Chapter 1
A boy and girl meet and fall in love in Washington, DC. The boy wears scrubs or his Army uniform to work grueling hours only a resident knows, and the girl is never without her suitcase to work grueling hours only a traveling consultant knows.
They enjoy cooking elaborate meals in their shoebox kitchen, strolling around the Tidal Basin, leading Bible studies, and spending time with friends at the local Mexican restaurant with a great happy hour (and margarita).
“I’m never leaving DC,” she declares with arms spread wide, “and I’m never going to stop working!”
The Army has other plans. (God has other plans.)
Chapter 2
The husband and wife buy their first home on the internet, a scandal to the wife’s work colleagues. You’re moving to Texas? And you bought your house online?
Two enormous cats—a gray tabby and black & white tuxedo—join the family, although the couple doesn’t realize 16 lbs is huge for a cat. The couple buys season tickets to the theater, learns how to stand-up paddle board on the nearby lake, and attends the Food & Wine Festival in Austin.
The mother-to-be sees two pink lines on a Tuesday morning right before an important out of town work meeting. Her carry-on suitcase is with her when she tells her husband via FaceTime that night from her hotel. They cry with gladness and pray for Baby.
On a gray Saturday morning, Baby Boy (almost one year old) is asleep for his morning nap. The soon-to-be-mother-of-2-under-2 sees two pink lines just before joining virtual book club. The monthly in-person event turned to Zoom after a new infectious disease called COVID forces everyone to stay home. She tells her husband via FaceTime that night because of his deployment to New York CIty. He’s with his Army unit for an unknown length of time to set up a COVID hospital.
A few months later the mother leaves the paid workforce, and the family buys a minivan.
“At least we only have one year left in the Army,” the husband declares. “We’ll try our hardest to stay in Texas, to welcome Baby Girl into our first home.”
The Army has other plans. (God has other plans.)
Chapter 3
Fort Leonardwood (“Fort Lost in the Woods'' to soldiers) in rural Missouri is a shockingly competitive housing market. The family sells their home in Texas and chooses housing via the internet, sight unseen, again. However, this time the listing has no photos.
“It will be fine for 10 months,” the mother reassures herself.
But their home is better than fine. They host home church and daily playdates with friends who become family. They bring their daughter home to a floral nursery. They cook casseroles and crock pot meals to feed a growing family. They purchase a Peloton bike.
The mature butterfly bush by the front door regularly beckons dozens of butterflies to remind the family God’s other plans are good plans.
Chapter 4
For the first time in a decade the family is a civilian family. You’re moving to Alabama? You’re going to raise children in the South? You bought ANOTHER house on the internet?
The family creates a life. They meet neighbors who become friends. They join a new church family. They discover the best playgrounds and library storytimes. They establish habits and rhythms.
The preschoolers create more noise and messes than the mother imagined was possible. They also love her more than she thinks she deserves (some days). She wraps them in a big hug—her son a head taller than her daughter—and asks how she got the best kids in the world.
The husband and wife end each day hands clasped under their white duvet, praying for their home and their family.
In the mornings, the mother fills her butterfly mug with coffee, soaks in sunshine on her back porch, watches butterflies dance on their newly planted butterfly bush, and remembers.
Epilogue
The family celebrates their own holiday, Alabama Birthday, every May 20 with cookie cake. God is faithful, God is good. Life is sweet.
This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series "Ours".
Loved this! Your wedding photo at the end is so great!!
The picture at the end!! 😍 Beautiful, Alyssa!