from blogland for awhile and, if you don't keep up with me via facebook, you may not know why. So here it is:
We're planning to move.
We are working every waking moment to get this house flawlessly cleaned, painted, decluttered and staged, to be put on the market by the end of the month. Yeah. Swallow that down.
We're dreaming big, people. Texas big.
My great-aunt wrote and asked me why. Do we have family there? Does Fred have a job there? Friends? She's kind-hearted. Just curious.
But the answers are:
No, no, and no.
So why?
Because it's our dream. It always has been.
I've wanted to move farther south for about as long as I can remember.
I don't do winters well, friends.
I suffer from S.A.D. in a big way. ((For my well-meaning friends, let me assure you, it's not something you can turn off and on. I can't snap and feel okay. I can't think of those less fortunate and suddenly feel all warm inside because I have a home.))
Symptoms can be treated with special lights, medication, etc, but why treat the symptoms when you can help fix the problem?
Besides winter-onset-depression being an issue, our favorite activities are seasonal, and we only get to enjoy them about 6 months out of the year now. Moving to a climate that runs 20 degrees warmer in the winters is a HUGE incentive. Aaanndd, think about how much closer we'll be to the coast!! {sigh}
We've waited, guys. A very long time. I've been married almost 16 years. Lived in our first little starter home for 10 1/2 years. It's been a patient wait. We've been happy here. Maybe a little crowded, but happy. And, really, it never felt too crowded until it was too cold to go outside. We've waited and we've waited, because the time wasn't right.
Suddenly this year, it "felt" right. We knew. And then pieces started fitting together. It was as if they were magnetically drawn towards each other, just pulling and clicking into the right spots. Both of my parents started dating. My Papaw plans to move to NC when my aunt does. Suddenly these things that I was feeling responsibility for were taken care of (yes, I'm an Oldest Child.)
Then Fred said "yes." He's always hesitated before. It wasn't the right time. But now, although nervous about it, he is excited and on-board.
We started submitting applications and resumes, and got immediate responses, phone interviews. The jobs are there. Started looking around at homes. The costs are comparable. Suddenly it was no longer just a dream, but a plan. A PLAN.
Because, really....why not?
Why do people stay in jobs they hate? Or live where they'd rather not live?
Whatever the reasons, I'm not okay with that. I want to pursue my dreams. At the very least, I can say I did. I tried.
So, for the time being, everything but school and "house stuff" has been put on hold.
We are pursuing a dream.
We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal and then leap in the dark to our success.”


― Henry David Thoreau

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.”

― Michelangelo Buonarroti

“If you're bored with life, if you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things, you don't have enough goals.”

― Lou Holtz
“When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.”

― Napoleon Hill


“Patience is not passive waiting. Patience is active acceptance of the process required to attain your goals and dreams.”

― Ray Davis
These are a few of my inspiration quotes. Above all, I feel that this is God's plan for us, and He is directing us. I feel secure in that, and know that He is far more able than I am to work out the details.
Pray for us? Support us emotionally? Even if you don't fully understand why we'd uproot and move, we'd appreciate your love and support. We all walk different paths. I believe this is part of ours. :)

Oh My WORD.

For awhile now, I’ve been aching to visit my now-real-life sweet friend Suzanne, over at The Joyful Chaos. And, even though she’s, like, a week from her due date, she offered her home for a Little Rock mini vacation.

Love this lady. Love this family.

I told her over and over, “You make me feel normal.”
Your kids eat food that they’ve dropped on the floor? Mine, too.
Your van has extra pairs of shoes, clothes, empty cups, and spare change, all jumbled together?
Yep, mine too.

The Parker crew let us load up with them in their 12-seat “church van” and took us on the North Little Rock/Little Rock tour, complete with trolley ride, picnic, rock climbing, bridge-walkin', farmer marketing.

Back at their home, games and crazy running. They taught my kids how to play 21 boogie clean-up (is that right?) and we taught them how to play My Father Owns a Grocery Store (they'd never heard of the car game!! Really?? Thought everyone played this!)
The guys laughed their silly laughs playing their silly phone apps, watching football, telling jokes. Meanwhile, Suzanne and I talked kids and homeschooling, birth stories and ambitions.

I love her heart. I love watching her interact with her children.

(Would you believe, I forgot my camera!!!-- so Suzanne was kind enough to take plenty of pics for me, and gave me unlimited access to her camera. I took some with my phone, too, but it was still PAINFUL to have left my electronic child behind!!)

“Oh my word!” (as they say,) it was a blessed and memorable weekend! I’m hoping and praying for more upcoming trips! Love you, girl!

Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve

On our way home, we stopped by the Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve, which is approximately 30 miles southwest of Austin, TX.

It's out in the boooooonies. Expect lots of slow driving on dirt, windy roads, and a $10 entrance fee per vehicle. But then you hike down to THIS, and it's all worth it.

You just can't tell how huge and absolutely gorgeous this is!

If I had to choose...

We just returned from an amazing week-long vacation on Port Aransas, TX. Looooove those soft sandy, beautiful beaches. I need to write about how we managed this vacay, on our meager income, but laundry and other chores are calling my name. Soon. Very soon. 

For now, some photos... 

This beautiful child was made for the sea. She has a mermaidy quality about her, wouldn't you say?

