My firstborn, Aaron, with his wife Carlie and their family 
pulled up their comfy New England roots 
and migrated cross country 
so that Aaron could take a new job with Square, 
and I wanted to share some pictures (and thoughts) 
from their whirlwind journey.
It’s mind boggling to consider all they saw and did in just a little over a week, 
and one of the most touching things to me 
was that they made sure they visited family as well as saw the sites as they went. 
Their first stop was to check out younger brother Stephen’s 
new flat in Rochester, 
but they also saw Carlie’s grandma, our family in GR, 
and other relatives and friends along the way. 
But beyond loving up their family, they took time to ride the Maid of the Mist 
as they crossed from Niagara Falls into Canada.
They stopped in Chicago 
and toured Chicago’s fabulous Art Institute. 
They took time to explore Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 
which is often rated as America’s best zoo now. 
They saw some pretty special sights too:
a steam boat as they crossed the Mississsippi River at sunset, 
elk feeding in the Colorado Rockies, 
and the amazing desert area called the Bonneville Salt Flats…
where it started raining! Who would believe??! 
By the time they reached the west coast, 
they’d had an unforgettable adventure, 
including lots of fun 
…and lots of moments that might have been less than perfectly comfortable! 
Are any of you facing the possibility of big change and/or a big move? 
I know it’s super hard to give up the relationships you’ve worked so hard to build
& close the door on the present chapter of your life, but if God’s calling you: Go! 
I’m sure that signing out of Facebook 
and driving with his family clear across the country 
to begin all over again at a new company has been very challenging for Aaron, 
but by God’s grace and lots of Carlie’s enthusiastic support, they’ve all survived
and Aaron is really loving his new job!
They’re still trying to fix up their house 
and find their way around town, 
but they’re getting their basic needs met 
and are already having wonderful fun 
with their California cousins. 
Change is traumatic, but if we’re willing to face the challenges and respond with faith and courage, the changes promote growth and help us become stronger. 
So, if you find yourself at a cross road, I hope you’re willing to prayerfully consider your options, ask God for guidance, and take the risks associated with making whatever changes are for “the best.”
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:3-5).
