Why?
Since this is the question I get asked the most about our move, I thought I’d start off with this. It started on a beautiful summer day in August, 2009. Discomfort. No, it wasn’t because of the temperature outside and I don’t remember if I woke up feeling that way or what part of the day it started, but that’s what I was feeling.
I’ve come to realize more and more how short our life on this earth is, and I wondered if the life we were living was the life God really wanted us to live. Or was it just the status quo because that’s what was comfortable. God has given us this one life to live - shouldn’t we live it to the fullest? Should our life be an adventure? Just because life is short, I don’t think that gives us license to be reckless, but since life is short, shouldn’t we LIVE it?
So Phil and I began to discuss what kind of life we wanted for us and our children. We talked about things we always wanted to do and about the dreams that our children have shared with us. Some of those dreams had a better chance of being realized if we lived in the USA so we began to talk about moving. Now, like most Edmontonians, every January or February we always talk about moving somewhere warmer, but this time was different. It wasn’t to escape the cold, but to start an adventure – a new country, new experiences, new people. We researched for months, different states, cities, prayed for guidance and always kept coming back to California. It seemed to have everything we were looking for in terms of climate, things to do, good schools and opportunities for the kids to pursue their dreams. So we narrowed our search more and found the city of Temecula. (I always tell Phil I kind of wish we had picked somewhere like San Diego because almost no one has ever heard of Temecula.)
So once we decided where we wanted to go, we had to figure out if we could go. God opened the door for Phil to work for his company from California and on August 30,2010 we received the news that we had been approved for a 2 year VISA. It took over a year from our first conversation for the door to be opened and now we are only a few days away from beginning this new chapter in our lives.
As we start on this new adventure, we want to encourage you to live the life God gave you. It might not mean moving to a new country, that’s our journey. But maybe there’s something you’ve always wanted to do and never thought you could.
I am so excited about your adventure! It gives me goosebumps as I read your post thinking about all that God is going to show you about truly living life to the fullest. I look forward to checking in on you periodically, seeing how you are doing & somehow still managing to share a cup of coffee with you (Christine) as I sit in front of my computer screen. As you go: May God bless you & keep you, may He make His face shine upon you, may He lift up His countenance to you & give you peace.
Nicki, Mark & Gang
We’re so glad you’ve shared this link and these insightful thoughts! We look forward to hearing about your adventure in the coming months. We’re thinking and praying for you especially during this crazy week as you pack and head out!