0 In 2024/ Family/ Finding our place/ Motherhood/ Moving

Stress-Free Strategies for a Family Move

To all the incredible moms out there who are gearing up for a move, I understand the mix of excitement and stress that comes with this big change.

Here are some tips to help you navigate this transition smoothly.

Planning and Preparation

Create a Moving Timeline: Start planning early. Make a checklist of tasks to complete before moving day.
Declutter Before Packing: Declutter your home. Donate or sell items you no longer need. Less stuff means less to pack and unpack!
Host a garage sale to purge your home and earn extra cash for the move. (Click here for 6 tips for a successful garage sale).
Shop for a Moving Company: Call at least 3 companies. When you choose a company, ask if it’s their best price. The company I went with took off the extra weekend fees.
Pack Strategically:
- Collect lots of boxes and paper (You can often find them for free on Facebook marketplace)
- Pack anything that you want to keep but won’t need for the season. Books, art on the walls, etc.
- Pack room by room and label boxes clearly.
- Keep essentials like medications, toiletries, and a few kitchen items handy for the first few days in your new home.
- Set up utilities in your new location – gas, water, electric, internet, trash, insurance. I’m listing these because with 1 million things to do, I forgot to set up electric at my new house and freaked out when the power went out 24 hours after moving in. Thankfully, I quickly figured out who to call and got it set up.
Get appointments done: Once you move, it will take time to find a new dentist and doctor, so get check ups and doctor’s appointments done before moving. Get vaccination records and a sports physicals for kids.

Involving Your Kids:

Communicate with Kids: Involve your children in the moving process. Explain what to expect and reassure them about the upcoming changes.
Communicate with the Schools: Enroll your children in their new schools, and let their current school know you are moving. If possible, take a tour of the new school.
Pack a Suitcase Each Child: Pack a suitcase of your child’s clothes and a few of their favorite things. Before moving day, put these in your car so the movers don’t load them.
Explore the New Neighborhood: If possible, take your kids to explore the new neighborhood before moving day to get them excited about the new surroundings.
Sign them up for Sports or Clubs: If possible, get them involved in a sport or a club right away so they can begin to build friendships with kids in their new town.
Create a Bucket List: Do a little research about your new area to find fun things to do with your family. Create a list of fun things to do after the move. (Click here for a Minnesota List or here for a Colorado list.)

Managing Stress:

Accept Help! If someone mentions helping with the move, SAY YES and pick a day! I’m forever grateful for the handful of family and friends that jumped in to help when I moved. Delegating and having help is a huge stress reliever.
Stay Positive: Focus on the exciting aspects of your new home and the fresh opportunities it will bring for you and your family. It’s not taking you out of your comfort zone, it’s EXPANDING your comfort zone.

On Moving Day:

Set Up a Safe Space for Kids: If you have young children or pets, arrange for childcare/pet sitter on moving day, or designate a safe area away from the chaos.
Keep Important Documents/Boxes Handy: Keep important documents, medications, and valuables with you during the move. Perhaps you load these in your car before the movers come so they do not get loaded on the truck.
Plan ahead for food. Prep a cooler with drinks, snacks and sandwiches available for your family and those helping with the move.

After the Move:

Unpack Strategically: Unpack essentials first, like bedding and kitchen supplies. Take your time settling in. It will eventually get done so it’s OKAY to take breaks to eat, rest and play.
Get rid of boxes: List your boxes and packing paper on Facebook marketplace for FREE and everything will be picked up within 24 hours.
Connect with the Community: Get to know your new neighbors and explore local resources like parks, schools, and community centers.
Give Yourself Grace: Adjusting to a new home takes time. It may not feel like ‘home’ for 6-12 months. Be patient with yourself and your family as you settle into your new area and routine.
Read this post: 8 Ways To Love Where you Live

Remember, you’re doing an amazing job managing this transition for your family. Embrace this new chapter with optimism and know that soon you’ll be making beautiful memories in your new home. You’ve got this!

