Taking Deep Breaths

As we are preparing for huge life changes, I am finding myself taking lots of deep breaths. As we are going through the processes of missions applications, interviews, selling our home, giving away our belongings and trying to embrace this new direction, Matt and I have moments where we just look at each other and say "is this really happening"? And in overwhelming moments like Thursday when we're loading up a 17ft. truck full of some of our most treasured things to give to family, we look at each other and say "can we really do this"? It's such mixed emotions. Matt said Thursday "I don't know how to described this but I've never felt like this before." Knowing with great confidence that this is the direction God is leading us in brings peace, comfort and security but at the same time giving up everything you've known and worked hard for(home, things, a place of belonging, friends,family) over the last 8 years is a complex emotional place to be. Matt lived in England for 6 years as a kid, when his dad was in the Air Force but since then he's never lived somewhere this long. So this place, McMinnville, has been a settling place for us these last 8 years. Our first home, raised 5 kids here and they know no other "home" and we don't either as a married couple. That's not easy to give up after that being my only dream in life.....to marry, settle down and have kids. Well, we've done that and now God is opening up a new chapter in our lives and we're praying for the strength and grace to embrace it as we carry on.
On Saturday, January 26th I typed a post entitled A Time To Search. Go back and read it, it's pretty interesting in light of our current events. We're definately not going to be living the American Dream but I'm not sure this is exactly what I had in mind either. Be careful what you hope, wish and search for....God just might give you an adventure around the world :)