Zack and I have lived in Minneapolis for two full years now. It really is crazy that this is where we call “home”. Both of us are unsure where we’ll call home permanently — the fact that we live here currently was SO hard to believe for a long time. Then one day, probably some time this summer, we both said, Yep, this is it for now. It has to be OK because we are here for a reason. I don’t think either of us was living enough in the moment. And not doing so was really starting to affect us, mainly me. Rather, we were living for the future. The “next time we’ll…” and “some day we’ll be able to…”. That had to stop, and you know what? It was really hard.
We are HERE ~
…right NOW for a REASON.
In Minneapolis, for a reason.
Actually, just this week Zack was at a work event here in Minneapolis and his old boss from the company he worked for in Detroit {where we lived 2 years ago, before we lost our jobs and moved here} was there. She and Zack chatted and she mentioned to him the note I included in her Gussy Sews order… how it made her cry. And so it made me think — the day she let Zack go, nearly 3 years ago, I’m sure it was so hard for her. And yes, that was a very hard day for Zack and I. But had that not happened ~ had we not lost our jobs just 7 months after we got married and been unemployed for 7 months which caused us to move 400 miles to a new city so we could start new jobs only for me to quit that job about 8 months later for Gussy Sews ~ would any of this WHERE WE ARE NOW have happened?
See ~ there’s that “for a reason” thing ;]
If we weren’t in Minneapolis my morning coffee with Zack wouldn’t look like this, nor would I be adding product to my shop:
If it weren’t for Minneapolis this desk calendar wouldn’t mean so much, nor would wearing Zack’s shirt {tan & blue plaid} be so comforting:
And if it weren’t for Minneapolis this poochy wouldn’t be as special to us:
Yes. We are here right now for a reason. I believe it.
xoxo
I love the idea of stopping the “someday we will….” talk. you are right – we should do things now and not wait for the day when it will seem right! i love this post – very inspiring as always! :)
Love your attitude. I’m struggling with this right now, for different reasons. I am praying a lot about it and trying so hard to see God’s plan, not make my own. Thanks for this reminder that I am not in control this morning :)
We live the Twin Cities too…it’s a good place to be :) Glad you are enjoying it right now!
Love this thankful post.
I love this post. Just what I was needing to hear this morning. Feeling the same way…struggling with why God moved us where we are.
Havent really “settled” in….in the back of my mind I’m ready to pack my bag at any minute and move our family back “home” :)
Thankyou for this reminder. Love you
GREAT post! Sometimes it is hard to see why God brought us to different places but we have to trust there is a reason. My husband took a new job over a year ago that eventually moved us to Marshall MN. During the process we lived apart for 8 months (while I was pg and had our 4th baby) and we finally moved back together 4 months ago. It was so hard but our relationship grew so much during that time and we learned to talk to one another – b/c late night phone calls during the work-week was all we had. We cherished our weekends together as a family – so although it was hard we knew God would get us through.
The guy my husband works for is NOT a Christian and is (nicely put) a monster of a man to work for. It got better for a few months and now he is back to his old tricks. It is so hard on my husband but he is trying to use this time to be a example of Christ to his boss. Yesterday my husband got an e-mail from a client who wanted to share some of her “testimony” with him…she said she felt she should have done in when they met in person but was afraid and so she sent this e-mail instead hoping it would not offend. My husband was able to respond with some encouragement himself and it was what both needed at that time. Things like that remind me that God has a reason…even if we can’t see the whole picture!
Good for you that you are obediant to His calling! :) Have a wonderful day and good luck tomorrow. I wish we could run up for your shopping day in P.L….but I will be there in prayer and spirit! :)
Maggie, sweet girl, I adore this. You. I feel it so.
Maggie… I’ve sooo been there friend. We’ve lived in several places that I thought the same thing. You are right where you are meant to be. Unless you want to move to Fayetteville? I’m sure Amber and I would be just thrilled. ;)
I adore you two, so… packing my bags! ;D
We moved to Minnesota in 1999, for my husband’s job. I had never thought we would still be here, quite honestly. I always thought we’d be back in Ohio! Now, almost 12 years later, we are NEVER leaving. THIS is home. Our children were born here, we built an amazing house here, and our jobs are here. Sure, things might change, but if we had our way, we’d live here for the rest of our lives. It’s an amazing place to live. :)
…finding beauty in the unexpected. that’s what your words translate to me… thank you :)
They always say that things happen for a reason, but I never really believed it until recently. My husband and I bought our house 5 years ago next week with the intention of living here only 5 to 7 years. It is no longer just a house though… it is home. It is the place where he proposed to me, where we brought both of our children home to after they were born… a place where two people with two dogs became a family. This is our home and I’m so happy for you and Zack (and Bauer of course too!) that you have for yours as well.
