For the past two months, we have been in the process of selling our home in Kansas, buying a home in Southeast Missouri, packing up to move, and making all the changes moving requires.
It’s been hard, hard work, and I’m not sure I could do it all over again if my life depended on it! But oh, the rewards. Yes, I miss my dad and my sisters and brother. I miss my mother-in-law and other dear friends we left behind in Kansas. But I no longer miss my daughters and five of our nine grandkids because we live closeby now and have seen them several times each of the almost three weeks we’ve lived here now. And that is simply glorious!
It’s been so wonderful to share in the kids’ and grandkids’ everyday lives.
I mentioned a few weeks ago that an RV might also be in our future. Sure enough, in the midst of our move, this little red beauty showed up for sale about four hours from here. This 2015 Winnebago Travato was exactly what Ken has been looking for, so we took a little break from unpacking boxes and drove to check it out. We’ve already had “her” out for an overnighter, and in another five weeks, we’re heading out on an almost-seven-week journey in “Meriwether.” We named her after another explorer who wanted to discover all this beautiful country has to offer.
So far, we’re delighted with our decision to make this move, but it certainly is an adjustment. I’d love to hear from any of you who’ve made a big move, especially if it was to be closer to family members. Was it a difficult adjustment? Did it take you a while to find a church and fit into the community? Would you do it again? Any regrets? Do tell!
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What a beautiful home. Congratulations.
Thanks, Marti. We’re in awe of the home God found us…it works perfectly for our new life here!
It’s fun to be a little part of your “journey” through your posts. Love your home and your decorating style. We did a similar thing just last summer–moved from Northern California to middle Tennessee. No regrets, but it is an adjustment. We believe it was God’s desire for us to be here, just not sure exactly why. We’ve found a wonderful church and are jumping right into ministry. My husband is working with a couple organizations as a rapid response chaplain, so there are more opportunities to serve on this side of the country. And like you, I can write from anywhere. I also love decorating my home, so it’s been a lot of fun for me. I just hope we don’t have to do it again!
I’m impressed that you’ve jumped right into ministry so quickly, Jennifer. That’s wonderful. Since we’re traveling for weeks at a time for the next few years, I know it’s going to be a challenge to get plugged in at a new church. But we know it’s important and we want to get settled in! And oh, I hear you on “hope we don’t have to do it again!” We are declaring that we’re not moving again until our kids move us into a nursing home! 🙂
We did that a little over two years ago. We downsized and moved to our dream destination – the Ozark Mountains. It’s just hubby, I and our little furbaby and we figured do it now or never. It was very rewarding to discard “stuff” that we had accumulated over many years of being in one place plus having inherited my parents and grandparents “stuff”. We found an amazing young Mennonite builder who was able to bring our vision to life. We built a home for US not with concerns of others who “might” show up. We had Amish made cabinets made in Shipshewana and shipped in. I got the granted and hardwood floors I’ve always dreamed about. The property we found on the outskirts of town had two large stone fireplaces from the original 1953 home that we built our one bedroom home around placing one in the living room and one in our bedroom. Love our large front porch were we can sit in during any sort of weather and watch the large array of critter visitors we have every day. We were immediately accepted into this wonderful town of less than 3000. We enjoy the influx of tourist from April to October enjoying all the extra musicians and concerts it brings with it. Being a tourist town (Folk Music Capitol of the World) and still having that Mayberry, down-home feel is wonderful. There is as much to do or nothing to do as you want to fill your day with. Did we make a good decision to move – YES! Would I do it again – YES! Well, maybe a little slower now due to age and health, and maybe with a little more dread since I know what all it entails now, but yes I think we made one of the best decisions of our lives.
It all sounds AMAZING, Kay! I love that you built around 1953 fireplaces! Your move sounds like a perfect way to create the life you want to live. I’m sure it was LOTS of hard work, but all the more rewarding because of that! Thanks so much for sharing!
Deborah, thanks so much for sharing your move with pictures. (By the way, I just finished After The Rains – beautifully written!!)
