Preparations: Our Life As We Know It

Our family is on the precipice of a pretty life-altering decision in the coming months. We're considering moving to China for a few years to 1) Get on our feet post-graduation and 2) Get our family some international flavor.

Here are the biggest things holding us back:

1. Not only do we live here, but so do our siblings and parents, aka uncles and grandparents to our two young children. We have an amazing support system. It's one that I know so many families wish they had... we'd be moving away from it?!
2. Chris' little brother is literally still little, he's 12 and going through all the awkward awful transitions of pre-teen to teenage life. They're close and missing that, including being able to give unwanted nuggets of brotherly advice, would border on heart-breaking.
3. We have a dog, Nike. We've had him since he was three months old, since before we had human children. We'd be missing his prime years (4-5), when we come back he'd be old. Nike is finally beginning to listen to Dianna's commands (she's 2 1/2), he sits with us during story time, and Dean (our 8 1/2 month old son) wouldn't even know him upon return. He was even our ring bearer. When we adopted him, we made a commitment to him. It's a commitment we have never taken lightly. Knowing him, he would loyally wait for us the entire time we're gone. Have you ever seen Hachi? Nike's just like that.

We have a lot keeping us here and these are the thoughts that have been weighing on our minds non-stop lately.

This is a lot to leave behind.