Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Japanese Camp Decor

My new decorating style...Japanese Camp Decor. Haven't seen that in the posh decorating magazines? Yeah, probably not. It's a combination of blankets and pillows on the floor and camp chairs!

We had our grand Moving Sale this past weekend. It was very successful. So successful that we are being creative in our daily living. I sold my mixing bowls, so I served salad and mashed potatoes in my Pampered Chef measuring bowls!

There is still lots to do, of course. Next week Clay will finish up his responsibilities at our church--a bittersweet moment. While we're excited for the next chapter, we are also sad to be leaving the people we have grown to love. Next Thursday Clay will share with our youth about our move to the IMB and the work that we expect to do in Mexico. The next morning we'll board a plane for Orlando, where we anticipate being appointed by the IMB! And of course, we'll enjoy a day or two at Disney World while we're there!
After Orlando, we have about 2 weeks to wrap up all the loose ends and say our goodbyes before heading east.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Treasure

Last night I had 29 boxes in my living room, and if you've seen how small my living room is, you realize there wasn't much room for anything else. When the three big kids came home from Grammy and Grandpa's I had to fight them off to keep them from unpacking those 29 boxes...I was only moderately successful.

Next weekend is our big Moving Sale where everything but the kitchen sink will be for sale. It's hard to look at everything in your home and decide what value it has. Is it important enough to pack in a box to go to Mexico? Will I or anyone in my family need it or want it in Virginia? Will anyone else value it enough to buy it at a garage sale? Is it worth our time to sell it on Craigslist? Should I put it in storage indefinitely? Will I still want it 20 years from now?

Our children are taking it well so far. We've been trying to prepare them for the last 5 months or so. They know that most of their toys will be sold, and only a few of their favorites will go with us. After packing up most of their clothes, Ryan prayed, "Jesus, please let us have enough clothes and toys to get to Mexico." And of course we've had a few behavioral issues that I attribute to the rollercoaster ride of emotions, especially with Ryan who knows that we're moving, but still doesn't understand what that really means.

Through this stage of the process, I'm reminded, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." (Matt. 6:19-20) Easier said than done...we tend to place a lot of value on our stuff. I think everyone should make a major move and truly evaluate the stuff they have collected over the years. Where are you storing your treasure?

Monday, August 1, 2011

The Richardson Family

Mexico?!?

By now, many of you have heard the news...we're headed to Mexico. Some of you may be a little surprised, but most of you have probably just been wondering when. Well, now is crunch time! But let me take you back about a year, and explain where the journey began...

Okay, maybe I won't go all the way back to the beginning, because that would be too much to tell. But let's go back to August of 2010. Clay and I were invited to attend a Missions Expo in San Francisco to learn more about where the IMB (International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention) was headed. After an amazing time there, we felt that was exactly where God was leading us.

The months after the Expo were filled with "hurry up, and wait." We had lots of paperwork (tons, as Clay puts it), medical exams, and more to complete...and then wait. In the spring, we decided that we should put our house on the market so that when the time came, we wouldn't be burdened with the task of selling a house. Within a month, we had an acceptable offer on the house! And we had the blessing of moving to a rental house that Clay's parents own. I have to add that baby Matthew was born just 2 weeks after moving in to the rental! Just imagine adding a fourth child to the family while moving to a 2 bedroom/1 bathroom home! The big kids love the small home though, because the three of them get to share one bedroom! (Whew! Glad they took it so well!) And, Grammy and Grandpa's house is just on the other side of the pasture! What a blessing for our kids! (and for me!)

Through the summer, we were left to wait til the end of July when the Board of Trustees voted on our family. We just learned last Thursday, July 28th that we were approved for appointment by the Board. Wow! Although we had been planning for that moment for almost a full year, it was amazing to actually hear the news! And now, the reality of that decision is still setting in.

What's next? Where do we go from here? On September 10th, we fly to Orlando where we will attend an appointment service on September 14th. In mid-October we report to FPO (Field Personnel Orientation) in Virginia. At this point, we are planning on driving from Idaho. By doing so, we will have our own vehicle while at FPO to run errands or enjoy some family time off campus.  We also hope to make some stops to visit friends and family on the trip across the country as time allows! So much is still unanswered on what everything will look like.

And of course, the big question, when do we leave the country? Again, we don't know anything specific yet, but we think we'll be in Mexico by the first of the year! Whew...only 5 months til January 1st! 

Please be praying for us as we try to tie up the loose ends here...we have a house full of things that we can't take with us when we go...and we have to sort through it all! A pile to sell in the next garage sale, a pile to take with us, a pile that we might take with us, a pile to put in storage indefintely, and of course the garbage can!

Pray for our children, that they will be flexible through all of the changes.