St. Louis: The City that Grew Me

In 2013, I was living in St. Louis and I came across a post about some fitness thing. I inquired about it, but only because I had started my journey just 4 months prior. I was curious. I asked a lot of questions. I ordered what I thought was an over-priced shake. I bought a home workout dvd…was I really going to be doing Richard Simmons or Jane Fonda style workouts in my second floor apartment?

A couple months later, we bought our first home across town and I had a basement to workout in. TurboFire became my soulmate workout, and it evolved from there.

Today, my thoughts about the products I use is VASTLY different from when I started. And my thoughts about the town that I left just a few years later are vastly different, too.

This weekend, I went back to STL for our annual Team Beachbody Coach Summit. Not only did the Lord reveal Himself through things of this little hobby of mine, but He showed up BIG in my thoughts and feelings surrounding this city.

STL holds a lot of difficult memories for me. We moved there 10 years ago when I was a brand new wife, fresh outta college, knowing no one. I didn’t even know who I was. My husband wanted to work at the corporate office, so moving to OKC was always in the back of my mind. We didn’t plant many roots. He climbed the ladder and traveled every week for work. It was a strain on our relationship. In 2015, I lost my Granny and didn’t know how to process that or grieve. My life felt outta control. When we had 18 hours to make the decision to move to OKC at the end of 2015, it was a “heck yes! Get me out of here, but I also want to do what God is calling us to do” type of decision.

For many years after that, I didn’t even want to think about our time in STL. I wanted to run away from it. I had icky feelings for a LONG time. But each time I go back there, He reveals something to me.

Last year, I had the opportunity to go see a friend who adopted her daughter. A lot of healing happened that trip as I drove around town looking at the places we lived. I drove the once-familiar roads that seemed so foreign to me. I remembered things that I had blocked out of my memories. It was a good trip. A celebratory one that turned into a healing trip.

So this time when I went, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot of anything. But as I drove into the city, the familiar landmarks that once triggered a “we are ___many minutes from being home,” became strange to me. And I realized that the 417 will always feel like home to me.

But this time, God showed me that I needed St. Louis in my story. If it weren’t for my time in STL, I wouldn’t have the relationship with Him that I do now. If it weren’t for my time in STL, I wouldn’t have discovered my identity in Him. If it weren’t for my time in STL, I wouldn’t be the girl I am today, and I wouldn’t be living in Joplin (which still blows my mind…but that’s another story for another day. Sure, God could have used other circumstances to grow me and bring me closer to Him. But He didn’t. He used 4 short years in St. Louis. It was the city that grew me.

I still have difficult memories that I have to work through. But God uses all things for my good and His glory. He may not reveal everything about why we were there…but I believe that He has used it for my good. And He really does get the glory for that.

Instead of thinking of all the bad, I can now look back on that blip in time with fond memories, knowing that the people we met are what is good. So thank you, St. Louis, for being a part of my story…a part of our story.

2 Years...

Dear St. Louis,

Wow!  It's been two years now since we've lived here.  I will admit that I like you more than I did last year at this time.

A lot has happened in this last year:

I got a new job.
We bought a house.
Tyler got a promotion--which I didn't write about.  Shame on me!  He got promoted to managing (and traveling) for his company!
We got a puppy! (I'll post about him tomorrow.)

Okay, so maybe that doesn't look like a lot, but those things are definitely life changing events.

When we got back from Hawaii (which I still need to post about...I have a TON of pictures to go through), I finally felt like I was home.  St. Louis is not an awful city.  It's actually a very fun city with lots of things to do.  We've really enjoyed living here (especially during baseball season).  

I don't feel like I need to go out and do things on the weekend as I did when we lived in our apartment.  Since purchasing our home, I've wanted to stay home on the weekends and turn this house into a home.  And maybe having all the extra space has been a factor in that as well. :)

Anyhow, it's been a really good year here in St. Louis.  We are really enjoying our time here.  We are really seeing God's plan play out when we had no idea why He would lead us here.

And for the yearly "out the front door" picture:  today it was cold and blowing flurries.

365 Days

Dear St. Louis,

You are not what I expected.  We have officially lived here a whole, entire year, and to be honest, I'm still not sure what I think of you.  I tend to have a love/hate relationship with you.  You are definitely different from what I'm used to, and I'm not positive that I want to begin a serious relationship with you.  And actually, I think the big city is a tad lot over-rated.   Sorry to be so blunt.  Hope it didn't hurt your feelings. ;)  I just prefer a little more of my own space.

However, if it's God's plan for us to live here, then we will make the best of it.  And if it's God's plan to live here, He will make it so that we will love living here.  I just know it.

We've had some really good times and we've had some really crappy times.  I think we've had more good times than crappy, but how is that the bad times tend to linger in my head?  I keep thinking of the spring time and how happy it will be compared to the winter, and that makes me hopeful.  We live in a beautiful apartment complex, and I am excited to see foliage once again.  