Click to read: 24 family-friendly places to explore around the Twin Cities

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April 29, 2024 By Kathryn

4 In 2023/ Faith/ Family/ Finding our place/ Inspiration/ Joy

6 Lessons I Learned in 2023

When I was planning this post, I really wanted to write ’23 things I learned in ’23.’ That was taking too long to write and some you wouldn’t care about anyway. (I mean, do you really want to know what apps I learned to use to help me connect with my child’s school?) I decided to SCALE back and focus on what I learned that impacted my life in a positive way, and might be useful for you too.

Lessons I learned in 2023:

1. Smile when things are hard. It makes it easier!

On a psychological level, smiling can trick your mind into perceiving the difficulty as more manageable. The act of smiling is known to release endorphins, which are feel-good hormones that contribute to an improved mood and reduced stress levels. P.S. Try it during a test, when you are angry or when working out. Read more here.

2. Make space for QUIET.

Quiet allows your mind to process what you are thinking and feeling. It moves out some of the ‘sludge’ from constant noise and busyness. It also opens up time for prayer and reflection. Being quiet allowed me to be more ‘present’ – to God, to myself, and to others.

“The noise of the modern world makes us deaf to the voice of God, drowning out the one input we need most.”
– John Mark Comer

3. Do ONE thing at a time.

I’m a serial mulit-tasker. In 2023, I learned that doing ONE thing at a time was more effective than doing multiple things poorly.

4. Slow down and pay attention to what is happening in the moment.

All the best stuff happens in the present and I don’t want to miss all the little moments of JOY.

5. Less input leads to better output.

In 2023 I learned that reducing the amount of input enhances the quality of output. Previously, I would consume up to 60 books a year and listen to countless podcasts. However, in 2023, I deliberately scaled back. This shift has allowed me the time to process and apply what I’ve learned. Creating this mental space has not only fueled my ideas, but also increased my motivation for writing, speaking, and teaching.

6. Change might seem too big and too hard, do it anyway.

When we began talking about moving to a different house, I was hesistant. I didn’t want to leave my comfort zone, the work involved with moving seemed overwhelming, and I was distraught over leaving our wonderful neighborhood. After lots of discussion, prayer and planning – we sold our house and bought another. The change turned out to be exactly what we needed. It was a LOT of work. It was really heard to say goodbye to our amazing neighbors, but the change was exactly what we needed for our family. And, it didn’t just take me out of my comfort zone, it EXPANDED my comfort zone. We’ve met so many new friends, while staying connected to our old ones. It made me (and all of us) a little more adaptable to different situations. Embracing change, though challenging, proved worthwhile.

Those were a handful of the many lessons I learned in 2023. Which of these should you practice in 2024?

What did you learn in 2023? Leave a comment by clicking on that little text box by the title of this post!

Thanks for reading and subscribing.

January 8, 2024 By Kathryn

2 In Faith/ Finding our place/ Inspiration/ My Journey

Rediscovering Joy: A Journey of Self-Reflection, Resilience, and Faith

In the winter of 2018, I found myself in an emotionally challenging place, feeling disheartened and discouraged. We had recently uprooted our lives (again!) to a new state that was experiencing one of the coldest winters in years, I had very few friends. The days were cold and dark and the boys continued to pass around every type of cold. The demands of raising four boys was high and my energy was low. I was feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, both physically and emotionally. The sense of isolation began to gnaw at my spirit. As the days passed, I struggled to find motivation and meaning, and know my purpose in this new place.

I’m normally a person who’s positive and sees the bright side, but I couldn’t in this season. What made it harder was comparing myself – to myself! The person I’d been just a year ago was so different than the girl I saw in the mirror.

The previous year was marked by remarkable growth and progress:

I set big goals and accomplished most of them.
I published a children’s book.
My blog had a strong following.
I loved my job and felt like I was making an impact.
We lived in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Then all of that changed. We moved to a new place. I no longer wanted to set goals, to write, and was living in (what felt like) Antarctica.

