So..we're moving.

I've been dreading writing this blog..because I'm a big ball of emotional craziness.  We are moving.  Not to Taylor, Tx as we planned...but to Chicagoland area! Every time I say it or type it out it seems a little more real and a little more crazy.  Good crazy.  But still hard to grasp in this brain of mine. 

(p.s. even now I have a few tears.) 

So let's talk about how this happened.  You might remember that about a year ago we sold our house, with the full intention of moving to Taylor to do life with some peeps that we love oh so dearly. For the last year we have looked at houses in Taylor (for real, I have the Taylor real estate market memorized)  and despite all our efforts, haven't been able to agree on a house. About the time March came around, we settled that no matter what, when June came we wanted to have a decision, and we were leaving this apartment.  (so we thought)

Over the last few months a possibility for a job for Brad up in the midwest showed up on our radar, and we began to pray over that.  While we really struggled with the idea of leaving here, we both felt strangely led towards this job.  We prayed over it, and decided to really be open to whatever might come of it. 

Fast forward to the last month, Brad interviewed, and we prayed, and the deeper he got into the process the more and more we felt like this is exactly what we're supposed to be doing.  How the timing worked out has just been amazing too, and the peace the Lord has given us over Brad leaving his current job has been something we just can't question.  Greg, Brad's current boss was so very gracious, and we are so so thankful for how wonderful he has been to our family the last three years.  So leaving on good terms was extremely important to us.  

So, an offer came, Brad accepted, and he starts his new job on August 13th.  The job is one he is really excited about, and he will be working with a close family friend.  We're so thankful for the opportunity.  It seems very final, probably because it is, and if we (read: if I) think about it too much I get pretty emotional.  Please don't get me wrong...I am so very excited for Brad and this new job, I'm so excited that we'll be close to family, and I'm excited that after praying this over as a family and feeling such a strong sense of peace we can completely trust that the Lord is going to protect us in this.  I can also look at where we were five years ago when we decided to move across the country and how fearful I was about that...and I look at where we are now and I know that Jesus has been with us all the way.  He will be with us in this.  So I am joyful.  My heart just hurts..because we are leaving friends who have loved us so well, and who we cherish so deeply.  We're also leaving a church that we adore, and have grown exponentially while attending.  And I am leaving my dream job.  (I'm not kidding about that- I know I only work one day a week, but I love it.) 

So here we go.  We're not really very sure where we'll be living exactly.  The job is in Illinois, we'll live somewhere close to the IN/IL border..no decisions on where yet. Hopefully we'll nail that down by the end of this week.  No idea where I'll be working, I'm applying in both Illinois and Indiana for licenses and jobs. We'll figure that out  soon enough. Here's a song and verse or two that have been keeping my heart peaceful over the last few weeks.  

Standing on this mountain top

Looking just how far we've come

Knowing that for every step

You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground

Seeing just how much you've done

Knowing every victory 

Is your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts will say

Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did you leave us on our own

You are faithful, God you are faithful

You are faithful, God you are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts will say 

Never once did we ever walk alone

Carried by your constant grace

Held within your perfect peace

Never once, no we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did you leave us on our own

You are faithful, God you are faithful

You are faithful, God you are faithful

Every step we are breathing in your grace

Every step we are breathing out your praise

You are faithful, God, you are faithful

You are faithful, God, you are faithful

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.