MN to NC: The Final Chapter

Six months ago I began a journey.

A mama of three little boys about to pack up and follow her husband across the country into the unknown… and boy, was it unknown.

I wouldn’t have thought that it would take six months to finally feel like I was “home.” Our original plans had us settled much sooner than we ended up being.

This summer was a roller coaster and one that would loopity loop every time I thought the ride was almost over. From an untimely bout with COVID, to tire blow outs, to having to back out of house contracts, to switching state destinations, to looking at house after house after house in an insane market, then to be blessed with a beautiful home… that needed lots of love and attention. Not to mention three little boys trying to understand why their world had flipped upside down.

And here’s what’s been amazing to me… from start to finish, through all the crazy and unexpected… you guys have been there, walking right along beside me. I can’t tell you what a blessing it’s been, not only to journal the ups and downs, but to see your interest and feel your support along the way.

After the toughest of weeks, I’d sit down at the computer and find some way to write it out… and there you all were. You were always waiting with words of blessing and encouragement and empathy, often sharing beautiful or humorous or difficult pieces of your own story. And it’s always helpful to know you aren’t walking alone.

Sometimes I didn’t know which way was up, but this journal and your company helped to keep me grounded and forced me (in all the good ways), to see God’s lessons and provisions in it. I never wanted to walk away from an entry having simply whined or complained, because that’s no help to anyone. This journal caused me to look for God’s goodness and his guidance through his Word, even when nothing made sense.

And now…

I think it’s about time to wrap it up. We’re finally done traveling and are mostly unpacked. I’ve started school with the boys. And for the first time in a long time, I feel settled. This place is beginning to feel like home. It’s been an amazing adventure and though it’s not over, I feel like I’ve shared the journey and it’s beginning to feel out of place to say MN to NC, because… well, I finally feel like I’m really here.

Don’t worry, there will still be renovations, and updates, and stories for sure! I absolutely love sharing life with you guys and, Lord willing, I plan to continue! I’m simply bringing the moving journal to a close.

If you’ve kept up with my story, you know it was literally an act of God that brought me here. It was never my first choice, and even when I agreed back in March, I can’t say I was “over the moon” excited for it. God was leading… and I was following… that’s all I knew, and that’s basically all I felt. And that didn’t change as I had to go through the pain of saying goodbye to loved ones, friends, a beautiful church and my perfect, little blue house.

But you know what?

God has brought my heart along and blessed us as I could never have hoped for.

So Many Blessings

He blessed us with safe travels with a truck, trailer, mini van and three little boys and provision during the close calls.

He blessed us with grandparents who gave up their set schedule and quiet home to house us for two months when it was only meant to be two weeks. And they did so with generosity and kindness.

He blessed us with the finances to carry us through while Derek wasn’t working.

He blessed us with time as a family in the waiting that we wouldn’t have had otherwise.

He blessed us with a good job for Derek that meets all of our needs.

He blessed us with a beautiful little home in the valley, with a lovely mountain view.

He blessed us with an incredible church who didn’t just open their doors to us on Sunday morning, but brought us in and were the body of Christ to us whenever and in whatever way we had need and are continuing to do so.

He blessed us with immediate friendships, families we have deeply connected with and been so blessed by. (Including a friend who has stepped in and stepped up to be such a help to me when my brain and body were worn and exhausted from a long, crazy summer of transitions.)

He has blessed us in more ways than I could even begin to recount to you right now.

He’s Bringing Me Along

And even though it’s taken years for me to want to be where I am now… I can honestly tell you that I have stepped out our door so many times and as I gaze across the mountains and take in God’s amazing artwork… I take a deep breath and think to myself… could there be a better place to be right now?

I miss so many people, so many things about Minnesota… but I’m happy to be here. And I’m happy for my husband who is beyond excited to have his boys back where he grew up, to hike, fish, and explore whenever opportunity allows. He’s always been a country boy at heart and I can tell he’s so glad to be back home. His joy is obvious and it brings me joy.

But my joy is not just for Derek. God has contented my heart here and given me joy in the journey, peace in the settling, and hope for the future.

And while this chapter seems to be reaching an end, a new one is only beginning. I don’t know what it will hold… but God does.

Thanks for coming on this journey with me, sweet friends. It’s meant more than you know.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy… Philippians 1:3-4