We had a major life changing event happen on September 4th that I planned to write about on September 5th but this other pesky event called Hurricane Irma changed all our plans for two entire weeks. I am glad to say we finally got power back the evening of September 16th. After spending 8 days and 7 nights evacuated at my in-law’s house I was more than ready to be back home.

So, back to the big event…In the middle of July I received a phone call from my oldest son Aaron. He said he had big news and asked if I was sitting down I was sitting down. He announced that he and his wife Summer were moving to Tennessee in about 45 days, right after we all got back from our cruise! No!!! I don’t want my kids living 10 hours away! I was in shock and disbelief. This all seemed so sudden. We are a super close-knit family and the thought of having them so far away didn’t sit well with me.

They worked on preparing their home for sale and started looking for a home in the Cleveland/Chatanooga, Tennessee area. They decided to rent an apartment for a year so that they could get a feel for the area and decide where they wanted to put down roots. During this time Summer was busy applying for jobs and arranging interviews for early August. In late July, while Aaron and Summer were working YEX youth summer camp they found out their friend Hannah was also considering a move to the same area. They decided to pool their resources and get a 2 bedroom apartment together.

At the beginning of August, Summer and my mother-in-law, Sharie, headed to Tennessee to check out apartments and so Summer could go on her job interviews. This trip proved that this move was exactly what God had ordained for them at this time, EVEYTHING fell into place. They got an amazing apartment that would allow them to have two 50 pound dogs! Summer got a job in walking distance from the apartment. Aaron will be working as contract labor for the company he worked for here in Florida. He is also starting his own business of audio/visual consulting and engineering. He was the most sought after audio engineer in the area here in Florida so he is going to take that knowledge and ability and use it in Tennessee. On August 19th we had a going away party for Aaron and Summer. While that party was going on Aaron sold his car and they got a contract on their house!

On Labor Day, September 4, 2017 we spent the morning finishing up packing the UHaul and cleaning up the house. They loaded Hannah’s minivan on a trailer behind the UHaul, which Aaron drove. The girls and dogs were in Summer’s Explorer. At about 12:30pm they pulled out and headed north. They have been in their apartment for 2 weeks. During that time they have housed 6 evacuees who were escaping Hurricane Irma. Hannah has also started a new job.

I am so proud of all of them and I still talk or text with Aaron daily. I hate the fact that they are so far away but they are where God wants them to be and I will not stand in their way. Now we have a good excuse to visit Tennessee!

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