How can she move away from her children, grand babies, parents, brothers and their families, and her friends including her special guy, to move to a place where she knows one person?
I am asked this often. Originally I would just shrug and say – “God, I believe it is God in my heart beckoning me there.” A dream was placed in my heart over 10 years ago as I traveled the state of Texas on several speaking tours. I fell in love with the genuine people, the manners and kindness, and I loved the warm climate. It became the “empty-nest plan.”
My world came tumbling down when my marriage of 28 years ended in 2012. I grieved and struggled for the first 2 years of separation, and finally the divorce was stamped by the courts in 2014. I moved out of my house of 25 years and into a home by myself for the first time in my life. I not only became an empty-nester of kids, and their friends, I became single. I hadn’t dated since I was 18 years old. The world is a much different place
I went after my healing aggressively through counseling, reading, writing, retreats, classes, support groups, church, and new friendships. I lived on the support of my parents and brothers and their wives and some key people. I could not begin to deal with the broken unity with my children that was once very connected. Everyone was hurting. My kids were hearing all sorts of distorted rumors – my life was as if a tornado hit it. I was shocked by some of the lost relationships during this time, some that I did not think were possible to lose…but then again I once believed that about a husband and wife.
I learned very quickly there are some unhealthy ways to cope and there are some very important things to do to heal the deep wounds. I made mistakes, I owned them, learned from them and tried to move quickly through them. I’m pretty sure that will be my next book I write!
Time passed and as I became stronger and grew as a person, my dream became louder. I decided it was a good time to make the move if I was ever going to do it. I can work anywhere with my home business and the market for wellness in Texas is prime. I also have a 3 year window with my grand babies – they are small enough where she will not remember much these years – I will have to learn to live with the hole in my heart while I am away from my loved ones.
I appease myself by remembering the full plan is to have 2 places one in MN and one in TX. I also remind myself I can move back at any time. I have regular trips scheduled back in the warmer months and holidays. I can also use Skype and Face-time to be intentional about my connections. I plan to blog my transition & experiences – my heart is to help others in any way I can.
If I do not follow this deep rooted drive to move to Texas, it will always haunt me. No regrets! I will draw closer to God as he helps me in my fear, my loneliness, my homesickness, and my continued healing. I really believe the colder MN months will be easier to be south!