Isn’t life supposed to move up and to the right?

It was certainly moving to the ‘right’ as time continued its relentless march forward. The “up” part seemed elusive. Why had things shifted so drastically from the year before?

In my quest for answers and to regain a sense of equilibrium, I realized I needed to make some changes. It was time to unplug from the constant noise, to halt both the input and output, and just be. After all, we are human beings, not human doings.

I took a break from writing and blogging. I removed Facebook and Instagram from my phone. I unsubscribed from the podcasts that left me discouraged and overwhelmed.

Instead, I listened to positive music, I played with my boys, I read my Bible and a couple of encouraging, life-giving books. I carved out time to make new friends.

To burst out of a cold, dark winter… Into the brightness and life of spring takes a lot of SHOVELING of gray thoughts that have become a blizzard in our minds… So thick we can’t even see our hands in front of our face.
Deb Freeman

Through this process, I learned a valuable lesson: Life doesn’t always follow a linear path. It ebbs and flows, bringing both good and challenging times. It oscillates between loneliness and fullness, happiness and sadness. The lows serve to deepen our appreciation for the highs.

Life is like a book. You take it one chapter at a time. Often one page at a time or one paragraph at a time. Some paragraphs are written better than others.

What I WANTED my life to look like was different from ‘reality.’

My previous assessment of life was a linear progression. Growth and more growth! Life and more life! Up and further up! Add, don’t subtract.

However, I’ve come to understand that ‘reality’ is far more complex. Life involves a series of steps forward, interspersed with occasional steps backward, sideways meanders, and even ‘exhilarating’ loop-de-loops.

In a world characterized by constant change, I’m thankful for a God who never changes. Who’s love is always certain.

I am deeply grateful for the nourishing wisdom found in the pages of the Bible, for the solace and inspiration that uplifting books and music provide. My heart brims with gratitude for the friendships that have woven their way into my life and the ‘date nights’ shared with Ted at new restaurants. I’m grateful for the ways my boys make me laugh and how they teach me knew things. I love that nature soothes and time heals. Every day that passed made me stronger, more able to live in (and even love!) this new place.

Look for the good, even in the dark. Once you train your eyes for little glimpses of goodness, you’ll get better at seeing them.
Shauna Niequist

Each of these elements brought me back to a place of joy. In the midst of this journey, I rediscovered that my truest calling was wife, mother, and cherished child of God. All other pursuits, at this moment in time, occupy the periphery.

How about you? What sustains you during life’s challenging moments? Where do you find hope and support? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment by clicking on the little box by the title.

______________________________________________________________________

Here are 2 books I found LIFE-GIVING:

1. Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole

I opened the book and instant tears as I read:

“Have you ever moved to a new place or entered a new environment where no one knew who you were, what you could do, or what dreams ignite your soul?”

(How could this author read my mind?) She goes on to say:

“Have you ever moved from leader to learner? Went from being sought out to left out?

Potential seems to hibernate and you wonder if spring will ever come? Praiseworthy strengths become dormant.

Did you realize that 90% of Jesus’ life was spent in obscurity? Only ten percent was in the public eye. And all of His life was indestructible. When we state our desire to “be like Jesus” we are usually not referring to his anonymous years. Jesus hidden years empowered him to live an eternally fruitful life.

Why would Jesus announce the birth of His precious Son with a full angelic choir, then hide this priceless Gift for three decades? What is hidden is not unimportant.

For instance, when a baby is hidden in the womb, those months are priceless and formative. If the baby is removed from the hidden place, the results can be tragic.

Jesus’ hidden years gave him time to grow and become. It was sacred. Time for rest. Unapplauded but not unproductive. Hidden years are the surprising birthplace of true spiritual greatness.”

