We Will Follow

"Where You go, I'll go
Where You stay, I'll stay
When You move, I'll move
I will follow..."

These words have rang in my head over, and over, and over again.  It's my heart's cry.  I will follow Him wherever He leads.  I will stay if He says stay.  I will move when He says move.

Two years ago, Aaron, the kids, and I went to Disney World and St. Petersburg, Florida on a vacation.  We had a blast!  Disney World is where dreams come true and St. Petersburg is where a good portion of my dad's family lives.  When we boarded the plane on June 2nd, 2011, We all said, "so, when we moving to Florida?"

Fast forward approximately two years.

About a month ago, Aaron was on Facebook and came across a post from our friend about a church plant he is doing.  He calls to me, "Hey Jo, guess where Our friends are planting a church?"  "St. Petersburg!"  Me, "Coincidence?" 

Two days later, our son comes running up to get ready for school, "so, what's the plan, when we moving to Florida, cause this weather sucks!"  Aaron and I proceed to stare each other down as if to say, "did you tell him?"  "Um, we'll get back to you on that, son.  Time for school!"

April 8th, I text my friend, Sarah, "we are considering moving to Florida." 

The searching begins...housing, schooling for Aaron, schools for the kids, job outlook for me...inbox messages sent to family with a ton of questions and many answers sent back.  Praying the entire time, "God is this you?  Is this us?  Has spring fever hit us that hard?"

Meanwhile, at work, I tell my colleague our thoughts and she encourages me everyday, "go!  You have nothing to lose, you only live once!"

One night, Aaron says, "are we just talking, or are we going to do this?"  Me, "I am not opposed."  Aaron, "OK, so we are really doing this?!"  Me, "Sure, I will be closer to my grandparents, my dad's family, it's warm, beaches, Disney, and a bonus...we get to help with a church plant!  I'm in!"

Aaron texts our landlord, and tells him we are moving to Florida.  His response, "what???  I don't know if you are serious!"  Aaron tells him we are and he responds, "awesome!  Just let me know.  Jealous."  Wouldn't you know, we have signed 4 leases with him and the last one, signed nearly a year ago, was open ended.  A sixty day notice and we are out of here!  That is God orchestrating our steps before we had a clue!

Even Aaron's schooling will easily transfer as he just finished his AA degree in December and is on track to complete his undergrad at any school!  Again, God knew!

April 18th, I text my friend, Sarah, "we are moving to Florida!"

What?  Wait!  Put the brakes on!  Screeeeeeech!  Did we just make a decision to move to Florida in TEN DAYS????

Frantic, I bring up my You Version Bible on my phone...type in...God's will.  Scroll through to find this verse...Jeremiah 42:7...Ten days later the LORD spoke to Jeremiah.  TEN DAYS!!!!!  Ok, God, I hear you!

Our kids are so excited!

Our son, who never asks to try something new,  has since shown an interest in being on a worship team and a basketball team "when we move to Florida."  I love how by us taking a step of faith, God has given our kiddo a chance to take his own faith steps.  Not only take steps, but orchestrate a moment for God to use our music pastor, Mark Allen, to speak into our son's life.  The words, "you have a beautiful voice, don't ever stop," will forever be in our son's heart.  A true gift for such a time as this.

Our daughter, she is looking forward to living near Uncle Mickey, Great Aunt Jeanette, Mickey Mouse, the beach, and making new friends.  Ahhhh, to be 7!  

I almost forgot, God has even provided 75 brand new moving boxes!  I went to my water aerobics a week after our decision was made and shared with my class.  Back up, Aaron had mentioned wanting new boxes as it makes moving so much easier.  Wouldn't you know, one of the gals pipes up, "Do you need moving boxes?  I can get you some."  The next day, there she was at the Y with 75 new moving boxes for me.

There are still plenty of things that need to fall into place for us to move by mid August, but with God, all things are possible!

You see, when God moves, we move.  Where He leads we follow.