It's My Party And I Can Cry If I Want To Right?

Birthdays have always been a big deal in my family.

Sorry to all the other moms out there but my mom is hands down the best birthday party thrower there is. She is….it’s true. I’ve had every type of birthday party there is thanks to this woman.

I’ve had the princess birthday complete with a photo op with everyone’s own throne, cape, and scepter. I’ve had the Pocahontas birthday complete with costume, cake, and Indian jewelry making.  And who could forget the messy birthday complete with pie throwing, chocolate syrup squirting, and handless watermelon eating.

When I transitioned to college, my friends and I took turns throwing each other “surprise” partys. Surprise is in quotations due to the fact that we all knew it was coming….but it HAD to be a surprise!

I threw myself a red neck birthday last year, which entailed a burping, spray cheese eating, and spam carving contest. It was a definite blast. I would recommend it to everyone…that is except the spray cheese eating…YUCK-O!

This year was going to be a bit different. I’m in a new place. Just getting settled in Cleveland. I am still getting to know people. I was pretty sure my birthday was going to be a bit of a sad day for me. I was ready to listen to “It’s My Party And I Can Cry If I Want To” and eat cake all day. Am I pitiful or what?

The great people of Cleveland wouldn’t let that happen though now would they?

Of course not!

My sweet mother-in-law Kathy threw me a surprise birthday/welcome to Cleveland Tony and Beth party on HER own birthday. We had a great time chowing on some Italian cuisine at Buca di Beppo and chatting with everyone that came! I felt so loved by our literal family and church family!

Tony went above and beyond on my birthday to make it special:) I woke up to a chocolate pop-tart in bed (This might be a nightmare for some….but I love me some chocolate and I love me some lazy time in bed) and red roses! We went out to a lake to go hiking and canoeing and had a blast! It did my country girl heart good to get out of the city for a bit! 

We even happened upon our new car! Tony sold his putt putt of a car before we moved up here, and we have had the lovely experience of dealing with car salesmen for the last few weeks in hopes of finding a new car. They had a dealership out by the lake that we went to, and they had the right price for the right car (after a little bit of bargaining that is haha).

So it was my red birthday! I received red roses, divulged myself in red velvet cake, and am now cruising in a RED corolla.

Blessed? Yes definitely blessed maybe even spoiled! No crying on this birthday!

We Might Just Be On To Something Good

Tony and I have talked about moving to Cleveland for a church planting opportunity through the North American Mission Board for quite some time. Finally in Spring 2013 we took the plunge and committed.

We did not do this without some hesitations or doubts though!

As we talked to various friends and family members, we received quite varied responses. Some people were ready for us to pack up and leave immediately while others were quite hesitant.

We had it made in Louisville. Why change things up? We had great jobs. We had great friends. We loved our little town home. We had a great church family. We were already serving within our church. Why change?

On top of that why go to Cleveland? Home of failing factories. Home of infamous criminals. Home of the Browns, Indians, and Cavs haha.

Right as we were getting quite discouraged about our move to Cleveland, a church that we have never met volunteered to donate monthly support to help in our hopes of a church plant. What a blessing! This church has a heart for urban areas in Ohio and wanted to help support us in our efforts. We weren’t searching for support. They simply volunteered. It came right at the time we needed some encouragement.

I knew God had something great in store!

Moving is also quite expensive! Gathering moving supplies, searching for a new home, and renting U Hauls…YIKES! We were running up quite the tab. Right as we were getting discouraged, we get an email letting us know the North American Mission Board will be reimbursing us for our moving expenses.

I knew God had something great in store!

I am a weirdo, but I despise driving on the interstate. I used to drive back and forth to Alabama (an 8 hour drive) by myself no biggie! Then one day on my way home, I hydroplaned into a ditch on the highway. By God’s great grace myself and my car lived to tell the story. However interstate driving has never been enjoyable since.

Well in order to get up to Cleveland, Tony had to drive a 14 foot U Haul and I had to drive my car. I was dreading this the whole time leading up to the move. And wouldn’t you know, it was supposed to rain on us the whole way between Louisville and Cleveland. Perfect hyrdro-planing weather! We drove through storm clouds the whole 7 hour trip (normally a 5 hour trip but everything is a bit slower with myself and the U haul) and we only ever got sprinkled on.

I knew God had something great in store!

Tony and I have officially been in Cleveland right at 2 weeks and have loved it so far.

It is quite Urban! Silly things throw my little southern self off.

Like how many houses I can see from my house! I’m used to being out in the boon docks where I can only see about 3 houses from my house. I can count 15 houses from our home in Cleveland!

Or like the grocery store. Woah baby there are way too many people packed into this place. Have the fire marshals seen this place!?

Or the word pop. Goodness gracious I hate that word. I lived in Illinois for 2 years and was made fun of in elementary school for not knowing that pop meant soda or as us southerners know everything as coke. So I now abhor the word pop. I will forgive/accept those that use it around me though:)

But I am falling in love with this place already and can’t wait to see the GREAT things God has in store!

I’m falling in love with all the small shops in our community filled with people that are so proud of their city.

I’m falling in love with the constant cool breeze from Lake Eerie even on the most humid of days.

I’m falling in love with the people that pack in the houses on our street and the pride they take in their hard work.  

God has blessed us so greatly thus far, He obviously has GREAT plans!