The author suggests how to rest:

“Take long walks through the woods. Paint a picture no one will see. Watch the stars. Wander through an art museum. Play piano when only God can listen. Write in your journal. Plant a garden.”

Savor the anonymous season. Respect it’s potential.
-Alicia Britt Chole

This book was everything I needed for that challenging season. If you are in a “new, waiting, or starting over” season – Anonymous may be the perfect book for you!

2. I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working by Shauna Niequist

This book shares Shauna’s journey back to joy in the midst of some really challenging circumstances. Here are bits of advice she gives:

“Get outside and be on the lookout for beauty, especially in nature, read books for comfort. Fresh air helps everything. The world is still good, still beautiful, still interesting and worth savoring. God is still good, still faithful, still kind.

Keep walking, keep loving, keep writing, keep praying. Keep learning, keep forgiving, keep apologizing, keep moving forward. Keep inviting, keep listening, keep opening my arms to all of life.

It doesn’t help to pretend everything is okay. Tell the truth. Allow yourself to be supported by friends and family.

I trust more deeply in the goodness of God than I ever have. I’m more aware of the darkness and more grateful for the light.

I’m learning home isn’t singular. You don’t lose one, instead, your world and your heart expand with each new home and new set of experiences. The old ones stay and the new ones make your heart and your world bigger.“

Both books brought me SO MUCH JOY as I realized I am NOT alone. Others have been through similar challenges and came out stronger. And God is always with me, cheering me on.

(Books are affiliate links)

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October 26, 2023 By Kathryn

0 In 2020/ Faith/ Finding our place/ Inspiration/ Marriage/ Motherhood

Focus less on ‘WHAT’ and more on ‘HOW’

Most of the time when we think about our lives we think…

“WHAT does God want me to do with my life?”

“WHAT should I do for work?”

“WHAT are my talents?”

“What am I doing with my life?”

We usually think in terms of “What.”

Say…WHAT!?

However, SCRIPTURE suggests to us that the HOW is more important than the WHAT.

²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24

In other words…

God’s will is more about “HOW” we live than exactly WHAT it is we do.

What if we found out God’s big plan for our lives is that we wouldn’t spend so much time trying to figure out a big plan for our lives? Perhaps He just wants us to love Him and each other.
Bob Goff

This thought should recalibrate how you approach your day.

“HOW” you work has an impact on your:

attitude,
work ethic,
integrity,
reactions.

HOW you go about your day and HOW you do your work is MORE important than the specific job you are doing.

Maybe we will never get to what we are hoping for, until we learn how to have the right attitude about where we are right now.

Why would God get you to the where…if HOW isn’t working for you?

What if HOW you get your work done and HOW you interact with others were the most important things?

The HOW is critical in your marriage and parenting.

What if WHO you are married to is not as important as HOW you are married to that person?

Maybe if WHAT your kids are doing is less important than HOW you are responding to them.

You can love them well. You can serve them well.

Sometimes when we are not doing WHAT we want to be doing, we aren’t paying attention to HOW we are doing it. But, the HOW is more important than the WHAT.

I had a job I loved before becoming a mother. When my 3rd child was born, I became a full-time homemaker. I was no longer recognized or rewarded for the work I was doing. My kids never said “Good job mom! Thanks for waking up so early. Thanks for always doing the dishes, washing our clothes, playing with us, changing our diapers, making all that food and cleaning up our messes.” In spite of this, I asked God for strength and JOY in what I was doing. I wanted to enjoy my kids and my role in motherhood. I wanted to savor these years and keep a grateful heart and a good attitude. I knew God saw me.

I did wonder if I’d even have any marketable skills after taking care of babies for so long. And guess what, when I went back to work, I found that I hadn’t lost the skills I had before parenting. In fact, I was probably more efficient and a little more effective.

Wherever you are…whatever you are doing…approach it with gratitude and the right attitude.

Perhaps you are a full-time mom, wishing you could escape that roll some days. God has you there, ask Him for strength and allow Him to use you.

