This year… actually the past several years… seem to be a series of unexpected .

Some good…some bad…some devastating.

Seems as though our family is about to enter another season of these challenges. If nothing else I hope it teaches our children a thing or two. About residence, about hope, about sticking together regardless of what happens. Most importantly that at the end of the day everything will be OK as long as we stick together.

I keep contemplating our recent move. Admittedly not the best financial decision we’ve made. Leaving our lower mortgage with a substantially better interest rate for a home in a housing bubble everyone knows could crash. I reassure myself that while we probably bought high…we sold high… so maybe it balances out a little? Probably not but one can hope.

I keep reminding myself our move was not about finances but about starting over. By trying to give our family unit the best chances of staying a thriving unit und3r hard circumstances.

I must say overall it’s been working.

Our oldest while having some feelings on Florida has more of a social life than ever and just got jnto a desired program. My elementary age kids are thriving in their new school. My preschooler is too.

My health could be better but it is nice not needing to look out the window at 4am for an early doctors appointment to see if you need to shovel.

I have learned that the quality of your life isn’t just about where you live but more about a series of intentional choices you make. A lesson that I will carry with me whether we stay where we are or we try to ride out the school year then leave.

Faced with unknowns I find a lot of peace in having let go of clinging so hard to where we are. We did that years ago in the face of hard times…and it came with a heavy cost. This time we will not do so. Our wellbeing will be valued over everything else.

So many unknowns..but knowing what is most important and what we are capable of helps walking into this season more bearable.