Joy: Graduation Day!

It all began shortly after Brad and I were married. We were sitting in our precious little apartment in Vinings, thinking about the future when out of the blue I mentioned moving to TN.

Brad had gone to MTSU for one semester right after we began dating. He had gone to a local community college to get his grades up after high school and finally was accepted into his dream school- Middle Tennesse State University! His mom and I packed him up and moved him there one snowy night in January 2004. It was sad to drive back to GA, because we had only just begun dating, but I knew he would have the time of his life. And he did just that! He loved being in college, the dorm life, the late night chats with odd roommates, the flag football at midnight, the milk chugging contests, the radio station...he loved it all. However, he loved me so much more that he "quit" to come home and marry me. I loved being married and loved the life we were building, but I couldn't shake the fact that I felt partly to blame for cutting his college career short. I had been thinking and praying about it for a while and one day out of the blue, I mentioned to him that we should move to Tennessee so he could finish school.

He was obviously surprised by the fact that I would voluntarily suggest to move away from our family and friends and go to Tennessee. We prayed about it, sought wise councel, and began the three year journey that has now come to an end. We packed up our cute little first home (which has now been completely demolished and turned into fabulous condos!) and moved into our second home where we have been for the past three years. Our transition to Tennessee was a hard one, but so rewarding in tons of ways. We stepped out of our comfort zone and began a new journey in a new place. I had a rough few months of looking for a job before the right one opened up. The Lord blessed me with a job that would provide for our family for the entire length of our time here. Although it has had terribly unsatisfying moments, I am so grateful for this job. I have made some of my closest friends while working here, Maya and Summer have been my saving grace! Brad picked right up where he left off at the radio station and became the Music Director. He took such pride in the station and I know that was one of the hardest things to say goodbye to. He has worked so hard in his classes and has enjoyed every second of it. I am so glad we made this move and stuck it out through the hard times and relished in the good ones. I am so proud of Brad and this wonderful acheivement he has made. I am anxious to frame his diploma and hang it up!

We are now in another in between phase where we are waiting on the Lord to direct our next move. Brad has been getting his resume out and talking to all the connections he has made. He has built an incredible resume, so I can only assume that the Lord will use that to open the perfect door for him. With Christmas right around the corner, we assume the job will not appear until the first of the year. So in the meantime, Brad will continue to work with Sony BMG and I will stay at my current job. Our lease is up in our apartment at the end of January, so we hope to have a plan lined up by that point. We are so excited about what the future holds. My friend Michele said this is the beginning of a new adventure, and she is right! We have NO idea where we will go and NO idea of what we will be doing, but we know that the Lord will guide our steps and we are ready to see all that is to come. I ask that you pray for us as we seek the Lord, and pray that HE will give Brad an amazing opportunity for work. We are so grateful for our friends and family that we know will lift us up as we await the news of our next step.

Congratulations Brad! I am so proud of you!!!