I know it seems sudden and random, but it's actually been on our radar for almost a year. Mike and I both felt a growing excitement as we were beginning to suspect we were in for a change... a big change!
We had both independently had a vision two small trees, representing us. We were scooped up, roots, dirt and all, and placed into pots, ready to be transplanted. This last year has been a season of waiting and learning patience, understanding, and how to be faithful to what we have been entrusted with. We are miles away from this goal, but working towards it, understanding that life is filled with experiments, mistakes, and lessons learned. God told me that I can never truly fail as long as I continue to learn from my failure and keep on trying!
Mike recently visited our good friends at IHOP (International House of Prayer), when our good friend Cindy Daly said that she really believed God wanted Mike to go there and paid for his plane ticket. Mike and I both knew that the Lord was going to speak to him about where we would be living. While there, he questioned God for more direction (as we have done countless times before :) ) This time, however, He responded with a quick and clear direction. His replies previously had been, "Wait on me." or "Go to the place I will show you." This time, Mike suddenly heard "Dallas, Dallas Texas."
We had been expecting a place we were familiar with like Redding or Kansas City (IHOP), but Dallas? Haha, it was a welcome surprise! The more we have looked into it, the more it makes sense and the more excited we grow! We are excited to experience life in another part of this United States and expectantly await a very different culture. Once we began planning our move, "Dallas" was popping up everywhere, like "Gen 6:14" in the movie Evan Almighty! Our bills and other mail was addressed from Dallas, Mike received something to the wrong address saying "Dallas or Bust!", books Noah kept bringing to us after we would put them away were written by authors from Dallas; haha, it was everywhere! My favorite was the following: when we announced our move at church, Jason came up afterwards to pray for us. Terry pointed out Jason's shirt: a green shirt with a moving truck in the foreground - behind the truck were the outlines of the state of California and Texas! On the back, among a list of 6 or so cities, were listed Santa Barbara CA, and Dallas TX! The truck was pointed from Texas to California; we have confidence that God will bring us back with much more than we brought out there, both spiritually and physically.
We expect to grow closer as a family and become more independent. We have a lovely apartment - the process was a breeze and felt almost too easy (I'll post pictures soon)! Our wonderful friends Tristan, Kim and baby Dallas are moving three hours south of our location and are expected to visit often. Jason and Holly's family live 5 minutes away from our home! We are so very excited and eager to see what awaits us there!
Our last day in California (not including visits of course) is January 7th, 2008. We are having a celebration for Noah's birthday/our departure on January 6th, at 3:15, at Cathy Short's house in Goleta (email us for address). If you didn't get our invite, please let me know - you should have by now.
So, that's it in a nutshell!
Haha, any questions? :)
With all our love,
Dia, Mike and Noah
