WELL, IT'S DONE

For the last four straight days I have been preparing a place like Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams hearing, "If you build it they will come." Who are "they?" "They" are my wife and Golden Retrievers!

We, packed and packed, and, moved and moved, all week. Melinda was so awesome as she hired a moving company to come and get all the stuff on Thursday.

Today I left the house. I had a moment before I left. I mean a real moment. You know one of those "Am I doing the right thing" moments. Yes, even when you know it is the right thing there are moments where you wonder if it is the right thing. Here's why...

When we moved into our house in Lake Stevens we thought we would stay there forever. This morning I was reflecting on those first moments in the house; the remodel, painting, arranging and re-arranging furniture and I was overwhelmed because this house I thought would be our final destination, but times change. I thought about the memories, parties and times with friends and family. They are unforgettable--especially the 4th of July when we would do our best to blow up the dock with fireworks. I was thinking of those good times and then my countenance turned as I thought of the rising costs of living at that house, the extraordinary yard work, the maintenance, the bigness of the place. Soon my sadness for leaving turned to joy when remembering how uninhibited we will be now that we've moved. My thoughts lead to tears, but I guess that's what makes a house a home. If we didn't have the joy of family, memories and great times and the pain of mowing, paying bills and maintaining, then we would just be merely existing and there would be no home for us at all...

I walked through the house one final time when it was empty, went out on the dock and tried to seal the memories and sounds of our life at that particular place forever. And though I know those memories will fade with time, I am so excited about the next season in our life.

I would say to anyone reading this. It was hard to obey the Lord and sell our dream home, but I'm so glad we did. I wrestled for months with God, but his Word just kept coming back to me over and over, "One's worth is not determined by what one possesses." Frankly, moving is tough; in fact, it stinks, but a short season of strain is so much better than a lifetime wondering if God had something different because if we'd have stayed no one would've known the difference, but deep inside we knew God wanted us to go, so staying was never an option.

So for Jeff, Melinda, Hollywood and Brooklyn we are settling down again, getting ready to do something new and make a house a home which takes some time if it is anything like the last one. Thank you for the prayers...see ya Sunday and at the races tomorrow night--only 2 left this season. Hey do me a favor, record the Cup race on Sunday this week and make sure to add 3 hours to the Tivo and then call me and give me an invitation to come to your house, watch the start, fall asleep for 192 laps and then watch the last 8. I promise I won't stay too long after its over. HA!