Serendipity.

(Originally posted on 3/5/14 on cotaforjensh.com)

Serendipity. 

I remember learning of this word when the movie came out years ago. I remember being intrigued by how it sounded and more so- what it meant. 

For those of you who know me well, I like to plan. I like to have things organized. And, while I still lean towards these habits, a process began in me years ago to help me find freedom from the expectations of having it all together all the time. It was when I first traveled to Belize in 2007 with Sports Servants that I began to see what a change of pace, a change of expectations on a cultural level looked like. And, those of you who know my story know that serendipitous moment came when Girls Camp arose out of the tiny village of Belize, giving girls a chance to play. 

Fast forward to 2010... Nashville was experiencing some heavy snow, enough to for a true snow day on the exact day my mom and aunt had flown into town to meet my very first class of “penguins” (students). The Nashville Predators had partnered with that school, and from time to time, a ticket representative would gift the school with extra tickets to upcoming games for the teachers. I was lucky enough to get some for Saturday, January 30, so my mom, aunt, and I braved some snowy, icy roads to head to “Smashville” to watch the Preds play hockey. Because I had extra tickets, I had also invited my friend Steven, who was a huge fan. He asked if he could bring his roommate, who was also a fan. To this day, I remember sitting in section 113 and watching Steven and Jens climb the stairs to our seats to meet us. It was then that I met my future husband for the first time. 

Fast forward to 2011... Jens and I traveled to Knoxville for my good friend, Courtney and Ted’s wedding. This would be our first time traveling together. I had some ideas of what to wear and when to be where, but there were a few parts of the weekend that were unknown. It was on this trip that Jens and I coined the phrase “flexible pants.” We try to remember to pack them on trips, but we have found that we often need them in the every day tasks. I love this reminder to be open to the story that will unfold when I let go. 

Fast forward to 2014… Jens and I are preparing to leave Nashville for a season to go to Pittsburgh so that he can have a double lung transplant. It is a bittersweet time for us, knowing that we are going to leave a city we’ve both loved for the past 10+ years. We are hopeful for the adventures ahead. Being in this kind of situation causes one to be more sentimental. Coming into 2014, Jens and I decided a few things: 

1. We would always pack our “flexible pants” and be prepared to wear them 
2. We would be better about enjoying time together and enjoying one another’s presence 

We knew of the tough road we faced. We knew we’d have to fight to maintain “us.” Although we don’t like to dwell on it or let it press too far into our immediate thoughts, we know that we probably don’t have as much time together as we would like.

I spent much of the snow days on Monday and Tuesday of this week getting organized and prepared for the move to Pittsburgh and the impending lung transplant. I have been packing boxes, and of course, color-coding them based on their “destination.” I scanned medical receipts and set up Google docs to organize reimbursement expenses. I searched online for housing. I am trying to be as prepared as possible because I know that we will have to wear our infamous “flexible pants.”

Our friend Steven was in town for the weekend. As luck would have it, the Predators had a home game on Tuesday night against none other than the Pittsburgh Penguins. With Steven in town, we knew we had to go to the game on what is probably our last trip to Smashville this season. During the national anthem, I got emotional, as I let the weight of the moment sink in. I could see section 113 in front of me. I could see those steps. I could see Steven and Jens next to me. And, I could see the ring that (as of February 9) sits on my left hand reminding me of God’s story and promises for Jens and me. He is with us. Serendipity.