our big announcement!

we're moving to texas!

can i say it again for emphasis?

WE'RE MOVING TO TEXAS!

That's right, come May 14 we'll be on our way to Abilene. In the last couple of months, Landon has been looking into graduate schools and grad assistant positions all over the country, and two weeks ago, we made the decision to go with an offer at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. He'll pursue his masters degree in coaching and sport science and help coach their cross country and track teams. The school is paying for his degree, and they're also offering to let him teach activity classes during his time there. This opportunity really is a blessing, and we are thrilled to be taking this big step together. 

I tend to be a bit resistant to change at times, but as of now I'm both excited and anxious to start our new adventure. On our plane ride back from Virginia, when Landon and I were pondering a few different options that had been put in front of us, I wrote this:

There are days when I feel nothing. When all is routine, predictable and life is simply a pattern to follow. But today is not one of those days. Today is full and I feel everything. I feel hope, love, pride, strength and possibility. I feel like a kid at Disneyland, with no lines. I can choose any ride and it will undoubtedly be the time of my life. So I choose the big one. I don't choose "It's a Small World," because I'm over predictability. I've been there before. I choose Thunder Mountain, or Space Mountain, because I will be thrilled, scared and overwhelmed with joy all at the same time. And so it is in our lives right now. With opportunity opened up to us, we can choose to take the big ride--with all the unknown and the fear as well as the possibility of great joy and new heights--or we can stay circling in our pattern, singing "It's a Small World," and wondering what the big ride is like. And so, the two rides before me, I choose the big ride for us. I choose change, a rarity for me, and yet something very necessary, so crucial to growth. And undoubtedly there will be times when we're just crawling along, creaking up to the top, overwhelmed with fear and anticipation because we don't know what's on the other side, but then there will be downhills too, when we're riding free with our arms in the air, saying, "It doesn't get any better than this." And so I'll choose the big ride, for all it entails. For joy, sorrow, growth, discouragement and accomplishment. 

Hang on, cause this is the wildest ride in the wilderness.

It's been an exciting and very busy past few weeks, and I'm sure it will only get busier. Like I said before, our official "drive-off" date is May 14. From there, we're heading down I-5 and staying with friends and family. We're staying in San Diego for 2-3 days and then on to Abilene from there. There's so much to be done in between now and then (aka find a job, among other things), but we're tackling it one task at a time. I'm so very proud of Landon and so very thrilled to be part of this exciting journey with him.

It's a bright life.

xoxo.

PS...my dad sent us a link to this video after we told my parents that we were moving. I couldn't help but include it here. Enjoy it for all it's fabulousness: