Moving

I can't believe I'm even writing a post about moving from Florida. I can't believe it for two reasons:

1.) We thought that we'd raise our kids here and we are going to miss Florida terribly.

2.) We have missed Texas more than we ever thought was possible and we can't believe we are going back.

When we decided (were called) to move to Florida, I came with a heavy heart. I love family so much and couldn't imagine only seeing our parents or siblings once or twice a year. I wanted my kids to grow up knowing their grandparents in the way I knew mine. I lived in the same town as my dad's parents and walked to their house after school all of the time. I also lived 30 minutes from my mom's parents and loved spending weekends sewing and building things out of wood in my grandpa's wood shop. At both of my grandfathers' funerals, I truly felt like a chapter of my life closed because they were such a huge part of my childhood. Who wouldn't want their kids to be that close to family?

Even though I left Texas crying, I also knew that God had some big things in store for me personally and for us as a family. I knew that my time here would most likely be lonely because that's what it would take for me to grow spiritually and to heal. I couldn't depend on others, I had to depend completely on God. And all of that has happened. What has taken place in me personally makes my hands shake with excitement. (Ask me and I will tell you about it. :)) The way we have grown as a family is wonderful and I wouldn't trade it for 3 years in Texas. What God has done in Jay makes me so happy and so proud of him. One night while we were still in Dalhart, I looked at Jay and said, "Okay, I'll move to Florida and I'll become Anglican, but promise me you will never become a priest." Jay laughed and responded, "I cannot promise you, but as of now, I have no desire to become a priest." I'm so glad that he didn't promise because I have loved watching him follow God's call into the priesthood. I'm even kind of getting used to seeing him in a collar. (It took a while. I might have even cried the first time he tried it on. haha)

New Grace Church and Florida will always have a special place in my heart. This has been our safe place to grow and heal. And we have made some lifelong friends who will make it very difficult for us to leave. I might just pack them up in a box and bring them with us.

Texas. It's home. I never knew how much Texas was a part of us until we left. Our kids talk about Texas and have cried and prayed to move back for about 3 years. The day we told them about moving to Dallas, we recorded their reactions. Have you seen the Disney World commercials with the kids' reactions to finding out they get to go on vacation there? (Or do they just show those commercials in FL?) Well, I'd equate the joy and excitement of our kids to the kids on t.v.

We are glad that we will be closer to family and old friends. And we are super excited about serving at All Saints Dallas. The people at All Saints are so warm and big-hearted. They truly love the Lord and want to see him move in their lives and in Central Dallas. We couldn't ask for a better church to spread our wings.

Please pray for these things:

1.) For our house to sell. The market here is not good, but we know that God is in control. When you think about us, please pray for our house to sell without us owing $ in the end.

2.) For the move. Packing and moving halfway across the country with 3 kids is never easy. But it is exciting.

3.) For a home in Dallas. The area we are moving to is not exactly in our price range. But we know that God has just the right place for us.

4.) For our adoption of Hadassah. This is always on the forefront of my mind. If we owe on our house, that is money that could have been used for adoption fees. Also, we expect to be matched with her anytime now and our prayer is that she is healthy, has food, and is safe.

We'll keep everyone posted on the move!