365 and change

Last year at this time we attended the "Back To School Picnic" at Sydney's school. We went not knowing a soul. We sat in our chairs and watched other families meet and greet one another while the kids danced and ran around. I had a knot in my stomach that night wondering if we had made a terrible decision in moving here. Sure, the idea of relocating for work was novel and fun, but there we were a month into our reality and it didn't feel very good.

We made the best of that night. I moved outside my comfort zone of not knowing anyone and introduced myself to new people (a task I absolutely abhor).

It has been a year of significant change, lessons and soul searching. Our status as "The New People" has faded in the neighborhood because there is someone new moving in every month. No one asks how we like it here anymore. The phone calls from coworkers feeling bad that we had nothing gone on have stopped. We are truly on our own.

I have learned, with the help of a friend, that I cannot control the sale of our old house. I cannot will it to be gone. I have to relinquish the control in my head which has kept me up more nights than I can count and hand it over to a higher power. There is a lesson in all of this, and for me, I believe it has been a lesson in frugality.

Frugal is not a word that crossed my lips very often. I have never been frugal with my money, my time or my love. People always told me I spread myself too thin, took on too much. I used to think it was because I couldn't say no, but in reality, it was because I wanted to serve and help others. I'm learning how to be frugal with my money, but I refuse to do so with my time or love.

I am thankful for our families and our friends in Minneapolis who have stood by us during our transition. I am also thankful for all of the wonderful people we have come to know here in Kansas City. The last year hasn't been completely smooth, but the bumps in the road are more tolerable because of all of you.

Thank you from the depths of my heart.