St. Louis, there is still so much of you that has yet to be discovered.  Hopefully we'll be able to find a farmer's market this spring.  I hope to explore more than just our part of West County.  I hope to hang out with more people, as we get to know them.  I hope to find my way around, just a little more.  I hope to find my place in this city...to know the reason why I'm here.

Here are some memories as we look back on our year here:

The Hunt

Nature

I've Never Been More Homesick Than Now

I Found Strength in my Struggles

Big Girl Job

Family Weekend Getaway

Thanksgiving 2012

I'm Letting Go

My Life Update

Those posts highlight the ups and downs of the relationship with our new city.  Of course, my favorite memories are the ones where family got to come and visit. :)

It was about this time that we started unloading all of our stuff into our new home. It was a beautiful day...we couldn't have asked for better weather.  In fact, we worked up a sweat as we hauled everything up from the van and trailer to the second floor of our apartment building. 

Today is about as opposite as you can get.  We had a beautiful 55 degree day yesterday, and when we saw the highway signs that said, "Winter Weather Warning for the Metro Area," we really didn't want to believe it.

This past year has definitely been a learning experience for us both.  I pray that this next year we will continue to follow God's plan for our lives. :)

Let Us Fellowship With One Another

Last night we went to our second small group meeting.

I loved it.

Partially it's because I'm hungry for people interaction.

Another part is because I'm hungry for Christian interaction.

The first week there were 12 people there.

Last night there were 6.

Honestly, it was perfect for us as we try to get to know people.

It's easier to get to know people in a small group first.

But I'm excited to know there will be lots of people to get to know!

I feel like my life has finally started again.

I am so excited to finally interact with people our age.

They don't have kids.  We don't have kids.

They've been married a little longer than us.

That's okay...we can learn from them.

Oh...and they like to shoot guns.

We learned that the first week.

          Thank you, Lord for orchestrating this.
          You know my needs (Matthew 6:8).

I'm not sure I understand why people don't think they need corporate worship.

Or small group fellowship.

After these past 8 months in my life, I understand the need for both corporate worship and small group fellowship...whether that's Sunday School or a Bible Study group.

After living in Oklahoma City for 3 months where we knew no one and then moving to St. Louis (permanently) where we knew very few people, we had to rely on each other.

It's been good for us, as a couple.  

We've really had a lot of time together.

We've grown.

We've matured.

We've really learned to lean on each other.

I've been so homesick.

I've never lived this far from my family.

I've never had so many struggles at once.

My husband has listened to me cry.

He's listened to my whine and complain.

He's been the one to hold me.  To reassure me.

To offer to give up his job so we could move back.

To wipe my tears. To tell me things will get better.

I'm so thankful for him and I wouldn't want to be on this journey with anyone else.

After 8 months of being lonely...

wanting a friend...

maybe this is the beginning.

I really like how the New Living Translation states Hebrews 10:24-25...

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

It is important to fellowship with other Christians!  

Christians are there to encourage you. 

To pray with you.

To pray for you.

To help you through hard times.

To rejoice in the happy times.

I pray that God will allow me to get to know these people better.

That He will allow Tyler to get to know them better as well.

We are both excited about what the future holds.

St. Louis can become "home."

It can.  I know it can.

I know that I need to give it some more time.

Fellowship is a wonderful thing.

Go be an encouragement and be encouraged.

Family Weekend Getaway

Monday has come and gone.  I hate Mondays.  They're awful!  Especially coming off of a really great weekend.  I was really tired yesterday, but let's hope that it won't be a week long thing...I don't know when I'll be catching up on my sleep any time soon.


My family came up to St. Louis on Friday afternoon.  They haven't been up here since we moved, and I was really excited to show them around.  Our joke was that it wasn't going to be until Thanksgiving that they would be able to come up since Dad and the boys are so heavily involved in farming right now.  However, they took a little break and made it up early!  We were excited to see them!


On Friday night, we ordered pizza and just hung out at our apartment.  It was a nice relaxing, low-key night.  We hit up our pool, and it was actually really cool...a little too cool.


It's so awesome to have a couch that [most] everyone can sit on!  They loved it, and some of them even took a nap on it! 

On Saturday morning, Tyler and Ben went to see the new Batman movie.  I'm glad Tyler had someone to go with, because I didn't want to go see it.  The rest of us headed to the zoo.  We saw the sea lions (I want to see the show sometime), and the elephants, and a whole lot more.

We rode the train around the park...super fun!  We even rode on the carousel!  I really wanted to ride on the caterpillar, because butterflies are my favorite.  But my family was way ahead of that one, so I rode on an ostrich instead.  Dad rode the lion...fitting. :]

We met up with Tyler and Ben, ate a super late lunch (around 2:30) at Subway, decided that we were gonna go to the Cardinals' game the next day, ordered tickets, and then headed out to the cemetery.  Mom wanted to visit her grandparents because she hadn't been there since they had passed away.