Perhaps you are a full-time employee, wishing you could quit. God has you there, ask Him for strength and allow Him to use you.

GOD WANTS TO GET INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR EVERYDAY, SOMETIMES BORING LIVES!

You may not be doing WHAT you want to do. But you still need to think about HOW you are approaching what you do.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
I Peter 3:8

Let’s look at this verse:

For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10

Maybe the questions we need to ask ourselves are:

HOW am I working well in my job?
HOW am I living well in my neighborhood?
HOW am I loving well in my marriage?
How am I modeling well in my motherhood?

Maybe for you, a simple exercise is writing down areas that you can improve, with God’s help:

Talk to your spouse about “how” to love or serve him better…
Get feedback from your neighbors, co-workers, or boss on “how” you can be of support to them…
Have your kids write down 3 or 4 things that you can do to help your relationship with them (reading a story, putting away your phone so you can stay engaged, listening better when they are talking about their day, or investing in areas that you see they are gifted in)

Looking at “how” you are living a significant life is a great exercise in self-reflection.

Remember, life is less about WHAT we are doing than HOW we are doing it!

This post was adapted from a sermon my husband gave many years ago when he was a teaching pastor. Thanks for reading!

March 14, 2021 By Kathryn

2 In Finding our place/ Minnesota/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

10 things to do in Lakeville, Minnesota

When we decided to move to Minnesota, we had NO IDEA where to plant our roots. There are hundreds of towns within a 30 mile radius of Minneapolis and we checked out MOST of them. Nearly every person we asked would tell us why their city was the BEST one in Minnesota. That made our decision extremely difficult, but we finally settled in Lakeville …and we LOVE it here!

Did you know that Lakeville was rated one of the best places to live according to Money Magazine?

I’ve explored this city and have ten reasons for YOU to come visit.

1. Lakeville is known for their excellent sports programs. Visit Lakeville NORTH High School and… Lakeville SOUTH High School to cheer on our young athletes!

2. Eat at one of the many fabulous restaurants!

3. Get ice cream at the historic Dairy Delight, fill your own cup at Cherry Berry, or try delicious waffles and ice cream at the Waffle Bar!

4. Have an Ax-throwing competition – https://battleaxed.com

5. Hike and explore at Ritter Farm or Murphy-Hanrehan Park

6. Watch a live show at the Lakeville Arts Center

7. Go Fishing at one of the many lakes around town: Lake Marion or Orchard Lake

8. Explore the historic buildings and quaint shops along Main Street in Downtown Lakeville.

9. Play at one of the incredible parks for kids!

10. Enjoy the beach and swim at Antlers Park or Orchard Lake

Other things you won’t want to miss:

Applewood Farm/Orchard in the Fall

Skiing at Buck Hill in the winter

(Buck hill is on the border of Lakeville and Burnsville)

Lifetime Gym – We are spoiled with a REALLY nice Lifetime Gym in Lakeville! Not only is it a great place to exercise, but we also love the Rock Climbing area (included with membership), Parents Night out (included with Membership!) and Swimming (awesome outdoor and indoor pools with waterslides)!

Consider subscribing so you don’t miss a post!

Click here to read How to fit in as a Minnesota Newbie

Click here to read: How I learned to not HATE winter!

Click here to read about The Mill City Museum in Minneapolis.

Click here for our Minnesota Bucket List!

Click here to read Gifts that Minnesota Gave the World

October 13, 2019 By Kathryn

3 In Family/ Finding our place/ Moving/ Things to do in Minnesota

ONE YEAR in Minnesota!

Today marks ONE YEAR of living in Minnesota. I knew nothing about this state except that it gets really, really cold. However, in spite of the cold, we still really, really like this place!

So far I’ve crossed nine items off my TOP 25 Minnesota Bucket List. I now want to add AT LEAST 50 more things to that list. I’m truly surprised at how much there is to do and see in Minnesota!

