Sunlight steals slowly up the mountain slopes, turning the frosty, tree-lined landscape golden and pink and purple with the morning light. I stand outside my apartment building's main entrance, soaking in the beauty and quiet majesty of it all. A deep breath fills my lungs with pure, crisp mountain air. I can feel the peace and joy and hope of the day oozing through my very bones. I still cannot believe that I really call this incredible place "Home."
In other words, the Greer family has moved yet again across state lines. Our journey began this past summer, when we took a brief family vacation to the beautiful state of Colorado. We needed a vacation. TJ had been working non stop without a break, and I had been carrying the load of new baby, homeschooling the girls, and running my bakery business which was exploding into something so big I had to hire help. We decided on Colorado because my sister Katie wouldn't stop talking about how amazing her adopted state was, and besides TJ and the girls had never been there before. So we took a little jaunt up to the State where the song "America the Beautiful" was written, and it literally took our breath away! We squeezed as many activities as we could into five days but it felt like we'd barely scratched the surface of Colorado's potential. A small sip, a sweet, golden, tiny little taste. My heart felt so heavy crossing back into Texas. After four years' sojourn in the Panhandle, I felt with my whole soul that finally here was a place I could belong.
An idea, a small seed, a thought, blossomed into actual planning over the next few weeks. We thought it would take about a year to tie up loose ends and finish the house we'd been working on remodeling for the past four years. But as we crunched numbers and tracked the housing market which was trending higher than it ever had before in real estate history, we realized that actually the iron was hot now and we had better take advantage of the opportunity to strike. Long story short, by the end of September our home was on the market and I was packing boxes. My wonderful sister Katie came down from Colorado for a weekend and worked so hard helping us clean and get rid of most of our stuff in a giant yard sale. I might become a minimalist, I hate stuff now! So much work! TJ's longtime friend Andrew came down with a trailer from Colorado Springs and helped pack, friends from Canyon and Amarillo came over to help pack and clean, and October 17th--almost four years to the day from when we moved to Texas--we headed north. One small Uhaul trailer, 2 pickups and a mini van. Andrew graciously let us stay 3 weeks at his place while we were waiting for our apartment to be ready, and by Thanksgiving we were settled in our new state and new place with a new job and a new life.
We love it here so much! Every day fresh adventure awaits. TJ finished his real estate licensing program, and I am enjoying my part time job at Costco. Bella and Lizzy are doing extremely well at first grade and kindergarten. Bella is reading at a first grade level and Lizzy is actually quite good at penmanship. I think she inherited the artistic gene that runs in our family!
Our newest family member was born this year April 21st. Our sweet, adorable, amazing Oliver Theodore turned 8 months old on Winter Solstice. His birth story was incredible and I still need to write it all out! He was born at an amazing little birth center in Amarillo Texas, into his daddy's arms with his two big sisters watching and helping. Words can't express the blessing this little being is to our family and all who know him! From day one he has been a happy, joyous, content baby, utterly and completely adored by his sisters and a precious healing balm to the hearts of his parents. He is literally the happiest and easiest baby I've ever met! Now at 8 months old he's crawling all over the house, and eats full meals as well as all the momma's milk he can hold. He likes to laugh and babble baby talk, and is an expert blower of raspberries. He slept through the night until teeth started popping through, and he has two teeth now. We love him so much, darling little princeling!
Our Elizabeth Sunshine has matured so much in the past year. She is the family comedian, and is always ready with a joke! She revels in the unexpected and enjoys making people laugh, and we are working on her comedic timing. She is a strong, brave young lady and goes on adventures with her older sister, playing make believe, telling stories, and spending lots of time outside with her friends the sticks, rocks, and squirrels. She made friends with a wallaby at our local zoo the other day, and her favorite animal is still the giraffe. Our local zoo has an amazing giraffe program and feeding the giraffes is a highlight of every visit! Lizzy also adores her baby brother and was an amazing little coach during his labor and delivery, rubbing my back and giving me hugs.
Bella continues to bless us with her helpfulness and maturity. Oliver is her special little buddy, he is getting almost too big for her to carry but she still likes to try. She has been in love since the day he was born and she cut his umbilical cord. She sings to him and talks to him and shows him things, and learned to change diapers and feed him. She thinks everything he does is cute, and every time she meets someone new she asks me "Can I show them my brother?" Bella is doing well with reading practice and enjoys the challenge of school. She loves rock climbing, tree climbing, and hiking, all activities greatly facilitated by our move to Colorado. She is the one who misses Texas the most though--all her memories were in Texas, and she misses her friends there. But she informs us she's learning to love Colorado too now.
TJ is currently completing his course requirements to obtain his Colorado real estate agent license. He finished his electrical license coursework and hours and just has one last test to take on that one also. He's excited about the future and enjoying the career change very much! He likes exploring the many eclectic and delightful coffee shops in our new city, as well as the endless variety of restaurants and shopping experiences. The miles and miles of gorgeous bicycle paths have revived his passion for biking, and he's also already had the opportunity to exercise his musical talents as well.
I (Jenna) feel like my whole life has been renewed and refreshed, and I am loving the changes in our family's journey! I really enjoy my job at Costco, which fell in my lap as it were and which actually pays our basic bills so TJ can give all his time and energy to his new career. I only work five hour days (except for a few 8 hour days because of the holiday season) so I still have time and energy left for the things I really love, caring for my children and housework and enjoying the adventures of exploring Colorado's many parks and natural beauties.
We are so grateful for all our family and friends who have been so incredibly supportive and loving this year, helping us with the new baby and moving and everything else, and just being yourselves. We love you and wish you a blessed holiday season and Merry Christmas!
"Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Cor. 16:14
Jenna, for the Greer family
T.J., Jenna, Isabella, Elizabeth, and Oliver
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