Where are we now?

     In the past month, we've been really busy getting ready. We have the house largely packed up. Left out are those things we need until the last minute, those things we'll take with us, and those things that are left out to stage the house. It does make it somewhat easier to clean, with fewer things laying around, but it still takes a significant part of an afternoon to pick up a million tiny legos.

     We have found someone to take care of the rabbit for us while we're gone. Thumper will be moving to a friend's house, in a hutch in the backyard. I think she'll really like that, and she will enjoy the attention from the kids who live there. The cat will be going with us... one of the parts of the plan that I'm just gonna trust to turn out okay.

     We sold our van, so we are down to just one (gas- guzzling) vehicle for the month of February. We've done that before, it's not a huge adjustment for us. And it's much easier to stay on top of housework when I'm not leaving the house every single morning. The kids are happier, too, which I did not expect. And Nick comes home for lunches again, which is really very nice. I've missed that. And I have to wonder if that's part of what makes our afternoon go so much more smoothly now- they get to see Daddy for a few minutes in the middle of the day, and it really does relax all of us when he's around.

     We have also revamped the plan several times. We still don't know where we're going. We were up way too late last night talking about our options. I'm starting to be in favor of just driving until it's time to stop, which has never been my style, but for this first weekend sounds like a good plan.

     The next big step is getting the house ready to be on the market. We've done the painting and all the little things we will probably do.. so it's down to cleaning. Which there is a lot to do. And the important part, visiting with all the people we want to say goodbye to- we just won't be able to see everyone. We're also trying to take a few more dates, since we won't have anyone to leave the kids with once we hit the road.

     We also have a few more things to figure out- like, how to fit the litter box into where we want it, and how to turn one of the bunks into a safe crib for Anna... we want something more permanent than the pea pod tent. And how to best weatherize ourselves for the first month. And where to even go. I love it, and I really love that as I one by one (painfully slowly) let go of control over the process, things just... fall into place. God really does provide what you need, when you stop trying to force it all into your little box of how you think it should all work. The purpose of our lives is to glorify God, not ourselves- so easy to forget, so easy to get off track and try to “do it all” and try to look like you have it all together. I am learning, I don't need to have it all figured out, because I don't need to be in the driver's seat- I'm just along for the ride.