This morning, the 3 big boys and I went to breakfast and talked about the things we’ve loved most, the things that have been hardest, and the moments we remember most.

What we love most about Minnesota:

The people who have welcomed us! We also enjoy living close to the Mall of America. They boys could fish every day – so living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes comes in pretty handy! George’s favorite restaurant is Portillos and he was thrilled to find it here. Ted is thriving in his role at Target. I’ve enjoyed exploring a new state and discovering all the beauty and history here. We are also thankful for our new church.

Moments we remember:

Our neighbors intentionally stopping by to say hello and new friends inviting us into their homes or onto their porch for a drink.

The hard part:

Moving is hard too. The hardest was saying goodbye to beautiful Colorado Springs, our amazing friends and a church we loved. Clark said, “I miss walking into church where everyone knows my name.” (He and I are the SAME. We love to know and be known.)

I’m thankful to have discovered that Minnesota NICE is a real thing. I’m grateful for this journey with Ted, and the brave and courageous #eglyboys. Living a life of an adventure with them is more than I could ever ask for!

What a difference a year can make!

July 16, 2019 By Kathryn

8 In Finding our place/ Moving/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

How to fit in as a Minnesota transplant

If you like coffee, Caribou is the only option. Don’t say the S-word.
Cheer for the Minnesota Vikings. Not that other team.
Buy a cabin up north. Not somewhere in the south, where it’s warm. Up north.
Embrace the “hotdish” as the fifth food group.
Sign your children up to play ice hockey. It will cost all of your money, most of your time, and a few of your teeth, but it’s worth it.
Be Nice. Passive aggressive counts as nice.
Soft drinks are called “pop.”
If someone cuts you in line, you can kindly ask them not to “BUDGE.” Or be Minnesota nice, and allow them to go first.
Encourage your ENTIRE family to move to Minnesota. Don’t leave anyone out – second cousins, third aunts…they all need to move here.
Finally, spend all weekends and holidays together…in your cabin…up north.

CLICK HERE to read my Minnesota Bucket list! Top 25 things I want to do here.

Another post you may enjoy: 8 ways to LOVE where you LIVE

November 26, 2018 By Kathryn

2 In Finding our place/ Friendship/ Moving

Finding friends in the Twin Cities!

One of the joys in moving is how small the world seems when you find old friends in new places. I love how I can see God directing my path as I meet people at just the right time and place.

This happened to us when we moved to Colorado in 2015, I wrote about it here.

It’s happening again in Minnesota. Here are three examples:

One:

I told myself that when we got settled here, I would reward myself with a massage. Well, we are finally feeling settled and I found a massage therapist in my town and booked an appointment. Her last name is very unusual – yet familiar. I had friends in Tulsa, OK with the same last name. I looked this massage therapist up on social media – and realized that she had married into an amazing family I know in Tulsa. I knew her husband, her in-laws, aunts and uncles! It was so fun to meet her and catch up on the people we know in common. And the massage was great too!

Two:

I shared a while back about a group of ladies that I ‘randomly’ bumped into at a coffee shop right after moving here. (You can read about it by clicking here – scroll down to “River Valley Church”) Those ladies have become friends and have helped me get to know SO many others! They’ve welcomed me into their community and I’ve loved getting to know them.

Three:

I went to a woman’s conference recently. As we were walking in, I met and started chatting with a lady. I really connected with her and wanted to sit by her so we could continue talking – but I was with a large group – and I didn’t know any of the ladies very well, so I didn’t want to force myself into a seat next to her. However, it just happened that we DID get to sit next to each other and had time to chat some more. I loved hearing her story and the interesting things that have happened in her life. I asked if she’s ever written her story or had an outlet to share it and she responded, “Yes, I help run the TwinCitiesMomBlog.com and am a blogger.” Wow! I told her I had just begun writing for the Colorado Springs Mom Blog before I moved. This new friend and I exchanged numbers and I look forward to connecting with her in the future.

