Ever since Craig agreed to move to California with us, our plans started coming together quickly. The transfer from Everest College was taken care of, and things were finally starting to fall into place. With my pregnancy, though, I was experiencing waves of nausea, anxiety, and hopefulness. I knew that all this stress wasn't good for the baby either, so I tried my best to stay calm and take things one day at a time.

We were planning to leave after receiving our tax refunds. Craig was getting ready to put in his two weeks' notice and prepare his car for the long drive. Jerk was making sure he didn't spend a dime of our money on the first month's rent for our new place.

We planned to leave our furniture behind. The only things we were packing were our essentials and clothes, which we had to squeeze into his two-door Honda. All I remember is that it was blue and silver. I honestly forgot the make and model, but I do remember how much weight we had packed into the back of that car!

His mom was still upset that we were leaving, but Jerk kept reassuring her that everything would be okay. I wanted to stay optimistic, but my anxiety was taking over with a million questions running through my head.

Would I find employment after graduating? When would my welfare benefits kick in? What would I need to apply for WIC? What were we going to do about furniture? With the money we had, would we have enough for food and other necessities?

The drive from Pittsburgh, PA, to San Bernardino, CA, was going to take approximately one day and 12 hours. Even with two licensed drivers, I wasn't sure how well that would work out, especially since we would need to stop and get some sleep along the way.

Finally, the day arrived!

We received our tax refunds, and we left early on February 1, 2014. If I remember correctly, it was around 3 a.m. Eastern Time. It was still dark outside, and we could see the city lights as we started traveling west.

Of course, I sat in the backseat with everything I needed to keep myself comfortable, entertained, and rested. By midmorning and into the afternoon, we had passed through Indianapolis, Indiana. As it got closer to 6 p.m., we were already crossing through Missouri. By nighttime, we were approaching the Oklahoma and Texas area.

I could tell Craig was getting tired after spending nearly an entire day on the road. I told him it would be best to pull into a rest area, park for a few hours, get some shut-eye, and then get back on the road.

Sleeping in the backseat was uncomfortable, and I missed my bed. I had already missed North Dakota, and now I was starting to miss Pittsburgh, too!

Despite the uncomfortable ride, the scenic drive was amazing. Knowing we were doing okay and having our prayers with us made me feel grateful. God is good, especially for keeping us safe while hauling such precious cargo!

**Day 2: New Mexico to California**

By the second day, we had made it to New Mexico. The scenery was beautiful, with the mountains, red dirt, and sunrise. Craig told us we should arrive in San Bernardino by late afternoon.

All of us couldn't wait!!

I did some driving, but with my pregnancy, I was more tired than ever. I think I had only managed about three or four hours of sleep, off and on, since we had started the trip. Our finances were still looking good, but I was hoping the money would stretch over the next few days.

Then we finally saw the exit into California!

By the grace of God, we were on the home stretch. There were high-fives and plenty of cheering inside that car!

The palm trees, the weather, and the sunshine—oh my God, it was gorgeous! We rolled down the windows to enjoy the beautiful weather. It was 73 degrees, and I wanted to put on something clean so badly. I had been wearing the same outfit for over 48 hours in that car!

I needed a shower so badly. Honestly, I was more tired than hungry at that point.

We finally reached the street where we would be living: Sunrise Lane. (I actually had to look up the address because it had been so long!)

We made it in one piece!

JG was sitting on the porch and came down to greet us with warm hugs and a big California welcome. I was shaking so badly. I was overtired, hungry, desperately needed a shower, and had to use the bathroom so badly!!

We made our way onto the property, and I really liked it. It was cozy, and our bedroom was huge! Plus, there was an AC unit in there. God bless him for having that installed!

I could already picture where the crib would go and how cozy our bedroom would look once we got settled in.

He invited us over for supper, where we met a young woman named Ashley, his daughter. She was a little younger than me and had a son who wasn't even a year old yet. As she and I were talking, JG announced that it was time for dinner.

It smelled so good, and he had made tacos!

The food was so fricken good! I'm not usually the type of person to eat refried beans, but somehow, I was craving them.

Pregnancy cravings wait for no one, and the man who masters the kitchen during pregnancy becomes a household legend!

I couldn't eat another bite, and I was ready to pass out!

JG offered Jerk and me his room to sleep in for the night. He knew I was pregnant, and before we settled in, he gave me another hug and told me he would help us as much as he could since we had arrived with little to nothing.

As I changed into something comfortable, my exhausted body was practically shaking. It didn't take much for me to fall asleep.

I remember saying a prayer to God, thanking Him for not only keeping us safe during the journey but also for bringing us to what I hoped would become our permanent home.

Of course, there was still plenty to do, especially contacting Everest College to figure out how I would finish my externship. We had made it to California, but the next chapter of our lives was only just beginning.

Cross-country relocation is no joke, especially when you're expecting a baby and counting down the weeks until your due date. But if this move taught me anything, it's that community can be found in unexpected places. We had arrived with very little, yet there were people willing to open their doors and help us get started.

For anyone else planning a major move with a little one on the way, take it one mile and one resource checklist at a time.

I'll be sharing a full breakdown of the specific California family resources, moving checklists, and settling-in guides we used in my next post.

Until then, we're putting our feet up, enjoying the West Coast sunshine, and finally taking a well-deserved breather.