Changes for the Roe's

As I hear our little 8-month old waking up from his nap, I am reminded of the changes we have experienced these last 12 months. Some good, some not-so-good, and some downright insane to even mention! In business, and perhaps just in our culture all together, there is a belief that change is good because it produces growth. Sometimes, however, you feel like you have grown enough, or at least too quickly. And while I'd love to grow in height, well... that's just now how it works!

Some change isn't fun or appropriate to talk about. To that end, we have experienced change as it relates to the business which I've chosen not to blog about. Perhaps after I've processed it all, and worked through more of my emotions and grief, I'll have the ability to shape it into a story that makes sense and will mean something for others. But for now, I'm taking a pause from writing about Petite Boutique - which is what this blog has been about for so long - and I'm going to tell you what's going on with my family.

My father was in a terrible car accident in February. He was hit head-on by another car, breaking his right leg and crushing his left ankle. He is convinced the airbags saved his life, and for that, we are grateful. Three months in a hospital bed in their family room, five surgeries, a terrible bout with Merca Staph, and lots of heroine acts from my mom later... he is doing much better but still far from recovered or walking independently.

This accident, combined with the closing of the store and having an infant, allowed us the opportunity to re-evaluate what is important to us in life, and where it is that God wants us. After a series of events, and alot of prayer, we have decided to move our family to Lynchburg, VA to be near my parents, so we can help out with my dad. More importantly - we want our son to know his grandparents. Jeremy's parents are in CA, and we hope that by being near one set regularly, we'll be free to visit his parents more often.

In addition to the move to VA, the door has opened for Jeremy to pursue his life-long dream of becoming an attorney. He has been accepted into the Liberty University School of Law, and will begin his three year tenure there mid-August. Throughout the process of making this decision, we have come to believe that law is God's true calling on Jeremy's life. He had planned to go to Law School after studying Journalism in college, but a good job after graduating led to 10 years in marketing, and so on. I have never seen him so excited about an adventure. I will write more about Liberty and the Law School in a separate post. Suffice it to say, however, we feel as if there could not be a better time in American history to study law from a Christian perspective.

Since Nashville is what I consider home, my heart is very sad about moving. It is not a sadness about the future, but a sadness about leaving the past. Therein lies the conflict of change, I suppose. However, I am learning that just as one door closes, another one opens - I do not consider it a coincident that the same afternoon I turned in the keys to Petite Boutique is the same afternoon Jeremy learned he'd been accepted into Law School.

I have been interviewing for several jobs in Lynchburg, and while I don't see the full picture right now, I'm sure God knows how to pull together experiences in publishing, retail, and self-employment.

I will close this post by sharing about a book I'm reading, "Shattered Dreams," by Larry Crabb. As I've been reading through this book, one image has stuck in my head. He explains that our lives are like a big puzzle, and God is the only one that knows what the finished puzzle looks like. There is no box which contains all the puzzle pieces so we can know what to do with the pieces. Our life experiences are like pieces of the puzzle, and we only get one at a time... you can see where I'm going with this. It's easy to put together the corners of a puzzle, but there are these random pieces that you keep trying to put in place and you just can't figure it out. Then eventually, you get a conglomerate of pieces together and this mysterious piece fits perfectly! Of course, when all the pieces are in place, the picture is complete... and it's usually breathtaking.

As I try to put together this puzzle of my life - which really is puzzling me - these last 3 years pursuing Petite Boutique are like that random puzzle piece. Yet, I am trusting that when linked with other pieces in the puzzle, I will finally say, "Aha!! I get it, God! I finally get it!"

Comments

[Barb McAlister]

We are so excited for you in this move and KNOW how much it will help your dear folks!! God will undertake and will continue to lead and guide you!! Maybe we can see you sometime when we are up in Liberty for a conference!!
Love,
Barb McAlistger

[Barb McAlister]

LOL...I spelled my name wrong...should be McAlister (friends of your parents)

[Monica Ramey]

Laurie,

I sincerely wish you the very best. TN's loss is VA's gain. Much love, Monica

[Rachael]

Laurie, I will keep you and your family (especially your dad) in my prayers. Life is definitely puzzling, so the analogy of the puzzle pieces and the end result being breathtaking is both hopeful and encouraging! I applaud you for laying down your dream and supporting Jeremy in pursuing his. I look forward to reading more about your transition!