Well, like it or not,  here are some more thoughts on moving.  In general, there are several schools of thought on how to handle the physical details of moving.

1. The first, and most effective-sanity-keeping method is called the We like it ORGANIZED way.

2. On the other end of the spectrum is the Just throw it in a box and sort it out on the other end  way.

3. I generally fall into the Meant to be organized, maybe next time way. This is the lament of the good-intentioned and the ever-hopeful.

4. On the extreme-almost-at-the North Pole end are the Moving Nazi’s, that drive themselves and everyone around them over and beyond what is sane or reasonable in their obsessive need for control in a live-by-faith situation.  I call it this because once those movers take off with your stuff, you are living by faith, like it or not.

There are many other methods of handling moves, but these are enough for today.

I have two good friends, Kim and Larissa, who happen to be joining me on the “Hey, just for fun, let’s cart our people and our household goods 5,000 miles” extravaganza this summer.  Larissa is off to Hawaii (lucky girl) and Kim thinks she is headed to Missouri (bless her heart).

Both of these lovely ladies fall into the We like it ORGANIZED school of thought.  They are big proponents of THE MOVING NOTEBOOK, and have had their notebooks filled for months now.  Not wanting to be left behind, I bought myself a nice neon green notebook in hopes that some of their organizational gifting might rub off on me.

Does that make me organized for this move?

Apparently not, because Larissa saw my notebook and helpfully suggested that I should label the different sections. She even kindly offered the use of her label maker.  Well, I was going to get to that…eventually. Then she wondered why the notes from our water fitness instructor course were in my moving notebook.  No good explanation other than it is the only empty notebook in my house…

Organized or not, moving can seem like a full time job. (Because it is!)  Particularly international moves.

Today this is where I am in the process. I have been to the Smooth Move Workshop, so I am now prepared with lots of information filling up my brain, mixing freely in the grey matter.

I have been to the “My Move” website and created a personalized calendar with all of the items I learned about in the workshop, plus a few bits and pieces that I know just because I have moved a lot. I am well on my way to making it into the We like it ORGANIZED moving methodology! 

So now the next four months of my life are planned out with tasks to do, information to find, and arrangements to make.

Yea–are we having fun yet?

I have reminders to contact the veterinarian and schedule packers, as well as a scheduled day to begin cleaning out and sorting through stuff. (Can I go somewhere else that day?)   After completing my personalized calendar of slavery to the move, I printed out the task list, conveniently arranged by date (very organized).

One ink cartridge and five, single-spaced pages of organized delight later, I have successfully managed to become organized with my move. I now know what I have to get done, but that does nothing to help me with all of the normal things of life that still have to get done.  Everyday.

Life does not stop just because you are moving!

Nothing slows down so I can get that five-page single-spaced task list done.  The family still has to eat and they generally prefer to wear clean clothes.  There are still multiple daily rounds of the Mommy Taxi, homework, projects, and band concerts don’t slow down just because you are moving.  Doctor’s appointments still have to be made—somehow we are averaging 4 a week these days and no one is sick…what’s up with that?

As with so many things in life, steadily moving forward eventually gets us where we are going.  I love the  African proverb that asks, “How do you eat an elephant?”  One bite at at time…particularly for those of us who are directionally challenged in multi –tasking.

So I will keep chewing my way through each task, asking God for grace and energy to do all that needs to be done without that Ornery Moving Hormone butting in.  When I start to feel overwhelmed, anxious that I will never get it all done, I will remind myself that the Lord is my helper:

 Don’t panic. I’m with you.
There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.
I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

Isaiah 41:10

The Message

At the end of the day, me and my little green notebook are grateful to have friends to poke, prod, and encourage me to strive for more organization in my move.  Hopefully, a little more sanity and a lot less OMH (Ornery Moving Hormone) will be the results of  my new little green notebook friend.

Hmm…what happens if I lose my Moving Notebook?