Moving on Up...or Over

There are those things that you tuck away in your heart.  There are those dreams that you talk about with your spouse.  There is life change that happens and families adjust.

I remember when we first got married people talked about those big life change things that happen and more than one in a year is quite a bit.  We're talking things like, birth-death-job change-moving...Well in the last 20 months the Hodges (or as close friends like to refer to us as the Hodgi) family will have accomplished all of those things.
1. Jason took a new job at Watermarke Church as SPD director - Jan 2011
2. Hope was born - our 3rd - April 2011
3. Miscarriage of our 4th child - April 2012
4. Moving over to Canton, GA - August 2012

That's right.  We are MOVING!  This has all come about so suddenly.  It was something we have dreamed about since he took the job over there.  He has a 45 min commute one way each day.  That makes for 7.5 HOURS a week he spends driving.  To a job he loves thankfully.  We have also talked about wanting to be a part of that community over there.  That if we are going to invest in this church...we needed to be a part of the community too....

As you know in this housing market that just isn't an easy thing.  So we were waiting...and waiting...and waiting.  We had decided we wouldn't even really discuss it anymore until next spring 2013 after the election, and Caroline's first year of school and see where we were.  I had talked with a few people about the notion of renting our home out since selling wasn't an option right now.  No one seemed interested.  That was fine.  But we had these friends who wanted to get up here...but we just weren't sure our home would be a fit.  But as Jason and I talked about maybe finding renters we kept saying..."Well, if they could be someone we would know...like the Jones'...then maybe we would consider renting."  But no one was wanting to.  But then about 4 weeks ago...the Jones' actually called and said "Hey what would you think about us renting your home...and we are selling our home at the end of August...."  AHHHHHH so many thoughts began running through our brain...what? how? now? But Caroline will have just begun Kindergarten...does this mean we should home school now?  But wait we felt such a peace about her going to public school...

So we took some deep breaths.  We prayed a bunch.  Had some very candid conversations.  Spoke with our financial dude...and lo and behold it is happening.  We found a home to rent.  The lease has been signed...and we are moving...NEXT WEEK!!!

When I was sharing with my parents about all of this I was so encouraged by my mom's perspective.   I might be surprised by the timing.  But you (my mom speaking) have been praying about moving since Jason took the job, 1.5 years ago...the Lord is not surprised by the timing -nor does He think it is fast.

So true.  Just when I feel overwhelmed by the pace of all of this...I am reminded that my Lord...the once I claim as Savior...The One whom I trust knows all of this and then some.  I refer to a talk I heard Dr. Charles Stanley given once at a conference at our church often and he said this.  "If the Lord is asking you to be obedient.  He has already assumed all of the responsibility of the consequences of your obedience."  Amen.  So us taking a step in faith and acting out of obedience to move our family means the Lord has assumed the responsibility of our obedience.  Thank you Lord.  Doesn't mean hardship won't ever come.  But it does mean my GOD has it all figured out.

So.  For some out of the Atlanta area you might be thinking but your still in "Atlanta" right.  Well, yes...but here it might as well be moving to another state.  It feels like a really big deal.  I have told Jason over and over that I am so thankful that I do life with him.  We are a good team.  We falter and fail one another yet still choose to do this life with each other despite our shortcomings.  So very thankful for him.

I wonder dear reader what perhaps the Lord might be asking you to be obedient about.  Take comfort in knowing he has the consequences of your obedience under his responsibility.  So take that step and go.  We are.