Preparing Kids For another military move

We recently made our 13th move-with-the-military. Stuttgart, Germany, to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. 

Moving is a huge transition (saying "see you later" to dear friends and "good-bye" to a house that has become a home) for the entire family and giving our children extra grace, grace, grace is key! Our recent move is so fresh that I jotted down a few things to keep me focused on preparing our kids for this move:

1. Realize each child will handle news of the move, the moving process itself, and settling into a new "home" differently. And that's ok. It's normal. Some children will be excited (celebrate with them) and others will feel like their world is crumbling (grieve with them). Validate their feelings, listen, pray with them, cry with them, but remember not to let sadness become an excuse for disobedience. Help them discover the "good."

2. Pick out a few special things to enjoy right before you move: a park outing with friends, dinner with friends, one more time visiting their favorite location near your home, etc.

3. Get a few books that introduce your children to your new duty station. I know our kids have been excited to learn about creepy-crawly-animals who roam the Arizona Sonoran Desert, American patriots who fought for our freedom in Maryland, enormous historical monuments in Washington D.C., one of the oldest wooden horse carousel they would get to ride in a small town in Kansas, real life cowboys in Texas, and medieval castles in Germany, to name a few.

4. Read God's Word together every day. Whether it's "The Jesus Storybooks Bible," or a chapter in Psalm, stay immersed in truth together. Remind your kiddoes of heroes that moved in the Bible; Abraham, Ruth, Joshua, Daniel, even Jesus moved when he was a little boy (and never really had an earthly "home" during his years of ministry. Heaven is our true home!). Talk about how these people might have felt like us and the ways God used their lives because they were willing to go where He sent them.