Life

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It has been 3 months since our family moved to our new home.  Slowly, it is becoming home.  I have written here about the things Oklahoma draws me in with.  I have been thinking so much lately about who I am.  Where we are going as a family.  Things I feel are important as we change and grow.  And where I feel I fit in.  I grew up my entire life (with a short time in Boston) in Southern California.  Born and raised California girl.  

But that Beach Boys song is far from who I am.  Who I was growing up.  Who I hope to be.  I don't know if I ever fit that California stereo type.  For that I am so thankful.  But I had a great group of friends throughout high school- and made sweet lifelong friends as an adult.  That did not come without pain- and feeling out of place.  It was finally in my 30's where I finally found my niche.  I found my sweet spot and relished in a freedom to be myself with friends who loved me for me.  Not for what they thought I was because of a persona I put out there.  It has been a very freeing process for me.

In my heart, I had always longed for a different space to be.  I dreamed of one day having our family in an open space with room to explore without fear. Michael and I had whispered longings at night of a ranch with horses, and a window to feed them through from our kitchen.  We spoke of a place where life is a bit slower, traffic is sitting behind a tractor, and Sunday after church is for naps on a hammock and friends for dinner.  A place where the newest and greatest isn't first and foremost on our kids minds and hearts, but getting outside to ride bikes to the lake is.  

So, living near the beautiful ocean, Sunday trips to the beach and living near our dearest friends and family have been swapped.  Our life is different here in Oklahoma.  Those whispered dreams of our heart are closer now.  The sweetness of the land here sings to my core.  While I miss our friends and family more then I can bear sometimes, I feel at peace here.  My heart feels as though it has found its place.  I never thought I would feel this way about this move, but it is a gift that I have been given.  I am thankful.

SO, how are we doing?  I think we are doing really well.  Michael loves his job. And he is really good at it.  I can see God doing some really amazing things through Michael and his company.  It is a joy to watch.  Jack is doing great. So much better then before. Out of all 3, he, being the oldest, had the hardest time with the move.  He missed his best friends.  He missed being in California.  He missed everything.  But, slowly, as he is making friends, loving church, playing in the pool and in the hay meadow....it is feeling like home.  It has been very neat to watch him mature.  Though we have had some testing times, I am in awe of how he has handled this entire move.  I love that boy.

Sammy.  How to describe Sammy.  He is full of life.  Full of laughter.  He has had a much easier time with adjusting.  He misses his friends- for sure.  But he loves being able to jump on his bike and ride to his friends house at the end of cul-de-sac.  He has enjoyed going to new places and getting into the mix of kids.  He revels in making new friends.  And he is a great friend to all.  I love his sweet heart, his ability to laugh and make me laugh- and his amazing tenacity.  He is SO excited about being in a professional theater production this summer.  Watching him grow is a joy.  I love him so.

Katie Mei.  My joy.  Since the day we met her she has had the ability to bring laughter and joy to all of us.  Katie misses her bestie Sarah, with all her heart. Sometimes crying at night while looking at her photo of her.  But phone and video chats help- as does the promise of a sleepover when we visit.  Katie has thrown herself into life in Oklahoma with passion and joy.  She often says " I love California, but Oklahoma is my home" and "I love EVERY church we visit Momma".  She has been my soft place on many nights when I felt I was losing it.  I have watched her mature and grow into a young girl who has a heart for God and a heart for people.  I love my girl.

God has blessed us here.  Sometimes in surprising ways.  I have become involved with an amazing group of China Adoptive Momma's who meet on Tuesday nights.  I went one time last week and cannot wait to go back.  In that group, I have met women in all different phases of life- and with many children.  And one woman who runs an amazing organization which helps orphans in China.  A person whom I never expected to meet, and God has woven us together- and something tells me this relationship may develop into something that Michael and I have prayed about.  So I am amazed.

He has also given us a church home here.  A BIG church home.  We are not quite used to that, but we really like it.  We prayed for so long about a small group, and through another weaving of God's hand, were led to a really wonderful small group for our entire family.  That was a COMPLETE surprise.  

We are still trying to wrap our brains around the thought that we are home.  But the wrapping is nice.  The ribbon is soft.  And we cant wait to see what the gift holds inside.

Comments

[Elizabeth Mullins]

What great thoughts...I really enjoy your style of writing. I also love to hear how you guys are adapting to Oklahoma life. It makes me heart swell with pride to live here and makes me realize the blessings we have and often take for granted.

[Teresa]

I always enjoy reading your thoughts, Jenny. You have such a way with words that create beautiful images in our mind's eye. And it makes me want to move to OK, but I don't think my family will agree with me :)

I, too have longed for a slower pace of life, where my kids can ride their bikes or walk across a meadow without fear. The smell of hay in the fields is something I really liked when I would visit my cousin in VT and I would love to have that for my kids.

[Kayce]

I just read your post out loud to my hubby and then said "what a wonderful post". We to have had many a night of dreaming of moving away from our lifetime home of California to a new place in the world, one where we can open our wings and fly and watch life happen at a much slower pace. Thank you for sharing your peace with us Jenny. Hugs

[Courtney]

Don't mean to be the pessimist (it's my nature), but I look at that picture and think ticks.

hehehe - you know i love you! :-)

[CeeJay]

I am with Courtney :-)

[Kristi Woodard]

Jenny, I haven't met you yet but you have met my husband and all but my sick daughter at flock this past Sunday. I am really excited about your family being here and being a part of our small group. It certainly seems obvious that the Lord has brought you to us. I think you are so funny and have enjoyed reading about your family and adventures (how much do you love us blog stalkers!!).
Really looking forward to meeting you, getting to know you, and doing life with your family in the days to come.
Kristi W.

[TanyaLea]

Jenny, though we have barely "met" via your sister... I just had to follow your thread to your blog. I'm a blogger myself! ;) Reading this made me wish that your Oklahoma was in Minnesota, as I can tell we share a LOT of common thoughts and feelings about what is important to us in our lives, and I have a feeling we'd be great friends! I completely followed every bit of this post with ease, as though I had written it myself. I'm so glad that you have already found a wonderful church family and that your kids are settling in and finding their "place" in OK. I've been to Tulsa before, as we attended the Kenneth Hagen summer camp meetings MANY years ago now. But I remember thinking how warm and friendly everyone seemed. There was definitely a relaxed, down-home feeling about that state! I admire your obvious love for the Lord, as well as your passion for China! That's just WONDERFUL that you are already plugged in with a group of fellow China moms! I pray that I find those same connections up here when we bring our sweet Khloe home from China!

Take care and keep on post'n!...I'd love to see the outcome of your family room dilema that you video'd about!! :)

God bless!
~Tanya