Flying by. That's how I feel lately, everything is just speeding past me and I really cant grab onto anything around me. Our journey has had some big road bumps lately though I am just trying to get past them without looking back. Though I will say that I'm looking down more before I take the next step to try and avoid more of these speed bumps in the future.
Not having an exact time line is something new to me with this move. In the past we knew the exact date when we would be leaving to the next base. Though this time around with Travis leaving ahead of us on May 8th-ish, the kids and I have so many variables in when we will leave. We know it will be after their school ends and that is about it. It depends completely on what we decided with what we are doing with our Home. The ideal situation is to find someone who can afford to rent/lease with us, who will love our home as much as we do. Renting/Leasing is so tricky though and really wouldn't want to be stuck with a payment or extra expenses due to the Renters/Leasers not being very reliable. For me, I LOVE my home it is big but not huge, completely redone inside, wonderful outside areas, the perfect kitchen with large counter tops, lots of built ins and closets, two nice size basements and in a very quiet neighborhood! So finding someone to buy our home, I'd really want them to love it as much as I do. What we decide to do with this house is definitely depending on when we will be leaving as a family. Having it hanging over me is really stressing me out and yes I know that I'm not suppose to stress but I am.
Lately the kiddos are really starting to show the signs of feeling this stress that I mentioned that I know we aren't supposed to be feeling. But we are, it's seeping in from just about everything. We are trying to enjoy all of the moments with one another and the others that we are going to be moving away from. Though seeing the kid's hearts break with the sadness is a situation that we've never had to parent through before is really a struggle. We've been spending alot of time in our Bibles and devotions sorting through the emotions of stress and sadness. Though we know that this kind of sacrifice comes along with being an Army Family, and that so many Army Families go through this everyday. A sacrifice that we discussed as family and all understood though now going through it we are beginning to struggle. Praying that nailing down actual moving plans will ease their minds, though I guess could do the opposite too!
Though when a little one cuddles up to you, looks in your eyes and says "Momma, promise me that I will never have to leave you. I want to stay with you forever."..........tears were my first thought, though I know I have to stay strong for them......so I looked back into her eyes and said "You'll always be my baby and no matter where we are in this world it will never change the relationships that we have grown through God.".....I don't know if that was what I was "suppose" to say or feel but that is what came out and that is how I feel. My kids are very emotional little people who have relationship and community awareness so this move is really shaking their understanding about what is going to change. And they have nothing to compare it to which makes the understanding part harder on them. Please Pray for them on this Journey, and for wisdom for Travis and I to be able to help them along the way.
******one tid-bit that is related to this, I've had people ask me how I've got my children to be so aware of others feelings and hardships so I thought I'd share something we've done for years. We started this in Oklahoma, I read I think in a Reader's Digest at a Dr's office, that whenever you hear Sirens ambulance, police, firetrucks. That you should stop the conversation, bow your heads and pray. It can be a quick prayer or a lengthy one. here is an example of a prayer we'd say:
Dear Lord, Please watch over and guide the emergency volunteers. Comfort the families involved in the need for the sirens, Lord. Bless them with your grace and joy. In Jesus name, Amen.
This happened just the other day when we were packing our groceries into the van, Bella heard the sirens, grabbed my hand and said "Momma please pray for that family with me" and she began to pray.
This has helped them relate the sirens to actual people's lives, calm them so they won't be scared, and connect them with praying for others. Just thought I would share this as it popped into my head as I was typing about our Journey. Blessings!*************
Now that it is spring time the pace is certainly picking up at a very rapid pace. Planning holidays, birthdays, gatherings all so that the kids can feel the love of their community and family!! We set up our Ipad2 with Skype and realized how neat that is going to be as a tool for our family when we are far away. I pray that others can get a webcam or tablet so that we can Skype with all of our friends and family. So as time is flying please keep us in your prayers as we pray for your family too. Keep the McGrath Family in our prayers too as they are facing alot of these challenges too. Off I go to grab onto anything around me to help slow everything Flying By!!!
Blessings,
The Pearsall Family
