Upheaval in 2024

Honestly, looking forward at the year 2024 is rather scary.

We had big plans for this year. The shop build was scheduled for the end of January, and we were drawing up house plans, hoping to put up the shell and roof in July or August.

Then the week before Christmas we got the news that my mom’s colon cancer is back and bigger than it was last March when she got it removed. The doctors did a biopsy to confirm that it was actually cancer, but since she decided not to treat it aggressively with chemo, they didn’t think she had much longer.

Suddenly we’re planning a trip to Ohio to make memories with family while she’s still here – finding people to take care of our animals and homestead, lining up a house to live in and a vehicle to drive while we’re there in Ohio.

It’s been a big rollercoaster with a lot of emotions rolling around the whole time. I’m so glad we are able to go for an indefinite amount of time to be with my mom. I’m also disappointed that all our homestead plans will have to be put on hold for now. And I dread watching my mom go downhill. So many feelings connected with this trip. Excitement, sadness, grief, joy, disappointment, longing.

We bought one way tickets to Ohio this morning, and will leave in late January. I’m still not sure how long we’ll be there, and it’ll probably be something we keep evaluating as time goes on. Without return tickets it keeps our options open in case we decide to stay a while, or even drive back to Alaska.

Lots of changes coming up for our family, lots of things to do before we leave, lots of decisions to be made soon, but God is faithful, and He will guide us through all the adjustments. Please keep us in your prayers.