Where does one start?

So, maybe you are wondering where you start when you find out you are moving.  Well, that's different for everyone.  For me, a very high anxiety person, I start right out with worrying about the most insignificant things.  And panicking.  Yep.  Every time.  Even though I know we will get through it, and everything will get from one house to another, I go through the same things.  At least I know the pattern now!

So, when I stop panicking, the first thing I do is get a notebook.  Preferably one with several "subject" sections.  This helps me write down whatever pops in my head that I have to do.  I have a section for things at my current location I need to do, one for my new location, a section for my kids and things related to them, and one for my pets (because we have a few!).  I also usually have a section where I just keep a running daily to-do list because it helps me focus.

For things at our current location, I make a list of things that will need to be taken care of prior to the move.  Not necessarily any time soon, but by writing it down while it's in my head, I'll be less likely to forget it.  Things like, contacting utilities, changing address,  and contacting our homeowners insurance agent would be items that we would do closer to the actual move.  Things to be done right away would include, finding an agent to sell our house (if we are choosing to use one), getting a move company to come out and do an estimate. We are lucky on this move that Frank's company is moving us, so we have a relocation specialist to help us with a lot of that (yay!).

In the "new location" section, I jot notes about the areas we want to look for a house (after I have done research online).   I research schools online and put my notes here.  I also search real estate listings and write down MLS#s of homes we like. Of course, I save a lot of those searches online, too.  But there is something about writing stuff down and seeing it that is comforting to me.

The "kids" section has notes about things like: talking to the orthodontist so she can help us find a new one, making an appointment with the allergist so we can make a smooth transition for Frankie's allergy shots.  I also need updated copies of immunization records and birth certificates to register them at a new school. 

In the "pets" section I write notes that pertain to our small zoo.  Ok, we only have 1 dog, 2 cats and a frog.  But still, it does pose some difficulties.  Finding temporary living, or even a hotel room is practically impossible with that many four-legged, furry friends.  Unless you are happy paying huge fees.  I start looking for a place in the new location that I can temporarily board the pets when we get to our  new location.  We usually don't need more than a week.  But in order to do that, all the pets' immunizations need to be up to date as well. 

Obviously, for some of the sections I won't need all the pages, so on those I do my "worry" lists or my mindless doodles when I am on hold with the million phone calls I have to make.

Oh - you want to know what a "worry list" is??  It is my most favorite part of my move notebook.  Especially in the future when I can go back and read them.  They are the most insane worries I can come up with that make me lose sleep during this whole process.  Here are some examples:

*What if our entire moving truck falls off a cliff and we lose everything?
*What if we have horrible neighbors?
*What if my kids don't make friends?
*Where will I grocery shop?
*Who will cut my hair?
*Etc., etc.

It's really irrational thoughts.  That is when I finally just have to pray hard and give it to God.  I have already handed this move over to Him.  I can't do it without Him.  And He does have a sense of humor.  He knows I need something to focus on to get the move off my mind.  So last week my entire family ended up with an awful stomach bug.  Yep, we sure were not thinking about a move.  (We are all healthy  now!)

But in all the times we have moved, we have ended up in amazing places, with amazing friends and experiences.  And we wouldn't change a thing.  No regrets.

So, here's to another adventure.  And to all the people that we haven't met yet, that we don't realize we need in our life.  It's exciting to know there are new friends waiting for us.  They don't know it yet.  But God does.  And He will have it perfectly orchestrated!  :)