Texas: The Story

Chapter 1: Yes, Texas

“Progress always involves risk; you can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.” -Fredrick Wilcox

About two weeks ago, I was offered a job to be a full time nanny for my niece Elanor Grace Wills in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas. Through much prayer and consideration, Nate and I feel very strongly that God is calling us to move to Texas. For more information on the events that brought us to this decision, please read my blog entry Texas: The Prequel. Nate currently has a few job prospects but nothing specific. Here are some of the reasons we are saying "Yes" to Texas.

We need a fresh start. I pretty much covered that in Texas: The Prequel, but Nate and I feel like we've been in a rut for almost three years. It isn't getting better. Nate currently has a full-time job he really enjoys. We met at Somerset, and we love the people there. But the commute is an hour each way, and we can't afford to move closer. While it's true I just got hired to a new job, it isn't exactly what I want either. I was and still am excited about that job, but I am pretty sure I will still be able to work for the company from home from Texas rather than from home from Michigan. I don't see it being a problem. If it works, it will in effect double my income. We are trusting that God will provide a job for Nathan after our arrival.

Texas' economy is not Michigan's economy. That is really important for Michiganders to remember. When driving around an average town or city in Michigan, it is not uncommon to see strip malls with shop vacancies. Unemployment is not uncommon in Michigan. In Texas, finding a job is not so difficult, and businesses are continually booming. "Texas is kind of a red state," as Valerie so eloquently put it. Michigan is, well, very blue. (Okay, that's not true. Michigan is red except for Detroit and Grand Rapids and Battle Creek and Lansing. Those cities make Michigan blue. Anyway, I digress.) While I am not attributing the economies wholly to the states' respective political persuasions, I do think they are a major factor. Texas does not have state income tax. Michigan does. Property tax is higher in Texas and sales tax is a percent or two higher, but if you cannot afford to own property, you basically get a tax break. I think that is a huge incentive to poorer people. Jobs are much easier to come-by in Texas, which makes moving without Nathan being employed a lot less scary. While it's sad that Michigan's economy is so bad, we have to do what is best for us and our family, not what is best for Michigan.

No daycare for Ellie. This one was a huge factor. My mom (and lots of others as well) has been worried about Ellie going to daycare. Not that daycare centers are evil or, as a rule, force a child to grow up without guidance from his or her parents, but my mom feels (and I agree) that being a stay-at-home parent in order to be able to raise one's own children is really important if it is feasible. When she heard that Valerie was going back to work, I think her heart sank a little. She so wanted to live closer to be able to watch her grandbaby. I'm sure Ellie's other relatives felt the same way. But the timing was just not right for them. It just felt SO right for me. I could watch Ellie when Andrew and Valerie were at work, and she wouldn't have to go to daycare. This would answer a lot of people's prayers. I really feel so, so humbled that they trust me so much to ask me to watch their child on a daily basis, and I'm thrilled that I will be able to get to know her and watch her grow.

Everything's bigger in Texas. Even the cities. But really, it's pretty exciting. Name a restaurant or business you've ever heard of, and they probably have one. Or ten. In Coldwater, we live about 40 miles from the nearest Target. In Dallas, there are about 10 Targets within 20 miles, even Super Targets with grocery departments (not that I would EVER grocery shop in Target...too expensive). Sonic. Chick-fil-A. Kroger. The only thing they don't have that I know I will miss is Meijer. And Belle Tire.

And some more minor reasons:

Friendly Southerners.

Gas is MUCH cheaper. It doesn't stay so freaking cold all winter. Closer to my brother and his family and having their help in getting settled.

If you know Nate and me, you know that Nate is not much of a risk-taker, and I'm not really that independent though I am a bit of a dreamer. If this was our own doing, trust me, we would not be moving to Texas. There are just too many potential risks involved, and it's just kind of scary. But believe me when I say that this is God. It totally is. When I think about that and about Ellie, I just get so excited. Do we really want to live in Texas? Honestly? No, not really. But I just can't see myself doing anything else. I can't imagine saying "no" to forty hours a week with my niece. And Nate feels the same way. We are definitely unsure as to what God has for him, but we are trusting and praying that even now, God is causing things to happen that will present the best job Nate could ever wish for.

Chapter 2: Skepticism Takes Its Toll

"Now I'm fearless with nothing left to hide / All the doubts of yesterday, love has driven them away" - Fearless, dcTalk

How can they afford to hire you?

