The 5 Stages of Moving to a New Town (Emotions People)

Background:

We lived in a place that I hated.

We had been there for 21 months when the news came that we were being pardoned  transferred.

When I first moved there, I was shocked at how ugly the area was.

Okay, in all fairness I am an East Texas Piney Woods girl who LOVES trees and water.

I even *like* humidity.

Moving to the baren land of West Texas was a shock.

However, I was absolutely determined that is was going to all be okay.

I had heard about how "friendly" West Texans were, and that was encouraging.

Guess what?

Some were friendly.

Most were not.

I have never been in a place where people were so judgmental and conniving. 

That being said, I also met some wonderful, caring, genuinely EXCELLENT people there.

It just took quite some time. 

I began to be comfortable, and decided to bloom where I was planted.

I think I bloomed quite well in the desert...

while still missing the trees, the water, and more friendly people.

I missed decent priced housing too. 

Then the phone call came...we were leaving that place.

1. anticiaption

I was so excited. 

We were going back to an area I was familiar with, though I had never lived there. 

We found a beautiful house and started making the plans.

Things got delayed some, but it was all a go.

Anticipation was killing me. 

2. enthusiasm

A new start in a new town.

A beautiful new home.

Seemingly friendly people.

Beautiful scenery.

Felt promising, so promising. 

It was all very invigorating and comfortable.

I was full of enthusiasm. 

and then...

3. loneliness

Man I miss my friends in West Texas.

I guess it wasn't such a bad place after all.

Sure, it wasn't the prettiest place, but it wasn't the worst place to be.

Man, I really miss my friends.

I have a beautiful home, no one to invite over.

I don't know anyone here in this town, 

and while the people I have met are friendly enough, 

none seem to genuinely like me.

I am okay with that. 

I would rather have friends who adore me, than have people around just for the sake of having people around.

I know I am a great friend. If they don't like me, it's their loss. 

I also know I am an odd duck, and that makes people shy away.

That is okay too. 

What makes me so lonely is...

There is no one to call if I am sick.

There is no one to call if I need help with the kids.

My husband is gone most of the time back to West Texas.

I am needed at work more, but I can't work as much as they need me because it is *just me*

...for the most part.
When my husband *is* home, he doesn't want me gone.
I am homeschooling again, so I can't just leave the kids often.
Plus, I have no one to help me out if I already have things scheduled and need to run into work.
I really wish I didn't *need* to work.
Maybe things will change in the near future.

Geez, this is not all roses like I thought it would be...

Do any of my friends realize how much I really miss them?

I am lonely.

4. hope

We went back to our old church, a little over an hour away, when we first moved here.

We loved being there.

It felt like home.

We wanted to find that here.

We researched churches and their belief systems.

None seemed to be what we were looking for,

but we had a list going in order of ones to "try" anyway. 

We procrastinated. We made excuses.

Then one day, I stumbled upon one I hadn't hear of previously.

It was only 15 miles away. 

We decided to try it, because it most closely resembled what we thought we were looking for.

We tried it, and we liked it.

We liked the people.

I *think* they like us. 

I have been talking to a couple of the ladies, and I am really starting to feel a kinship with them.
Even though we have been only twice.

None of those ladies are from here, nor do they live here.

But, they are not far away either. 

Once again, I have some excitement over being here.

I still miss my friends.

I still love our new home, even though we will probably be looking for one further out in the country come the end of the year. 

I have hope...

5. faith

Throughout this saga, I have never once lost faith in God, of course.

I am speaking of a different kind of faith. 

A faith of what is to come now, after our move.

I am standing on the scripture:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(Hebrews 11:1)

I will bloom where I am planted.

I will make new friends.

I will establish roots here, even if not in this home.

My friends that I miss are STILL my friends, even if miles separate us. 

I am blessed and I live a GREAT life. 

I am full of faith....