Are you sure you really want to move?  What is motivating you to move?  Everything you write about moving is so very sentimental.  It really sounds like your heart is not in it.  If you love where your home is, the community and the "family" that you have created around you, why would you want to risk that for the unknown?  It sounds like you're already regretting it, and you haven't even done it.  I feel bad for the emotional turmoil that you must be in.  It just doesn't sound like it feels right to you to do this move.

Moving is hard period.  Especially when there are close friends and family left behind.

I'm glad you are getting to say good bye to everyone though.  There are times we moved in a hurry, very short notice, and I didn't get to say goodbye to everyone...that always stinks...but thank goodness for email!  (Though its not the same thing as looking someone in the eye and telling them you love and will miss them.)

It'll be tuff BUT just think....right now in Florida your new best friend is waiting...and she has no idea you are on your way to her.....and your new church family and community...most probably don't know your name right now, but this time next year they will wonder how they ever were complete without you......ok, maybe not that dramatic, heh, but ya know what I mean?

How's that for a run on?

"I'll just have to keep thinking that while I may not know what the future holds, I do know who holds the future."

If you KNOW God's will about this decision, stay strong in the faith that he will lead you to exactly where HE wants you. This is probably not the easiest place to be. But if God wants you there, there's a purpose to it, and it's so much more satisfying than anything you can get from anything you have where He hasn't led you. God is leading you somewhere. People are going to be reached by your family. People are going to heaven because you're moving instead of stubbornly sticking where you are. Remember that, too.

Congratulations on the award!  ANd best of luck on your next 10 years.  May they be as rewarding as the last 10.

Are you sure you really want to move? What is motivating you to move?

No, can one ever be sure? Even when we moved here 10 years ago, we were tentative, but I do think it was easier then because we had kids and we were worried about them in their school system at the time.

We are being led to move. Does that sound weird? We definitley have been feeling a tug for a while and huge doors were opening for us when we started looking. Just in case we prayed about moving (putting out the fleece) one Friday in August, the day before we were to head back home. We asked God for a sure sign that he wanted us there. Six hours later my husband was hired in a pretty good sized firm with full benefits and hefty salary. All we did was get a phone book and send out four emails. We got a response 15 minutes later which led to an interview which led a half hour later to being hired....with no resume.

Then other things started falling into place. But that still doesn't make this easy for us on this end saying goodbye to everyone. I do love this area as well....but hate the long winters.

If you love where your home is, the community and the "family" that you have created around you, why would you want to risk that for the unknown?

Good question. That's why I keep saying.....we must be crazy...what are we thinking? But we also know that God has something down there for us. We have no idea what. We just know without a doubt he's moving us. It happened when we moved here as well. We know know why 10 years later but had no clue when we moved up here back then.

Moving is hard period. Especially when there are close friends and family left behind.

yes and especially hard for me right now. I've never left this state....lived here my whole life. My whole family is here. My mom and dad were visibly sad when I saw them for the last time. They are not the type to show their feelings so this was a biggie. My dad said he might never see me again...which of course I protested over.

I had work (worked there for 17 years) church (church family for 10 years) and school (coached for 9 years) to have to say goodbye too. All this besides my family and friends which just compounded things. As it is, everyone is trying to get together with us for one last visit. There's just not enough time and too many people. Was supposed to meet with a couple today but today was "dump day." Lots of trips to the dump. My house is a mess and we still have last minute packing to do. I said we'd play it by ear but the day got ahead of us.

People are going to heaven because you're moving instead of stubbornly sticking where you are. Remember that, too.

Thanks Jay. I think of that often. I see what has happened here in the last 10 years. It's been amazing. Many of our friends and church family, while sad to see us go say they understand and can't wait to see what God has planned for us down there. They all want reports and want to be part of this great new adventure for us.

Thanks Doc for your kind words.

People are going to heaven because you're moving instead of stubbornly sticking where you are. Remember that, too.

How does her touching the lives of somebody in a different state help anymore than staying where she is?  If she has made a difference in the lives of people as she has stated in her blogs, how is moving changing that?  Why does the move make the difference? 

But we also know that God has something down there for us. We have no idea what. We just know without a doubt he's moving us

How do you know for sure that is God's will?  How do you know that the strong feelings that you are having and the feelings that your parents expressed are also not God's way of telling you something?  In my life, I have found that things feel wrong for a reason even if it seems like I am on the right path.

I do hope for your sake that the move does open new doors.  But, what about the ones that it closes?  What about all the relationships that you have?  What happens to those people that you leave when you move?

Karma...you ask really good questions. Some I'm not sure how to answer. Can we affect people's lives here where we are? Yes I suppose we can. But if God is really tugging at us to move, and showing us wide open doors, I'm not so sure how successful our work here will really be in the long run. If we are in the center of God's will, which we are trying to be, then things are going to happen as he moves us and we are willing to go. If this is God's will like we believe it is, than our work is going to be far more effective there than here.

How do you know for sure that is God's will?

Good question. Sometimes we're not sure at first. We, put out the fleece. Do you know what that means? It goes back to the story of Gideon and it means we ask God to prove our feelings about all this. As we seek God's will more and more, we see him and hear him clearer as he makes his will known to us. We never, ever, make a decision solely based on our personal feelings alone. In this case, God made it perfectly clear to us in more ways than one he wanted us down there. I put one piece of this story on Aeryk's blog when he asked if we had ever heard from God. link]https://forums.joeuser.com/?forumid=65&aid=167004#1355539">Link

For one thing, Florida is the LAST place on earth we'd ever thought of living. We're runners and running in humidity doesn't thrill us but being able to run all winter does have it's advantages ...lol. In fact, we bought two acres in VA about 5 years ago thinking we'd retire there someday. Obviously God has other plans. We're just going to wait and see what happens. Whatever happens it's sure not to be dull or boring.

In my life, I have found that things feel wrong for a reason even if it seems like I am on the right path.

But see we're not going on just feeling. Our emotions can lead us astray. We have to look at circumstances, and listen to God as he speaks to us in our everyday life and then make a decision. We wanted to move to Oregon years ago. We really wanted to do this. We went out there at least four times and it was like a fight. Doors were not opening even tho we were trying to knock them down. We then turned to this place and within two months we were in our new home after selling our old one in six days. Lock, stock and barrel in two months. More to it than that but one thing after another brought us here. It was more than obvious.

I do hope for your sake that the move does open new doors. But, what about the ones that it closes? What about all the relationships that you have? What happens to those people that you leave when you move?

We give them to God. We have made some lifelong friendships here. This whole week has been unbelievable. We had a houseful today helping us load the truck. We had one family make a lovely dinner for us tonight. We have received more love these past few weeks than many get in a lifetime. And we expect to have loads of company in our new home hoping to minister to them even still. God is awesome. He's showing us we're doing the right thing even if we don't always FEEL like we are.