Moving is a massive transition

My family and I have known for the longest time that where we live currently is not forever home.

It has been great place for the kids, and we've been very blessed by the community .... but the time has come for us to move on.

People have asked me how I feel about the move, and all I can say is that I've a mixture of many emotions.

I'm looking forward to our next adventure, yes!

But I'm also going to really miss this place and the people whom we've come to love here.

I'm excited, yes!

But I'm also afraid because there are so many uncertainties looming on the horizon.

It's a massive transition, and going through this process has reminded me (again!) that the most powerful word in the English language is the word 'AND'.

We CAN be a mixture of many different, conflicting emotions at the same time.

I've also picked up a few insights from the whole moving experience which I thought is well worth noting down:

1) On freedom: The more stuff you own, the more tied down you are.

It has been a few months since God put the desire to move in our hearts.

I would have been out of here the next week - that's how convinced we were about this transition - if not for the fact that we have to first sell our home.

Don't get me wrong, we are so very blessed to be able to own our home. We love our home. But because we own it rather than rent it, we can't just up and go.

We're 'tied' to this home until we sell it and release the rights to it to another family.

There is no right and wrong with regards to home ownership, and I am certainly an advocate for owning your home.

But in this instance, life would certainly be a lot simpler if we were not tied down to this home.

2) On faith: There are times where you have to trust God and take the leap.

If you know me, you'd know that I am a very meticulous and detailed person.

I take care of our household budget because of that very reason. (psst, if you're looking for some really good resources on financial stewardship, check out Compass Financial Ministry here!)

So one of the first things I did once we knew we were moving was look into what our budget would look like while living in Christchurch.

But after going down quite a few rabbit holes, I gave up.

My numbers were estimations at best because they were based on information I found online and predictions of what our lives were going to be like in a new city.

According to my calculations, we wouldn't survive.

According to my calculations, this move is not financially beneficial.

And yet, we're currently packing up our house contents.

I'm absolutely terrified, but at the same time, at peace with it all.

After all, when God tells you to 'go to the land that I will show you' (partially quoted from Genesis 12:1), you just have to trust him and do it.

It doesn't mean I don't have meltdowns when talking with God though.

But it does mean that I do it, despite being terrified.

Because that's faith.

3) On fun: There's no place or time like the present.

I know someone who moved because she wasn't happy where she was. She wasn't having fun, and thought a new place would be just the thing she needed.

It has been a while now since she moved, but the last time we spoke, I was left with the impression that she wasn't much happier in her new location.

Which led me to question our move when we first discussed it: Are we moving because God is calling us to? Are we moving for the right reasons, and not because we think the grass is greener on the other side?

I had to really sit and steep in this question (lots of time in prayer there!).

It was a really good reflection, which led to the realization that I AM having fun.

It isn't about the location, or timing, but rather who I was doing life with. And what I choose to do in that place and time.

No matter where I am, I will always have God.

I will have the most fun people I can do life with: my family.

And I will reap enjoyment from my day's work, meals, and people I spend it with.

It's the simple things in life that are the most important.

And so whether here or there, now or then, I will enjoy my days under the sun (see Ecclesiastes 8:15).

There you go, my 3 insights on freedom, faith and fun related to moving!

And now I have a little request for you.

Would you please pray for us?

Our timeline is tight, and we would ideally love to remove our 'ties' to this place before we move.

It's our prayer that God will point the right people to buy our properties for a fair price. We truly hope that these assets will be a blessing to them as well as us.

Thank you - I appreciate you!