Moving....
It has been a term which has defined my life. My father was in education. I never lived in a house or place longer than 6 years. Growing up, I lived in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio (home) / Kentucky (school), and Iowa. My sister and I would sit around the table. We would laugh because we remember our life story and dates by the houses we have lived in or the places we have moved. My husband, Adam lived in the same house for 18 years. I just can not imagine it. How lucky! How fascinating! In the time he has been married to me...this has been his moving track record.
Apartment Place #1: Stanton Ave- It was our first apartment. We were finishing out our degrees in Ames. Our ceiling cracked and caved in; water flooded our floors. Hence move #1.
Transition Place #2: Mom and Dad's....well, we were lucky. My parents lived 20 minutes away and we needed a place to crash before we moved to Mount Vernon for our new jobs.
Transition Again Place #3: We moved to Mount Vernon, Iowa. I was a live in residence life professional. I was the Area Coordinator in a new residence hall. It was scheduled to be finished in later July / Early August.
Apartment Place #4: The new residence hall area coordinator apartment in Clock Tower at Cornell College! Chris Wiltgen, Director of Residence Life and Karla Carney-Hall, Dean of Students were incredibly smart in designing this apartment. What new professional would not love cherry cabinetry, tile flooring, double sinks in the bathroom, 7 closets, 2 bedrooms, and pantry?! If you are looking for a residence life job....this apartment is hands down the best in Iowa! We were crazy to leave. Coe College had the job of a life time in the field of service-learning. I would have the honor to build an office. We would be 5 minutes from Adam's work. It was too good to turn down.
Apartment Place #5: Voorhees Hall at Coe College. Yes, Adam and I had to loft our queen size bed. We went from 7 closets to 2. My mom told me, "you grow into the spaces you live." She forgot to mention, you have to learn to downsizes as well. I think we stuffed items in the drop ceilings just to create space. Who knows what is still there now?!
Apartment Place #6: Our longest yet! E Ave Apartments at Coe College. When Ava came along, Coe knew a 1 bedroom place would not fit our growing family. We moved into our nice apartment for the past 2 years. They even let us paint Ava's room yellow :)
So if you have been counting, Adam and I will be married in July for 5 years and we have lived in 6 different places. It has been an exciting ride. The journey is far from over. As many of you know by now, Adam accepted a new position in the Des Moines Area at The Members Group as a financial analyst. He has been living in Des Moines Area for the past 4 months. During our period of transition, my parents have been gracious to let him crash at their place. I have been finishing out my contract at Coe. Ava has enjoyed staying with mom during the week and traveling to Oma and Opa's house on the weekends to see Daddy. I just recently accepted the new Service-Learning Coordinator position at Drake University and will begin in July.
The last BIG Move #7: Our first house! We are excited as can be. Last week, we put an offer on our new house and it was accepted. We are going to be in West Des Moines. We have less than 60 days till closing. A new yard for Ava. A house we can call ours. Words can not express how thrilled we both are at this time. We will be settling our roots and crossing our fingers for it to be the last move. We both desire permanency. We feel a huge peace and God is slow placing all the pieces together. We are thankful for His grace.
Missing
Through all of our moves and transitions, we have loved the Cedar Rapids Area. For our 7 moves, I have 7 things I will miss/love!
1.) Hope Fellowship Vineyard Church. We have grown to love the church, Pastor Dave, and its ministry. We look forward to seeing what it will become in future years.
2.) Cornell College. You took a chance on fresh out of graduate school professional who had limited student affairs experience. I am truly thankful. We would have never come to this area had it not been for your warm welcome. It was an honor to be apart of your residence life staff.
3.) Students. Both at Coe College and Cornell, you are the heart beat of the work. You challenge me to be better, think harder, and work smarter every day. It is easy to change numbers, build programs, and challenge the norms. Why? Because of you, you make it worth it and you make it happen. Just today, I dropped off food at a local pantry. The individual taking in the food for the pantry said, "Wow! Doesn't this just make your proud. Your students did all of this. They are keeping us going." It is true. I am proud and I don't say it enough. It has been an honor to work with all of you.
4.) The Community. The Cedar Rapids non profit world is remarkable. The need is great. At each community partner breakfast and site visit, I am amazed. You all do such fabulous work. I started this job in the middle of our city's greatest natural disaster. When I share this with service-learning directors across the country, most people laugh. However, it was the best time to start. I was able to see the community work in the most cohesive manor. I was able to see a city rebuild and raise above horror. We still face our struggles, but the collaboration surpasses anything else I have ever seen. It has been an honor to work with you.
