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It’s sure been an eventful month!
We find ourselves reeling mentally and emotionally after hopping onto the roller coaster ride of making the firm decision to pack up our lives and get the heck out of dodge (I say that with no idea to what I am referring–what is this dodge?).
What I do know is that the first hill on this ride was a doozy!  Upon our return from a 33 hour trip to see our future home (about 20 of which was driving), we made the decision to move forward and place an offer contingent upon the sale of our home.  It was immediately accepted.  Within 2 days of this accepted offer, we put our house back on the market.  Somewhere in there we cleaned like mad people.  We cleaned closets, touched up paint, cleaned basement floors, shoveled snow, cleaned out drawers, scrubbed a ridiculous amount of surfaces, etc., etc., etc…
In the midst, we tried to be as available as possible to a beloved family member as she was hospitalized for several days with some pretty big health concerns (she is doing very well now), dealt with one miserable case of food poisoning (Christian won’t be eating there again any time soon), continued to work, do school, and the rest of regular life.
Within a day of our house listing hitting the interwebs we got calls for showings–two within the first four days!  For the first showing we were given only 6 HOURS to prepare!  Scramble, scramble, scrub and leave while strangers walk through your home and evaluate.  It feels like the SAT’s from high school.
*Let’s see how much you know about style and home-ownership.  No worries–it’s only one of the biggest tests of your life!*
We heard that both families really liked the house.  While we waited to see if they liked it enough, we did the wonder-if-we-should-get-our-hopes-up mental jig.  We dreamed about what it would be like if they wanted to buy.  We imagined what it would feel like if they didn’t and neither does anyone else and we set the whole thing down again and stay put.  We wonder if this whole thing was really God’s idea or just our silly two-year-loooong daydream.  We have blue days and hopeful days.  But the days feel endless when our minds reel from all of the possibilities.
And then we get the email.  The email we waited for for months last year.
They want it.  Quite badly.
And then we shift gears.  And sign papers.  No longer the “it’s.”  Now we’ve advanced to the “how’s” (with a not-so-brief stop at THANK YOU, JESUS!!!).  How in the world are we going to make all of this happen?  The planning, the trips over many miles with our stuff, the packing, the details, the finances…what have we DONE?
And then our minds travel to the leaving.  The leaving of all we’ve known.  The starting over in all that is unfamiliar.  The saying good-bye to this home that we built and in which we raised our family.  The gut-wrenching geographical separation from those we truly love.
And somewhere in the midst, our Provider keeps sending us little love notes.
Friends who are praying despite their sadness to see us go.  Some just encouraging throughout the tears, some having prayed and given us prophetic reassurances.  Everyone cheering us on to live our dream.
And the hope.  hopebirdThe hope spark has been fanned into quite the flame!  This little guy (hand-crafted for me by a dear friend) is the one personal item I left out for the house showings.  Maybe the new owners would need to see this little hope birdie ready to take wing, as I have.  His door, too, is open and he is headed for some other home–ready to fly.
Perhaps it will remind them like it does me, that–
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all…(Emily Dickinson)
And now we pack…

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  1. Anita Hyde says:

    VERY difficult as you expressed in your post, but as you have experienced God will bless beyond your imaginations. Not say there will be times of feeling alone and not sure if what you are doing is the best or wisest, but those are the times when you will learn to be stronger than you thought possible. God is good, all the time…all the time, God is good! Not sure if I have the phrase correct :-/…I seem to screw it up when I try to say it, but I think you know what I mean.

    • alisonsblogs says:

      I revisited this comment today (much later than it was written) and realized that I never put my reply in print. However, it seemed today was the day it needed to sink in. Some days (like today), preparing to leave is a huge challenge and we wonder what in the world we are doing! But, your sentence smack dab in the middle of your comment is exactly what I needed to read and soak in today. Thank you, Anita! <3

  2. Amy Anderson-Milner says:

    Praying that wherever the Lord leads, you follow. Praying wherever you find your stopping point, you sow His promises. Praying God has new friends and family already anxiously awaiting your arrival. Praying you never forget those you leave behind. Always praying. Our family was blessed by knowing yours, and we are better for the time we spent in your company and in your wise counsel. Be blessed in all you do~!

    • alisonsblogs says:

      Wow, Amy. That is beautiful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the prayers and love. We are humbled and grateful. <3
      Many blessings to you and yours as well…

  3. Amy says:

    Congrats!! I need to come visit before you move!!

  4. Misty says:

    Yay yay yay yay yay!!!! It’s happening!

    • alisonsblogs says:

      I LOVE this comment from you, dear friend! From someone who gets the need to go wherever He calls it means so very much! You are proof that friendships can not only thrive at great distances, but get even sweeter!
      I will get your room ready…<3

  5. Christine says:

    Praise God! So excited for you all! Love the adventure you all are going to have! It will be great!

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