A New Adventure

I never meant to stay here for long. I don't think WE meant to stay here for long. Bustling commuter trains, art museums nearby, free days at the zoo, and multiple languages spoken were usually involved in my ideal location of habitation. Diversity, culture, excitement. The city, either here or overseas. An adventure.

However, we find ourselves here, in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Many people, and rightly so, find this the ideal place to live. It's a family friendly area, where bad things rarely ever happen. The cost of living is low, there's a great park, and the hills outside of town are beautiful. And we have the Daily Grind, one of my favorite coffee shops on the planet. I've often been told, it's a great place to raise a family.

I guess we'll find out.

I've always seen myself as outside the box. Just a little different. I wore combat boots in junior high. I've never really liked the color pink. I carried a bouquet of twigs down the aisle. I don't like paintings by Thomas Kincade. I'm not a big fan of shopping. My husband is fairly outside the box as well. He has long hair. He enjoys reading Shakespeare as well as Marvel comics. He reads every bit of information on every sign at the zoo as time and company will allow. He plays guitar left-handed. He's pretty awesome.

A friend of ours, who had lived in Canton, had nicknamed New Philadelphia "Mayberry", obviously in reference to the town in the Andy Griffith show where life was simple and all problems could be solved by the town sherriff and a little red haired boy named Opie. There were white pickett fences and apple pies cooling in windows. (Maybe that was Donna Reed. Oh well.) There are times when New Philadelphia does feel like a place untouched by time and the world. And while there are so many things that are wonderful about our town, there are times that it can feel "boxy".

I'm either a whiner or a snob or both. Hmm...

Anyways, all that to say that I always imagined a big adventure of living in a big city or overseas. Instead, God has deemed it time for the biggest adventure of my life, and He has divinely appointed that adventure to happen right here in T-county.

I'm going to be a mother.

Yup, come September 8th-ish (however due dates work) a small human-shaped being made from the DNA of my husband and I and the handiwork of God will enter the world as we know it and change our lives forever. Technically this little person is already changing our world as we know it, the cries for food right now are just a bit quieter than they will be 5 or so months from now. It will be the greatest adventure of our lives.

I guess what I am figuring out is that adventures may have nothing to do with location, and may often happen in unexpected places; and that being where God wants you may have nothing to do with how well you feel like you "fit", but rather where he sees that you will grow. I am thankful for the support that I have in this town. I can see how God knew this is where we needed to be for so many reasons.

As far as becoming a mother, I am excited, scared, nervous... and in awe. And in more desparate need of trusting in my Saviour now than ever. I'm looking forward to the adventure.

In Mayberry.