5.) Coe College Faculty, Staff, and VISTAs. Lou Stark and the Campus Life Team, you were crazy for hiring me. I thank you for putting up with my over determination at times and directness. I thank you for appreciating me as a staff member, who lacked a Kleenex for the crying student in their office. Trust me....they will be in the next office I have. Laura Schnack, I thank you for being a wonderful friend and colleague. You are excellent at the work you do. It is truly an art form to watch! It has been an honor and privilege to direct the office and work with fabulous individuals. I know this work would never have reached its depths without the VISTA staff (Janna, Evonne, Tara, Wendy, and Kellie). I was blessed to supervise each of you. Everyday was an adventure. You were each excellent fellow travelers. Marie Baerh, THANK YOU THANK YOU! I say it all the time, we would not be successful without your support and Lou's support. I brag to everyone you both are the best VPs around. It has been an honor to work with each of you.
6.) Rockwell Collins Recreation Center. Brenda, I thank you for being the world's best boss. You have taught me how to be a better supervisor. You showed me how important it is to own our mistakes, move forward, and make it better the best you can. Thank you for taking on a short, rolly polly pregnant woman :) I will never forget teaching kickboxing and yoga 8.5 months along. Ava gets her moves from those womb days. The members...Monday night cycling was my favorite time of the week. Thank you for expanding my ITune Library. I have a renewed appreciation for 70s classic rock. Thank you Sandy for knowing every MJ song! Be nice to your new instructor....it takes a few months to learn your grooves. Don't worry, I will let them know not to take it easy on you and give you many many hills! My week always started right because of you. It was an honor to be your employee and instructor.
7.) Adam and Ava. One of the best things about this place is we started our family here. I love you both! Adam, I miss everything about you. Even the things that drive me crazy. I sleep terrible with out my best friend around at night. The past few months have been hard and almost unbearable at times. It just has shown me how much I love our time together as a family. I am thankful to God for placing you both in my life and I am thankful we began it here together. It is a honor to be your wife and mommy.
1.) Hope Fellowship Vineyard Church. We have grown to love the church, Pastor Dave, and its ministry. We look forward to seeing what it will become in future years.
2.) Cornell College. You took a chance on fresh out of graduate school professional who had limited student affairs experience. I am truly thankful. We would have never come to this area had it not been for your warm welcome. It was an honor to be apart of your residence life staff.
3.) Students. Both at Coe College and Cornell, you are the heart beat of the work. You challenge me to be better, think harder, and work smarter every day. It is easy to change numbers, build programs, and challenge the norms. Why? Because of you, you make it worth it and you make it happen. Just today, I dropped off food at a local pantry. The individual taking in the food for the pantry said, "Wow! Doesn't this just make your proud. Your students did all of this. They are keeping us going." It is true. I am proud and I don't say it enough. It has been an honor to work with all of you.
4.) The Community. The Cedar Rapids non profit world is remarkable. The need is great. At each community partner breakfast and site visit, I am amazed. You all do such fabulous work. I started this job in the middle of our city's greatest natural disaster. When I share this with service-learning directors across the country, most people laugh. However, it was the best time to start. I was able to see the community work in the most cohesive manor. I was able to see a city rebuild and raise above horror. We still face our struggles, but the collaboration surpasses anything else I have ever seen. It has been an honor to work with you.
5.) Coe College Faculty, Staff, and VISTAs. Lou Stark and the Campus Life Team, you were crazy for hiring me. I thank you for putting up with my over determination at times and directness. I thank you for appreciating me as a staff member, who lacked a Kleenex for the crying student in their office. Trust me....they will be in the next office I have. Laura Schnack, I thank you for being a wonderful friend and colleague. You are excellent at the work you do. It is truly an art form to watch! It has been an honor and privilege to direct the office and work with fabulous individuals. I know this work would never have reached its depths without the VISTA staff (Janna, Evonne, Tara, Wendy, and Kellie). I was blessed to supervise each of you. Everyday was an adventure. You were each excellent fellow travelers. Marie Baerh, THANK YOU THANK YOU! I say it all the time, we would not be successful without your support and Lou's support. I brag to everyone you both are the best VPs around. It has been an honor to work with each of you.
6.) Rockwell Collins Recreation Center. Brenda, I thank you for being the world's best boss. You have taught me how to be a better supervisor. You showed me how important it is to own our mistakes, move forward, and make it better the best you can. Thank you for taking on a short, rolly polly pregnant woman :) I will never forget teaching kickboxing and yoga 8.5 months along. Ava gets her moves from those womb days. The members...Monday night cycling was my favorite time of the week. Thank you for expanding my ITune Library. I have a renewed appreciation for 70s classic rock. Thank you Sandy for knowing every MJ song! Be nice to your new instructor....it takes a few months to learn your grooves. Don't worry, I will let them know not to take it easy on you and give you many many hills! My week always started right because of you. It was an honor to be your employee and instructor.
7.) Adam and Ava. One of the best things about this place is we started our family here. I love you both! Adam, I miss everything about you. Even the things that drive me crazy. I sleep terrible with out my best friend around at night. The past few months have been hard and almost unbearable at times. It just has shown me how much I love our time together as a family. I am thankful to God for placing you both in my life and I am thankful we began it here together. It is a honor to be your wife and mommy.
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