Where Goin's? What Doin's?

Where Goin’s?

Our niece used to say, "Where Goin’s?" and "What doin’s?" in an attempt to ask, "Where are you going?" and "What are you doing?" She’s long grown out of that stage now (probably for the best) so I’m left to use them in everyday conversations in an attempt to cling to her youth, which is all too quickly slipping away. (She’s seven...I know I need to calm down.)

All of this is neither here nor there. Here’s the thing. So we’ve been considering moving to Perth for a long time. I’ve been dreaming and hoping for it pretty much since Jimmy and I started dating (over 7 years ago now!*) and as we’ve prayed and considered what the next stage of life might hold for us, Perth kept coming back up.

So, on July 23, we are jetting off to Perth!

(*I feel the need to clarify that the hope and dream of moving to Perth isn’t why I started dating him and went on to marry him. Though I will admit that it is an exciting perk.)

What Doin’s?

That is a great question. The short answer is: We don’t really know.
BUT, here’s what we do know:

- We know that we are slow to seek the unknown and quick to choose the familiar.
- We know that we would like to explore other career options.
- We know that we do not want to live in Birmingham forever.
- We know that, left to our own devices, we would likely never change any of this because staying where we are currently at is safe, comfortable, and predictable. We like all of those things.
- We know that, while we like all of those things, we need to be moved out of them. We need to be pushed into uncertainty because we desperately need to lean less on ourselves and more on the Lord. We need, maybe more than anything, a nice, swift kick in the rear to step out into God’s purpose for the next chapter of our lives, which also requires exiting this one. (passive language intended, as we are helpless to do any of that by our own volition.)

If you interpret all of these things as we have, you will still have trouble understanding how those things equal us moving out of the country. We’re right there with ya. And this is where we are trusting that the Lord has a plan here, because we really don’t. Jimmy has friends in Perth so we know we won’t go homeless or hungry, but we aren’t going with a job secured or a home purchased or even a game plan of how those things will play out. And we are the type of people who love, nay, require a game plan. But, we knew we needed to grow in our dependence on the Lord, we knew we needed some uncertainty in our lives, and we trust He is answering those prayers by graciously leading us in this move. We are also anticipating that He will do immeasurably more through it, as is His way, and we’re pretty pumped about that too.

BUT WAIT! THAT’S NOT ALL WE’RE DOIN’S!

Our one-way flight (eek!!) leaves from LA on July 23rd. We decided we’d make the most out of getting there, so we are leaving about 3 weeks prior on a road trip. Neither of us have ever really been out West, so we are just a little excited. We figured we should cram in everything we care to see along the way, hence the 3 week journey, and this ridiculous itinerary:

B’ham > Grand Canyon > Bryce Canyon > Canyonlands/Arches NP > Vail, CO > Yellowstone/Grand Tetons NP > North Cascades NP > Vancouver, Canada > Olympic NP > Down the West Coast until we hit Redwoods NP > San Fran > Yosemite NP > LA.


Here’s to uncertainty! Here’s to adventure! Here’s to Goin’s and Doin’s!