Moving from state to state has its benefits.  I’m trying to remember this as I prepare to move this summer from Wichita, Kansas to Evansville, Indiana.

My husband got a new job that starts July 1st. (I’m outside his new workplace in the posted photo.)

Consequently, I’m getting the house ready to put on the market.  I’m also helping two teens leave their home of eight years to live in a city they have never visited before.

I just spent two full days in Indiana, visiting high schools, young women’s classes, and neighborhoods. Everyone was very friendly, and the city was beautiful. However, I was taking in so much new information that it was hard to process everything.

My main reaction was this: I have a lot to do to wrap up my life in Kansas and even more work ahead for establishing my life in Indiana.

If I think about every discreet task I must complete between now and July, I feel physically ill.  I have to focus only on one week’s worth of responsibilities, or I get overwhelmed.

Over the next twelve weeks I will do the following for the move: declutter, repair and clean the house.  Keep the house in perfect condition while we show it.  Once we sell, I will need to pack up the house, including 16 bookcases worth of books.  In the meantime, I will look for houses online before travelling to buy one.  Then I will travel again to closing.  Then drive two vehicles out there, one trip per vehicle. That’s five trips unless I can drive one of the vehicles out for closing and fly back, then it’s just four trips.

And in my regularly scheduled life I have paid job, my calling, an Eagle award ceremony, a high school graduation party, and regular errands and housework.  If I can manage it, I will keep going to the gym and book club. And if I’m not completely out of my mind, I would like to host a watch party for the Eurovision Song Contest in the middle of May.

Oops. That’s more than one task a week.  Not ideal.

And this is just a rundown of the practical tasks.  All four of us are also trying to manage complex emotions about leaving Wichita and starting life in a new town.   We are experiencing an odd mix of sorrow, excitement and worry. These emotions take time and effort to manage responsibly.  Our youngest daughter in particular is facing the challenge of changing high schools between  her freshman and sophomore years.  That’s tough.

I’m trying to focus on the positive without celebrating real losses or ignoring significant challenges.  And I’m trying to “Give it to God” because I’m feeling as though my puny arm isn’t up to this major life task.

How many times have you moved?  What practical and emotional obstacles did you face? How did you overcome them–practically, emotionally and spiritually?