We are moving out of state in less than three weeks and I'm partially in denial. Practically I have been trying to get ready, mostly by getting rid of stuff. It seems that in my head there is a sort of echelon of what items are worth keeping if you are moving locally as compared to what items should be gotten rid of when you are moving out of state on a truck that charges by weight. Suddenly, I become less sentimental and more realistic about my aptitude for resourcefulness (no, I probably won't use the Baggie of adhesive Velcro strips that came with something I don't have anymore but that I thought maybe I could use for something someday...) In fact, I am finding a lot of freedom in simplifying and forcing myself to let go of the least essential things.
My two older children on the other hand...are not. With T it isn't too huge of a problem, it's mostly "out of sight, out of mind." I just sneak out broken toys and pine cones and things he has outgrown as though I am a secret agent. Most of the time he never remembers the items - unless he accidentally sees them in the trash or the donation pile - like the time I had to bring my kids back to a non-profit to retrieve all of my husband's best dry cleaning which were (unbeknownst to me) in the trunk with the pile of donations we had dropped the day before. As if it wasn't mortifying enough to ask for clothing back from a charity, T notices his old bean bag chair in a corner and I drag him out crying.
B on the other hand keeps everything and also physically card catalogs every single item in her brain. It's as if she has a running rotation in her memory of things she needs to check and make sure she still has. "Mom, where is the ripped foam cowboy hat that came on my cotton candy when you took me to the circus when I was 2 1/2?" It's really quite remarkable. She is getting a little better, but mostly I am trying to figure out how to keep her (and us) off an episode of Hoarders.
So, I have been focusing on getting rid of things and getting organized, which mostly may be my coping mechanism so that I don't have to think about all of the people we're leaving. We have really great families, the sweetest neighbors, and I truly have some unbelievably wonderful friends that will be ridiculously hard to leave behind. I get teary if I think about it. So, instead I think about to-do lists and logistics. I have never been good at change, though it seems as though God is giving me lots of practice to get better at it. And I think I am...just maybe slowly enough to realize that I need to cling to Him all the more.
So, it's been 18 months since I have posted. Not coincidentally, W turned 18 months old today. It's not that I intentionally "quit" the blog, it's just that two five-year-olds and a newborn (that quickly turned into a really "climb-y" toddler - see above picture!) made the choice for me. However, there is no time like the present to get started again! That is especially true when you have some news to share...
J has just been offered the amazing opportunity to lead an organization which helps to provide access to clean water all over the world. It is an amazingly effective development tool and they do it for the "least of these" in Jesus' name. We feel honored that he gets to be a part of it, and they are thrilled to have him with his background and talents. Here is their website so you can check it out: Lifewater International. We are really excited to say the least!
The other side of the excitement is the bittersweet fact that since the organization is based out of San Luis Obispo, CA, we are...moving back to California at the beginning of the year (just the central coast this time)! We have been so spoiled with our amazing family and so many incredible friends nearby. Here in AZ we have a great new house (which we will be renting out - anyone interested??) and sweet neighbors and a great school for the kids. But we are feeling much peace in the midst of transition, which confirms that we are indeed headed in the right direction. We feel grateful for J to have this opportunity to serve the world's poor in this way, helping to open up the opportunity to have clean water and the health and life that comes with it. And, as you probably know, we are usually up for a good adventure with a good purpose - or we are just crazy and restless, but I prefer to think the former. This man that I married has made my life more interesting than I ever could have anticipated it would be - and I like it. Please remind me of this in a few weeks when I am surrounded by boxes and I don't have any dear friends or family within 400 miles!
Anyway, we found a great home (owned by the sweetest family - I am hoping 'she' won't mind being my friend!) to rent in a very small town outside San Luis Obispo, where J's office will be. We can walk to great schools and they have a Trader Joe's! Right behind our backyard is a creek, and there are tons of grapes and berries growing. It's wine country. This will be like nothing we have experienced before. Hence, me starting to blog again. I want to use this as a way to better keep in touch with our dear family and friends, and to record the chaos as it unfolds. So there you have it. We are moving in a few weeks! Yikes - it seems more real when I type it. I am going to miss our precious family and friends so much...hoping to entice you out for visits by the fact that we will be 30 minutes from the beach! This Thanksgiving I feel like no words could express my thankfulness to God for the journey we are on, the incredible man I am married to, the precious children by our sides, and the unbelievably wonderful family and friends we are graced with. It's definitely enough to humble a girl in gratitude :)
