WE ARE MOVING TO MICHIGAN...

So here is the back story:

The Tuesday before we got Trixie, as you know, I bought her over the phone. It turns out that she was a very timely gift from above because 2 days later, that Thursday, at 10am I got thee phone call. The phone call that I had worried wondered about for years. Tim told me that will be moving to Michigan. Let me just say that again: Tim told me that we will be moving to MICHIGAN!  General Dynamics Tallahassee laid off most of its division in Tim's department and is transferring 4 people to MI.
 Well, since you asked, NO. NO- I did not congratulate him right then and there. I sobbed. I cried so hard that I thought I was going to throw up. I mean, I LOVE Tallahassee. I moved here 16 years ago when I was still a teenager! And who moves to MI in January!

We were able to soften the blow to the kids about our move with the old, "But you are getting a DOG!" bit. Actually, Lily was getting a dog. And to be honest, Owen was so excited to be moving somewhere where he could get a sled that he just cheered after we broke the news. But Cole, Lily and I needed some serious comfort that Thursday night. I will never forget laying on the bed with Lala as we both cried alligator tears together. Break my heart.

That next morning we drove to Georgia to pick up the dog. It was a good distraction. I had a precious few friends praying for and encouraging me upon the news. I have asked the Lord for years to let it be so that I KNEW Michigan was His perfect will for us if we ever did have to move there. And I have to say that HE did honor that frequent request. Through a series of events I knew within 24 hours that Michigan was our families next destination, that this was not a mistake (and we shouldn't start frantically looking for another option in the South).

Since that day I have watched a dear friend loose her baby at 28 weeks in utero. Perspective. My other dear friend lost a family member in a tragic way. Perspective. There is a family I am praying for regarding their first baby, a daughter (in utero as well), that has been diagnosed with a fatal disease. Perspective. Tim had to watch 7 of his co-workers get laid off 4 weeks before Christmas. Perspective.

We have been given a chance to live a great adventure all while my husband is rewarded with a potential-filled work environment doing what he loves. Again, perspective. Time for me to be a big girl and let go of the people and places that I love with joy. Oh, and the warmth...yes, time to majorly let go of that.

6 days after the initial blow of having to move befelled me, a deep peace, and dare I say hope, filled my soul. The next day was Thanksgiving and I have more than my fair share of people and experiences to be thankful for. So, Michigan it is, I have told myself. I have no other details than a moving date somewhere around January 17, and as late as February. It is nothing short of a miracle that I am this relaxed about the whole thing. Not that I don't still shed some tears.

Life goes on...it is quick and constantly changing. I have been cherishing my time with people more. We have been eating meals with our friends as much as possible...even on week nights.  The Christmas tree is up, the Christmas music on. Parades and family pictures, gift making, shopping, parties and fun are here.  God gave me Himself in the vulnerable form of a baby, that I might know HIM and be forgiven. I can trust that. I can trust HIM with my life, my children's lives, and my precious family and friends' lives. I can trust HIM with my dreams.  And even though I have always said that I could grow old in Tallahassee, that wasn't my promise to keep. I can trust God in this too. It is a good thing, and I did, in fact, congratulate my husband. Then I thanked him.