I desperately tried to find a job in Tulsa. I applied for two dozen jobs and interviewed for at least half a dozen. For various reasons, nothing was working out.

After graduation, the only thing I had on my calendar was a Dave Matthews concert in Dallas. And when I say the only thing on my calendar, I mean the only thing. I didn't even have un-fun things like a doctors appointment scheduled. My life was a blank slate. Looking back, I should have taken more advantage of that!

Between graduation and the Dave Matthews concert, I was in Norman, reading my devotional. The topic was about not longing for the absence of problems because you have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for Heaven. As I'm taking notes, I wrote, "you have an eternity of problem-free living in Coppell", which is where Kristen's family lives and where I would be staying for the concert. I giggled to myself and planned to tell Kristen as soon as I finished my quiet time. You might have already guessed that the two of us were not thrilled about the idea of living four hours apart after rooming together for almost all of college.

My phone had gone off during my quiet time, and it was Kristen (shocking!). She had sent me screenshots of texts from her sister, Julie, who was suggesting that I intern for her at the Center for BrainHealth for the summer and that I live with Kristen and her parents at their house.

I took the internship. After all, it was only for the summer, right? Weeks into my internship, Kristen forwarded me a special events position at ChildCareGroup. I applied, like I had done for 25+ other jobs, and unlike the other times, I got the job.

I was employed, which was my goal. However, my goal was never to be employed outside of Tulsa. The day I found out that I got the job, I cried. Happy tears mostly but also because I was so overwhelmed by this whole adulting thing and being away from my family and home.

Being the best friend that she is, Kristen planned a Margarita Monday happy hour for that night with her high school friends for us to celebrate.

This July, I will have been at ChildCareGroup for three years. My job and Dallas have been big blessings. I never thought I would move away from Tulsa, so I'm not going to say that I'll never leave Dallas, but for now, this is home and probably always will be.

It would not be appropriate to not end this post without a Texas-size thank you to the Carter fam for recruiting me to the Lone Star State and for helping me find my way once I got here.