While living in Tarzana California in January of 1979 my parents called a family meeting. The last 'family meeting' we'd had was the announcement that we were going to Hawaii for a vacation so my brothers/sisters and I were pretty excited about the meeting. Sadly, instead of leading to a vacation, the meeting was to inform us that Dad had a new job and we were moving to Suburban New York City. Not the news this fourteen-year old warm-weather loving cold-weather hating Californian wanted to hear. In late July, as we pulled out of the driveway for the last time I vowed to return to my beloved state as soon I graduated from high school.
Graduation came and went in 1983 but relationships, a great job and to be honest, some fear kept me in New York until I knew it was time to leave in 1992. It was then that I came to Georgia, fell in love with and eventually married Gail and after our first vacation in California we were hooked. Long ago we planned to move together as soon as a ‘few specific things’ worked out. None of those things worked out so a few years later we planned to move again once a few different things worked out... they never did. And so it went for twenty years.
Until now.
Earlier this year Gail and I sensed God leading us to move and while it is agonizing to leave our family, friends, church [and animals] we have said “one-thousand percent yes” and after working through the month of April, on/near May 1st we will load up our van and begin the long drive to our new home in California. The details make a long story but the highlights include:
·
We haven’t settled on a final place to live but will start near Los
Angeles in Calabasas.
·
I will sell real estate in/around that area.
·
We’ll stay in a hotel there while looking for the right place to live.
·
We’re selling most everything we own to fund this adventure.
·
We’ll rent out our house [and the garage apartment] for the foreseeable
future.
I most certainly must acknowledge our time at Rock Bridge Community Church. It’s been more than amazing and I am overwhelmed as I consider the ways I have grown and changed and maybe even more importantly I cannot overstate the joy we have had with the people of this church. I can literally name hundreds of people who have impacted me in big ways and will forever cherish my memories here.
So we leave with a mix of emotions. Chatsworth Georgia has been our home since the moment we arrived seventeen years ago so we are filled with sadness to leave our family and friends. But in many ways, returning to Los Angeles is going home so saying “a thousand percent yes” to this crazy adventure brings some fear, some sadness but mostly it is filled with... peace.
