The Good + The Bad = LIFE!

As I reflect on the last six years while living in Raleigh, I immediately feel at peace knowing that I came, I saw, and I conquered…to simplify, I did everything I needed to do in the time I was allotted, despite COVID throwing a wrench in my plans. Make no mistake, I have seen many ups and downs during that timeframe, but especially over the last seven months (when it was officially confirmed that we would need to relocate to Charlotte at some point). However, I am choosing to use all parts of this journey as a lesson and I will share a few highlights with you.

March 2024: Jamal and I were able to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary together multiple times on the same day; however, my father was admitted to the hospital for a minor amputation, which turned into a major amputation, and, as of today, he still has not returned home from rehab (and other necessary procedures in the hospital).

April 2024: Jamal and I both spent each week of the month traveling for work, but we were able to reconnect over the weekends here in Raleigh; however, Jamal’s mother fell a couple of times during one week and had to rely on Medicaid for short-term assistance, which was its own headache of a process.

May 2024: I attended the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) Annual Conference in New Orleans and officially wrapped up my term as the President of the Junior League of Raleigh; meanwhile, Jamal continued the laborious exercise of securing Medicaid for his mother.

June 2024: I officially graduated from my Leadership Raleigh Cohort (which was sponsored by the Junior League of Raleigh), went to South Carolina to see my father for Father’s Day, and spent a couple weekends hanging out with my brother (in Winston-Salem and in Raleigh); however, Jamal spent the entire month going back and forth between Raleigh (home), Monroe/Polkton (work), and Camden (where is mother lives).

July 2024: We had a fun month all over North Carolina – from Raleigh to Morehead City to Charlotte – then we ended up in Atlanta (for the Missy Elliot Concert, featuring Timbaland, Ciara, and Busta Rhymes); meanwhile, Jamal continued the painstaking process of confirming Medicaid offerings for his mother.

August 2024: I spent the entire month in meetings and/or at events for the Junior League of Raleigh, Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI), and Soroptimist International of Wake Forest; but Jamal and I were able to reconnect over the weekends here in Raleigh (specifically, we attended the Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival and the Unlimited Pour Dinner at The Capital Grille).

September 2024: Jamal and I spent Labor Day weekend in South Carolina visiting my parents (we saw them while they celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary at my father’s rehab facility), spent a couple of weeks in Charlotte (where Jamal worked and I trained some manufacturing clients on root cause analysis), and I attended multiple Junior League of Raleigh events. We also used every free moment while in Charlotte to visit properties to determine where we would be living after we relocate to the area. As of September 30th, we have confirmed our moving date and we know which property we are relocating to on that day!

That was a lot, right???? Looking back on all of the time, tantrums, and tears, I cannot believe we are both still sane and about to make this move together.? However, I am a firm believer in the fact that you have to take the good with the bad; additionally, man plans and God laughs. Both of these well-known statements rang true during these last few months and we have come out on the other side stronger than we were when all of this began.