Moving.

There are only 2 hard things about moving:

1. missing out on the good times

2. missing out on the bad times.

Everything else will be fine.

Missing the good times is always tough. When you move away you miss birthday parties of close friends, holidays with family and celebrating milestones. I'll miss the 'good' of meeting a friend for Pepsi, preparing for a big event, and then having that post-wow get together with cake.

That's tough stuff.

But tougher still is missing the bad times. Not being here when children get sick, cars get into accidents, jobs are eliminated or any tragedy hits. To be far away when things are bad is far worse than being far away when good things happen.

Moving. Part 1

It's official. We are moving. From here to there. From Midwest to Southeast. From Racine to Atlanta. Nearly 700 emotions at work in my heart at any given time, so sorting thru them is impossible.

Listing the fears is helpful:

1. Our children: transition, friends, adjustment, schools.

2. Our home: selling this one and finding that one.

3. Timing: sharing the news in a way that honors each relationship.

4. Logistics: details terrify me. 

5. School: homeschool or public school?

6. Age: maybe we're too old to move. maybe our kids are.

7. well, you get the idea.

Where there's smoke.

How do you know God's will? Really. Any one out there got that figured out? There's the thought that God's perfect will is for us to know and love Him more.

ok. working on that.

Maybe my question is more about how do you find God's plan? His best? 

Remember the days of burning bushes, parting seas and trumpet blasts? Yah. those were the good ole days. Days when even a fool could look in his garden, see the rhododendron burst into flames and say, "Well, me thinks tis time to buy a new blender. Thanks Lord for the sign." And then quickly add "buy new bush" to the list of landscaping needs.

My desire is for God to be overt, obvious, unconcealed and indisputable. For me to see His path, show it to others and say, "Tis the Lord's leading. Therefor, there goest I!" (I always imagine that when the Lord speaks that clearly, I will respond in King James vernacular. Seems appropriate.)

So, Path A or Path B. How do we know which is of the Lord? I'm willing to sacrifice shrubbery if it means His best. I am also willing to sacrifice small potted plants and my vegetable garden if that would be more efficient.

Trading Places.

Did you see the episode with the feuding neighbors? Incredible.

Two families, living 50 feet from each other, and been at war for 6 years. One family has a single mom raising 3 teenage boys. The other is a young couple with a 2 year old son. One family is very loud with garage bands, skateboarding and late nights. The other is frustrated with no privacy or protection from the noise. 

So they end up on the show. Mom and teen son re-doing a baby room, Young Couple re-doing a garage into a studio. 

Let the healing begin.

Seriously.

I know this is not a Christian show. I have no clue about the faith of the families. But this is evidence of God's Truth at work when they may not even see His hand.

They served one another, they walked in each other's shoes, slept in each other's homes, and took time to gain perspective. 

Talk about loving your enemy. Wonder if i would be so willing?

Lesson learned.

iPhone Roulette.

Great Game! Made it up the other day when we were 4 hours into a 13 hour drive. Gotta know that my husband John is very normal, and really likes normal. Although he has no fear of risk or adventure, he is terrified by awkward social situations.

To help him with this anxiety, I like to create awkward social situations.

iPhone Roulette

Equipment:

• iPhone
  
• hands free adapter
  

Play of game:

1. Player One (that would be me!) holds the iPhone, while Player Two (Mr. Normal) wears earbuds and mic.
   
2. Player One scrolls through the contact list and stops randomly on a name and number (hence the name 'roulette'!)
   
3. Player One clicks on the contact.
   
4. When the contact has answered the phone, Player Two must say, "My name is John. How do I know you?"
5. When Player Two correctly guesses the contact name, he is immediately advanced to Round 2.
6.  Which means I immediately hang up on whoever was on the line. 

• No explanations,
•  no warning, 
• no 'talk to you laters'.
•  Just click.
  

I haven't actually worked out the point system yet, but John has worked on the apologies for what he deems an 'awkward social situation'!