Leaving Early

Christmas was hard this year. It was the first year in many years that we were not with family or friends who were like family. It was slightly poor planning on my part since I realized this on Christmas day. Since we only have about 30ish days left I was just trying to wait to leave with Matt. However, after putting Elijah to bed crying Christmas night we decided that had to change. I was determined that I didn't want to single parent again (and I don't), but the kids have to come first this time. We were scheduled to leave January 30th, but the kids and I will get on the plane January 11th. It will be good for the kids because they will have a few days at Grandpa and Grandma's house before we scoot off to TN to do our schoolwork in the mountains. During our time in TN they will also be able to see some of their cousins. These two weeks will let the kids decompress from living here and hopefully recharge before our next adventure. If nothing else they get to spend some time with loved ones and being in places they love being in. My classes start back up on January 18th, so hopefully I will be mostly over jetlag. That is also a holiday so the kids can play while I get acquainted with my new class and requirements. If I had waited until the 30th to leave with the kids they would not get this much needed time with family, they would be immediately in a hurried pace to go house hunting and being drug all over the place. This is a win/win. Although it feels kind of like a loss too since we won't have Matt with us, but it is definitely a much shorter time apart. Plus, I hear absence makes the heart fonder ;)  Packing is different this time as I have to pack pretty much all the kids homeschool curriculum with us and my school books too! This has created much stress for me as I always think we will be find and we get down to the last minute and we are mailing boxes and repacking. I pulled out the suitcases and started packing today. After working a little bit I realized there was not much I could pack this early since the kids will be doing school next week and the weather is funny here, so I am not sure what to pack away yet! Thank you for your continued prayers as we travel this journey.
Here's a little humor for you...this is Elijah's suitcase it has 2 shirts in it and he had to pack "his men!" Love this kid and he knows what's important :)