Jumping In! #NaBloPoMo

I’ve been thinking about BlogHer’s NaBloPoMo assignment all day – “What is something you recently jumped into?”  Hmm…well, I jumped into parenting about 3 1/2 years ago.  I jumped into blogging April of 2011.  And, I’m about to jump into being 30.  Some things I jump into voluntarily and some, I go kicking and screaming.  There have been a lot of things in my life that I have been forced to jump into and I’ve resisted every step.  BUT I have learned that if you’re gonna do something, whether voluntarily or not, you gotta do it whole heartedly or it’s either going to flop or it’s going to be a painful process.

Right after my husband and I were married, (literally two weeks after), we moved about 3 1/2 hours South and took a leap of faith that we were doing the right thing.  You see, he got a job as a youth minister in a small town.  It was hard to move away from family and friends and be forced to make new friends, find our way around, etc.  But, we had each other and we enjoyed our almost five year stay in that little town.  It was sad to say goodbye to our friends, but we knew it was time for a change.  That’s when we jumped into being houseparents at the children’s home.  We had only been parents for a little over a year, but yet we were going to be houseparents to a bunch of boys.  Again, we took a leap of faith and trusted God and had a rewarding, exciting experience.  After Baby D was born, we realized it was time for a change, even though we had only been at the children’s home for a year.  It takes a very special person to be a house parent and with two kids under 3, we needed to find another job, not only for our own kids, but the kids at the home.  So, a year ago, almost to the day, we moved here.  Again, we didn’t know anyone, but we trusted God that we were doing the right thing and jumped in.  

So what’s my point?  We move a lot?  ha!  No, my point is that I’m so glad that we have had so many wonderful experiences, and I’m glad that my husband has encouraged me to jump into new situations and trust in God.  I’m a small (tiny, 600 people!) town girl who had an extremely hard time moving an HOUR away to college.  Without my husband being as adventurous as he is, I most likely would not have had as many wonderful experiences and friendships that we’ve shared along the way!  

I’m happy to say that we’re content where we are and really don’t want to leave anytime soon, but I have to keep in mind that it’s always good to challenge myself and find new things to “jump into.”  Whether it’s trying new things or shedding personal issues to move forward with…whatever….we just gotta do it!  So, here’s to my thirties…I’m jumping in!!!