In my January blog, “Out with the old,” I wrote about going through drawers and closets and generally getting rid of anything—whether tangible or emotional—that no longer proved useful. At that time, my husband (“Project Guy,” as he’s affectionately known) and I were in the early stages of contemplating a major move, and paring down our possessions was a necessary first step.
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| Moving day--loading up in NC on March 13 |
As of mid-March, our move became a reality. Our North Carolina home sold quickly, and we’re now settling into brand new (to us) digs back in our home state of Texas! We had been away for 13 years, and I couldn’t be happier to be living in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country, where we once again have several family members close by. We are more than ready to embark on this new phase of our lives!
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| Texas bluebonnets! |
But “new” also means change, and we’ve had a lot to adjust to. We’ve downsized a bit, and I’m having a terrible time finding spaces for all the bookcases to shelve the boxes and boxes of books I brought along! (Project Guy keeps telling me I need to pare down my collection, but really? Get rid of books???)
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| My new office--before I started getting it arranged (looks a lot better now!) |
And that’s just the beginning. We’ve had to memorize a new address, zip code, and phone number. We’re learning new streets, restaurants, and shopping areas. We need to find new health care providers. We’re working hard to remember the names of our friendly new neighbors, and we’re looking for a new church home.
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| Poppy & Penny explore their new backyard |
Letting go of things that were familiar and comfortable to make room for new possibilities is both exhilarating and scary. That’s exactly what the heroine of The Rancher’s Redemption, my latest Love Inspired romance, finds herself faced with. Single mom Erin Dearborn seeks a fresh start after ending her abusive first marriage, but the challenges of striking out on her own soon overwhelm her. It’ll take a lot of faith, along with the encouragement of kindly but quiet rancher Kent Ritter, to rebuild her self-confidence and open her heart to another chance at love.
Have you stepped out of your comfort zone recently to try something new? How did it feel? What did you learn from the experience?
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Native Texan Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. She’s currently at work on a new Love Inspired mini-series, Hill Country Haven, with returning characters from Her Hill Country Cowboy and Hill Country Reunion. The first book in the series, The Rancher’s Redemption, releases next month. Book two, Their Christmas Prayer, will be out in October.
Also look for the updated editions of Myra’s earlier romances:
The Horsemen of Cross Roads Farm (3-book collection)
Twitter: @MyraJohnson and @TheGrammarQueen
Sign up to receive Myra’s e-news updates here!
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Myra, so glad you're starting to settle into your new home! Moves are challenging but also exciting! The area looks lovely, and I know you always enjoyed Texas. It sounds as if this a going home of sorts!
ReplyDeleteLove your corner desk. Do you mind if I ask where you found it? I'm always looking for new office arrangements.
Happy Easter to you and Project Guy! Praying you into that perfect new, welcoming and supportive church community!
Hi, Debby! Yes, moving is a long, drawn-out process, and we still have quite a way to go. As for the corner desk, we found it at a used office furniture store many years ago. And...turns out it is WAY too big for my smaller office in this house, so it's in the garage now, and I've replaced it with a much narrower work table arrangement. Hey, come visit and you can take the corner table back with you! ;)
DeleteWelcome back to TEXAS!!! I'm in the Texas Hill Country myself - North of SA on IH 10. Hope you feel settled soon - maybe we can meet up for some BBQ. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jolene! So glad to be back where there's REAL barbecue!!! We're north of Austin on the edge of the Hill Country and loving it! Excited to connect with a nearby ACFW chapter at their meeting this weekend!
DeleteGlad your back in the Lone Star State, Myra. Moving to a new place can be difficult, but it can also be exciting and adventurous. Enjoy the adventure.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary! It's definitely been an adventure!
DeleteWelcome back to the Lone Star State! So glad to have you here. I know that moving can be difficult, but just think--6 months from now you should feel all settled. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you're right, Vannetta! Being disorganized is stressful for me, but we're making steady improvement. One day at a time...
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