I moved from warm Texas to Indiana a year ago. My husband had passed away in a nursing home and I debated staying in warm Texas or moving close to my 2 daughters and grandson; of course, family won. I put my Texas home up for sale. We caravaned from Texas to Indiana: 2 cars and a 26(?) foot van that my oldest daughter drove. We all bought a house together; they were in the area and moved in first. My dog & I had a lot of healing and adjustments to undergo.
It’s taken a year to find the church where God lead me. GriefShare has been an excellent Christian approach to healing from loss/death. A lot of yard work has been therapeutic for me. God is the answer to life!! My dog and I are so excited about this new adventure that God has planned!
Donna, I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through to get to this point, but so thankful you’re home now and near family. Ken and I were pulling weeds in our new yard this morning and it reminded me how very therapeutic that is! You are right! Blessings on your new adventure! May it be a very happy one from here on out!
Deb–So enjoying every minute of your move and decorating. I was keeping my eye out for that turquoise door. Finally spotted in inside your gorgeous screened porch!!
Thanks, Roxy. That door just seemed more at home there than in my office in this house. That’s one thing I’ve loved about this move: at least half of our furniture has found homes in different rooms than our last house…which makes everything seem new! So glad you’re enjoying the process. I hope I’m not boring those less interested in decorating posts, but I’m sure having fun! 🙂
Everything looks lovely! Congratulations on your move!
Thanks, Betty! Always great to hear from you!
I’m not a decorator at all, but love seeing all the details of your lovely home and look forward to seeing your yard in the future. With my husband being in the military, we have lots of experience moving and each time the Lord provided a church home and special friends- and still love keeping in touch with those friends. Unfortunately since we live in Illinois and our kids/grands are in KS and TX we don’t see as much of them as we would like, but times together are indeed very special. I am happy for you to be able to be by family and to be looking forward to traveling adventures.
It has amazed us, too, to see how the Lord has provided in so many ways. I’m sure he will lead us to just the right church in due time. It’s hard having kids living far away! But I just remind myself that 200 years ago when your kids moved far away, you might never see them again in this life! And rare letters had to suffice, and no photographs of grandbabies, or Skyping with the kids to see where they live, etc. So I’m grateful for the connections we DO have through the Internet.
Love your new adventure. If my kids moved I’d follow too. Thankful our small family is here except for our son. Our granddaughter’s other grandparents just moved here from their life long hometown outside DC this past weekend. I’m happy for her to have them close. And their grown daughter is moving here to complete her residency. They sold a home and bought another here.
Our next adjustment will be hub’s retirement in 103 days. We plan to travel and see the US first. We will check out Midwest, West Coast and New England to start.
Happy for you and Ken.
Maybe we’ll run into you and your hubby on our various travels! 🙂 All the best as you look forward to retirement!
Two and years ago after my hubby retired we moved from Michigan to Tennessee to live near one of our daughters and granddaughter. One of the best things we’ve ever done.
That’s so good to hear, Ann!
Hi Deborah! My husband and I of 38 years are in the process of doing the same. We have sold our home of 22 years and are building a new home next to my nephew and his wife and 3 babies. We are so excited to be near family that all the work and stress involved in moving is worth it.
I wish you all the best in your new home and new adventure!
I’m sure your nephew and his family will be so grateful to have you as neighbors! I think we’ve lost something from the days when generations lived near each other and shared the wisdom of age and experience!
So glad to see you’re nearing the end of settling in, but Meriwether will call you to the road more often than not, I’m sure. In 1983, after two years of marriage, we moved from Nashville, TN to Portland, OR. Away from everything I had known since I was a little girl, including most of my family. Yet, we were moving nearer to the family I “inherited” in 1981 when I married for the second time to my current husband, Bob. He was originally from the Pacific NW, and he had received a lucrative job offer in Portland. This placed us nearer the family I had not met, but it meant not only did I leave family behind. Bob left behind two children from a previous marriage while I moved my only child from my first marriage with us. As you can tell, there were a number of threads that were tight and painful, and others that stretched us in ways we didn’t expect. Finding a church home wasn’t easy. In TN, there were churches on every corner and in Portland they were spaced so far and wide. We had met in a Methodist church singing in the choir. I had been raised in the Methodist church; Bob in the Presbyterian church. We finally found a Presbyterian church that suited the needs of our fairly new family of three and on occasion plus two more. I encourage you to do what you already know and likely what you do best: engage in community, both neighborhood and church.
