bridging the gap

Hello Everyone, I have decided to start a blog. I had thoughts of starting one when Nathan and I decided to move across the country away from all of our family and long time friends, with hopes of sharing our adventures in North Carolina with all of you. But I was quickly consumed with all of our big adjustments. Upon arrival in Asheville, my time was rapidly occupied by teaching preschool, taking classes at the community college, unpacking our house, getting to know our new town and well, being pregnant. Needless to say this blog didn’t make it to the top of my priority list. So here I am… starting a blog.

Nathan and I are now in our last season before completing our first year “abroad” as we like to call it. We sometimes feel like we’re in a different country. Growing up we were both encouraged to travel the world at large, see what’s out there, which we dabbled in a bit. When the opportunity arose to move to North Carolina we thought, why not? Why not see what our opposing coast has to offer? There is much to be seen in our own backyard and yet it can feel like we are on the other side of the world. We have moved so many times in the last five years and lost touch with what it feels like to settle into a place, really know a city. We’ve consistently been on the brink of getting settled, and then suddenly a tempting opportunity arises and we move again. Well, our first year is coming to a close and I can’t say that I haven’t felt the urge to move again. But I am challenging myself to fight that deep seeded urge and get to know this place like the back of my hand.

So here we are, Springtime. The air feels restored and we are surrounded by new life. This year has brought many events and emotions and each season has, oddly enough, coincided with my needs at the time. I arrived at the end of July, 3 months pregnant, to a house that contained a brand new bed, a free craigslist couch, a camping bin and a hand drawn onesie which had provided my husband with cheap entertainment while we were temporarily living miles apart. The rest of our things were due to arrive in the next couple of weeks. These next two weeks in our empty house with no mode of transportation gave me a bubble of contemplation space to mentally aboard our new and different life. Many would go crazy, and I’m pretty sure I would have also had it not been exactly what I needed at the time. Quiet. Alone. Time to settle into my changing and growing body. The first three months of pregnancy were so busy with work, packing the rest of our stuff and pulling off a cross-country flight with a dog and a cat that I didn’t give myself a chance to think about what being pregnant actually meant for me. This gift of unoccupied time put me in the right head space. But soon enough I needed to get out into the world.

Autumn came and I started feeling the need to immerse myself into the community a little more, so I decided to go back to school and take some Early Childhood Education classes. I  met with an advisor and after explaining my teaching experience, she soon brought to my attention a local Montessori school that was in search of a part-time teacher. I knew that it is illegal to not hire a woman because she is pregnant, but was I really hirable to a school at that point…knowing for sure it would be a temporary situation? Might as well try. I called, resume-ed, interviewed and was hired within a week. And just like that I had two new opportunities land in my lap. Thank you Autumn.

As winter approached and I could no longer see my feet, it was unclear how much longer I would continue working while pregnant. One never really knows when riding on a brand new roller coaster. I took it day by day and never felt the need to stop. Then one morning, whilst getting ready for work, my water broke and baby was coming (That’s another story for the campfire). Just as we arrived home with our bundle of joy the cold came with ferocious generosity and I was lucky enough to stay home, bundled, cuddled and sniffing my newborn. I have “go-getter-I’m coming three weeks early” Juniper Pearl to thank for that.

And now, Spring is here and my instincts are to simply close my eyes,  open my arms and let all of that restorative air and light in. I have a feeling that there will be many adventures in store for me and my little one, now that the sun is out.

I am so grateful for what a wild ride this new adventure has been so far. We are fortunate people. We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of the dreams.

I hope you are all well. We think of our family and friends often and try our best to stay connected. I hope this little corner of the internet will bridge more of the gap between us. Here is where you’ll find photos that chronicle our little family and some other fun stuff. Thank you for reading.