Well, here we are, seemingly at the last month of itineration. We have moved out of our house and in with my in-laws as we anticipate our departure in a few weeks. Our kids are enrolled in school in Budapest for the fall. Lenee' has been "hired" as a volunteer part-time school nurse at the school (nice tuition discount). We only have about $300 in monthly support left before our budget is met. It is truly a time full of mixed emotions. Nathan has finished Fine Arts. His human video team earned a chance to compete at nationals, but he won't be able to compete because we will be in Budapest. Aaron has played his last middle school baseball game, maybe his last baseball game, period. Matthew was picked to his baseball league's all-star team, but won't be able to play because we're leaving. Even I have a tinge of sadness as I think about new and renewed friendships, people that we have spent time with, that we won't see for 4 years. But, we also have the excitement, the anticipation, of what is ahead of us. A new city (Budapest) to call home, finding a new house, new school, new friends, seeing missionary and national friends that we haven't seen in over 1 1/2 years. And, of course, to continue the journey, the path of life to which God has called us. Pray for our family as we make this transition of place, culture, people, and life.
Right now, we find ourselves in the middle of moving, but I am no longer talking about the emotional aspect of moving, but the actual physical aspect. We are trying to decide what goes with us, what stays here (very little), and what to get rid of. It is funny how moving every 1, 2, 3, or 4 years changes the way you look at "stuff". Some of the things that seemed really important years ago are not that important after you have to keep moving them over and over again. We keep many things that represent memories from the past, things that, at some future time, we will look at and remember. Or, we keep things that we MAY use or need at some point, but are too good to part with. Well, after moving 5 times in the last 10 years, your perspective begins to change. You know, those books that you have had for years and have never read, those clothes that you haven't worn in 3 years, those college year books that you haven't opened in 20 years, all good things that you may get around to using, or reading, or wearing. They used to seem important, or valuable, but now they begin to be seen as a weight that needs to be moved from storage to storage every few years. I have begun to question whether these things add value to my life, or are just a burden that I insist on dragging with me wherever I go. Are they really important, or do they just take up more space, more time, more energy, more money? After all, if I haven't read, used, or worn these things in years, why do I need them? Why do I think that I will wake up one day and suddenly want to read that book that I have had for 10 years and never opened, or wear that shirt that I have had for 4 years and never worn? Instead of dragging these weights around with me everywhere I go, why not get rid of them or give them to someone who really can use them? As I get older, and move more often, I have a greater appreciation and desire for a simpler life. There is freedom in a simple life. Less stuff, fewer bills, minimal debt. The freedom to live life, the freedom to go, and do, and be all that God has for you. It is still a struggle to let go of some of my stuff, but every time we move, it gets easier. I pray that God will continue to show me how to let go of things that I don't need, to be a blessing to others out of my abundance, and to live a simple, Godly life.
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