Later that evening, we headed downtown via the Metrolink.  Tyler and I are huge fans of the public transportation because we don't have to deal with game traffic or even having to pay to park downtown.  

We got off at the Arch and were hoping to go up in it, but it was all sold out.  Bummer.  

Instead, we walked around the Arch museum, and headed to go find supper.  And yes, it was a late supper...about 9:00. :]  But it was at this quaint little restaurant and we got to sit outside near the street.

We got to see fireworks from where we were sitting.  They were pretty sweet. 

By the time we got our food, the people from the game were coming down to party it up.  We sat around for a little bit before we decided to head back to our cars.  


         I had the Crab Cake Sandwich...but really, I just ate the crab cake.

There was a Nelly concert that night, and a ton of college aged kids crammed into the Metro.  It was ridiculous!  It was so hot and loud.

By the time we got back, we were exhausted.  I checked my pedometer, and I had a reason to be tired.  I met my daily step goal by an excessive 6,000 steps.  I had also walked over 7 miles.  Whew!

On Sunday morning, we headed to the early service at church.  We ate a quick bite at the Galleria Mall before we got back on the Metro to head to the baseball game.  We were so excited to go with the family!  Ben had gotten us super awesome seats (even if it was nose-bleed section).  We had the perfect view of the game!

On the way to the game, we saw these girls with these shirts!  I just had a take a picture!  

Ben took this picture, so he's not in it.  Brian and Hailey had gotten seats in section 101, so they didn't sit with us.  

Brian and Hailey are sitting in the 7th row.

This guy in front of us got this huge helmet full of nachos!  Took 4 people to eat them all!

Ben wanted to show off his guns. :]

After the game was over, we all went to IHOP to eat.  I got some lovely Red Velvet pancakes.  They were delicious!!!  Two of my mom's brothers came up for the game.  We also called my cousins to come meet us for supper.  There were lots of people, but I wouldn't have it any other way. :]

From there, my family had to leave.  It was really hard to say goodbye because we had such a wonderful weekend!  Hopefully, they'll get to come up again sometime.  But it really might be Thanksgiving before they come again.

Commuting

I'm slowly learning the ways of St. Louis drivers.  They are ridiculous here!  Actually, I'm not sure if there's a place that drivers aren't ridiculous.  I've figured out that people in Springfield are just bad drivers/don't know how to drive and people in St. Louis are idiotic drivers.


So in my two weeks of commuting to work, I've come up with a few things that I've discovered.  If you ever come to STL, maybe this will help you out.

• Use outer roads to avoid the congestion mess on the highway. We are fortunate enough to live just south of Interstate 64, which leads right to the city.  In order for me to get where I'm going, I have to take 64 to 270 (which goes around the city).  There's about 2 miles (or so) of outer road that I can drive to avoid the Interstate.  When I actually have to get on, I'm in the exit lane for 270, so it works out perfect!
• Speed limit 60 mpg?  That's code for, "You better drive 80."  No joke.  People drive fast here.  You definitely don't want to get ran over, so you have to drive traffic speed.
• Everyone tailgates each other.  There are basically two reasons why:
• 1.  You're going too slow, and they can't get over to pass because everyone is passing you.
• 2.  They don't want to let others in between them and you.I don't necessarily drive traffic speed since I'm driving the opposite direction of everyone else.  I do try to drive the speed limit (or 5 over), and people will tail me.  I just think that if they want to go faster, then they can go around me.  It's something that I will have to get used to.  My dad always taught me that you give the person 1 car length of space for every 10 mph you're driving.  I may not give that amount of space all the time, but I definitely want to have enough space where I can slow down in time if the person in front of me does something stupid.
• Drive fast down the exit lane.  Now I know this sounds silly, but it's a simple trick that I've learned.  When getting on the highway, most of the lanes are "exit only" to the next exit.  So I can drive down that lane until I absolutely have to get over (and I just passed a whole bunch of traffic).  However, the prime time to squeeze in is in front on a semi truck.  They're at a slow speed and it takes forever for them to get up to speed, so I can sneak in front of them.  It's perfect!
• Talk on the phone with a headset.  Every afternoon I call my mom (and sometimes my dad too) and talk to her on the way home.  I've learned that my hands free headphones make it sooo much easier to concentrate on driving.

The multiple lanes freaked me out at first.  I'm a small town girl where I only drove on a 4 lane highway growing up.  I never knew the meaning of "driving defensively" until I moved here.  I quickly learned that it's better to have 3 other lanes to pass people in (when I do want to be a speed demon) than just one other lane.  :]

I'm adjusting.  It's not horrible.  Who knows, I may be a pro in a few years and have more insight on how to drive in crazy, city traffic.  For now, this is all I got.