04/01/2026: Home Once Again
We’re officially unpacked, and we’re legal Texans once again. The days of stress and deadlines are slowly fading into the background as we settle in a little more.
It’s been almost two weeks already, which is hard to believe, but up to now, we’ve been so busy it’s no wonder time has been flying. Now that most of the demanding things have been taken care of, I’m finally thinking about the things that matter most, like next steps and creative schedules.
I know that “creative” and “schedule” aren’t words typically found together, but at the same time I don’t know where I’d be without the hours I deliberately set aside to come back to myself and do what I love most. It might be the undiagnosed OCD that makes organizing my calendar so much fun, but to me, there’s nothing like checking things off the to-do list. It’s a sign of a job well done, a weight lifted when the day is over, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Affairs in order and ready to start, I’ll take the rest of this week to slow down and look forward to what’s on the horizon for us here in this next chapter. Thinking about what’s to come honestly stirs a bit of uncertainty in me, but it is what it is and things are going to turn out how they’re going to turn out. It’s hard to have so little control while simultaneously trusting that you made all the right choices. But somehow I feel a certain peace in our decisions, the revelation that things really can be this simple, and this good, if you truly want them to be.
I consider it a feat in itself that we realized this fact and did what was necessary to make that dream a reality. Now we both have to put our money where our mouths are, and do what we said we were going to do when the time came. All that’s left to do now is make sure that this sacrifice isn’t wasted, and move forward in a relentless pursuit until we’re both proud.
Since I’ve been home, I’ve experienced so many great things; I’ve been reminded of how nice it is to be surrounded by family and how beautiful rural land is compared to the city. I’ve also learned how freeing it feels when you trade all the expectations of the world for all the desires you’ve ever had to live a meaningful life. I’m still steadfast in my decision to start anew, scary or not, because of these things and so many more I might think to put to words another day. But for now, I’ll let these things be enough, and I’ll be grateful.
I’m not feeling as inspired to write today as I normally do, but it’s still nice to sit down and put my thoughts on paper over a warm cup of tea with Caleb drawing beside me. I’m glad to see him at peace after leaving a soul-crippling career, and I look forward to providing for us like he did for the last four years as he watched me realize my dream. I can’t wait to watch him do the very same as I continue to pursue my craft and we build a new life here together, in the place that we call home once again.