The house was packed into nearly 100 boxes on Thursday.

Our belongings were loaded onto a rather large truck on Friday.

Today we cleaned our home, while the truck hurtled down the highway toward our new city.

Tonight is the last night in our home, and we're all a little subdued and quiet. I think back nearly 4 years ago, to when we found out that we would be moving to "our fair city." None of us wanted to come. Mentally, we clung to the notion that we'd only be here a short time, and then we'd move back. So we sort of held back a little of ourselves, hoping to make the next move a little easier.

But God had other plans. Slowly we grew to love this place and the people we have met. We loved our home, the children's teachers and coaches, even the nurses at the doctor's office who have become friends. And now we find ourselves moving on, though not to where we had planned. This move seems so much harder than the last few because of the people that have come into our lives.

In all of our relocations, God has provided for us. He has always brought us to something better. He's always provided a church home for us where we could grow closer to Him. We have faith that He will continue to do so, and hope that we will be happy in this new place.

But leaving is hard.

And leaving is scary.

And all the reassuring words that I have spoken to comfort my children over the past 3 months have fled from me now.

One of my favorite hymns is "Because He Lives." I have loved it for nearly 20 years, and it's chorus is one I will meditate on tonight:

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!"

The next post and pictures will be from our 1900 house.

(That's what I'm calling the city rental we'll be in until we move to the teeny-tiny two-stoplight town after our house sells. Is that confusing?)

Thank you for your prayers!