thank you so much for writing this. my husband and i were in a similar situation two years ago too. i lost my job, we lost our home because of it and moved all the way to arizona to start new jobs and a new life. lots of blessings have come out of that as well, but it’s been hard. i keep thinking about the future and feeling like we have to put our lives on hold for “future” things. i don’t know if that makes sense, i haven’t quite made this place home because i keep thinking we’re not going to be here long. it’s a crazy feeling and thought process. thanks for your sweet and encouraging words today! i needed to hear them. i needed the encouragement. thank you.
someone recently shared with me that it’s OK to get rid of the things in my home if i don’t like them, like a picture frame or a vase or the cases on our pillows. some times even the smallest things set me back, make me feel like this isn’t our home. it’s so silly — isn’t it??? i feel like i need to hold on to them because they were gifts or we bought them a while ago {and don’t have the money now to replace them}. just get rid of them! i need to make more of a effort to make this house our home. even if we don’t live here forever, which i am nearly positive we won’t — the point is we live here now and how sad is it that i’ve allowed fear or newness to steal some of the best blessings from me.
:) anyway — i appreciate your comment!!!! xoxoxoox
<3 Beautiful post Gussy!
The MPLS skyline just takes my breath away :) I lived in the cities until I turned 18, and now I live in North Branch, MN like 45min north of MPLS. I just miss seeing that gorgeous skyline everyday!
one of my local friends says this view reminds her of the Wizard of Oz ;)
Baby this is awesome. So glad to be right here right now with you and B.
Dream girl.
i have started to the live same motto.
like! like! :)
Hey girl, I completely relate to this post. After 2 years of unemployment, and a year of a dead-end job, my hubby finally got a new job that relocated us from San Diego, CA, to Tucson, AZ. I knew that God had a plan for us and, yes, there have been many moments of asking God what He was doing. But I see the beauty in it all now. Even just 6 months later. God takes us places we might never have thought we would live and has the ability to turn it into something beautiful. Your new city is beautiful & I will continue to pray for peace in this season you two are in. God bless xoxoxoxo
-Heather
Such beautiful thoughts. I love the idea of ending the “somedays.” I need to get to work on ending those too!
I know exactly what you mean! I was just thinking the same thing the other day. My husband quit his teaching job about a year and a half ago to go back to school for accounting. It meant living on my teacher’s salary and giving up a few things we wanted to do, but it has been SO worth it! He’s happier and he just got a full-time job offer beginning January 2013 after he graduates! He still has 2 full semesters of school left! I’m so glad we took this leap of faith, because we are already starting to see the rewards!
My boyfriend and I just moved back to Michigan this summer after living in Southern California for the past few years. All our talk is the “someday..” because our living situation (with one of my boyfriend’s relatives) and the part-time job I just started (when I was really looking for full-time) seem so temporary.
This is a great reminder to be present with where we are right now! And also to remember why we choose to move back in the first place – being closer to friends and family!
I happened upon your blog just yesterday and you have already touched my life. I struggle with the “well, as soon as…” syndrome daily. You have inspired me to make my own etsy shop a reality and reawakened a love of my native city and the enriching effect you transplants have on it… And on us!
I can totally relate to this. It’s the theme of my husband and I’s life too, and I’m oh-so-guilty of “in the future syndrome”. My struggle is always to be present and ease up on the someday’s, what if’s, and all the planning. We really miss out on the little things when we’re always focused on what’s next. Thanks for the reminder to enjoy today. :)
This is such a beautiful, encouraging post. I think sometimes God just waits for us to find contentment. Makes me think of a few verses…
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. ” Philippians 4:12-13
i JUST read that verse in my devo the other day! so amazing!! :)
Such a good post!! That has been on my mind a lot lately, the whole idea of what’s next, or what is in the future…to the point where I find myself not even living in this moment. I am a firm believer in “everything happens for a reason” even though sometimes we don’t know why right away, or perhaps ever!
Thanks for the reminder Maggie!
xoxo
jessica
I simply love this. And feel like it is the exact same spot I am in now! Thanks for the reminder.
Wonderful post! It is really hard to accept changes when we have certain expectations for what our lives are going to look like. Recently, my husband and I thought we would be moving home in the next year, but now we are going to be in Seattle for another two years. It is tough to stay engaged and in the moment when you thought your life would look different.
It all has meaning though like you said!
thanks for sharing this!! it’s fun to dream about what the future might hold, and wise to make plans and have goals, but sometimes I get way too focused on those two things, and I have to stop in my tracks and tell myself to stop wishing life away and enjoy my world right now. one crazy thing that helped me was filling our one bedroom apartment with lots of artwork. I decided not to be scared to make too many holes in the walls and got out my hammer and nails! :) it makes it feel so much more like our happy home that I could live in forever, and so much less like a temporary dwelling place.