military life

Where to Next? The Trust of a Military Child

John David, 2019

When we moved this past summer, it went differently than I thought it would. The vibe of the moving day exit of our beloved neighborhood was not at all the vibe that I expected, but in a good way.

John David, 2014

Last time we left Virginia, in 2014, when we drove the boys away from this place so dear to our hearts, there was so much drama about it. One child was brave but sad, hugged everyone as expected and said his good-byes. Another hid in the car, refusing so much as to wave to anyone, to people he loved with all of his sweet almost-seven-year-old heart. Our pre-schooler hugged everyone and was a doll, and our baby had no idea what was going on. Everyone looked sad for a while in the car. No one wanted to leave. We had wonderful years ahead of us, exploring California, riding around on bicycles like feral children, and all sorts of exploring. The boys didn’t know that yet though. They only knew they were losing everything and everyone they held dear and trading it for the unknown.

This move, in 2019, was not like that. We had only stayed in Virginia one year, so lifting the boys back out was easier. The California and Georgia moves were still fresh on everyone’s minds. The funny thing is that we were still as attached to our Virginia community as ever, but this time the boys had something they didn’t have before.

They had trust. Their hearts rested in faith.

Our hearts and minds knew that moving was always hard and that there would be a phase where we would not have any friends. That phase may last a day, or it may last a year, but it would only be a phase. Eventually, each new place of the past had become home. Our boys knew this, and so they looked onto this move without the fear one has of something they have never done. Instead, they looked on this transition with wisdom, wisdom far beyond their years. This wisdom came at the price of four moves in five years, and it was fully earned. They trusted that everything would be okay. Not only did they trust God and each other, but they trusted us too. Sometimes, when the making friends part is coming too slowly, I feel like I have let them down.

On moving day, the boys said good-bye to their friends in the cul-de-sac, and they piled into the van. No one hid, cried, or resisted. We actually picked up Joshua on our drive out of the neighborhood because he was walking home from a friend’s house. He happily slid into the van with the rest of us.

Daniel spoke for everyone, when he said in a peppy voice, “All right! Where to next!”

He didn’t mean that question literally. We had shown the boys the new city and the house already, so he knew where we would go next. We were only moving two hours away. At the same time, we didn’t know anything about “what next” would actually be like. Such is the life of a nomad. Where to next? Will they welcome us there? Will we have anything in common with the people we meet there? How long will it take us to make friends and to feel at home again?

Moving Out: resting a minute before picking up all those Nerf bullets from the playroom floor.

I was most amazed that Daniel, of all people, would take on such a happy attitude because he had the happiest year in Virginia. One of his best buddies lived next door and was in his class. I let him ride his bicycle to school with Caleb sometimes. Life had been insanely good for Daniel, with far more freedom than he had ever had before.

Yet there he was, ready and present for the next thing. That day they inspired me. I smiled, and I said, “Well, how about lunch next and then onto Maryland?”

Of course, all offers of food to cars full of males are always welcomed with open arms.

closing day

That morning I had felt sad and resistant. I lacked their faith and good attitude. Not a bit of me wanted to finish packing, cleaning, and loading, only to drive through two large metropolitan sprawls with a car full of children to a new town full of strangers. I felt old and tired of moving, but those children lifted my spirits. If they can do this, so can I.

Where are we going? Who knows? I am just going to have to trust God that it is good.

I am linking up today with Finish the Sentence Friday at FindingNinee.com. Today’s prompt is “Where are you going?” if you would like to join us.

aprilmomoffour

April is an upbeat, Christian, blog-obsessed, military wife, and home schooling mom of four little boys. She writes about education, travel, and humorous adventures in parenting. Follow along if you’d like a little bit of encouragement and a whole lot of crazy.

View Comments

  • April - what an inspiring post! Thank you for writing this. While I haven't had to move in quite some time, your message of having faith really resonated with me.

    Nancy

    • Thank you! Also, I hope your feet are getting better faster than mine are.

  • So happy you linked up! I met my husband a few months after he retired from the Army (20 years) so we didn't move around. 18 months ago though, his DOD job moved us from Virginia to Colorado. It was so sad to leave the only home my son had known but we've loved being here as well (it's been harder to make friends though - I think it's that the houses are more spread out than Northern VA). It's definitely a leap of faith to move across the country or two hours away. Your boys' enthusiasm and faith are sweet and inspiring.

    • Thank you! I'm thoroughly enjoying your writing prompts. Thank you for coming up with them. Moving is hard, there's no way around it, and yes Northern Virginia houses are really packed together.

  • I'm so happy to meet you and your family, April! This is a beautiful post - so large and so specific all at once, so much learning and teaching, maybe even in unexpected ways. Lovely! Best wishes on the next leg of your family journey <3.

  • That sweet boy of yours. Kids somehow give us so much courage when we feel weak. Lovely post.

  • I loved this, April! The boys have grown so much. Their faith and trust was inspiring.

  • I am incredibly happy you linked up again! So you're getting the prompts? Yay! I'll be co-hosting again next week, I think.
    Also, this is a beautiful post. That trust. You all have each other and you've always made your homes feel like home, so of course you have their trust!
    And it's true. They can do it and so can you! And have.

    • Thank you! I'm enjoying these prompts. This one as soon as I heard that line, I heard Daniel's "Okay, where to next?" in my head, so I went with it. I'll be sure to link up with you Friday too.

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