My husband and I are celebrating two anniversaries this week. Ten years ago this Wednesday, life took a turn that knocked us for a loop when Ken was laid off from his job after 25 years with the same company. It was a scary and uncertain time and I confess I did not handle it well. At all. It was a tough time in our marriage because I wasn’t trusting God—or the husband God gave me—as I should. We had very different ideas about what should be next. But one day at a time, one prayerful decision at a time, God led us through to this incredible “new normal” we’re living now. As Ken told me when he walked in the door with the bad news that day in February 2009: “God has taken care of us for almost 35 years. There’s no reason to think He would stop now.”
And take care of us, God did—and has continued to provide in beautiful ways through the love of friends and family, through the encouragement of our own kids, and despite our own fears and mistakes. We look back now and trace the path He led us on, and we are amazed. It’s been an adventure we couldn’t have dreamed of or invented if we’d tried!
Remembering how God cared for us and guided us then makes it easier to say “yes” now to a new direction and a new chapter in our lives.
Later this year, we will be selling our house in Kansas and moving east to Missouri. We’ve had a wonderful season here, living so close to extended family and friends, being part of a great church family, and living in a big-city neighborhood every bit as friendly as those in the small towns we’ve called home. But our two daughters and five of our nine grandkids have planted their roots deep in Missouri, and we want to be part of their lives before they grow up and scatter the way our kids did!
When we moved into this house, Ken said it would probably be for “three to five years.” I said, “five to seven.” As of yesterday, we’ve lived in this house for six years, so it seems the time has come. As heart-wrenching as it will be to say our goodbyes here, we are excited to not have to say quite so many sad goodbyes to our grandkids. …Now if we could just get our two sons and the four grandkids in Washington to head our way, we’d be happy campers
And speaking of campers, some of you have been following our adventures on Raney Day Trippin’. Yes, I think there will be RVing in our future. And wonder of wonders, I’m very okay with that. Maybe even a little excited about it! (Shhh! Don’t tell Ken! 😉 ) Just as long as I have a nest to come home to. A nest that, as I told a friend the other day, can be much smaller than where we live now…it just can’t be on wheels. 🙂
We’d cherish your prayers for all the decisions to be made in the coming months and all the logistics of keeping up with our work while moving not only our home but both of our offices 500 miles and eight hours east. I’ll keep you posted…
I’d love to hear how God has led you through the difficult times in life. How have those trials strengthened your faith and brought you to a “new normal”?
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Best wishes as you begin your next adventure! God bless!
Thank you, Ruth! We’re excited!
My husband and I moved to Michigan nearly five years ago after living in Illinois for over 20 years. I pray that your experience will be as blessed as ours has been. You have some exciting days ahead! Keep us posted.
That encourages me greatly having seen your transition and how well it’s gone, Lynn!
I’ll be praying for you and Ken as you make your various decisions and steps toward this move. How exciting to be nearer to some of your children and grandchildren!
My husband was laid off in the early 2000’s, so I understand that sense of uncertainty. However, he received a good severance package and used that time and money to take real estate courses. To provide a steady base of income during that time, I returned to full-time teaching with health benefits as well. After two years, I was able to take early retirement, which provided us both with continued health and dental benefits, and return to part-time work, and my husband was able to hold his own in his new career. God really blessed us and continued to provide for our needs.
God is SO creative in making ways where it seems to us there IS no way! It’s a great encouragement to hear your story, Suzanne. I know I am so much stronger in my faith and “constitution” than I would have been had we not gone through that trial. Our marriage is stronger too. God is good! In hard times and in times of blessing!
Prayers for your new adventure and and transitions. It can be an exciting time, and that comes through in your post.
I love the quote from Ken about God taking care of you for so many years. We have been married for 53 years and reflect on that knowledge often – from Vietnam seven months after we were married to Cyprus, to other duty stations until my husband retired after serving 20 years in the Marine Corps. Many job changes later (thanks to having that retirement check), my husband was led to the ministry and retired after 12 years in 2014, the same year I retired from teaching. Such good advice to remember He is in charge.
Will be looking forward to hearing about your move and know you will be so happy to be closer to those grandchildren.
Thank you so much, Betty! We’ll be sharing our adventures. Thank YOU for sharing yours!
Welcome to Missouri! I know you will enjoy being close to some of your grandchildren!
Thanks, Joan! We can’t wait. Hope to be there by Fall. We’ll see what God has in mind…
What an exciting adventure ahead of you. I look forward to reading your posts as you step out in faith on this new journey.
Thanks, Mary! I so appreciate your support and encouragement!
