4 Reasons I’m Excited to Move to Alabama for the Summer

In real life conversations I’m having trouble convincing people that I really am excited to live in a bus in an Alabama trailer park for the summer. (In contrast, you, my dear readers, all seem ready to hop on the bus with me! Thanks for your enthusiastic comments!) So, I analyzed it (‘cause I’m analytical like that) and here’s 4 reasons I came up with:

1. A change is as good as a rest. My mother taught me this. When we were tired of doing math, she offered us a chance to vacuum. Tired of weeding? How about gathering kindling? We couldn’t afford a lot of down time on the homestead, so we learned to appreciate variety in place of leisure. This was an important aspect of the strong work ethic they instilled in us.

In Alabama I will still be a wife, mother, and homemaker. I will still have to cook and do laundry just as much. But I’ll have a different view out the bus window as I wash dishes, and I’ve always loved variety.

{Change is not a substitute for rest, though, and I have felt the need to create some rest in my life. That’s why I took some steps to simplify my online presence for the next few months. When I’m done doing the dishes and tidying the bus, I plan to relax a bit. Wish me luck. I struggle with rest. :P}

2. I love adventure. This didn’t used to be the case. Although I’ve always enjoyed seeing new places, fear was my constant traveling companion. Anxiety stole much of the zest from new opportunities. But ever since God delivered from my life-long Anxiety Disorder, I’ve gotten a lot more joy out of life.

How do I plan to embrace this trip as an adventure? We’re gonna go exploring on the property–if poison ivy and snakes don’t confine us to the beaten path. We’re gonna find a library, a park, and—hopefully—a hot spot Mommy can blog from once or twice a week! I’m going to experience Alabama! (Any tips? Ever been? Do you live there? Let’s meet!)

3. I like a challenge. You won’t often see me tackle the same type of project twice. I love new patterns in the studio, new recipes in the kitchen, new varieties in the garden. I used to confine my experiments to the safety of my own domain. But again, since being set free from anxiety, I’ve savored the idea of taking my love for a good challenge on the road.

I’m actually looking forward to meeting new people, sourcing raw milk, and getting to know my way around a new neighborhood.

Have I explained myself? I don’t know. Reading this list I hardly recognize myself from the person I was 5 years ago. Meeting new people? Getting outside my comfort zone? Embracing change? Who is this lady?

And then I realize the biggest reason I’m so excited to move to Alabama for the summer…

4. God’s Grace. He is why I have joy to begin with. He is the One who helps me view the future with hope. This opportunity is part of His plan for provision for our family, and He’s been gracious enough to give me the strength to embrace the next season with joy.

Yup, when I think about it, I think God get’s most of the credit for the silly grin on my face.

Alabama, here we come!!!

We leave next week, but in the meantime, we’re going on a Holden Family Reunion/camping trip that was planned before we knew about Alabama. So, I’m off for a week of tenting in a state park on the lake, just a few miles from home. Tent camping for a week=just one more reason I’ll be grateful for bus life next month! LOL

Cue crickets…it’s gonna be quiet around here for a little while! But you can follow me on my new facebook page where I will have the ability to post photos from my phone. In case you’re, like, addicted to me or something. Oh, please. I hope not.

Farewell!