MOVING ON UP

That’s right; the McAdams’ family is moving on up to MINNESOTA. Peter accepted a job with the Minnesota Timberwolves (an NBA team). We will be moving to Plymouth, Minnesota (which is western suburb of Minneapolis) and it was the #1 City to Live in-2008. We have signed a lease for a 1400 square foot 3 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment.

We are excited, sad and scared for this amazing new opportunity for our family. I am sad to be leaving my home; the only town I have ever lived in and everything that I am familiar with. I am sad to be leaving my family. I love how my girls are blessed with abundantly loving and giving grandparents that are minutes from our house. I love to watch my girls squeal with excitement as we pull into my parents’ driveway (which is in our neighborhood) and watch them run inside. Harper has changed my dad’s name from “Poppy” to “Poppo” and Adeline is so cute when she tries to say it. I love knowing that Peter’s parents look after my girls when I am at work. I love how Harper and now Adeline know where we are going and start getting excited when I am on 91st heading towards their house. I know whenever we need our parents-they are always there to help. I will miss calling my dad when I have a minor emergency at the house and he rushes down to help me out (i.e., the garage not closing or when I thought there was a gas leak). I will miss the random grocery shopping trips with my mom at 9 o’clock at night. I am sad to be leaving my church. The only church I have ever known. I love my church family. Words cannot describe how much I will miss the music, sermons, fellowship, prayers and atmosphere that we experience every Sunday morning. I will miss watching my girls faces light up as we walk into the children’s department (and they are greeted b/c everyone knows the McAdams girls!). I love how their teachers know them and make them feel so very special each and every week. Harper thinks she practically runs the place. I am sad to be leaving my dog because we all know that Molly can’t go with us in that small of a place. Molly was our first baby that we have had for almost 7 years. I am sad to be leaving my job. This is the place I have wanted to work since graduate school. I have the best schedule and most amazing co-workers. I love the kids that I get to serve and the parents have been wonderful, as well. I am sad to be taking the girls away for their Mother’s Day Out Program…we all love that place because it is also our church. They have both learned more than I could have imagined. I love that Harper now recites “The Pledge of Allegiance.” Now the pressure is on me to teach them something new and educational every day. I am sad to be leaving our extended family. Lately, the girls are getting more cousins and I love to watch them play together. I am sad to be leaving my friends. Leaving my family is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever had to do but leaving my friends is a pretty close second. I LOVE my friends. I am blessed beyond measure with the friendships I have made. I will miss having a random girls night, play date, coffee date, whatever. I will miss being surrounded by people who really know me. I will miss all of the birthday parties for al of our friends kids. I am sad because my girls have the most amazing friends (with the best parents) who they love and adore. I pray that as a family we can all make new friends. I am sad to be leaving everything I am familiar with (grocery stores, malls, doctors, restaurants, streets, highways, QT, SONIC). This may sound crazy but I love all of our doctors and I dread having to find all of those again. I will also desperately miss my favorite drink-A diet coke with vanilla from Sonic. I will probably have to treat myself to one every day until we move.

I am terrified of learning how to get around in a new city…there are so many highways in Minnesota-this mama is going to need a Garmin.

I am excited to totally trust in the LORD to provide for us. We are going to be wholly dependent on him. This is the first time, Peter and I, will completely relinquish all control to him. We have to and we want to! I am excited about stepping out of my comfort zone. I am excited to be a stay at home mommy with my precious girls. I am excited for this dream job for my hubby. I am excited to become a Timberwolves fan, while the girls will become a fan of “Crush” the mascot. I am excited to explore in a new city. I am excited to maybe learn how to be a crazy “big city” driver. I am excited to learn how to drive in snow…well maybe not excited because driving on snow terrifies me so I am thinking positive thoughts. I am excited about the new jogging stroller Peter is going to buy me. I am excited to become active and join a mom’s group. I am excited to meet new people. I am excited to make new friendships. I am excited about cold weather (yes, you may think I am crazy because it can get to -40 in MINNESOTA in the winter but I would much rather be cold than hot). I am excited to watch my girls experience new things. I am excited to watch my girls make new friends. I am excited about watching the girls LOVE the snow. I am excited to “maybe” become a big city girl. I am excited that if I need or want to come back to Oklahoma-it’s only 11 ½ hours away. I am excited that I know we are coming home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am excited about the 4 of us living close together (in an apartment-there will be no escaping). I am excited to make the new apartment our Godly home. I am excited to know that we believe this is God’s will for us. I saw this a few days ago and I had to share it (these are not my words but it spoke directly to my heart-I will probably have this frames in our new place). I am able to do far beyond all that you ask or imagine. Come to Me with positive expectations knowing that there is no limit to what I can accomplish. Ask My spirit to control your mind so that you can think great thoughts of Me. Do not be discouraged by the fact that many of your prayers are yet unanswered. Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, to trust Me in the dark. The more extreme your circumstances the more likely you are to see My power and glory at work in the situation. Instead of letting difficulties draw you into worrying, try to view them as setting the scene for my glorious intervention. Keep your eyes and your mind wide open to all that I am doing in your life.

The plan right now is that Peter will be driving to Minneapolis over Labor Day weekend. He will begin his new job on September 7th. Peter will be staying in an extended length hotel. I will go with the movers the first weekend in October to set up the apartment. From the first of October until mid-October the girls and I will be staying with my parents. The girls and I will make the BIG move over fall break. My mom will be going with me to help get everyone settled.

We are asking for prayer during this transition. We know this is God’s will for our family and we feel very blessed to have this opportunity. We are going to want visitors, so please come and visit!

Love,
Peter and Tiffany