We always seem to be on the move, rarely staying in one spot for longer than a week or two. This changed very little in the first two years of our journey. However, January 1st of this year we began our third year on the road as a full time touring band and with the new year came lots of changes.
Joshua and I were just reflecting back on this year and we were realizing that we have spent very little time actually on the bus this year. Our schedule really hasn't changed much excluding taking some time off to take care of some health issues. However we did notice this, we have been so blessed to stay with so many friends and family instead. As we travel we get to meet and spend time with so many kind, generous and loving people that open their homes and hearts to us. In these moments we get to share our lives, share stories, experiences and memories. Our friends have shared that they enjoy spending time in our space and are so honored to share their homes with us. I am always so humbled and surprised that people want to spend that kind of time with us lol.
During this time, I realized many of you may not know our story before we became "The Band Wanted". I know that I am shocked when I share our "before" story how many people are surprised that they had never heard this part of our story before. So, I thought this is the perfect time to share it with you. Why is this the perfect time you might ask? Well here goes....
Here I am sitting in a lounge once again boondocking at a truck stop just outside Omaha, Nebraska. Waiting.....I am reflecting on what started this journey in the first place. Joshua and I were married October 20, 2012 and we had decided that we really wanted to share the experience of having a child together. Joshua up until this point never fathered any children of his own and he had fallen in love with my three almost adult children. He expressed that he had never wanted to have children of his own until now. However, at the age of 20 years old, (and three babies) I had decided to have a medical procedure done (tubal ligation) when my youngest daughter was born to prevent me from having any other children. After many discussions and some research Joshua and I decided to try IVF (InVitro Fertilization) to get pregnant. After about six months of testing, research and only six weeks away from "getting pregnant" the doctors required a routine mammogram to proceed to the final step in our process. June of 2013 I was diagnosed with DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) Breast Cancer Stage 0. The doctors informed us that the process of IVF would not be the best option for us at this time. Joshua and I were at a cross roads, our dream of sharing a child together was gone. At the time, we did not see this as a blessing, however our view has flipped 360 degrees since then. That diagnoses changed our lives forever! We had a second chance at truly living our lives not just going through the motions, keeping up with the Jones's. This was our opportunity to change our lives and our health increasing our quality of life. We put this goal on hold for that time and with hope that we could return to our goal in the future. Since then, we took our IVF baby fund and invested into starting our electrical contracting business that was yet again another opportunity to learn (we closed the business in debt). Each step we took forward got us closer to doing what it is we LOVE and DOING what it was we kept telling everyone we wanted to do. We love traveling together, singing together, trying new things, bringing joy to others and helping them find theirs!!!
Since that first diagnosis, we have done things to get healthier, physically and emotionally. We are totally different people than we were 6 years ago! Recently, we decided it was time to revisit our goal of having a child together!!! After some research, we found that it may be possible to do a tubal reversal instead of IVF as we had originally planned. This method felt so much better to both of us. About a month ago we saw a significant hole in our schedule and thought this may be the reason. A few weeks ago, we contacted a surgery center to start the process. While we were in New Ulm, MN, I located a clinic to have my blood drawn in order to take the first step. The blood test would determine if I am a good candidate for the medical procedure.
So here we are.....waiting.....waiting for the next step. This past week we have been waiting on all kinds of things to fall into place. We have experienced delays in finances, booking dates, a job application, getting the test results, locating our next destination...you name it....we are waiting on it. During this test of our patience, it has been so tempting to go out and make things happen. I don't know what the outcome will be and I know whatever it is....it is exactly what it is supposed to be, a lesson, a new stage in life or an open door to a bigger opportunity! We will see :)