Minnesota Bound!

I've cried a lot lately. No. I mean, a L.O.T.  We both have.

Sad tears. Happy tears. Frustrated tears. Excited tears. "I'm cryin' for no good reason" tears. Soon-to-be-missing-my-peeps tears. Can't-wait-to-see-my-peeps tears! Anxious about a new job tears. Overwhelmed. On many levels in many differing ways. In the form of tears. 

I don't know about you, but when faced with obstacles that seem insurmountable, even though you're doing your best to keep that faithful, steadfast mindset on the Lord and His plan, it can raise a lot of questions. Specifically in that form of 'why'. 

Why now? Why this? Why did we have to wait so long? Why can't it just work out? Why is there so much dramatic difficulty when You are clearly leading? Why must there be a new daily stress? 

There have been literal moments of crying out to God: How much more faith do you need from us to show you that we are 'real', that we are "In this" for the long haul?? If I were to show you the endless list of emails and documents sent back and forth between buying/selling parties and realtors and lenders in both NV and MN since the last post I wrote, it would probably make more sense as to these 'obstacles' I'm referring to, but you'll just have to trust us on this one. It's a bit ridiculous. Almost comical, if you will! But it's been our recent reality, front and center. And for many days it felt unending as phones dinged and ringed beckoning our immediate attention to address the specific need, ahem..problem, at hand. This has not been the average smooth-sailing, typical purchasing a home story--even those who have been working closely with us from the beginning recently referred to Andy and I as "being put through the ringer." Just when things seem to be moving forward, another sharp right turn is thrust our way. And we are once again knocked to our knees in earnest prayer but still rejoicing to the One who is leading. 

Packing break--a fun night together as a fam of five!!

Peek-a -boo

Slowly being overtaken by boxes...

Tears welled up and overtook my face as we overcame one mountain only to find that the way down the other side wasn't anywhere close--there was a whole new way around this next mountain. But we didn't have the map. We found ourselves a lot like Peter--just stepping out onto that water from the stormy, rocking boat and literally taking one. step. at. a. time. We could only continue doing what we've done up to this point. A lot of time on our knees. Times of pouring over Scripture, praying over that Scripture and claiming it as God's solid Truth. Comfort. Peace. A solace in Him that was unexplainable but undeniably real to the core as we belted out those lyrics to "Oceans" through worship on Sunday morning nearly two weeks ago.

Some of my peeps that I'm going to miss oh-so-dearly!! Love these gals...to the core...

Beating the heat with an afternoon family movie--and for a buck! We'll take it. :)

Some of you know first hand, whether through face-to-face coffee dates, or added up hours of phone conversations, the unscripted details Andy and I found ourselves in, and continue to find ourselves in, when dealing with the ins and outs of that whole buying/selling homes, states apart, simultaneously. And you know the tears we have cried when God, and ONLY God, could have weaved those literal 'out of our hands' detailings together so perfectly, so timely, that really...all those involved had no explanation. We did. THAT'S GOD!! People advocating for us in ways that here again, only God could have orchestrated. And to think, He had this all in play from the very get-go. All we needed to do was trust. Easier said than done (I'm sure I heard an "Amen" out there on that one...), but when it's 'done', man....is it awesome. Go God!!!!

DATE NIGHT!!!

Tender tears have fallen because we knew, and still know, "goodbyes" loomed and are looming. I've refused to call them that however, and I simply say it's a lengthy 'see ya later.' Things won't be the same. Change is hard. Change is unwelcoming for many. Ok. For most. But to get a little personal, if I may, when God is in charge of the change there's a certain comfort amidst those agonizing 'see-ya-laters', even in knowing the norm will not be the norm soon. Even though we may have cried streams of tears lately due to some of those 'see-ya-laters' with family and friends, we are beyond thankful for the encouragement and prayers (literal, prayers over Andy and I) as we seek the road ahead that God has clearly called us to travel.

Carson & Daniel

Carson getting Joey to laugh ;)

The boy cousins!

The Anderson cousins!! :)

Aven, Jovi, & Austin

Bros :)

Nanny & Pappy with their Grandkids!! :)

  

Mason showin' his stuff

Kyle & Jen & their girls!

Mitch & Heather & their boys!

Church luncheon in order to say those 'see-ya-laters' (insert tears...)

This gal...a treasured friend indeed! (love ya Kelly!)

Thankfully, the abundance of those tears have been readily replaced with laughter off on and on throughout the chaos. Some days, most days in fact, it's the only way we got through. As we focused on the packing, the precious times together with family and friends, and the silly randomness of these past weeks, laughter became the norm. And it was a welcome relief!! Oh, the tears still fell because the love and the care runs so deep and because, well, crying has got to be one of my talents I've come to conclude. If it's not, well by golly than crying is one of those things I'm just naturally good at doing. ;)

There was an abundance of 'hide & seek' before these boxes were stuffed!

It's gettin' real people... Oh. My. Stuff!!!

A little fun with packing & bubble-wrap...

...and newspaper. He scores!!

Our reality lately...

Such troopers as their stuff is slowly being packed away...

...but that also means crazy fort-fun!!! :)

Austin "hiding" during a little hide-&-seek with his brothers

A movie for a buck! Daniel & Carson :)

Carson and his buddy Jace :)

A swimming day with some friends!

Moving has been testing. On sooooooo many levels. Testing our hearts, our minds, our trust, our relationships, our patience, our ability to roll with each new dramatic stress that still seems to awaken with each new day. But it's also testing our endurance to stay focused on the bigger picture, those daily blessings, the beckoning goodness in all of the chaos. Living on faith and living with hearts and hands completely open to God's leading is exactly what this family of five is all about!! 
Insert a little side note if you will: that may make me a bit nervously excited about what the future holds for our three gents. I'm a family gal--so the thought of my boys not being close to me and their daddy is a bit, um, unsettling. But how can I question, if, Lord willing, these three handsome gents of ours follow God's calling on their lives...no matter where it may take them?!? To know that GOD is the only One they answer to, that living obediently to Him first and foremost beats all others, no matter where He may call them someday, than in that, we will rejoice!!

No beds...it's like glorified camping!! haha! ;)

And with all that being said, this family of five is Minnesota Bound!!!! In just a few days!!! Hearts full to overflowing to begin our teaching at Legacy Christian Academy. We have no idea what God has planned, how He'll use us in and beyond the classrooms, how long we'll be there, we just know this...God's in charge. We're His children. It's another step for this FFof5 as we remain Kingdom-minded. Thank you for praying, for encouraging, for supporting, for loving on the five of us throughout. Keep on in this journey with us!! :) 

I'll go anywhere with this fella of mine!!