Hard Decisions
So, I have been totally MIA from blogging as our world has been consumed with big life decisions.
Fred has accepted a new job in Oklahoma City, so we’re moving back there after four years away. It’s been a roller coaster ride over the past month. My plans have gone from spending the summer stuck in bar review class every day (I was scheduled to take the Texas Bar Exam at the end of July), to spending my days researching neighborhoods and packing up boxes.
This was a really difficult decision for us since Fred loves a lot about his current job, especially his colleagues and staff. But, in the end, it came down to family time. Fred’s current job just can’t give him the hours needed to have time for anything else. This morning, he calculated that the hours with the new job plus the extra vacation offered at the new job would give him over 75 extra days a year. That’s over two months! When we think about the hours, we are downright giddy. I can’t even wrap my mind around the thought of Fred getting home consistently before 9pm, let alone home by 5:30pm every night!
But, there were a lot of downsides to this decision, too. Namely, we’re moving further away from all our family and are leaving some very special friends here in Fort Worth. Also, words cannot even begin to express how much we’ll miss our church here. We are pretty certain there is not another one out there that is as perfect a fit and the friendships we’ve made there will be really hard to leave.
We are so thankful that since a move was the best choice for our family that we are moving back to a city we know and love. It will be great to reconnect with old friends in OKC and easier on so many fronts – like, I’m licensed in Oklahoma, so no bar exam! Another good thing is we won’t move until September, which gives us plenty of time to get our house on the market, look for a new house, pack, and most importantly, say good-bye to friends here.
And while we’ve been in the throes of big decision-making, babyBaum has found his independence streak and the word “no” seems to be a challenge he just can’t resist. His face is constantly marred by a bruise or cut because he believes he can climb any structure regardless of its height or ability to hold him. Constant bruises and cuts do not seem to dissuade him. I haven’t quite decided if that’s a good sign (he’s persistent and determined) or a bad sign (he’s a little slow on the uptake when it comes to cause and effect).
For those of you going through babyBaum withdrawal, here’s a recent pic of him on the swings at the local park ~
