My Story... Hello Orange Beach, AL (part 2 of 2)

So on Valentine's Day 1999 my dad helped me load up a small U-haul with just enough to set up my 2 bedroom apartment in Orange Beach.  Just before we pulled out of my driveway in Slidell, La  he looked at me and said “Jamie, you know that this is about to be the biggest most expensive stumbling block of your life, right?”   As if I wasn't already worried enough!!!!!  And yes he definitely said it out of love but....   

 Parents and the people that love you the most are NOT ALWAYS right!! ​​

Beyond advice and guidance from people you trust:
Prayer,  stillness, and tuning in to your heart
​& intuition is usually your best guide. 

Side note: You'd have to know my dad. He is so direct and abrupt to the point that it often feels awkward or inappropriate.  Those of you that know me that are laughing at how much I just also described my own communication, YOU JUST HUSH and keep scrolling!! Hahhaa. 

New Beginnings

I was 24 yrs old when I moved here to OBA (46 years old today).  I had just finished my master’s degree and was starting my career as a speech pathologist.  I was in the middle of a sad divorce that almost nobody understood or agreed with and I decided to move away from Louisiana for the first time in my life.  

I really thought OBA might be a short chapter, a stepping stone. Maybe I would do some soul searching here at the beach, let life settle a bit, have some fun, and re-establish what the heck my future looked like.

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​But it turns out it would be a really long and awesome chapter.   I created my unique quirky passionate life at the beach.... and it fits me perfectly!!  It wasn't without challenges, but I did find the relationship and life that I was longing for as that confused scared gal in the U-haul truck that day.  

Jack & I were married in 2007 (close to 10 years after I divorced my high school sweetheart). After years of dating, we planned a private wedding on the beach with just us and the two girls. Then we sent postcards out to all of or friends.

​He's a wonderful dad (to our girls, my steppys, who I adore) and uncle (to my Louisiana nieces, who I also adore).  He's a talented local musician and entertainer (which helps feed my love and need for music & the arts).  Plus he is super smart with numbers and finances (eeew).  But that means I get to spend more time on creative projects like this blog and teaching yoga. 

We love to have a good time and get to have an extra-ordinary amount of fun together!! We've both worked very hard from a young age and are equally dedicated to loving our family and friends, and building a secure future. ​​ We've created a really happy life together.

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​I'm proud of and thankful to that brave young girl that took a leap of faith and followed her heart to the beach. There is nothing more fulfilling than living authentically, in alignment with what you value most. I'm not saying there haven't been trials, tears, sacrifice ,or hard work (mostly self-work).  I am just saying that it was totally worth it.  So dig in, do the work,  take risks, go for it!!!! 

Thanks for caring about my little story and for following along here. 
The next blog is about how yoga came in to play!! & I do love me some yoga : )
​Jamie