Adios, Tejas!

After much prayer and discussion, our family relocated to Missouri!

Many factors weighed in on this decision, but our strong desire to raise our children in a rural setting was a major consideration. With the limitless education in being good stewards of God's creation, having a stong work ethic, and all the things country life can teach, we prayed for years for an opportunity to do so.

Thankfully, we have not relocated only to become an island in the middle of the Midwest, but have come to an area with family and a community of dear friends.

It is strange to me to think just three weeks ago today, the children and I loaded up the minivan to make the big drive up Missouri way. It was a bittersweet day, as we left one home and headed toward our new home, a new adventure, a new way of life.

Let me start at the beginning of this adventure...the setting: a U-Haul truck somewhere in eastern Oklahoma; the main characters: two brothers who spent 11 of the last 24 hours loading this truck; the temperature: 110 degrees in the shade. What would a relocation story be without the moving truck breaking down?!? The truck lost power somewhere between Here and There, OK. However, they made it to the shoulder safely. The Lord was gracious and sent a brief rain to cool things down while they waited for several hours for roadside assitance to come. Right about dusk, Help came in a rusty Chevy pick-up. He jiggled a few wires, checked a few things and it started right up. Help followed them to the nearest large town where they found lodging for the night.

Last tank of gas: $76
Moving truck rental: $500
Brother bonding moment on the side of the road in OK: Priceless

Despite the time delay, they arrived safely in Missouri the next day where they were met by a troop of gracious friends ready to help unload all our belongings. The children and I had an easy drive up the following day.

While we miss our family and friends in Texas, we have a peace that we are where the Lord would have us be at this time and look forward to moving toward our goal of our own home in the country.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11