Jumping off.

Or, "You can't fly without leaving the ground."

So I'm sure lots of you anticipated this, but here it is "officially" since the rumors are flying (I know, because i'm the one who started them):

Isaac and I have decided to move to New York City by the end of the year. We have given our 30 day notice at our current place, and we will be moving in with our dear friends Dave and Esther for our transition period. We estimate 4-5 months from now, we will make the BIG move. That is the plan, anyhow.

I am emotional about it, to say the least. I keep going back and forth between feeling over the moon with joy and anticipation, and feeling completely terrified. Everything is so up in the air. Please pray for us when you think of us - this is going to be really hard. Leaving my friends and family...? I anticipate this being the hardest thing I will ever have to do in my entire life.

Personally, I pray for faith. I believe God is taking us on this journey, and this isn't just some fly-by-night thing. As I type that my heart flutters with excitement for the opportunities and favor God is already preparing for us. But when I think about actually leaving, I only feel fear. That is to say, the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

This blog is going to serve a few purposes.

FIRST, It's for me. I need to get this stuff out of my head. Not just the emotional stuff, but the logistical stuff too. There are about 14 million ways this could go, and dank little brainspace can't possibly house all the scenarios I will have to run through without it driving me completely bonkers.
SECOND, It's for my loved ones. The ones who I don't talk to every day, who wonder what the latest news is, what decisions have been made, how long till the going-away party, etc. People get very excited when you tell them you're moving to New York. Then they want all the details. And it takes a while to get through them. Like, 25 minutes with each person. Then another person walks up half-way through the details and says, "OMG you're MOVING to NYC??? What's the story???" So you have to start over. It's fun talking about it, don't get me wrong, it's just sometimes I don't have the stamina for 2 extra hours at church having the same conversation over and over. So in that way, this is for everyone.
LASTLY, This blog is a testimony. As I said before, I anticipate this move being one of the most difficult things our family will ever have to go through. I have faith that when I look back on it, I will see God's protection and provision all over the story from its start to its finish. One day I hope to show it to Julian and say, "Look son, we did a brave thing and God was there with us every step."

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
~ Isaiah 40:28-31

Alright, that's it for now. The next couple weeks will be spent deciding what to sell and what to take with us for the first leg of the journey. Also, explaining "moving" to a three-year-old.