Thursday, July 9, 2009

Big Decisions (and put on your reading glasses cause this is long!)



At the airport with our tired boy

Really,
I don't know where to begin. So much has happened since the last time I was able to blog. I decided to not write for a while, mainly because we wanted to make some decisions and make sure the right people were told FIRST, rather than hearing important news through a blog. Sooooooo, all that to say, and I'm sure you've already heard the news. . . but we are MOVING TO HOUSTON, TX!

Yep, that's right. Here's the low down . . . Jon has a contact at a church in Houston from when he was an intern at Willow Creek. This friend of his recently took at a job at a church in Houston (theMET, check it out here) and had a position he needed to fill. He contacted Jon the week Brennan was born (yep, when Jon told me all of this, I was living off of two hours of sleep and 100% not myself). We didnt think much of it mainly because we were living day to day crisis mode (Remember, it was a rough transition for me.) and we were totally content where we were. So, anyways, we would talk about it in passing but not seriously. Finally, I told Jon, "why don't you just go and check it out". Mainly because I didn't want to be THAT wife and feel like I was holding back my husband, you know what I mean? But really, deep down, I was thinking, "ohh, nothing will come of this, just let the boy go and check it out." HA.

So he comes back from his trip and is trying really hard not to show his excitement and to be neutral about the whole opportunity, but he truly was excited. It's a job role that allows him to collaborate with other video team members, he feels he'll be pushed in his craft and will develop some more skills, he really is on board with the church's vision and really liked the people and the southern hospitality :)

I, on the other hand, refused to even consider the possibility. No way, no how, am I moving away from my family and my friends and our whole support system. We have a colicky, refluxy, crazy boy and I need help and I will not choose to move away from everybody unless we have no other options. Are you KIDDDDDING me? Adjusting to being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever done and you want to MOVE to freakin' TEXAS???? It's not like Jon is out of a job or hates his job or whatever! What is my husband even THINKING!!?

So we were at a standstill. For a long time. Thankfully (because of Christ, I'm sure of it), we didn't fight about it. But we weren't on the same page, and that wasn't fun. He clearly wanted to take the job and I wouldn't even consider it. He wouldn't FORCE me to go and I would FORCE him to stay, so we put off making a decision for WEEKS. We took many walks with B in the stroller and Jon pushing while I cried even thinking about the idea of moving during this time in our lives.

Gosh, this is getting long, sorry, I'll speed this story along. Soo, anyways, I kept praying for God to change my heart if he wanted us to go down there. We headed to Minnesota and talked with Mark and Erin about it. We had a really good conversation with Jon's parents about the whole thing (including lots of crying on my part and possibly Judy's. . . ), talked to my parents and asked my dad for counsel, Jon fasted, he met with some Godly men at Trinity that we trust, etc. etc. We were doing everything we could to try and figure out "God's will". Eventually, I came to realize that this may be a case where God is kind of okay either way we choose- to stay or to go. He would be with us either choice. But there was no denying a huge door had been opened for us- were we willing to step through it? (I'm not getting into knowing 'God's will' on this blog). We felt as though we couldn't make a decision without me at least seeing the church and checking it all out. Jon felt like all the pressure was on him to make the decision because he was the only one who had gone down there. Thankfully, this man that gave us some Godly counsel also told us it would be wise to fly a "helper" down with us as well so I could focus and not worry about Brennan the whole time. So theMET graciously agreed to fly us three and Judy (Jon's mom) down there. And I'm so glad they did because there was no way we'd be able to do much at all while trying to entertain Brennan (aka devil child). Don't worry, I love him to death.

So we went down there and I could feel myself feeling more and more at peace about moving down there. Judy was such a servant and watched B while we checked out the area, met with a realtor, had dinner with some staff, toured the church, etc. I really fell in love with the people that we met- the staff wives are so welcoming and even our realtor was just such a doll. One night we went to the hotel lobby, split an ice cream sundae and decided that this was the next step in our journey. We wanted to have a few days at home (back to reality) before telling anyone, and then Jon told his work and we told our family and this crazy decision was made.



Gift basket in our hotel room





Am I sad to leave my family and friends? More than you know. I think my coping mechanism is to not think about it. Am I sad about having a PLANE RIDE anytime I want to go home. Yes. Am I nervous to fly with Brennan. Ummm, yes (story on how THAT went later. . . ). Are we really excited about this new job for Jon? A ton!! Are we excited about the friends we've already made and the possibilities down there? Absolutely! Am I pumped to say adios to Michigan winters? YES! Do we have everything figured out? No. Are we STREEESSSED about owning a home in Lansing, MI in the worst economy since the Great Depression? Yep. But were confident this is where God is leading us. It's not going to be easy and I firmly believe the grass is not greener on the other side. There will be good things and bad things about moving. I'm using all my mental energy to focus on the positives!

It's actually a little bit more deeper than that, but geeez, this thing is long enough so I am wrapping it up for your sake. I am adoing another post soon with everything else that's going on!

God bless!

9 comments:

Erin Zubert said...

I'm officially crying for the first time about this right now...many more times to come I'm sure. I'm happy for you, I'm sad for our family, but I know it's right. Love you so much!

Meaghan said...

ditto Erin's comment, and I'm at work! ok, i just got teary-eyed. anyways, its a baptist church!? interesting. praying for the ransition!

Meaghan said...

transition*

Courtney said...

Congrats Chaeli and Jon! As a traveler and a former Texan I know you will love it! My only advice is to either buy a pick-up truck to fit in, or a prius because traffic in Houston is terrible!

Erin Morgan said...

Guys - (especially Chaeli) I SOOO hear you!! I know all those feelings you felt, and I didn't even have a kid when we moved out to WA. I hate the plane ride each time to go home too, but more and more am realizing that my home isn't in MI anymore, it's with my boys (and soon to be girl). I remember when Ken and I got married, Kristy Taylor told me that she recommended to every newlywed, to move away from home, at least for a little while. I second this recommendation and am glad that you're moving away to build your own roots, and depend more on each other (and God) than you ever have before. It won't always be fun, being away from family. But it sounds like God is already blessing you guys and your willingness to live life and not just watch it pass you by!! All my love and support!!

Jim & Wendy said...

Love you guys!

C said...

Wow! When I saw you had taken a trip down there, I was honestly hoping it meant you were moving to Dallas, since that's where we lived and have so many friends:)
What a great opportunity for you guys!
We live VERY far away from family...it's now a 4 hour plane trip (which we're embarking on in 3 hours actually) instead of 2, but it's still totally doable, even with a baby:)
Can't wait to hear more -- how exciting!:)
I so agree with Erin -- we tell everyone we know to move away...we did as soon as we graduated from CU with our move to Texas and now out here to California. It's such a unifying thing:)

josh and michele said...

I'm so happy for you guys...amidst my tears right now. it just sank in. love you.
michele

audrey habeck said...

hey girl! i remember you! got your blog comment today! thanks! strolled through your blog a little bit today - your little boy is adorable! i sat and read this post and couldn't help but comment. ben and i had a similar journey a couple years ago. we moved from atlanta to jacksonville, florida to help start a church. it was a crazy ride but so rewarding and God definitely blessed us for taking that leap of faith! we're back in atlanta now but taking that leap of faith was a huge catalyst for where we are at today! God is so good, and his plans are so amazing to me!
keep in touch!

xoxo,
(ah)