On Our Way

 We made it all the way to Dalton, GA. for our stop on day one of the traveling. This was farther than Alex and I had planned or hoped and we were so grateful the kids were so well behaved!

 Alex is THE MAN when it comes to driving the 20ft U Haul truck WITH a trailer behind it! 

 Emma and Ethan were stretched out for the night to snuggle down and watch a movie after a long day of driving.

 LOL! And this is the next morning, notice that they are NOT still in the same bed they started in. When the sun came up they were so excited and came to snuggle with us for a while, they ended up falling back asleep but they crack me up how they were almost on top of each other in the bed!

The kids had gotten an awesome goodie bag from the Burdicks that had these binoculars in it. On day two they were patiently looking and waiting to see the mountains!

WOO HOO! I'm not who was more excited (we all had the walkie talkies and were yelling back and forth at each other when we crested this hill) when we saw these mountains for the first time! 

And We Are Off!

After we finished packing up the U Haul and trailer we headed over to Mamma and Daddy's for dinner. It was so good to have everyone together and be able to eat Mamma's delicious fried chicken! :-) And then after dinner the tears ensued. LOTS of tears. I knew this would be the hardest part about leaving. It was bittersweet for me to be spending the last night with my family. Emma had really had enough of saying goodbyes and she was over it, poor thing didnt' even want to tell all of her Aunt's goodbye but me and my sisters shed enough tears for everyone and then some. We "slept" (not really) in the bonus room and then the alarm went off at 4:30 am. That is an ungodly time of the morning  let me tell you, especially after a night of no sleep and a swollen face from all the crying! Mom and Dad met us in the kitchen downstairs to wish us well, pray with us, and tell us goodbye. Yes, the tears came again! I have always been close to my Mom, she is one of my best friends and knowing she would be nearly 800 miles away was difficult, but at the same time we were ready as a family to begin our new journey and excited about what God had in store for us.

  

Thankfully at first I had the van to myself, (aka the tears!) but those little boogers thought Daddy's UHaul truck was way cooler than Momma's van and I drove nearly the entire day by myself. Which was cool with me, I had my Kari Jobe or Chris Tomlin playing and got my worship on!

 When we stopped for lunch I figured I would prove to everyone that I really was along for the ride. Please excuse the photo (agian, the tears, those dang things mess me up!). 

We had a GREAT first day. The kids were fabulously behaved and so excited to "get to the mountains". We only had one small snag that happened near Chattanooga where 75 split, Alex went one way and I went the other! OOPS! I will NEVER forget his face as he veered to the right and I veered to the left with him shaking the walkie talkie in the mirror at my as we went separate ways. HA! Obviously I didn't get the message to go right. Oh well. Only 15 minutes later and we were back where we needed to be, and of course laughing about it, well I was anways! We made it all the way to Dalton the first night which was farther than we had hoped and we were ready for an evening to rest and chill as a family. We had dinner at Outback and then swam in the pool and then slept SO good on those awesome pillow top mattresses!

Packing - July 25th & 26th

Well I didn't have quite as many photos as I would have liked during this process, and that would be for two reason, (1) it's a little crazy when trying to pack up your entire household of belongings into one moving truck, and (2) I was seriously too emotional! 

However before I get too far into the packing day stories, I should recount the "pickup of the moving truck story" And it is a STORY! Thankfully it was just Alex and myself who were able to experience this set of pleasantry's as Emma and Ethan were having fun cookie decorating and nerf gun fighting at the King household! We dropped them off at Lisa's around 10:30 am and then headed out to Polk City to get the truck...we pulled up to the place and Alex and I literally took a double take on the truck and then looked at each other in disbelief.  I wish I had taken a photo, but we KNEW our stuff was NOT going to fit in that tiny truck (it was a 14 footer). So thankful that Uhaul worked with us and upgraded us to the 16 ft truck at no additional charge. GOD IS GOOD! :-) So off we went to the 98 North location, where there was a sign in the window that said "gone to lunch, be back in 30 minutes". Ok, breath we can do this, we'll grab some snacks and a drink and wait. Oh did I mention we were STILL in a rental car for the 2nd day in a row at this point? Yeah, that's another story! LOL! So we ran to pick up Carlos who was gonna help for the afternoon and headed back, I think their sign was a little off since we sat in the parking lot for 30 minutes after they should have returned. So another phone call to U-Haul ( I was, well, um hot at this point!) and we drove to South Florida avenue. THANKFULLY they had the truck we needed, and by the grace of God and bc His ways are not our ways we signed for our 20 ft UHaul truck which just happened (not really!) to be one of the newest in the fleet therefore would get the best possible gas mileage. Thank you Jesus for reminding me that you are in control! :-)

So off we went. It was beginning to get a little surreal at this point as I followed Alex home while he drove the U-Haul truck. Alex and I had completed most of the packing and boxing up ourselves but were so blessed to have some dear friends come over on Tuesday afternoon to help us out. Shawn, Mel, Carlos, and David did the "heavy lifting". Believe me guys I went thru some pictures of ya'll lifting you would have not appreciated so this is the best shot! :-) That cursed piano, I pray it's the last time we move that sucker!

