The Dream Ignites
Early in 2018, there was an idea simmering in the minds of the Rowland family. I’m not sure exactly when the brainstorm took on life, but it was received and chewed on for the briefest of times by all the adult members of the clan. Each family unit worked out their own plans and strategies. But, all led to Central Texas from Western Washington State. Culture shock, climate shock, bug, and snake shock were in our thoughts, but the urge to start our Texadus adventure was strong.
Testing the Waters
Our part of the story got revved up after Jeremiah (Kelly’s husband) returned from an interview and scouting party through the Waco area. Rick and I were starting to feel the tug to CenTex, but we needed to see the land, towns, people, stores, maybe a church or two and a couple of restaurants for ourselves. I especially needed to feel how my heart would react. I was born and raised in Poulsbo, Washington, and Rick and I had spent most of our married lives there. We’d raised our kids in our home of 25 years with the gorgeous bay and mountain view. We needed to be sure.
The trip through the area only made us more excited and certain. So certain, in fact, that we chose a building lot for our new home. We came home and thought, talked, and prayed a lot before signing the contract and getting the build underway.
Prepping for the Texadus
Then, we began packing, purging, planning and starting our good-byes. The house was listed and sold in a couple of days (as have all the Rowland houses!) There were coffee dates, lunches, and a big party at Island Lake Park to savor the friendships and the family we were leaving behind. It was an exciting, sad, emotional, exhausting time as we got things ready for our part of the Texadus.
Good-bye Poulsbo
On September 6th, 2018 (the first day of school…very fitting for two former teachers!) when we watched all our belongings get loaded onto that huge United Van Lines truck and we took our last trip up the driveway and down Cedar Lane, I SOBBED. It was just too much hugging Kelly and Heidi and Amy and saying a final good-bye to our beautiful home.
The Trip Down South
We treated our Texas Road Trip as a vacation and it was amazing. Traveling through some gorgeous territory on that long trek was a highlight for us. We arrived in Temple, Texas on September 12th and carried our travel bags into a cute, 2 bedroom, totally furnished apartment. That spot was to be our home for the next three months as we watched our dream home become a reality.
The Real Unpacking
Our build closed on December 21st and we opted to move in AFTER Christmas. Pretty smart idea! Shortly after we moved in, construction started on our backyard swimming pool (!) Filling our house with the treasures we’d brought down from Pbo and adding some new ones from special shops in the area was a BLAST! Having Hobby Lobby and Magnolia Market nearby also helped turn this cute house into a home. (I’ll be talking more about that in future posts.)
Entering the ‘Promised Land’
We are now truly at home in Temple, Texas. And, the Family Texadus will be concluding in June with the arrival of the Partyke family. Kyle and Shaina appeared on the scene first. They’ve got a charming home in Pflugerville (outside Austin). Kasey and Josh and family are stationed at Ft. Hood (about 40 minutes away).
God continues to bless us on this adventure. We see His hand in so many aspects of this journey that Rick and I have stepped into TOGETHER. We’ve found a great church (Vista in Temple), a grocery store (love H.E.B.!), and are building solid new friendships. We are especially thankful to get to hang-out and do holidays with our kids and grandkids. We can’t wait to see all 7 of those grandboys and girls splashing in our pool!
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
Finding a new purpose in living and joy in the day-to-day was the goal when author Kathy Rowland and her entire family (adult kids and grandkids) moved from the PNW to Texas several years ago. The focus of Quiet Hollow is to encourage ‘next chapter women’ – those who are retired, empty-nesters, or have found themselves without a spouse to jump back into life. And, she shares multiple tips, ideas, and possibilities toward that end. Kathy completed her almost 30 years as an elementary teacher and hopped into over a decade of volunteer work, side hustle-type businesses, and grandchild care before discovering her unique and fulfilling purpose for the next chapter of life. What you read on Quiet Hollow is a large part of that calling. Another part is the happy life she’s leading in Central Texas in the same neighborhood as the 3 big kids and her 5 grandkids. She and her college sweetheart husband made sure to add a pool to their new Texas home, so there are lots of noisy, splashy days in their little oasis of a backyard. Come join her on Quiet Hollow in a conversation about finding and living the life you were created to live in this later stage. The chats will be full of laughter, support, faith, and inspiration to create.
