The Reasons Why

I recently had dinner with a good friend and we were talking about living in the Toledo, Ohio area. January through March here are, well, pretty rough. It's crazy cold, there isn't a whole lot to do, and the lack of sunshine and vitamin D make it easy to fall into seasonal depression. I will be completely honest and admit that last February was pretty much the longest month of my life. I was not in a good place.

The rest of the year, though, is actually quite pleasant. The summer here is nothing short of magical. Mr. Freeze is open (it has crazy good ice cream), the pool is open (unless it's 60 degrees in July), the parks are busy and I am happy. Spring and Autumn are also very nice and have their perks. I mean, who doesn't love blossoming trees or when the leaves turn fire red and sunset yellow? Generally speaking, the Toledo area isn't bad. Not bad at all.

That being said, it is not a place that I would have dreamed of living. In fact (cough cough) I kind of didn't even know where Ohio was on the map before we moved here. I know! I am totally ashamed. (I have since decided to try to become more adept at my U.S. Geography. Maybe I should buy one of those placemats with a map on it.)

Back to my story, my friend said something along the lines of "I don't really know why we were supposed to come to Toledo, and maybe I will never know....." I have thought this before, but for some reason I kept playing those words through my head as I lay in bed that night. It all became clear to me. I knew exactly why I was supposed to come here and to live exactly where I live at this exact time in my life.

The people.

I have developed incredible friendships. I have served and been served in ways I never imagined. I have grown in confidence because of the support of people within my church and community. I have had prayers answered, almost immediately, through the kind thoughts and deeds of others. I have found my niche, my network.

Val Rigby Christensen said "I’m a strong believer that the Lord places important people in our lives. These people deeply influence us, teach us, and provide us with the resources we need to develop strong testimonies and learn correct principles. These people can be our parents, other family members, Church teachers, friends, or neighbors. They are often prompted by the Spirit to do and say things that are exactly what we need at certain times in our lives." (Christensen, Val Rigby. "Friend to Friend: Important People." Friend Apr. 2002: n. pag. www.lds.org. Web. 22 Jan. 2016.)

I think we often look at a situation we are put in and ask ourselves and the Lord "What great thing I am going to accomplish or will happen to me by being here?" We expect some grandiose change, a bolt of lightening, the heavens to open. We always anticipate a magnificent event to occur, but more often than not, it is gradual.

I believe change does happen and the heavens do open, but it is through small slivers of light that gradually turn into the brightness of day. I look at the Katie that moved here nearly two years ago and see different person than the one I see today. I am older and wiser. I love my husband much better. I love myself much better. I view people in a different light. I feel closer to my Heavenly Father. I have been through some amazing "Ups" and some terrifying "Downs," but through it all I have changed and have come closer to the person the Lord wants me to become.

I view my life as it is, right in this moment, and I am grateful. I am grateful for my friends and family, my church, my landlord, my neighbors, my coworkers and all the other people who connect with me throughout the day. All of these people are the reason "why" I am here, and when it comes time to transition to something new, the Lord will place other people in my life to help me in that new phase. And the best part of it all, is that I can maintain the friendships I have developed here and take them with me (social media and technology are pretty amazing in that way).

My goal is to treasure the time I have with the people I know here. They are so good to me and I still have so much to learn from them; and hopefully I can bless their lives as much as they have blessed mine.