Below, my Youngest arriving at the beach. Yeah. He was excited!

Below, My marvelous traveling crew!

 As much as I adore the beach, we all started to ache for home towards the end of the trip. Sometimes being away from all you know helps you appreciate it all the more.

My lovely Arkansas is full of rolling hills, leafy trees, caves & streams, bike paths & hiking trails.

So much of what I love.

We did a lot of talking on this trip, about what our plans would be. Would we move or stay? Where did we really want to live? What was the right timing? And, though we initially felt geared up to move to TX right away, we've realized that the climate and beauty of THIS area we're in is too great to leave behind. I don't do AR winters well, but the rest of the year here is amazing (dismiss the crazy drought we're in right now.)

To be honest, I was trying to run FROM things I have to deal with here, rather than TO any amazing plan for our family.

The solution is to deal with the issues (far harder than moving several states away!) So just keep that in your prayers. I'm sure most people can relate to a family relationship that is so strained, so stressful, that the flight reaction kicks in every time.

All that to say, we're staying put for the time being. And I am determined to make the most of my time in this amazing state, with my amazing husband and kids, in our amazing cottage, with my amazing friends. Let the good times roll. :D

5 Things I Hate About Texas

Like I said, I love Texas. LOVE it. I want to move there, hopefully in the next few years. I could live around San Antonio or somewhere further south, for a closer drive to the coast. I don't mind the heat one bit, as long as there's water around. And I LOVE the idea of mild winters.

But there were 5 things I could have done without:

1. Dallas Construction.

2. Dallas Traffic

3. Dallas Exits

4. Dallas, Getting Lost In

(not the most flattering picture.

It was disconcerting to be stuck on an exit

that we could NOT get off of. Ugh. Dallas.)

5. Dallas, because it's Dallas.

The hurricane didn't even make the list.


While in South Padre, we even came across an article that listed Dallas one of the Most Disappointing Vacation Spots. I don't doubt it. I briefly lived outside of Dallas, about 13 years ago, and it was just as irritating then as it is now.


Thankfully, the rest of Texas makes up for the one city I try to bypass.

I apologize to anyone who is actually from Dallas, and loves the area. Truly, I feel for you. ;-)

I'm sure there must be something redeeming about the place..... maybe....?

14 Days in Texas

I didn't do much blogging from the road, did I? Well, we're back now. It was the most fabulous First-Family Vacation that I could have imagined.

I have about 2 thousand pictures. No, I am not kidding. I just spent $40 to get a ton of them printed up.

And now that I'm back, with amazing memories under my belt, I do not feel like blogging. I know, right? It's not fair to withhold the good stuff. You see, I journaled it all. In 14 days, I wrote 22 pages about where we were, who we were with, and the funny things that happened along the way. I wrote and wrote and wrote, while we were driving between places. So my memories are recorded in awesome detail, and I can't bring myself to write it all over again, just yet.

I will give you the quick run down, though!

Day 1 We drove to Austin, TX and spent the night. Quite a drive with a 10-,8-,5-, and a 3-year old. Two of them rode in Mom and Dad's car and the other two in our car; we rotated when kids started bugging each other. For the most part, though, they used the activity bags we had packed for them, watched the portable DVD players, and slept.

(I could use some powder.)

Day 2 We went to San Antonio, to the Alamo, Riverwalk, the huge mall and Dinosaur Museum. I love San Antonio. I love the Riverwalk. And, truly, I want to move near that area someday. Love, love it. That night we went to my great-uncle & aunt's house. So huge and amazing. The kids played in their back courtyard for hours.

Day 3 Headed to South Padre. As soon as we got onto the island, we turned into the first beach access in sight, and ran into the water, clothes and all. I've fervently missed the ocean. We went every summer when I was growing up, and it's really become a part of me. Found the condo after that. Love that place. Large living room, full kitchen and laundry room, two bedrooms, two baths, and only a skip to the shoreline.

Days 3-10 South Padre bliss

On Day 5 of vacation we had major hurricane weather Watching the weather guy stand right on the beach we had just been on.We ate at Parrot Eyes, Blackbeard's, Pier 19. We visited the Nature Conservatory, Sea Turtle Rescue, Dolphin Study place at Port Isabel, Pirate's Landing... and so much more.

Days 10-13 Lake House in Horseshoe Bay, TX. Simply amazing. Awesome boat, two jet skis, pedal boat, incredible home and waterfall pool. We had such gracious hosts!! It was such a blessing to head straight there after leaving the beach.

Days 13-14 Drove to Austin to bring Papaw to the airport. Drove to Waco, to a hotel. Dinner out, resting time, and Mayborn Children's Discovery Museum the next day. First the Lego Castle, and then the actual museum. That place is amazing, interactive, and reasonably priced! Stop, if you get the chance. At around 1:30pm, we started for home, and made it back before 9pm, despite some heavy thunderstorms on the way back.

I've started to understand Texas pride. I love that place. I love the cleanliness, the friendliness, the history, and the beauty. Granted, I went to a lot of tourist attractions, but that doesn't change my five star rating. I've been to a lot of tourist-y places in the US, and Texas ranks high on my list.

There were only five things that I didn't like about Texas...

stay tuned for the next episode...