While we've been planted for four years now, our family moved 4 times in 6 years before that - all for work, all unquestionably prompted by the Lord. All the moves were out of the area moves. One was an hour, another 2 hours away and the other two moves were over 1800 miles.
It's easy to get disheveled and disconnected and hate the thought of starting over yet again. After unpacking box #85 (which was probably yet another box of books), your mind leaves you and you begin to think like Elijah: “Lord, I’m the only one! There's nobody but meeeeeee!” Of course that’s only after the thought before boxes 72, 64, 53 & 47 which was, “Will I ever finish??”
When the stuff from our last move arrived in New England in early April 2005 , I focused on unpacking and redefining "normal life" for our new situation. Then I spent June through August and then November through January doing a serious chunks of painting and wallpapering because the house needed it. I’m still not done four years later, but I’ve expressed my creative self and changed all the nasty colors from the last owner enough to be satisfied for awhile. Besides I'm just plain tired of painting.
When I wasn't painting, cooking or doing laundry, life clobbered me with the challenges of a new homeschool year. It's easy to get bogged down in the details when everyone in the house feels the same way: desperate need for "normal" and to feel connected again. Besides, it's nice to get a fresh perspective from an outside view.
While we were out in the Midwest, I tried plugging into a small local homeschool group that I found out was leery of non-native folks and people they “didn’t know.” The big in-town group was a bit too far of a drive for me with a then new baby. Happily though, we found our Fellowship Survival Quotient with another homeschool family a few minutes up the road. That wonderful family was the only earthly thing that kept me sane during the five months I lived alone with the kids while Rich looked for a house back here in New England.
Surprisingly, God provided support in my backyard with this last move. There is a wonderful family just 10 houses up the street. The mom had been praying for homeschoolers to buy and move in our house. She got her prayer answered. While God hasn't connected us in a way either of us imagined, we know his seasons are not our seasons and we've commented on it several times.
Our family has had to limit our community time in the last 18 months or so because of everything that's happened, but God has still been faithful to build relationships that have inspired and blessed me in ways I never expected. I've been challenged, encouraged, mentored and simply been. It's a beautiful thing.
If you’re not involved with a local homeschool group, Christian fellowship or other group of similar interest, I strongly urge you to pray about finding others in your area. Nothing beats being able to look into someone’s face and honestly know that they care and are rooting for you. Folks that have walked a mile in your shoes are priceless. Thankfully, God provides in his time.
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