Are these three incidences RANDOM COINCIDENCES? I don’t think so!

The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. Psalm 37:23 (The Living Bible)

These experiences have been added to my GRATITUDE list! When days are hard and I’m feeling lonely in my new place, I remember that slowly, doors will open and new friendships will form. I may find an old friend who becomes a new friend, and new friends who will eventually be old friends!

Do you have a story of “coincidence?” Share it in the comments section!

November 5, 2018 By Kathryn

4 In Faith/ Family/ Finding our place/ House Hunting/ Minnesota/ My Journey

Miracles in Moving

Faith minus vulnerability and mystery equals extremism. If you’ve got all the answers, then don’t call what you do faith.” — Dr. Brené Brown

I’m so thankful that I have a God I can trust. I look back on my life and see His faithfulness over and over.

However, entering new territory, heading toward the unknown, is still hard. Every time.

Why? Why do I fear? Why don’t I rest in the fact that the same God who provided for me throughout my life, will continue to be by my side?

He is faithful, so why do I worry?

There’s a story in the Bible about the Israelites traveling to an unknown place. I can’t imagine being a mama back then – with no restaurants or grocery stores – no guarantee of food for my children. However, day after day, God miraculously provided food for them. Each morning, there was fresh “manna” on the ground. They ate all they wanted.

However, they weren’t sure the food would always be there. God provided yesterday, He provided today, but would He provide again tomorrow? And every.single.day. after that?

Would He always be this good?

Since they weren’t sure, they began to gather as much as they could and store it in their tent for the days to come. However, the food they stored would be rotten by morning. They’d go outside to discover that God had, once again, provided fresh “manna” for them to eat. They slowly learned to trust Him, one day at a time. You can read the story in Exodus 16.

This season has a made me realize – I’m just Iike those Israelites!

I can look back and see how God provided for me (over and over) but I STILL say: “God, will you do it again? Will you be as good tomorrow as you were today?” In my heart, I know He will. But the trusting day-by-day is so hard.

I reflected back on how God miraculously provided for us in Colorado, but wondered if He would do the same in Minnesota?!

For instance, we had to sell our house in Colorado before we could make an offer on a house in Minnesota.

The waiting, day after day.

Will we get an offer…WHEN will we get an offer…PLEASE someone…give us an offer!

The waiting, the trusting…was HARD.

We DID get an offer – A FULL PRICE OFFER!

However, the family who wanted our home, wanted it in less than 30 days.

We had not yet decided on a house OR a mortgage company.

Ted and I talked, prayed, and chose our home Minnesota home, while I interviewed mortgage companies to find the best rate.

Once those big items were decided, we had only 2 and a half weeks before we had to be out of our Colorado house. The mortgage company needed almost 30 days to close on our loan. We’d be in limbo for about 10 days.

Ten days where we’d be ‘homeless’ – 10 days between the time we needed to be out of our Colorado home and close on our Minnesota home.

We asked the Minnesota homeowner if we could get a ‘pre-occupancy’ agreement – letting us move in early. We’d essentially “rent” the home from him until we close. This would save us from having to stay in a hotel for those 10 days, and even more important, we wouldn’t have to move our things TWO TIMES (from our Colorado home to storage, then from storage to our Minnesota home). That would be a lot of extra effort and EXPENSE!

The homeowner said NO. He’d had a bad experience with this before and he would not let us in early, even though he was no longer in the house – the house was EMPTY!

We asked the family purchasing our Colorado home if we could stay for 10 extra days. They said, “no, we have everything on a specific timeline.”

This was so discouraging.

So I prayed. I asked a few others to pray. Ted talked to our realtor to see if he could get the Minnesota homeowner to change his mind.

We waited.

I tried not to get anxious as our moving day approached.

Well, moving day came. Our movers asked us where they’d be taking our stuff. I gave them our new Minnesota home address…in faith, praying we’d have favor and could move our stuff in.

