A Lot of Leaving To Do. A Killy-Series, Part 1

We Killys are on the verge. We have been leaving for awhile. I can talk about it now. Before it seemed premature and frankly a bit too ouchy for me to put in print. If you've only heard bits and pieces, or aren't aware of what I'm speaking of, I'm going to back up.

One year ago I had it all worked out. We would be moving our family to a pastorate wherever God called and we would be settling in over the summer. God's timing was going to be perfect-I just knew it. We were saying "goodbye" as we thought about the last time we would spend Christmas in this house. I packed the Christmas things accordingly.

Winter melted to spring and we found ourselves opening the pool for the last time, saying "goodbye."  Scott came home permanently from his associate pastorate and focused on moving forward. We packed furiously, thinning our house of clutter for a parade of buyers. I think I pulled the jam-packed minivan up to the back door of the donation center three times in as many days. The workers waved knowingly when I rounded the corner. It worked in my favor when I accidentally dropped off the original cutting boards that slide in and out under our countertops late one Friday. They graciously gave them back Saturday morning. We were going gang-busters. We shushed kids and dogs for phone interviews. We travelled out of town for face to face interviews. We accepted an offer on our home. We travelled out of town for more interviews.

One door closed. A second door closed. I bumped my understanding of God's perfect timing back thinking He now intended the kids to start their new school (wherever that would be) a few weeks into the new school year. Another new opportunity presented but then that door closed pretty quickly again. The buyer for our house walked away.  We closed the pool and said goodbye for the last time as we waited to walk through the 4th open door opportunity still before us as I knew God's plan was about to unfold. That door closed. (insert knowing hindsight-is-perfect smile.)

The kids settled into school. My expectations were over. I waited. We waited. We took in our gorgeous backyard and in the evening listened to the crickets chirping as we sat in our lounge chairs. We stared at endless opportunities and lots of (metaphorical) mountains. I mean we had a zillion little leads and suggestions for connections with those who might know of opportunities for Scott and yet he had been the #2 choice twice, the #3 choice once and in a few other "final 7" groups. Yet I think we both knew that if none of those many previous situations worked out for us (and they hadn't) then all the phone calls, emails, and meetings in the world wouldn't budge this time of waiting God had assigned us.

And we had bills to pay.  Scott started two (very much) lesser-paying jobs. The leaves changed. We prepared for Thanksgiving and started to consider Christmas. Christmas--but we already said goodbye. My Christmas things were tucked snugly in the corner of our storage unit we rented to hold all our precious junk things we can't live without (how have we managed since June??) But my obsession with not holding onto things is a rant for another time maybe a whole different blog. It probably reveals some deep-seeded issues that make me not cry in movies, but I digress…

We spent the fall waiting and praying and exploring opportunities. We knew God was working and we knew all we should do was wait on Him to move us. Tomorrow there will be more of our story here. Come on back!