We also had a little bonfire fun  (to leave the paper trail behind...I mean, um burn some important documents - LOL!) and by now Alexis, Kari, and Addi had joined in on the fun. We seriously couldn't have done all we accomplished without everyone's help. Dawn, Jordan, and Tristan joined us for dinner of Pizza and then Emma and Ethan went home with them for one last sleepover. After a long night of finishing up some packing Alex and I headed to Grammie & Papa's and stayed the night with them and Caleb. It was so much better than an air mattress in a half packed house. And an added bonus is always lovely to have Papa cook breakfast! :-)

It's so wierd to see all your belongings packed tightly into a truck....

 ...altho not quite tightly enough because we had to go back and rent this little trailer to add on to the back of the UHaul for our antiques.

 And below is a photo of Wednesday morning. We felt like we still had a ton to do, but knew we had to get a roll on it to finish up!

 Emma and Ethan came home from their sleepover (altho from what I heard there wasn't much sleeping involved) at the Davisons and couldn't believe it was all packed up! They were so excited!

 While Mommy & Daddy cleaned the kids took one last nap in their rooms on their cool pillow mats Aunt Angela made them, they were whooped after staying up all night the night before with their friends!

Alex Ordination

Alex was recognized and ordained by Crestview Baptist Church on Sunday night July 15th. This was an extra special time for us as a family as we prepared to leave for KY and go to Clear Creek Baptist Bible College as well as become staff with Alex as the Youth Pastor at First Baptist Church of Jonesville, VA. 

There was a time of testimony where Alex shared when he felt the call to ministry and how we as a family had been trying to answer that call by working with the youth at CBC until we felt God laying out a plan for us to go back to Bible college at Clear Creek.  I should probably mention as well, that the morning message had been on milk vs meat (describing spiritual health) and the "props" were never taken down before the ordination service! So one day when we look back at these photos and wonder why, that's the explanation!

The time of the laying of hands and prayer was a time that I hadn't fully prepared myself for. We knew the general idea of what would happen but to see so many of the Godly men that Alex has been in men's group with, has been mentored by, and has prayed with over this past year and half was very emotional as they prayed for him beginning his ministry and to be the leader of his family and home as well. This is a night that we will never forget as a family and are so very blessed to have so many of our close friends and of course family there to share with us. 

I snapped this photo of Alex right after he received his two plaques, one a Certificate of License, and the other his Certificate of Ordination.

Our New Home

(Front of our new home on Holly Hill at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College)

So we got confirmation today of our new home which will be located on Holly Hill  - Unit #59! To say we are excited would be a little of an understatement. Holly Hill is where we were invited for a bonfire by Stephen & Sherri Thomas while we visited the campus in March. It is the area of the campus where most of the young families stay and the area that we have been hoping and praying for since we visited in March! Our home will be a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath with kitchen/dining room, living room, and mud room/laundry room. From the pictures that Stephen so graciously emailed us today it seems much more spacious then I had hoped for! :-) And now I can begin visualizing where everything will go while I'm trying to pack it all up gearing up for the move.

(back of the house, as you can tell it's located on a hill)

We met some wonderful families that night in the Collins (who we will be serving with at FBC, Jonesville) Glenns, and Lake's. The kids hit it off right away playing on the playground  while we sat around the campfire that night. Emma and Ethan are excited to get up to the mountains and begin this new "adventure" as they call it!

 This is the community bonfire area and playground. 

Entryway and Living Room

  Kitchen and Looking into Laundry Room

Dining Room

 

 Laundry Room (And we already have storage!)

Master Bedroom w 1/2 Bath

 Office/Guest Room

Emma & Ethan's Room (they based this off of the "cool" fan)

Full Bath

As you can tell it's looking really nice from the pictures we got today. We have SO much to do here in the next two weeks but we officially reserved our moving truck today and will be loading up on Wednesday the 25th and pulling out of Lakeland on Thursday the 26th. As of now we've set aside money to stay the night somewhere around halfway and will be arriving at Clear Creek sometime on Friday the 27th after lunch time. 

