No Ribbits For Me, Thanks

This past week, I was offered a job working at Ribbit Computers in Wichita. Despite my desire to move to Wichita to be closer to family, I ultimately decided to turn the job down. With a little help from some friends and family, I decided that the offer was not better than what I currently have.

I find it difficult to weigh my decisions based on what's best for my family, as opposed to what meets my goals. One of my goals, in this case, is moving to Wichita. Don't get me wrong, Emporia is a great place, there's just something inside of me that tells me it isn't "right" for me or my family. We have found it somewhat difficult to make friends that are our age since we are no longer in school. Although our house feels like home, the town does not feel like home, to me. The only two towns that have ever really felt like home were Harper and Hays. I'm guessing it's due to the experiences that I have had in both towns. I'm hoping that those same type of experiences will manifest in Wichita as well, as I still hope to find employment there.

I suppose one could say that the reason Emporia does not feel like home is partly to blame with me. I could try harder to make friends with people - such as the neighbors to the east, who are around the same age as myself and Laura. Or I could do more to fit in with the community, such as volunteering for one the many community service projects that are available. The other side of the coin is that I have never planned to stay in Emporia very long. I have always said that once I get enough experience to be hired somewhere else and make more money - we're out of here.

I am grateful for the opportunities that Emporia has provided for us. My current job is the most obvious example. Others include the City Band that Laura plays in during the summer and the church band that she plays in throughout the year. The people that we have met through church events, though nowhere near our age, we are thankful for knowing. Even the old neighbor lady to the west of us, who offers us her basement when the weather gets rough. These things and people will all be missed when we move (see, there I go again: I said "when" instead of "if").

I'm hoping that as my family grows, my experience increases, and I mature - I will find it easier to make decisions that are best for my family. Until then I rely on the expertise of my parents and other relatives, whom I appreciate more and more as the years pass.

Weekend Whirlwind

What a weekend! This is going to be a recap post, rather than a reflection - no waxing philosophical for me tonight, thanks.

On Saturday, one of our friends was ordained into the priesthood at the Cathedral in Salina. The best part about this, is that we got to see a lot of our friends from Hays that we haven't seen for a while.

There was a dinner following the ordination Mass, and we took our time getting in there for various reasons. By the time we got our food and scanned the area for a table, we realized that our friends had already filled up a table, so we decided to sit at the next table over. Our friends would have none of that, though. They went out of their way to make room for more chairs so we could sit with them, crowded around the table. It made me feel real good. Coming from someone who, in High School, had a lunch period opposite my friends, I usually had a difficult time trying to find someplace to sit in the lunch room, and a lot of times ended up by myself. So I am really grateful for my friends, who I don't have to put on an act when I am around them - I can be myself and be accepted (okay, so maybe some minor philosophical waxing).

Then we went down to visit some other people that I can be myself around - my family. I was really excited to get to see Uncle Max, Aunt Sherri, Uncle Dennis, and Aunt Ruth, who came from Michigan and Texas for the Harper High School all class reunion. We usually only get to see them about once a year during the Plank Family Vacations (PFV, copyright pending - HA!). Watching Rachel interact with them was not only cute, but also put a big smile on my face.

We look forward to seeing everyone in July for this year's PFV, and look forward to celebrating Rachel's second birthday. Hopefully the trip will go smoothly, and we will limit the number of "adventures" (Dad's code for getting lost).