Joe and I have officially completed our 2ND year here in Alpine Texas. Joe has finished all of his required classes for his Master's program, and is now working on writing his thesis. We hope to be completely finished by this December (cross your fingers!).
Moving to Alpine was a huge adjustment for our little family, but I wanted to share a little bit of my "mommy journey" that began the summer before we made it down here. In May of 2010 we borrowed my father-in-law's truck and moved out to Painesville, Ohio so that Joe could work a summer wildlife job for the USDA. We were still waiting to hear back about grad school and had no plans in place beyond the end of the summer. We were pretty nervous about transplanting our family so far East, for just a few months, but our experience in Ohio turned out to be a wonderful growing experience for all of us.
For me, Ohio marked the beginning of my time as a stay-at-home mom. I know Jadyn was 10 months old when we moved out there, but the previous 9 months had involved juggling a baby while both Joe and I went to school full-time, and worked part-time. We were a very busy family, and if you know us at all, then you know that we absolutely thrive on being busy. Then we moved to Ohio and I went from juggling a very full schedule to staring at my 10 month old baby wondering what I was supposed to be doing with her all day, everyday. Since we didn't know where we were heading after Ohio, we didn't want to buy any furniture. We basically camped out in an empty apartment for three months, with no T.V. and no internet. If we wanted to check anything online, then we would drive over to McDonald's, or the local Library. My life felt a lot like that scene in Tangled where Repunzel is describing how she fills her day in the tower! Jadyn and I went for a walk every morning before it got too hot. She learned to walk holding onto the stroller so that she could have a break from sitting in it. Afterwards Jadyn went down for a nap and I read a library book. Then we played with her puzzles, and her toys, and I read some more of my book. We'd make lunch, splash in the bath, read some more, and wait for Joe to get home at 2:30. And then repeat every day for the next 3 months. It was a pretty big adjustment for me. I realized that while I had dreamed of finishing school so that I could be a stay at home mom, the reality was pretty darn boring. And I felt pretty low admitting it to myself. I worried that I was eventually going to hate the monotony. Then I would tell myself that surely it would be different when we had a house/yard/garden to keep me busy, and 3 or 4 more kids to chase, but all of those things seemed like an eternity away from our little apartment in Ohio. It took a lot of scripture study and prayer before I really began to see a light at the end of the dark tunnel that motherhood was turning out to be. We started to make friends at our church, and Joe and I slowly developed a routine to fill our evenings. I had some wonderful conversations with other women in my life and all of a sudden I found myself loving the alone time with my little girl, where we could explore the town, and experiment in the kitchen together. I learned to be patient and I have often been grateful for that lesson during the course of these last two years.
We eventually made some really great friends in Ohio, we discovered the $3.99 Chinese Buffet, and the beach at the Lake. We went to visit Kirtland, Ohio, and then all the way to New York City to visit Joe's sister and hear her Husband defend his Thesis at Columbia University. We went to way too many yard sales and ate way too much Little Caesars Pizza and cookies and cream ice cream. We got a visit from my sister and my cousin. We found out that I was pregnant with McKay. and then we were offered an assistantship, and a monthly stipend to pursue a Masters degree down in Alpine, TX, at Sul Ross State University. We could make plans again! and prepare for something again. the first week of August we packed everything back into the truck and made our way down to Texas, stopping to spend the night first with a close friend in Tennessee, and then with close friends in Dallas, before finally making it to Alpine.
I had a plan that I would make mommyhood as pleasent as possible in Alpine, TX. I was determined to make some other mommy friends, so I searched out toddlertime at the local library and started collecting phone numbers for park days and play dates and craft sessions. with in a few weeks there was a regular group going of stay at home moms who were all looking for some outside companionship. Joe and I made friends with another couple that lived next door to us and started having game nights 2-3 times per week. We both received various callings to serve in the local church branch and began to make more friends there as well. In October, My family came to visit, followed by Joe's family in November, and then our own visit back to Idaho and Utah in December. In February McKay was born and the transition to mothering two babies was amazingly, and mercifully easy. In mid April I was offered a job babysitting a 5 yr old boy a few hours a week until summer, which gave me a little extra motivation to plan fun crafts and activities to do at my house. In June the kids and I went to utah/idaho for vacation for 6 weeks, and in August I was offered another job babysitting one of Jadyn's playgroup buddies. I was asked to interview for a Job with WIC in September as a Breastfeeding Peer Councilor, and then was also asked to serve with the youth in our church as a Young Women's Leader.
My life was busy again! I had bi-weekly playdates with my mommy friends; I babysat another 2 yr old 3 days a week, and I worked 2 mornings a week at WIC where I was allowed to bring McKay with me. Joe was able to be home during those times to hang out with Jadyn and we were able to save money towards tuition the next semester.
Looking back, I have such tender feelings towards the woman who first struggled with adjusting to motherhood in Painsville Ohio. She seems like such a different person than the woman that I am now. I have learned to be patient. I have learned to enjoy the moment, and have greater faith in a loving Heavenly Father who wants us all to be happy. I recognize the moments of discouragement that I experience as being temporary, and quick to pass. As Joe and I prepare to send out the first of his applications for a job post grad school, I am so thrilled to know that I will be taking with me the knowledge that there will be new friendships down the road and new opportunities to learn. I know where to go to find other mommy's who might also be looking for support, and where to go to keep my kids busy for an hour or two. We are so excited to see what this next year holds for us, but we are also determined to enjoy our time left here in Alpine, I know that we will miss it when we leave!