Enjoy your beautiful new home, especially the screened-in porch. My husband screened our back deck in a couple of years ago so our never-before-outdoors-always-indoor tuxedo cat, Maggie, could enjoy the sun, breezes and outdoors without being in danger of wild animals and wild vehicles. I love it!
And no I’ve never looked back on our move with any regrets, only the joy of our love of the place, our home, our church, and the closeness to wonderful family members.
I loved hearing your story, Sherrey! And especially about Maggie. Ken and I had a darling tuxedo cat, Melvin, for a couple of years until he died. (We took him from our daughter’s menagerie of pets when they found out they were expecting their first baby.) Melvin was such a character and the best cat we ever owned! He was so memorable that he’s making an appearance in all three of the Chandler Sisters novels. 🙂
In 2016 we downsized and sold our house where we had lived for almost 33 years. It was a big house with five bedrooms and a full basement. Lots of storage places that where crammed full. We were hoarders . We started long before 2016 getting rid of things. A boat went. A large upright freezer. A beautiful dining room outfit and four bedrooms of furniture. We got rid of a lot and moved into a two bedroom apartment in a senior community. It was something we needed to do. Two people living alone didn’t need such a big house. Like you said it was a hard move and not sure I could do it again. But oh so glad we did.
That’s all good to hear, Shirley. Ken and I thought we’d be downsizing this move—and we did a little…more with our belongings than our square footage—but I know the day will come when we’ll need to downsize even more. For sure, we don’t want to saddle our kids with a whole houseful of stuff to deal with when we can no longer do it ourselves! But it is freeing to get rid of things you don’t need anymore, and we’re trying to hold very lightly the things we still have.
Your new home looks cozy and inviting! I love the open dining/family room (cute coffee bar, too) and the basement family room! You and Ken have a knack for decorating. You win the prize for getting unpacked, decorated, and settled in record time! 🙂 I’m glad you had so many helpers, too.
We have moved 12 (or is it 13?) times around the Midwest the past 16 years due to my husband’s jobs. Several of them have put us closer to family which was wonderful, but did come with its own quirks too. When we lived in town near extended family we noticed we still had to make “our own” friends and not rely on family to hang out with all the time (as family had always lived there and already had church friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. in their lives). We have found that taking our time in finding a church home (& getting connected there) has been the best way to feel grounded in our new town/state. We love our many church friends (now considered as family) from our many moves, even though we may not see them often or only on Facebook. God always provides what we need, when we need it. So blessed!
All that to say, I have learned to hold on to some of our leftover boxes and moving supplies because you never know when we might be packing up to make another move. 🙂 The Lord does! Thankful He lights our path, one step at a time.
*The plus side to moving so much is it causes me to evaluate whether or not I need to keep (or give away) “stuff”. 🙂
I’m just now seeing this almost a month later, but thank you so much for sharing your experiences, Jennifer! Very helpful! Especially the advise to take our time finding a church home. We’re doing just that and learning to enjoy the process!
Congratulations on your new home Deb! So happy for those sweet grandkids to have you in their daily lives. Living close to my grandparents while growing up was a rich blessing. And I’m so thankful my kids had that opportunity, too.
Thank you, Colleen! It was a blessing for me, too, to live near both sets of grandparents and my great-grandmother, too.
Deborah,
I’m from Pinckneyville, the same town as your son-in-law, Colin, is from. My husband and I are retired schoolteachers. In fact, my husband taught Colin in high school English. I have just finished reading all of your books! What a joy they have brought to my heart! I can’t wait for your next book to be released!! May God continue to bless your journey!!
Much love,
Deb Herbst
Deb, I’m just now seeing your comment almost a month later, but how FUN to have that Pinckneyville connection! Collin is SUCH a blessing to our family and Pinckneyville will always have a special place in our hearts because of him (and his family.) Also, I’m so glad to know you’ve enjoyed the books! Thank you for taking the time to let me know!