MOVING? YAY!

Time for a MOVE?! Us too!

Many associate moving with stress, dread, drama, clutter, disorder and disarray. It doesn't have to be that way! Here are some reminders as you move forward in this exciting season, and some suggestions on how to make it memorable for the best reasons for the WHOLE family.

1. Maintain your home and personal routines!

    Devotion time, daily walks/exercise, hydration, meal planning and nutrition, family game night, story time, songs at bed time. When much is changing, not everything has to! Maintaining these things gives the family something to hold on to, and continues to nurture and provide stability through change. Some things are changing, but some things we will bring with us. Like how we do things as a family, and that I'm still here to tuck you in at night.

2. Pack and clean in pockets of time.

    It's incredible what 3 boxes a day will do over 4 weeks. You don't need to pack everything all at once. Pack in pockets of time. Keep things for the same room together. Mark on a piece of tape on the top of the box what room your movers or helpers will take the box to in the new house. This will streamline the process for your helpers, and yourself when you are unboxing on the other end! Keep a black trash bag, and a donatable donate box with you in the packing process. It's easier to throw away trash and pass along items you don't need, when it's just as easy to donate or throw away as it is to pack. Have a packing caddie with you. Packing tape, labeling tape, black marker, spray bottle and rag (so you're not moving old dirt with you to your new place).

3. List the accounts you need to cancel.

    List out all the programs, memberships, payments which need to be canceled now that you are moving and will no longer be able to use those services. Your local dairy's weekly subscription, library card, city business licenses, storage unit, city recreation activities, ect. Compile all the phone numbers you need to call to complete these tasks. Do one a day leading up to your time to be moving away. 10 minutes a day is often much more possible than a whole afternoon of time we need to allocate to other things.

4. List the accounts you will need to assume when you move!

    Write out all the fun new responsibilities you have in your new home and new place. Do this in some down time, while you listen to a favorite audio book or music in the background. Some examples are things such as city services (water, sewer, trash), gas, electricity, city library card, closest university library card, city recreation center, business license in new city, homeschooling waver for the county. Add in the phone numbers of each place you will need to call to make things simple. Then prioritize them by putting them in order of what is most important to do first. When you move into your new place you can do one a day for a week or two, and before you know it you'll be all settled in. One of the hardest parts of moving is feeling a lack of community. Getting into your new community in a timely way helps so much with this feeling.

5. List of Addresses to Change.

    Again, do this in a quiet pocket of the day! Do not over run your life with moving and neglect peace and health in the process. Often beginning these lists in 10 minutes one evening simply gives these to-do's a home. Any time you remember another institution to call or another address to change, simply add it to the list. Remember when you move to file a change of address with your local post office. When you receive your redirected mail this also helps you know of any accounts you may have missed and still need to change (or ones you no longer want and can cancel!) Some examples, bank account, drivers license, voters registration, amazon shipping address, other subscriptions

6. Remember, no task is to urgent it should over ride kindness, peace and love.

    Lots of emotions accompany moving, maybe more than you expected. Remember you are in the Lords care, and so is your family. That can bring the peace you need if you let it. Share the work as a family, and keep the focus on fun, experience, learning, and joy in the process. In the process. Be in the process. And before you know it the moving will be over, and with many fun memories. This is a family experience. Do it as a family!

Other helpful or fun tips:

*Look up your new local parks, hikes, ponds, streams, recreation spots, places for walks you would like to utilize in your new neighborhood,

*Prepare a simple gift or write a card to give to your current neighbors who have been special to you. Have fun delivering your happy news of moving, while also thanking those who have helped get you and your family to were you are at now.

*Plan to meet your new neighbors! Prepare to join a new neighborhood. Some neighbors come visit when new people move in, and some don't. No need to put the ball in their court! This is your new neighborhood too! Walk around one evening as a family to deliver a little gift, picture of your family or both to your new neighbors. If you like hosting larger groups and the weather is fine, plan a block BBQ in your front yard! Hand out an invitation as you visit! You grill the meat, and have everyone bring a favorite side dish. Pull out the lawn games, board games, or watch a movie on the projector outside. This gives you a chance to meet everyone in a group setting, and see if there are families you'd like to make a closer connection with.

Not Fun, but certainly important:

*Look up the sex offender registry and check the radius in your  new address. Being informed can bring peace, or an understanding that maybe somewhere else to live would be better.