It sounds like a wonderful new beginning is coming your way! It’s always bittersweet to leave one place, but always exciting to settle in another. I love that you’ll be closer to two of your kids and their families. 🙂
Thanks, Becky. Me too! <3
I both smiled and teared up as I read this post, Deb. You inspire me. I look forward to hearing about all the adventures God has waiting for you and Ken!
Thank you, Beth! It is exciting when God is leading! Maybe not always FUN, but good to be following Him.
What a wonderful testimony of God’s goodness! Wishing you every happiness on your new journey. I know your kids and grandkids will love having you close by! 🙂
Thanks, Anne! I’ve loved following your brave journey of stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s a real encouragement to me to see how God has helped you adjust and blessed you in the process!
Bless you and Your Family on your New Adventure Thank you for sharing your story with us ! Praying for You on your move and Your Home is Beautiful! God Bless You and Your Family!
Thanks so much, Sarah. We’re excited and nervous and happy and sad all at the same time. But above all, we trust God’s direction in our lives.
Eight years ago, my husband’s company wanted him to move from SC to TN. We didn’t want to move, at least not yet. We had just moved my m-i-l from 2,000 miles away to an assisted living place near us two years before and didn’t want to uproot her again. Plus my youngest was in tenth grade in the same Christian school he had been in since K-5. We wanted to wait til he graduated. But after a year of my husband working in TN through the week and coming home on weekends, we decided that was not good for the family. So we opted to move.
My oldest son had graduated from college but was living at home, trying to decide what to do with his life. Our move prompted him to step out on his own instead of moving with us. But he chose to move near friends 900 miles away. And my newly-married son and d-i-l would be staying behind in SC. So it felt like my nest was all of a sudden nearly empty in one fell swoop.
God used many things to sustain me that year, but the main one was a truth from the hymn, “Be Still My Soul,” the line which says, “Through every change, He faithful will remain.”
My youngest son was not excited about moving at first, but ultimately he said, “This will be good for me. It will be the first hard thing I’ve had to go through.” He did great, and God brought a teacher and youth pastor his way who had a wonderful influence on him. When we got my m-i-l moved and settled in, my husband told her he appreciated her having such a good attitude about it all. She said, “Well, it doesn’t do any good to have the other kind.” 🙂
It’s hard to leave a beloved home and everything familiar, but what a joy to live near kids and grandkids! I pray all will go well with all the transitions.
I just LOVE that whole story, Barbara! Especially your son’s attitude! That’s how our youngest daughter was. She had to give up a lot after the layoff, but she was kind of a spoiled youngest (mostly spoiled by her three teenage siblings!!) and it was good for her, and she rose to the occasion beautifully. Hard as it was, God worked in all of us. And yes, I love that song. “Be still my soul…” Such great words for LIFE. The Lord IS on our side when we’re following him!
Oh, this news makes me so sad, but also happy, because I’m glad you will be closer to some of your kids and grandkids. We are blessed with the fact that all three of our children and all grandchildren live within about a 20 mile radius from us….yet in 3 different towns. ‘ya gotta love Kansas! My oldest sister and her husband had only a RV for a home for a while, but she too needed a nest to come home to—-even if it was far away from me! I hope you find a wonderful house that you can still decorate with your garage sale treasures! (They do have such in Missouri, right? 🙂 ) Prayers going up for all of you as you search for the right place.
Thanks, Jeanie! And yes, never fear, Missouri has garage sales, including one that stretches for 100 miles! It would be fun to do that with our daughters! 🙂
I love the oatmeal story and how your daughter so sweetly reminded you of the Lord’s provisions. And I’m sure it will be hard to pack up and move from your home. It’s funny how the Lord had plans for our life and yet knowing that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord doesn’t stop us from worrying about the final destination of those steps – oh ye of little faith (I’m talking more to myself than you). But I know you guys will end up just where the Lord wants to plant you and you will thrive and bloom where He plants you. Your readers enjoy following you along your journey so please keep us posted and thank you for sharing your lives with us. Just think of all the prayers said on your behalf by doing so. Have a blessed evening.
I appreciate all those prayers IMMENSELY, Carla! And the Lord has taken worry away from me (in an almost miraculous way) and I am truly at peace about everything that’s changing. Still, that doesn’t mean I’m looking forward to hauling all those boxes and furniture…probably in the heat of summer! 🙁 I just keep telling myself, “a year from now we’ll be all settled in.”
Oh, I just love this!! I’m so excited for you both. You’re such an inspiration!
Thanks, Roni! I’m excited about what’s in store! (Just not looking forward to the moving OUT part!)