For those of you who don't know...

this is a long post.

Oh, and we moved. Yep, we traded our countryside home in Unadilla for main street living in Oneonta (coping...barely; more whining to come ;) ). This is a picture of my chiropractor's office and right above his office, on the second level where you see the railings, is our apartment. I will be posting more pics of it soon. (soonish?)

And...in about 2 months we'll be moving again though this next move will be a little farther; we'll be moving out of state. Come the end of November it's on to Lewiston, Idaho. I think it would be a safe assumption that if someone has moved 18 times in 15 years folks would likely think one of two things; either they're military or they actually enjoy moving. I wouldn't say I despise moving, but I definately wouldn't go so far as to add it to a list of my favorite pasttimes. :)

Being raised in southern California built into me certain prejudices against every other state in our country. ;) Over the years, the Lord has worked on humbling my silly pride (in many areas...ouch!) by showing me the beauty that he has given each state (and province) we've lived in. I am thankful to have not only 'seen', but experienced living in each of these places.

I never thought I'd survive in climate below 30*F. North Dakota winters proved that theory wrong. The first time I visited ND, I went from a balmy 70* in southern CA to 50 below. Just a mite chilly. The Lord gives grace for every situation though it didn't necessarily come in the abundance I thought I needed. I didn't think a little 'global warming' right over the state of ND was asking too much. ;) All the more need to look to Christ which, I believe, was/is His intention. He was teaching me to "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."(James 1:4) While conviction is painful and challenging, it is a blessing to know that the Lord does not leave us to our sinful selfish selves. Praise the Lord for that!

Our reasons for moving are two-fold. While New York may have some of the most beautiful scenery around, there is far too much negative legislation. The state wants its hands in the home, the pocketbook (I just said pocketbook! I mean wallet.) and more. Besides this, most of my family is either relocating to this area (for similar reasons) or has relocated already. We have gone from a household of 14 to 5 as our family members have moved on and we moved out of our home last month. So while another move is an unpleasant task in and of itself, we are looking forward to reuniting with our family. Our move will also put us within a day's drive (a long one though it may be) of both my sister and her family in Canada and my inlaws in North Dakota.

Family is very important to us because it is important to God. It is His first 'institution' of learning, leading and instructing. Out of the family comes our society. What folks believe and how they choose to raise their children is what we will see in the future since our children are the future. Family is what Theodore Kuyler calls the "fountain-head of society". He states that, "Both the commonwealth and the church grow out of the family. They both take their character from the family. The real seed-corn whence our republic sprang was the Christian households, which stepped forth from the cabin of the Mayflower, or which set up the family altar of the Hollander and the Huguenot on Manhattan Island or in the sunny South. All our best characters, best legislation, best institutions...were cradled in those early homes. The home rules the nation. If the home is demoralized it will ruin it."(emphasis added). And something our country and it's leaders need to hear and understand is that "No statesmanship or legislation can save us, if once our homes become the abodes of ignorance or the nestling-places of profligacy."(T.K) Our country cannot save us. Not it's economic bailouts, it's schools, afterschool programs, etc. Our only hope and saving can come from the Lord Jesus Christ and His Spirit working in and through our lives as a family. Not until the Lord of the universe is Lord of the homes within our country will we see the change that needs to be made.

We see this move as clear leading from the Lord. Much prayer and asking the Lord's will led us to seek this move. If He didn't want us to move He wouldn't have sold our house. Not only did we battle finding a buyer in a tough economic market, but finding one who wanted to live in the 'country'. This was the third year we had the house on the market. Most folks wanted more privacy and wilderness (we would have too! ;) ) or they wanted to live closer to Oneonta which is where the main business happens around here. The Lord not only provided the right seller (and the only one who made an offer!), he provided a job for Larry that helped to cover a good amount of what we lost on the house. This job is also an answer to prayer as it will reduce the hours Larry has to work. This is something that our family looks forward to.

So, all of that to say, we're outta here in a while so look out Idaho, here we come!