Well after months of keeping it a secret, the cat is finally out of the bag. We are hitting the road and heading to SOUTH CAROLINA next month! After a whole lot of prayer and discernment, we are excited for this new chapter in our married life story!
…In My Mind, I’m Going to Carolina…
Come September, we are trading that Tennessee mountain air for coastal breezes and sandy feet.
Final destination: MYRTLE BEACH, SC!
Now you may be wondering, “Why South Carolina?”. Well, the truth is, we kinda still are too. We feel completely solidified in our decision to uproot ourselves and move to Myrtle Beach, but of all the places my husband and I have dreamt of living, Myrtle Beach wasn’t one of them. Not to say we aren’t elated about the opportunities God’s provided for us, but let’s just say the location wasn’t necessarily one we have been pining after. But God has a funny way of putting you out of your comfort zone to bring about intense growth.
Let’s Start at the Beginning
As my husband and I were still engaged, we both felt tugs on our heart to look for jobs in other cities and states (mostly in the southeast region). We didn’t really know where to look in particular, but we both liked North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia to start. After applying for various PA positions in primary care, emergency medicine, and internal medicine throughout those states, I was getting no where fast. I’m not quite sure how many positions I applied for, but it was TNTC (too numerous to count). I was extremely discouraged and cried out to the Lord on many occasions to just pave the way for something great. Well, nothing really seemed to be coming together until I got a phone call in December, right before New Years, about a residency opportunity starting in 2019 in the Emergency Department with an incredibly well-known medical organization. The catch? It was in MYRTLE BEACH. And it didn’t start til SEPTEMBER.
Now, Myrtle Beach is approximately 411 miles from our home in Knoxville, so not exactly “just down the road”. Also, September was a long way away from January, and the burden of student loans was forever lingering in the back of my mind.
But, back to the story. I decided to interview for this residency in late January and got a job offer 2 weeks later. Meanwhile, I kept applying for other positions in urgent cares and primary care offices without any leads. I felt like God was slamming doors left and right, and yet this one window of opportunity in Myrtle Beach was wide open. Why was I hesitant at first to accept? Honestly, it was because of fear. FEAR of us not being able to provide for ourselves financially on a smaller budget. FEAR of moving far away. FEAR of change. FEAR of failure. But FEAR is not from the Lord. In 2nd Timothy 1:7 it says, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” What I was feeling was due to a lack of trust in God’s plan for Cary and I. It took us over two months, but in April after realizing God had a plan for us that was better than what we could have finagled, I signed the contract for the residency.
The Story Gets Better
After signing the contract, I began making moves and applying for state medical licensure, which is a big ole hot mess. Lots of paperwork, lots of back and forth, not a whole lot of communication. I was getting overwhelmed and disheartened fast. Not to mention we were planning a wedding amidst all that. Talk about having a lot on your plate. But once we were married, the next big step was to find a job suitable for Cary. And the opportunities we expected to find in hospitality for him were few and far between. But God had a plan up his sleeve!
My husband works at Blackberry Mountain, an affiliate of Blackberry Farm, which is a Relais & Châteaux resort in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. One day God placed the VP of a major American hotel chain and his wife in Cary’s car to chauffeur around Blackberry. Through the course of their interaction and conversation, he was instructed to send his resume in consideration for one of their management positions. TALK ABOUT A GOD MOMENT!
After three grueling interviews, Cary was offered a management position at their Myrtle Beach hotel and resort! We were over the moon happy, because God ONCE AGAIN saw fit to provide an opportunity that we didn’t even know existed. Our story about moving to Myrtle Beach shows again and again God’s fingerprints of provision and protection. We are not in control, but thankfully He is!
Now, our story is not everyone’s story. God’s timing and plans are different for everyone. We have definitely had our share of ups and downs over the course of this year, but it is remarkable to know and rest in the knowledge that God’s plans are better than our own. God orchestrated so much of this next season for us and for that reason we give Him all the glory and praise. We covet your thoughts and prayers as we maneuver through the logistics of moving, start dates, and finally seeing details come together. We are feeling all kinds of emotions having to close the door on one chapter and write the pages of another. Change is challenging in more ways than one, but we can’t wait to see what adventures lie ahead for us in South Carolina. Onward and upward for the #beachboundbrowns!
kitchyliving.com 