As our movers were finishing and Friday was coming to a close…we heard back from the Minnesota homeowner.

He would let us into his home early!!!

The movers left our home Friday and we met them at our new home on Monday morning at 7:30 AM!

Our Miracle Home in Minnesota!

Thank you God for answered prayer.

Thank you to our realtor who negotiated on our behalf.

Thank you to those who encouraged and prayed for us!

I’m thankful that I follow a God who provides, day after day, year after year, generation after generation.

If you are going through a tough situation, and wondering if God is with you, read this verse:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV

PS – The homeowner really DID have a BAD experience and it’s a MIRACLE he let us in early! Someone had moved into this home a year earlier, requesting a “lease-to-own” deal. After moving in, he didn’t pay rent and did damage to the home and he couldn’t get the renter out. The floors had to be refinished, carpet replaced and walls painted. What a mess! Somehow, in spite of this, we were allowed in early! Amazing!

Feel free to leave a comment about how you’ve seen God provide for you!

August 15, 2018 By Kathryn

9 In Colorado/ Faith/ Finding our place/ Inspiration/ My Journey

All of My Feelings were Hurting!

Recently in the middle of the bedtime craziness, my youngest son Luke cried out:

ALL OF MY FEELINGS ARE HURTING!!!!

I tried not to laugh and was able to comfort him that night with a hug.

However, his words stuck with me because throughout the last couple of months, I completely understood what he was talking about:

ALL of MY feelings were hurting! I was feeling sad, mad, worried, anxious, and fearful.

Sad that I have to say goodbye to people and a place I love
Mad that a job was moving us to Minnesota
Worried that we wouldn’t sell our Colorado home or find the right house to purchase in Minnesota
Anxious about all of the changes and everything that I needed to do to move across the country
Fearful of the unknowns

Then I read Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud. It was full of truth and ENCOURAGEMENT and was the exact book I needed during this transition! He put into words everything I needed to hear. I didn’t know if it was okay that ALL of my feelings were hurting. People move EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. NBD!

And then I read:

“When you don’t feel your feelings, you remained tethered to them in some way” Dr. Henry Cloud.

This gave me the freedom to FEEL all of the feelings, to process them, write about them, talk about them, cry over them and pray about them. I also allowed others to pray for me, hug me, remind me of God’s truth and encourage me.

“To the degree we were invested in something that’s ending, we will have to work the grief through our system in order to be ready for whatever is next…

“When you feel grief, you are saying: I am looking this reality right in the face and dealing with it. Grief also means I am getting ready for what is next, because I am saying goodbye to it.” Dr. Henry Cloud

I said Good-bye.

After processing all of the feelings, I said goodbye. Goodbye to the sadness, anger, worry, anxiety and fear. I also said goodbye to the priceless Colorado adventure and looked back with gratitude!

Then I said Hello!

Feeling the feelings and processing them allowed the closure I needed to end that glorious chapter and to say hello to a NEW one! New friends, new opportunities, new memories and experiences.

I will take my memories, my friendships, and what I’ve learned and build on that in our new place. I will discover new things and develop new relationships.

Treat endings with respect.

“Look at the experience, break it apart. What was good about it? What did I learn? What skills did I attain? New knowledge? Take all of that and make it a part of you. It becomes part of who you are. You are now smarter and wiser for having that experience.”

“Face your grief, work through it and let it equip you will make for a good necessary ending.” Dr. Cloud

Thank you Dr. Henry Cloud! I LOVED your book (especially Chapter 12 – Embrace the Grief: The Importance of Metabolizing Necessary Endings!) It said everything I needed as I ended one chapter to begin a new one.

If you are about to have an “ending” of some sort (or know you NEED to end something) – I highly recommend you get this book!!! And maybe start with Chapter 12.

(Affilate Link)

Have you read this book? If so, did you like it too? Leave a comment!

July 29, 2018 By Kathryn

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