A Wife Loved Like The Church

Posts Tagged ‘Moving

Do you know that Bobby McFerrin song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy“? Some days I’ve got a lot more worry and a lot less happy.

{photo credit}

We are moving to Texas in one week. One week. Not a big deal, since packing is coming along {though not without some price}, we have a place to live once we are there, and movers to handle our stuff. But one thing looming over my head is this: We haven’t found renters for our house.

We bought our house in March, and since we have other rental properties, we don’t want to sell. Which means we need to find renters for December 1st. That’s two weeks from today. Two weeks.

I’m trying real hard to say “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. But it can be hard when all you see is worry.

I know God asked us to go to Texas. I’ve seen His hand working in our lives there already. It’s amazing and exciting. Yet it’s scary to take such a huge step of faith. Down right terrifying for me at times. So I’ve been clinging to these verses lately:

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:34 {NLT}

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:5-7 {NLT}

“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” Psalm 25:4-5 {NLT}


Top Ten {Tuesday} Our family is packing up our house for a big move to Texas. We leave next Wednesday, so we are working hard to get everything squared away in time. Thankfully, a lot gets done when Jonathan is at home and we can work together. But, I’ve still found that there are some lessons we’ve learned NOT to do when packing up your entire house.

1. Pack up all your toys – While it might seem like a great idea to clean up the toy room, it’s dangerous territory when your two toddlers have nothing to play with.

2. Pack up all your medicine – Sure, you haven’t been sick in months, so why do you need 3 bottles of NyQuil? Trust me on this – packing up all your medicine is like asking to get sick.

3. Have your oldest get pink eye – See #2. Told you I was asking for it.

4. Have your youngest get pink eye – Could I really expect her not to get it, since big sister is all she has left to play with {see #1}?

5. Get sick yourself – See #2 and #3 and #4.

6. Start The 30 Day Shred – I blame this fully on Alicia’s amazing results. Once I saw her before and after pictures, I went out that afternoon and bought 30 Day Shred. I’m on day 5. And I’m really, really sore.

7. Volunteer for anything – I volunteer for things before I even think. It’s a good habit that comes at bad times. Thankfully all my friends are gracious enough to overlook when I back out of my responsibilities at the last minute {Sorry friends!}.

8. Be hard on yourself – Let’s just say I haven’t been the greenest human lately. Or the most time conscious. Or the most loving. Or the most hygiene prone. Or anything else I strive for.

9. Be overly hard on your kids – Moving is hard for kids. They don’t fully understand what’s going on. And while it’s frustrating to explain for the fourteenth billion time what it means to “pack” I need to cut the girls some slack.

10. Not ask for help – I’m blessed with friends just waiting to help us. And I take advantage of it when I can/need. And that means thankfully I have dinner provided for us every night this week. Can you say awesome? {Thanks friends!}

What are some of your packing tips? Any crazy stories of packing with little ones?

Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.

In what has been one of the craziest Windham adventures yet, we have decided to move back to Austin, Texas. We will be moving Thanksgiving week. There are a number of factors as a basis for this decision, as there are with any big move. Three main influences in taking us back to Texas are:

1. Spiritual direction – God is calling us to a place where we can minister to our (extended) family, to our past, and mostly to Him. We know that God is moving mightily and drawing us to follow Him there.
2. Family – Being closer in distance to our family while surrounding ourselves and our girls with our/their heritage.
3. Work – The reason for “why now” is that Jonathan will be employed and that’s important for him and for our family as you might agree.

Now for the hardest part:
For nearly six years I’ve lived in Iowa. And over the last 5 years our friends here have become family. They have been with us through life and death. They have been our support, our encouragement, our lives. I would not be the same person without them. I’ve shared many tears and laughter with each of them; building memories and relationships that I pray stand the test of time.

So, my sweet Iowan friends, we are heading south for the winter. Please know each of you mean the world to me. I treasure your friendship and thank God that I have had you all in my lives.

Now to leave you on a funny note, I give you this:

Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.