And the Mouse ran away with Shamu...

As I sit here pondering what to type, a flood of emotions rushes around me. Shock. Excitement. Sadness. Anxiety. Happiness. Dread. I'm not sure what exactly our family is headed into, all I know is that it is right.

A year or so ago Chris and I began feeling like we needed to start thinking about moving to Utah. Of course, this was exciting as we began to think about things that we don't/can't do or have here in Southern California. Things like a yard, going camping, working on cars, seeing family. Exciting when still not real. Chris began looking at employment options, and there were a few things that he applied for and never heard back on. No big deal, we didn't really want to leave anyway. So, we let it go for a while.

Then we started to feel it again, we need to move to Utah. Around this same time, Chris heard about a job that was maybe in the works to be created. Twice. In the same day. From two different people and different areas of Illumina. Which happened to be a near perfect fit for Chris. And would allow us to move to Utah. He talked to the person who was rumored to be creating this position and it was true. And this person seemed excited that Chris was interested. And then nothing happened. Finally the position was created. Chris applied and interviewed and then heard nothing for 6 weeks. We were pretty resigned that it had been given to someone else. And then found out that Chris got the job.
So here we sit now, at the end of February, the sale of our house closing in 3 weeks. It's finally real. And I'm not sure I'm ready.

San Diego is our home. We have built our life, marriage, family, and careers here. We have met so many people. Our children were born here. Nearly all of our married life has been spent here in Southern California, and it has been wonderful. Not everything has been good all of the time, but life has been good. We have learned and grown so much in so many aspects of life. Countless experiences through work, church, and life in general have shaped us into the people we are. We have grown as individuals, a couple, leaders, listeners, parents, friends.

 I am so sad to be leaving San Diego.   I'm not sure what lies ahead. We don't have a place to move into yet. We don't know where in Utah we will live (somewhere between Salt Lake and Ogden probably?). So much is unknown, but I am at peace. I know that this is what the Lord wants for our family and where he needs us to go. I have faith that we will find the perfect house and neighborhood for our family. It may not be immediately, but I know that the Lord will provide. I have no doubts that when we put our lives in His hands and let Him direct our paths, miracles happen. I have witnessed this time and again.

So we trust in the Lord, 100%. We follow promptings from Him and the path becomes visible. And at the end of it all we say, I'll go where you want me to go.