From Minnesota to Tennessee: The Adventure Begins

I’ve decided to try and break my writers block by journaling a journey upon which we are about to embark.

I feel like it could be an interesting story. I mean after all…

• We are picking up and moving cross country with three boys going on 2, 4, & 6.
• We are (Lord willing), making this transition (from start to finish) in a matter of about 3 months total.
• We don’t currently have a job waiting. (Though we are blessedly aware that licensed electricians are generally always in demand.)
• We are currently still working out what our housing situation will be.
• It’s something we’ve felt led to do, and are striving to walk by faith as we trust God with the details.

I know, I know, we might seem insane, but throw in some laughs, some tears and a few hiccups and this could make for a fun story, don’t ya think?

The Fun Has Just Begun

In just the month since we made this decision, we’ve already had a few interesting developments.

On a Saturday morning about four weeks ago, (as I rubbed my aching back) Derek and I had the long discussion that led to us deciding that, although we had originally planned to make our move a year from now, the world is crazy and unpredictable, and thusly selling our house by end of month would be the wisest idea. (I mean… the market is insanely in the sellers favor right now!) As I rubbed my temples (figuring the headache plaguing me was coming from stress or maybe the weather, which isn’t unusual), I agreed that we should talk to our realtor the following week. Already, our plans were beginning to form and the awareness that I had a whole house to go through and pack up made my already tired and achy body feel even more so. Surely I’d feel better tomorrow and I could start to tackle our disorganized closets, bedrooms, and basement. (If you’ve ever been to my home… you have no idea how many random things I tuck away and out of sight to give my house the appearance of organization. It’s a problem.)

Slight glitch though… we were soon to discover that the achiness wasn’t stress. It wasn’t the weather. It wasn’t due to a long day.

No, no. As perfect timing would have it, my turn with COVID had arrived.

So, my aching, coughing, feverish, fatigued self lay on the couch for the next 10 days trying to find the energy to grab another box of stuff and get busy. After all, what better to do with 10 days of quarantine than prep to sell your house, right??? Only problem is that COVID gave me that feeling that you get when you’re up way too late and you can’t keep your eyes open… but allllll day. The sand man was my constant companion and sometimes it was all I could do to stay awake. And of course, everyone kept checking on my boys, but I guarantee you, they never once slowed down (I was thankful for that but all the more exhausted) and if they had been capable of putting all their energy into packing boxes, we’d be moved and settled in TN at this very moment. Oh, and we’ll just skip over the depression and deep sadness I felt at not being able to taste or smell ANYTHING. Food lost it’s joy and made the emotional eating that I wanted to do no comfort at all. I was trying so hard to be an adult about it… but it seriously messed with me and I’m afraid I whined waaaaaay more than my foodie of a husband who lost his taste for SIX weeks after his bout with COVID back in November and hardly ever complained. Not my best moment.

Anywho, thankfully, I recovered quickly (except for some residual joint pain and headaches, nothing serious, but prayer is always appreciated). I was able after about the 10 days to tackle the house and prep it for sale. I spent the next two weeks clearing, organizing, cleaning, packing, tossing, saving, and thrifting almost everything in our home. It was a lot but our goal was to get the house to market by end of March.

Three weeks after we made our decision to move, our house went to market on the last Saturday of March. We had about 20 views on the first day, six offers by Sunday evening, and accepted an offer that night.

And that’s that, here we were, thankful to God for the quick sale… only to find out as we sought out housing, that, for whatever reason, it seems everyone and their mother got the wild hair to move to East Tennessee just like we did. Who’da thunk it? So now as we thank God, we also ask for his provision in providing us housing. (It’s so nice knowing he already knows EXACTLY what’s ahead of us and he is good and faithful in all things).

And we are firm believers that our calling isn’t to sit in fear of decisions that might take a step of faith, or that we should wait until everything is perfectly laid out before us. God doesn’t promise to place in our path a flashing sign in answer to where we should live or work or minister. We are called to walk in wisdom (Ephesians 5:15) and by faith (2 Cor 5:7) and do all things for His glory (1 Cor 10:31) and with kingdom purpose (Matt 6:33).

So, that’s where we’re at. It may seem a rash decision, but it really wasn’t… and I’m looking forward to sharing the details as to WHY we decided to make this transition. It’s a pretty neat story I have to say…

but I’ll save that for next time!

Thanks for taking the journey with us!

Much love!