MOVIN' ON UP....

So I've lived in metro Atlanta my whole life. I have a very comfortable, suburban life here: friends, family, and a job I love (most days). I like having the city close enough to me so that I don't miss out on anything, but I like coming home to "the country". I like going into work super early so that I can have the afternoon to my leisure. I like going to my friends house at night and hanging out. I like going to "my" movie theater - the same one I basically lived at when I was a teenager. I like my big family dinners. I like that my brothers live no more than 15 minutes away. I like the close relationship I share with my nieces because I have always been here at home with my parents to be apart of their daily lives. I like that the church I go to is made up of many of the same people I've been going to church with since I was 5 years old. I even like this old house that I have lived in since I was 11.

I always thought, as a teenager, that when I turned 18 I would hit the road and never look back. But that didn't happen. I started working full-time after high school and eventually started college. My parents went from 2 of my worst enemies to 2 of my best friends. My nieces were here every day and I loved, loved, loved watching them grow up. All of the sudden, I couldn't image not living close by my family. So I stayed in my little garage apartment and got very comfortable - always with a tinge of guilt that I never "left the nest".

A couple of weeks ago, I started the process of interviewing for an amazing early childhood facility in Buckhead. Monday I will begin work there fulltime. And the last week of this month, I will be taking a huge step and moving out on my own. About time, right?!

I am so excited to be taking on this new adventure. I will be moving into the ATL. Although it has always been home to me, I have never lived IN the city. I can't wait.

And yet there is a very big part of me that will miss this life I love sooo much. Almost every aspect of my life will change in some way. I know it's whats best for me. I know I am doing the right thing. I know that this is what God wants for me. That is the biggest thing for me. I prayed and prayed that God would show me what I was suppose to do - stay at home or spread my wings. I even got a little discouraged wondering how he would answer me. And even though I can't really explain it, He made it known to me that my time has FINALLY come.