Looking back…looking forward.

When I allow myself a few moments to stop and really consider our upcoming move to Hong Kong, my tummy does a little flip, my heart skips a beat, I catch my breath and I think "HOW?" How did a small town girl from Iowa find herself sorting and packing up all her earthly belonging into boxes to donate, boxes to put on a ship, boxes to put in the trash, and boxes to store away. I don't often allow myself the time or space to actually reflect and contemplate what's ahead. It's really too scary. And insurmountable. And overwhelming. And unknown. It's easier to just scroll through Instagram or run to Starbucks for another latte or find some other distraction, than to face the fear.

But then.

I think back over the past 23 years and all the little steps that have prepared me (us) for this moment. I can clearly remember saying good-bye to my parents and friends, with tears streaming down my cheeks, as we loaded up our little U-Haul truck in Iowa and drove off to Towson, Maryland. And then Fayetteville, North Carolina. And back to Ames, Iowa. Eight years after our return to Towson, Maryland we were met with a mountain that seemed too big to climb… we moved with our 1-year old baby girl to Prague, Czech Republic. When we landed back in America, with two children in tow, we settled in Brookfield, Wisconsin. From there, a short stint to Szenzhen, China. Back to Brookfield, WI and then we loaded a moving truck to Mahtomedi, Minnesota. And with each and every move, I thought "HOW?" How are we going to do this? How will we make friends? How will my kids handle it? How will I get connected? How will we survive? How?

And then I remember.

I remember the friends who came alongside us in each and every place. People who opened up their homes. Invited us in. Shared their lives and time and kids with us. Made us feel at home, no matter how long or how short our time with them would be. Their names would be a hundred-fold, and at the risk of leaving someone out, I won't list them out now. Maybe someday I will, because I think it would be a great exercise. Angels along the way and at every stop, living life with us and giving us joy and warm memories to gather up and pull in close when the days are lonely and long. And they will be. This I know. When we unpack our boxes, settle into our apartment in Hong Kong and try to find our legs again, we will have tears. And heartache. And loneliness. But I believe this: all our moves and new places to call home have been preparing us for what lies ahead. None of it was wasted and all of it has been for our good. I will choose to remember what God has done for us in the past and hold on to the promise that He will never leave us in the days ahead. Of this I am sure: His eye is on the sparrow. And I know he cares for me.