God’s timimg

This topic is controversial to many people out there. I, for one, was very skeptical in this “concept”. I mean, how is something supposed to happen if WE don’t make it happen? When WILL it happen? These thoughts and beliefs were once mine; well, I continue to fight them everyday at least.

Quarantine has taught me A LOT about myself and my relationship with GOD. Some people will stop reading here and that’s fine. I am not here to PUSH anything onto anybody, but more so share our story and to let you know you’re not alone.

Our Story

So it all started when my husband was putting feelers out for locum jobs to make more money (he’s in the medical field). He stumbled upon a job opening in Kentucky. The money was great, it has awesome benefits, and it was in prime hunting territory 😒. He spoke with a representative and stated that in order to convince me to move with two youngins, there had to be a job for me too. So, they created a job for me. With two job opportunities opened, it led us to at least check it out. So we booked two flights to Kentucky.

When we landed, it was FREEZING and I am a southern girl (strike one, ha!) We then had to drive 2 hours to the actual hospital in where he would be working (rural area). That night we had dinner with the CEO, some recruiters, and doctors. Everyone was VERY nice and inviting. The surgeon in which I’d work with was there as well and we had educational conversations and shared our love for orthopedics; it was almost too good to be true.

The next morning we toured the entire hospital and the operating room; again, everyone was just so kind and genuine. By the end of the tour, the hospital staff had set up a meeting with the local elementary school because they knew we had two boys. The school was just amazing. They had multiple awards and programs for our kids to grow into. I am literally, to this day, speechless at just HOW amazing that school is; I even cried during the tour (I am an emotional person 🤦🏻‍♀️).

It was then time for us to go back home. During the plane ride, me and the hubbs talked about our entire trip. Everything was as perfect as perfect could be. The school was phenomenal for the boys, the people were very hospitable, and the town was as quaint as where we were currently. We had A LOT to consider when we got back home.

We told friends and family about our trip. Of course, they were a little hesitant because we’d be up and moving the boys 800 miles away with no family or help, but they were supportive. We prayed about it and we talked with the kids about it. The boys are young enough that they hadn’t established themselves in school just yet and they could make new friends. The more we focused on reasons to stay, the heavier the weight got on our shoulders. Don’t get us wrong we love our family, but our hearts were telling us to move to Kentucky.

Made it to Kentucky

Fast forward. We get to Kentucky. The drive was long. I think we left at 9am that morning and got to Kentucky at 1am that night. Driving with kids is a tough journey within itself. We settle in finally. We get the kids to school the next week. They’re getting used to a routine. We were going to start a new church that Sunday, then BAM! Covid-19 hit us that Wednesday. The schools and churches got cancelled and we are left in shock.

I was originally suppose to start work April 1st, but they pushed my start date back to June 1st due to Covid. Reed started working. We were then left to figure out if I should even go to work and let some stranger watch our kids. We knew NO ONE in our little town. We were not really given the opportunity to meet people due to the pandemic anyways. Time went on. We self isolated at the house mainly and this gave me the opportunity to self reflect.

I am used to working. All my life, that’s all I ever knew. Parents owned a restaurant and we’d help out. So staying home with the boys drove me a tad bit crazy, as I am sure it did them as well🤪. During our self isolating days it made me realize two things: I don’t need to go to work (safety) and I will never get these days back.

There was no sense in both of us working and increasing our chances of contracting Covid-19. God forbid we both catch it, what would happen to our boys? We have no one up there to keep our boys and I don’t trust just anybody 🤷🏻‍♀️. During quarantine the days were long, the boys bore easily. I was going stir crazy, BUT it made me realize, when am I EVER going to be able to spend four months at home while my boys are still little. Never. I am definitely grateful for the opportunity to stay home, but that’s when we got some bad news.

Hubbs got notice that his salary was going to get cut. This freaked us out because I was not planning on going back to work and we still had bills coming in, I mean we JUST bought a house in Kentucky! At this point, we felt defeated. We felt as if we had made a mistake in our move. There were many nights in which I cried, I got depressed and anxious about our situation. Through it ALL, we prayed. We prayed every night with the boys. We prayed for direction and we prayed for peace.

One week, we had Reed’s family come up to visit us. Archer’s and Tucker’s cousins came up to play with them and the grandparents. They played their little hearts out and they had a blast. Reed’s family left. Then following week, my family came up to visit (don’t worry, everyone self isolated before they came). The boys had even more fun! This made me and Reed come to the realization: the boys NEED to be close to family.

The dominoes

One night, I sat down with Reed while the boys were asleep. We talked. We agreed that it was time to go home. We need to go home for the boy’s sake, but what about jobs when we get back home? We just left out jobs two months ago, would they even consider letting us go back. The only way to know was to ask. We both talked to our jobs and wouldn’t you know, there were opportunities for us to go back to our old jobs! Then we get a letter from the kid’s school saying that there would be no more daycare for the next school year. If this wasn’t another sign to go back home, then I don’t know what is.

The Lessons

1. God’s timing is always perfect
   • God’s timing is HIS timing, not ours. It may seem like it takes a long time and it seems like it will never come. I can tell you that during your stormy season, it does not last. The sun WILL come. We just have to trust in Him and His timing. Instead of gettin depressed or anxious in your storm, grow your faith.
     • Psalm 31:15 My times {are} in thy hand
2. God’s ways are not always our ways
   • This is where we have to let go and let God’s plan run the course. I know there are times in which we want to control the situation, control the outcome. When we find ourself trying to control everything, we get ran down; we loose faith. This is opposite of what God’s intentions are, instead there are times in which we need to Be Still
     • Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God
3. God has the final say
   • When you feel like giving up or throwing in the towel, just know that if God wanted it that way, He would make it so. God will NOT put you through ANYTHING that 1. you couldn’t hand and 2. that He could not see you through. ALL of the trials that you endure is to GROW your faith in Him. You just need to trust Him and trust that His outcomes are victorious
     • Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee

Closing remarks

We have been through a lot that is for sure, but we have made memories that we will cherish forever. We followed God’s plans and it led us back to Mississippi. We did not fail in Kentucky, instead the timing was just off. Our marriage, our family, and our faith is now stronger than EVER through this experience. So whatever the journey may be, if it God’s plans take that leap of faith. Trust the process, but most importantly trust God. He WILL provide. We regret nothing, instead we are thankful for the lessons 🥰