Celebrating Five Years, a Baby, and a Move
This month marks our fifth wedding anniversary. It’s been an incredible few years as we’ve supported each other through school, an enlistment, therapy, new jobs and passions, faith exploration, parenthood, and more.
The last month or two has felt extra special as we watched two big dreams become reality.
Welcoming Emelia
Last month we welcomed our first child, Emelia. The timing and style of her birthday-arrival, similar to other moments in our relationship, was unexpected but full of God’s tender mercies. After a long, somewhat intense labor, she came swiftly after a mere twenty minutes of pushing.
These last few weeks of recovery and adjustment have gone smoothly, thanks to the village of friends and family around us. (I’m very grateful for the support of our chiropractor, acupuncturist, and doula!) Caring for Emelia has been a good reminder to take one thing at a time, especially learning to breastfeed and cloth diaper.
Aaron and I are enjoying getting to know Emelia more day by day. She’s very expressive and alert. She’s quite taken with our ceiling fan right now and loves to smile. She is our greatest joy!
Moving Out & Moving In
And if having a baby wasn’t enough, we packed up our one-bedroom apartment and drove south to Virginia soon after Emelia was born. (If you’re new here, Aaron’s going to seminary to get his MDiv.) Family and dear friends generously helped us pack boxes, load them into the biggest truck we’ve ever rented, and unpack them in our new place.
As we’ve settled in, we’ve noticed a few more ‘y’all’s’, more bugs, and new traffic patterns. We’ve received a very, very friendly welcome from new neighbors and Aaron’s classmates. My new-mama-heart has been so encouraged to see Emelia embraced with the warmest welcome I could hope for. I can tell she is already dearly loved. It’s also been a pleasant surprise to find some of our circles have overlapped with others’. Yet again, it’s a small world!
As Aaron dives into the school year, I sense there are some mixed feelings between us. A new community with new perspectives and relationships is exciting and motivating, but we also have seen how these types of theological spaces can often stir up big questions, matters of ego, and unexpected challenges. My prayer continues to be that we would remain open to the Spirit and tender-hearted towards those around us. Perhaps that’s a prayer we all need, no matter where we find ourselves, no?
We are immensely grateful for those who’ve held us, encouraged us, mentored us, and prayed for us as a couple, new parents, and within our own vocations. These last five years would be very different without you.
Here’s to the next five years!
