Something different about me is that I am a very intuitive person. I can feel and sense things that usually end up being true. Mostly, this applies to people, but sometimes to situations too. It is hard to explain or believe, but I have always been this way and my intuitions are usually spot on.
Chris and I celebrated last Christmas in Sweden with his family. My heart began softening toward Sweden during this trip. For some reason while we were there I just knew this would be a permanent place for us at some point soon. I can't explain it exactly, but there was just something different that I felt during this trip specifically...cue my intuition. I've visited Sweden previously, but never felt the same way as I did this time. I wasn't sure of any of the details, but there was definitely the feeling.
This trip for Christmas was actually one of my hardest trips to Sweden. I felt very homesick and was dealing with some major anxiety. I don't discuss my anxiety much, but I even had my worst panic attack yet on our last night of this trip. I fully believe I was being prepared in my heart and life for what was to come even though I had no idea at the time. This feeling I had during our Christmas trip was no exception. I fully believe what I went through during our trip is what has made my transition here easier. There have still been a few WHAT ARE WE DOING moments during the whole process. However, I have been able to be the strong support that my husband needed. Chris tells me that I have become very wise the past few months and I am so glad that I have been mentally prepared to venture into this opportunity.
Cheers to good intuition!
Friday, December 2, 2016
Monday, November 21, 2016
Swedish Adventures
My husband, Chris, is Swedish and was born and raised in Sweden. Since we began dating he's always talked about moving back to Sweden one day. I was part of the reason for him staying in the United States, but he had a longing in his heart to return to Sweden at some point. One aspect of marrying him was accepting this and knowing one day, somehow, we would live in Sweden.
In April, Chris was contacted out of the blue by someone who works intricately with IKEA. This man is a colleague of Chris' father (my father-in-love has worked for IKEA for 30 years) and knew Chris ran a hotel. IKEA has a hotel located in their world headquarters in Sweden and was looking for a new Managing Director. Both Chris and I were surprised by this opportunity and intrigued. We had not considered Sweden at this point in our lives for a variety of reasons, but mostly given the insane past few months we had been through. However, I encouraged Chris to explore the opportunity and the next thing you know we packed up our life, sold our town home, and moved to Sweden.
This all transpired over the next few months after the initial contact in April.We spent lots of time discussing our future, the job position, what it would mean to be in Sweden, etc. IKEA sent us to Sweden for a "look and see" trip the first week of July. Chris was able to meet colleagues, hear more about the job, and we were able to explore areas where we would potentially live. I spent a lot of time with my mother-in-love asking her over and over if she thought I would survive in Sweden. She graciously answered all of my questions and provided a ton of support having lived all over the world as an expat wife herself. Together, Chris (and I) accepted the Managing Director position and quickly started planning our move across the world.
We arrived to Sweden the first of September and our adventure began.
Cheers to Adventures in Sweden!
In April, Chris was contacted out of the blue by someone who works intricately with IKEA. This man is a colleague of Chris' father (my father-in-love has worked for IKEA for 30 years) and knew Chris ran a hotel. IKEA has a hotel located in their world headquarters in Sweden and was looking for a new Managing Director. Both Chris and I were surprised by this opportunity and intrigued. We had not considered Sweden at this point in our lives for a variety of reasons, but mostly given the insane past few months we had been through. However, I encouraged Chris to explore the opportunity and the next thing you know we packed up our life, sold our town home, and moved to Sweden.
This all transpired over the next few months after the initial contact in April.We spent lots of time discussing our future, the job position, what it would mean to be in Sweden, etc. IKEA sent us to Sweden for a "look and see" trip the first week of July. Chris was able to meet colleagues, hear more about the job, and we were able to explore areas where we would potentially live. I spent a lot of time with my mother-in-love asking her over and over if she thought I would survive in Sweden. She graciously answered all of my questions and provided a ton of support having lived all over the world as an expat wife herself. Together, Chris (and I) accepted the Managing Director position and quickly started planning our move across the world.We arrived to Sweden the first of September and our adventure began.
Cheers to Adventures in Sweden!
Monday, November 14, 2016
Begin Again
Hello!
I am brushing off the dust on this old thing and not even sure where to begin. Life has a funny way of throwing the unexpected at you. I first created this blog to document married life as a newlywed. Our first year was certainly a big one followed by 2015 and then now we are here heading toward the end of 2016. My mind is completely blown away at what life has handed us since first saying "I do." This year has been the most shocking of my life with the events that have transpired before our eyes. Chris and I find ourselves staring in disbelief at everything that has occurred and can't believe this is our life. Both with the good and the bad.
I am a firm believer in ignorance is bliss and I am sure glad that we don't know what our futures hold. If someone had told me what the past two years of my life would be like I wouldn't have believed them nor would I have wanted to face what was ahead. But here I am living life and enjoying every second because life is messy and precious all at the same time. One of my favorite inspirational women, Glennon Doyle Melton, refers to life using the term "brutiful" to combine brutal and beautiful and I wholeheartedly agree.
While there have been quite a few devastatingly heartbreaking moments these past two years there have also been some incredible opportunities including the huge journey we are on now living life in Sweden. This brings me to shaking off the cobwebs and seeing how this goes again.
Cheers to unknown futures!
I am brushing off the dust on this old thing and not even sure where to begin. Life has a funny way of throwing the unexpected at you. I first created this blog to document married life as a newlywed. Our first year was certainly a big one followed by 2015 and then now we are here heading toward the end of 2016. My mind is completely blown away at what life has handed us since first saying "I do." This year has been the most shocking of my life with the events that have transpired before our eyes. Chris and I find ourselves staring in disbelief at everything that has occurred and can't believe this is our life. Both with the good and the bad.
I am a firm believer in ignorance is bliss and I am sure glad that we don't know what our futures hold. If someone had told me what the past two years of my life would be like I wouldn't have believed them nor would I have wanted to face what was ahead. But here I am living life and enjoying every second because life is messy and precious all at the same time. One of my favorite inspirational women, Glennon Doyle Melton, refers to life using the term "brutiful" to combine brutal and beautiful and I wholeheartedly agree.
While there have been quite a few devastatingly heartbreaking moments these past two years there have also been some incredible opportunities including the huge journey we are on now living life in Sweden. This brings me to shaking off the cobwebs and seeing how this goes again.
Cheers to unknown futures!