We are of course running the entire range of emotions right now. We are very much ready to be on campus, begin our new journey as well as start with the student ministry at FBC Jonesville. But on the other hand reality is setting in as we know we will be leaving behind "life as we know it" and of course all of our family and friends here. The support that we have had both here in Lakeland as well as in Pineveille & Jonesville has been overwhelming and we are greatful for all of God's provisions as He is showing us in big and small ways that this is exactly where we are supposed to be!

Emma's Sunday School Class

We love our church family at Crestview Baptist Church and Emma's Sunday school class this past year was no exception. She made so many dear friends and had the bestest Sunday School Teacher in the entire world with Mrs. Elaine. It's always a blessing when the kids count down the days until Sunday's so they can learn about Jesus, see their friends, and their teachers!

 Destiny, Emma, and Destiny

 Emma with Mrs Elaine

Part of her Sunday school class, although Jordan & Robbie were out this Sunday morning.

Hanke Family Dinner

We were able to fit in one last Hanke family dinner this past weekend, before we left for Kentucky. We were glad it finally worked with everyone's schedules and really enjoyed being with everyone. This was the first time we got to meet our new little niece/cousin Ms. Lexi Ki and all the kids had to take turns meeting and holding her. We also took the opportunity to get a photo of all the kids together (all 9 grandkids/cousins!) at one time, which is seriously an amazing feat in itself that they are mostly looking at the camera and no one is screaming their head off! LOL!

From Left to Right:

Ethan, Isabella, Tabitha, Emma, Lexi, Gabe, Gavin, McKenna, & Charles.

 We also snapped a photo of Gigi & Pop Pop with all of their grandkids!

 Proud new brothers Gabe & Gavin with their little sister Lexi.

 I love this photo of Gigi & Tabitha. Both of their smiles are awesome!

 Of course the kids had a blast together, anytime they can all play together they always have fun. It's always loud when all 9 of them get going, but so fun to hear them enjoying each others company.

 Aunt Aimee with Lexi. She finally got her girl to dress in pink and bows! :-)

 And we have long outgrown sitting at one table for dinner, so we now have the classic "kids table". They did pretty good and actually ate instead of playing which was impressive!

Gigi & Pop Pop with Emma and Ethan. We wanted to get a photo with the kids and their grandparents before we headed off to KY. This one is going in the kids special albums that I'm going to make for them with all of their family and friends in it.

Lexi Ki

Our newest little niece, Lexi Ki, was born on July 3rd and weighed in at 6 lb, 1 oz. and was 19 inc long. We were unable to get to the hospital to see her but got to meet her at Gigi & Pop Pop's house on the 7th, so she was just a week old. I had forgotten how TINY newborns were! She is adorable and we are glad to welcome her to the family, Lexi makes 9 grandkids on the Hanke side of the family.

Emma was especially excited to hold Lexi, and was completely fascinated with her little toes and fingers!

Aunt Mandy with Lexi

Uncle Alex with Lexi

Proud cousin Ethan with Lexi

July 4th - Part 2

We walked around the Art of Animation resort checking everything out. The kids had a ball looking at all the characters from some of their favorite movies!

 You can't really see Tabitha in the stroller but here's all 6 of them! 

Emma, Isabella, Charles, Ethan, Mckenna, & Tabitha

 The big kids posed for a pic on the rocks

 We found a super cool playground in the Nemo area. Tabitha wanted out of the stroller so we found a slide that was "appropriate for her"...

 ...Not so much. Poor girl took quite the nose dive!

 Aunt Angela made Emma & Ethan going away presents. They got new pillow mats and LOVE them! After we left Bahama Breeze we intended to watch the fireworks at the Polynesian but everything was too crowded. So we split ways at Downtown Disney and left to go back to Lakeland and try to catch fireworks there. We will DEF meet again at Disney and do this before we leave tho. The kids were wanting to ride the monorail and hang out on the "beach".

 We made it back to Tiger Stadium in time for the fireworks and got to meet up with friends last minute! It turned out to be a GREAT night of fun for everyone.

 Lucas, Ethan, Robbie, Emma, Triston, and Jordan

 Look Mom!

 Someone gave the kids a pair of 3D glasses that they all passed around. 

I love the look on Jordan's face here!

 Robbie with the 3D glasses

Happy Independence Day!

A fun afternoon & evening with family and friends. 

We couldn't be more blessed and for that we are thankful!