We've gotten this question a lot. Andrew and Valerie have budgeted in the cost of putting Ellie in an average daycare. It's not cheap. But, if they can afford daycare, they can afford to hire me instead. I don't know about you, but it seems pretty simple to me.

Moving is expensive. How can you afford to move? Well, God's got it covered. While that should appease most of those who have asked us these questions, the practical side of them just needs to know. Andrew and Valerie are helping. We will stay with them for the first month or so, which will help us find a great place to live and will save us money. In reality, I'm not really sure how we can afford not to move.

But childcare isn't your degree nor your passion. Aha! You are correct and also incorrect at the same time. One of the very biggest reasons why I chose graphic design is because I knew I could do it from home. (Another reason is the "undo" button, but that's a story for another time.) I wanted to be a wife and a mom more than most anything. I love graphic design. I really do. Sometimes it's stressful, but I'm good at it and I just love doing it. But family is so important to me. I wanted to choose a career that I could do from home like my mom did with me. She sold Tupperware and ran a daycare so that she could stay home with us, though her degree is education. I am so thankful she did that, and I want to do it too but in my own way. Childcare is important to me, and I'll gain so much experience watching Ellie (and ideally future Baby Wills children) until and maybe even while I watch my own children. But I can also pursue a career I am passionate about at the same time. There is no better arrangement, in my opinion, which is why I can't even imagine saying "no" to this opportunity.

And just so you know, if it works out the way I hope it will, it means double-pay.

What's Nate going to do?

So while we are moving without a job for Nathan, we are pretty certain he'll get one within a few weeks of our arrival. Andrew could not offer Nate a job, but he has enough faith in Nate as a hard worker and good employee that he can convince the right people to consider Nate for a job at Gateway Church.

Maybe Nate will get hired, maybe not. Maybe we'll end up loving Gateway Church, and maybe we'll find somewhere else we'd rather attend. With as frightening as it is for us to move without him having a job (or insurance), we are remarkably calm about it. I guess with faith in God, it isn't so remarkable that God would ease our fears about this.

When are you moving? I can't believe I haven't mentioned this yet. Our departure date: January 25, 2011.

We chose this date so we'll have a few weeks to look for a place to live and find Nate a job and also because it's after Nate's birthday. It was important to us to be here to spend Nate's 28th birthday with Nate's mom.

Nate's official last day of work is January 15, so that we have time to pack our things. My first day of work is February 14, the day Ellie turns 12 weeks old.

Are you taking both your vehicles and all your stuff right away? Yes. While it's true that we will be back to Michigan at least twice between January and September, it is important to us to try to take everything in one trip. We don't want to continue to take advantage of free storage at our parents' houses. I feel like we have a ton of stuff, too much stuff for a couple with no kids. But, that stuff includes a whole second set of bedroom furniture that we have inherited for when we do have kids. I'd rather take it with us now than try to move it later or rather than have to buy new furniture when the time comes. We will have to store our stuff for at least a month but hopefully not a whole lot longer than that. Trying to wait to take it when we come for Jonathan and Rebecca's wedding in June just wouldn't really be feasible. I think my mom will be thankful to be rid of the rest of my stuff, anyway. Also, if we didn't take both vehicles, Nate and I would probably have a difficult time getting to work as we are not likely to be able to commute together like the arrangement we had when I worked in Jonesville.

Chapter 3: Moving and Not Looking Back

"The hardest part of moving forward is not looking back." - Felicity

I believe that quote with all my heart. It's so easy to doubt a decision you make once you've made it. Skepticism creeps in so easily. Nate's mom, Polly, told us about the December 25, 2010 (yes, that's Christmas Day) entry in Our Daily Bread, the famous daily devotional. It amazes me that a message so poignant would be on just the perfect day. Please take a minute to read it here. It's really short, I promise. :o) I especially love the quote they included from Oswald Chambers, "

Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."

Also, Pastor Robert of Gateway Church said something the weekend we were in Texas that really hit home to us, "I know some of you are going through difficult times, but God would like to birth a miracle in your situation–in your Bethlehem–He wants to birth a miracle in the problems you have right now." I feel like He really did.

I hope you will continue to read our blog and to follow us on our journey as we start this adventure in Texas. We will miss all our friends, family, and colleagues in Michigan more than they will ever know, but we know that we are doing the right thing for our lives.