It's for real...

We are down to the last few days, hours... I am having a hard time grasping that Francis is going to get on a plane on Sunday afternoon and fly off to Phoenix and start a new job. That we in a few short (hopefully) months will join him. That this whole move thing is for real. I thought my mind would grasp it on his last day at Rockwell. Then I thought okay, I'll get it when he starts fixing stuff up around the house. Nope. Maybe tomorrow as he flys away from us....

The only part that has been real has been the stress and the tears. Stress as we battle to get everything done before winter sets in hard, before he leaves. Stress from when we discovered carpenter ants eating away our porch, which now has to be torn apart, fixed, and painted before the snow flys. Stress from a drain pipe that decides to break and cause another leak on the living room ceiling. The stress of too many things needing our attention and too little time.

It seems Satan has a way of stepping in and stealing our joy. The joy of a new and exciting adventure. Joy from having Francis home with us for one full week. Joy as our family works together to clean up the yard from tree trimming. And Satan is good at stealing our peace too. Peace that this decision was put in God's hand and that God will provide. God is good and he will carry us through all of this crazy chaos to a complete plan.

As we go about our days the girls and I often reflect that "this might be the last time we get to....". So many things this holiday season will be bittersweet as we focus on the joy that each moment brings us. This move will be hard, but hard things usually teach us truths. Isn't it funny that we can live in the same town and not see our friends for months? Isn't it funny that we always clean the house, or work on chores, because we can always walk in the woods next week? Isn't it funny that we do our stuff instead of playing a family game? Satan has many ways of stealing our joy doesn't he? The next couple of months will be busy and exhausting. Being alone, on top of school, on top of getting ready for the holidays. But I want to slow down and experience joy with each person we are close to before we leave. We need to grasp today, this moment, and make it joy full. Full of all we love and care about. Things change. People leave. Kids grow up. Time flys.

Tomorrow is going to be difficult. Even thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. It is going to be hard to leave Cedar Rapids. It is going to be hard to watch Francis take the first real step in our journey. If you run into me, don't mind the tears, but please know that there is real joy in our friendship. That this has been a good place where our family has grown and found real friends.