*One way plane tickets to go for our dreams in Austin, with the help of our Lord!*

This kind can only come out through prayer

Today’s Gospel about our “faithless generation” reminded me of this old post I wrote six years ago.

Below, I shared how we transformed the entire trajectory of our family life when we moved to Austin in March of 2014.

I thought resharing this post would also be fitting in light of some big personal changes for our family recently.

*At Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, NYC*

After living in multiple states, and dotting the US map all over the country for the past four years, with God’s incredible goodness, we find ourselves transported from New York back to Texas!

God willing, for good this time.

Lord, we praise you! Thank you for helping us believe and see, what first seemed unbelievable and even unthinkable!

*Feels so good to be back! Enjoying local treats at Summer Moon Coffee Shop in North Austin.*

Recollecting

I pray that as you scroll through this short retelling, you also remember all the unbelievable, grace-filled transformations that have happened for you too.

What miraculous lifesaving event that’s happened to you crosses your mind today, that you just know in your heart was only possible because you believed in God and His providence?

What healing and transfiguration are you praying for your family this season that just feels so impossible to believe in right now?

As you read this, please know that I’m praying for Jesus Christ to help you believe - to help you believe wholeheartedly in that turnaround you’re praying for so deeply, to help you prepare your heart for the good that’s coming just around the corner, and to help you increase your faith already - even before your blessing gets here!

Because He can, He has, He does, and He will continue to make possible a million miracles for you!

All we need is to first have faith.

“I do believe, help my unbelief!”

MARK 9:24

*Back as IBMers in Austin as of 2025! Thank you Lord!*

When you believe

In 2014, when our two babies were only 3 years old and 9 months old, Randy and I considered cities outside of San Diego to raise our family for a chance at a better life.

There was a short list of places that satisfied our hopes and preferences:

- tech career opportunities

- cost of living and affordability (that didn’t pressure us to be a two income family)

- new housing developments

- good quality of life (safety, access to churches, art, music, nature, and family-friendly activities)

- homeschooling community

In our search, we also considered Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. Though in the end, God led us to Austin so Randy could pursue his second-career, as he transitioned from working for over 15 years in education, to diving into tech with wide-eyed dreams of becoming a software developer.

We moved here to Austin on a leap of faith, not knowing anyone here, or anything about the city.

We arrived on a freezing March evening, it was 22 degrees, with 7 luggages, and two small boys on our hips in tow.

We left everyone we loved in Cali and used up all our savings, all to endeavor building a lifestyle and raising a family only miracle-believers could even dare to dream of.

We were on our own, but Austin was all our own.

*Our first, very small, and very humble apartment in Austin. We literally started with nothing!*

Change isn’t ever easy, especially when you’re thousands of miles away from everything and everyone that always made you comfortable.

But we knew that transforming our lives to get to the next level for our boys required taking risks, giving up conveniences, leaving our old life to trade up for a new life, and doing all the hard things to change, grow, and evolve with as much grace, humility, and faith as possible.

We had no idea what was up ahead. Randy and I just trusted our instincts and followed God’s plans for us.

Such a move made no sense, there were no guarantees, we were scared and unsure, but we did it anyway, because we were answering and carrying out God’s calling for us.

*Our first Spring season as Texans. Downtown Austin, May 2014.*

What began as a 1 year trial period in Austin ended up to be 5 years (8 years!) and counting.

Certainly, we now believe Austin feels more like “home” than San Diego!

Sometimes, we continue to explore living in other countries like Japan so the boys can have more global and multi-cultural experiences.

With the nature of Randy’s job, we’re grateful to be able to consider such options.

But for now, God continues to bless us with our simple life in Austin. So we stay.

We stay to continue our story here, cultivating the experiences we always wanted for the four of us, thankful and in awe everyday of what happens when you follow God’s pulls and plans for you.

Though of course, we faced some doubts (and doubters) in the beginning.

We never thought we could really afford to live on our own.

We never saw ourselves raising a family as Texans!

We weren’t sure Randy would make it, much less thrive as well and as quickly in tech.

People questioned and frowned on our family vision for my husband to be the breadwinner so I could stay home with the kids as a homemaker and homeschooler.

Yet folks, here we are.

We went from unbelieving, to believing.

Through the years, we learned that big changes can only spring from making big moves launched by having big faith.

Because apparently, when you believe in God, unbelievable things happen for you.

Reflection and resources

What seemingly incredible change is God asking you to have faith in - to believe that’s truly possible for you and your family?

Even if it feels right now like there’s just no way, as your mind can’t even comprehend how it could truly happen for you!

Nonetheless, what future fertile soil is God encouraging you to plant your faith in this season?

Want to talk and discern about it some more?

I’m here to listen! Reach out and I’d be glad to help you sort through and think about your dreams with bigger faith!

Before I go, here’s a bonus resource: Whenever I feel discouraged about my dreams, I listen to this song, to help me remember that as long as I seek Him first, God always provides.

*Coming back again to Texas, this time driving all the way from New York!*

P.S. Curious about the heart-tugging and miraculous story of how we ended up from New York then back in Austin (again)?

“Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

MARK 9:23

From unbelieving to believing