A Slowly Closing Chapter

Upon the start of the new year, we started talking about making a move, we had made our 1 year plan work for 4 years already! Jared was dreaming up ways to get into more Layer/Chicken farming, but the house on our property didn't match the longer term planning that was needed. 

So the house shopping started with only one really catching our eye. 40 acres with an older family sized farm house, some hay field, room to build barns and a nice looong drive way. The more we thought about it the more it became "the dream we moved up here for". So Dad Van Vliet helped us put one offer on it, which was originally declined and then lead to some house swap ideas, which lead us to make another offer that was still declined. During this time I was able to adjust to the idea of leaving our little house that we made into a home that we grew to love. I got to watch winter turn into spring knowing it was likely the last on this property, as well as enjoy so many little precious moments along the way. 

With nothing else on the market that was of much interest we decided to figure out how to get into raising more chickens with the property and buildings we had, there were definitely holes in the plan, but we were hopeful that we could filled them in as we came to them. 

Earlier in the year around the same time we were working on putting offers on the 40 acres Mom and Dad Flokstra where working on purchasing the property next to them, it was of some interest to us, especially Jared, but we really wanted to try making an offer on the 40 Acre in Prince George first. Weeks and months passed, the 40 Acres place didn't work out, the Flokstras got possession of the place next door, and Dad Flokstra started talking about looking for some more help on the broiler farm and before we knew it we were very seriously considering moving back to Chilliwack and the farming opportunities it provided. This proved to be a time of spiritual growth and trust for me. As we considered this opportunity through prayer, I experienced a warming to this idea that I didn't expect.  After a last minute trip to the Fraser Valley to take a look at the house, property and job opportunities it was decided. We were moving back, we didn't know when yet, but the big picture plan was made, and it felt so good to have a long term plan that we could see working, especially after about a year of trying make/find a plan that fit our long term goals and our family.

Now we have a better idea of dates and hope to be making the big move before November, ideally sometime in October, but we will have to see what God has planned for us during this time of transition.  Prayers at this time would be appreciated as we work towards selling our family home, saying "see you later" to our community and dear friends in Prince George, and transition our family to new home and community, while being happily welcomed back by our families.