Ask anyone. Parenting can be tough. And middle school years can be the toughest. The world can throw a lot of crazy stuff at your kids, and you pray daily that it won't stick and they can weather the storms.
Our move from Pittsburgh to Illinois was not an easy one. We left a great house and a great neighborhood and a great school and great friends, and entered a community of none of the above. We didn't know that at the time, but it slowly became obvious.
I knew, in my mother's heart, that we had to get out of there, and fast.
I put a plan in place to get us back home, closer to family. I researched the best school system I could find for Sam, found a neighborhood we could afford, found a church we could connect with, and put the plan in motion.
And five years ago, we made the move back home to Michigan.
But before we left, we took a trip with Sam to Florida that spring, just the three of us. We needed time away to get some perspective on what we were leaving behind and what we would find ahead.
We decided to visit Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. It was there that Sam got inspired. He had a dream now, and there was no stopping him.
We toured the University of Michigan's Engineering College this week, and it was so exciting to see Sam's dreams come full circle.
On the tour, all of the students in our group introduced themselves, told where they were from and what they'd be studying. California, Texas, Washington. Students from all over the country.
"I'm Sam. I'm studying aerospace engineering, and I'm from Saline, Michigan, which is about twenty minutes west of here."
😀
Did we know five years ago that Sam would end up at the UM? We didn't have a clue! It is amazing, when I think about it, how God put us right where we needed to be at just the right time, for so many reasons that we had not even anticipated.
It is good to take time to reflect on the past and see God's hand in it all, bringing all things together for good.
Blessings, café friends!
Moving anywhere immediately after living in Pittsburgh will not have the same friendly vibe as the 'Burgh (full disclosure...I was born and raised here and still live a mile from my parents so there may be a bit of bias in that thought....).
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, though, in that it IS amazing to see how God works everything out. It's even better when our kids see it, too, and recognize it.
My husband and daughter (the one at Embry-Riddle) went to Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center the week he helped her move in to her freshman dorm. She could not stop talking about it lol! That's so sweet it sparked an interest in Sam. And now to see it blossom in to something real is so exciting for all of you, I'm sure! I pray Sam enjoys his new beginnings and fresh starts and exciting times ahead!