I will never forget the day I got on the plane to leave California, the place I have called my home for the entire 25 years of my life. It was a very exciting, yet very scary step. As I got on the plane, I recalled everything that I had done to prepare for the greatest change of my life...
As soon as Justin left on March 8th (only a week after he asked me to marry him) to move to Norfolk, Virginia, to start his new job at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, I begin taking it all in....I had to begin the moving process for myself....I had a little over a month to get everything done. Justin and I had plans to get married at the courthouse as soon as I arrived in Norfolk. However, I had tons to do to prepare for the move. I needed to prepare to leave a job where I had co-workers that were a great a encouragement during another big transition in my life (my divorce); I needed to donate all of my furniture and kitchenware; I needed to find a shipping company to ship my car; I needed to to buy my plane ticket; but the hardest of all...I had to prepare to leave my family and friends behind.
The first day after Justin left was the hardest. I cried thinking about all the memories we had created in Pasadena and Los Angelse during the time we were dating. Realizing that I had to say goodbye to those nostalgic places was very difficult...but I had to remind myself that new memories would be created in Virginia.
Getting rid of all my furniture and kitchenware was very difficult...I had used those things during my "single-life" after my divorce. Everything brought back memories of how I became more independent and grew more than ever during that period of time. I will never forget how I tried so hard to make my living space look "homey" and comfortable even with the little I had. I had used a card table and folding chairs (that my parents bought for me) as my dining table. Justin's and my close friends, Dave and Melissa, would come over to play games on that table...it only seemed appropriate for me to give that table and chairs to them before I left.
The room (similar to a studio apartment) I had lived in after my divorce was the back part of a house in Altadena (Pasadena) that I was renting. It had a small kitchenette (which was not well lit) and a bathroom. It had it's own private door that I accessed by going through the landlord's back yard. It was a decent room, but small. However, it brought me so much pride to know that it was "my place." I had never had my own place. Saying goodbye to that room was difficult...but I knew that I would have a "real house" waiting for me in Norfolk, where Justin was.
...I arrived in Norfolk, VA right on time on Friday, April 12th, 2012. I could not help but tear up a little at the thought that "this was it." It had been over a month since I had seen my handsome fiance. I missed him so much. I had gone through so much to prepare for moving to Virginia. I couldn't believe I did it. I had always lived in California, and I never thought I would have the "guts" to move across the country. I had seen many of my friends do it...but I never thought I could. I was so proud of myself! But knowing that I was moving to Virginia to be with the love of my life, so I knew it would be worth it.
I will never forget seeing Justin walking towards me at the airport with a bouquet of flowers. It was the best sight! It was the anticipation of that moment that kept me motivated the whole last month.
Of course Justin and I are now married and are working on our home (which we are only renting at the moment) to make it comfortable and warm. It has been so much fun! We have a puppy that we adopted the day before my birthday in April. We have the perfect little family for now. There are times where I feel extremely homesick for my California mountains and beautiful old town of Pasadena, and most of all, my family and friends...but I know this is normal. I am trying to make Norfolk my "new home." It may take a long time until Norfolk feels like my home, but I truly feel as though this is where God wants Justin and I. We have seen God bless us more than ever, and we are anxious to give back to Him!
This may be extremely corny, but I must say that every time I see a plane landing in Norfolk (since we live close to the airport), I remember the day I flew over to Norfolk to move here. It was a day filled with extreme emotions...happy and sad. It has to be one of the hardest and greatest changes of my life! Now I am here and I am excited to see what God has planned for us!
