Boxes, Bubble Wrap, and Big Lessons (from Six Moves in Eight Years)

Hey y’all! Big life update – we’re in the new house! We still have some cleanup at the old place, but we are officially sleeping here and not just living out of boxes (well… mostly). I wanted to share some lessons we’ve learned along the way.

If you’d told me eight years ago that we’d pack up our lives and move six times, I’d have laughed and said, “Not a chance!” But here we are. Each move felt necessary — from our newlywed apartment to a place closer to work, then a house with a backyard for the dogs, and later, upgrades or location changes as life shifted. Our most recent move came with a growing family. Babies may be small, but all their gear seems to take up half the house!

My husband has moved a lot over his younger years, and I did the big cross-country college move for FIDM, so we weren’t exactly newbies. Still, experience doesn’t make it “fun” — it just means we have more moving stories than anyone asked for.

Here’s what we’ve learned after six moves in eight years:

1. There’s No Such Thing as a “Small” Move

This time we moved just three miles away. Three miles! We thought, “Piece of cake!” We even had a month of overlap so we could move gradually. Moving day? Still chaos. Random odds and ends magically appear out of nowhere, and boxes refuse to fit neatly. Thank goodness my mother-in-law came to watch our daughter and help with the houses — otherwise, we might still be running back and forth like turbo-charged hamsters

2. Moving With Kids Is a Whole New Level

Packing is one thing. Packing with a toddler who’s in between naps and needs their crib moved and set up at the new house within three hours? That’s a whole new ball game. (If you’ve been there, you feel me. If you haven’t… just wait.)

3. Declutter, Declutter, Declutter

Before this move, we got rid of so much stuff. Bags, boxes, carloads. And yet… somehow, we still filled a U-Haul and needed a second trip. I honestly don’t know how this happens. Tupperware lids are the biggest mystery of all — where do they come from?!

4. Expect the Unexpected (Costs, That Is)

No matter how carefully you plan, moving always comes with surprise expenses: rental fees, gas, moving supplies, takeout meals (because no one’s cooking on moving day), deep-cleaning the old place… it adds up fast. Set aside a little cushion — and maybe a “new house” fund for those first few updates that make it feel like your home. Or, if you’re like me, the need to have the décor perfect within the first month (spoiler: it never is).

5. You Can’t Do It Alone

Whether it’s movers, friends, or family, moving always takes a team. My mother-in-law stayed an entire week for this move, and we honestly couldn’t have done it without her. Accepting help isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom. So if someone offers to carry a box or entertain your toddler for five minutes, just say yes. Trust me.

6. Chaos Is Part of the Deal

Even with the best plans, moving day will never go perfectly. Boxes get mislabeled, pets freak out, and yes… something important (like my Bible and my Bible notebook??) goes missing. That’s just how it goes. I’ve already ordered a new one, so crisis averted.

Some things that helped us keep perspective:

• Plan for pets: A safe spot keeps them calm (and out from underfoot… because who needs extra bandages?).

• Take breaks: Know your limits. I’m pregnant during this move, so my husband did the heavy lifting while I directed traffic. (Directing counts as work, right?)

• Give each other grace: Moving is stressful. A little patience goes a long way.

• Plan meals: Hungry movers are cranky movers. Enough said.

  
  

What Moving Has Taught Us About Our Faith

Moving isn’t just about packing boxes — it’s about trusting God in seasons of change. Every move reminds us that He goes before us and provides what we need, often in ways we don’t expect.

• Moving can take us to a new neighborhood, town, state, or even country. It reminds us that our first priority is relying on God — and He always provides.

• Trusting Him in the middle of chaos helps us rest in His plan and experience His peace.

• Each move shakes up our routines and can deepen our connection with God, giving us a true fresh start.

• Leaving behind one home points us toward our eternal home and stirs a deeper hunger for His presence.

• Over and over in Scripture, we see the reminder that God goes before us and is with us. We can take comfort in knowing that with every box, every step, and every new beginning, He walks alongside us and is already at work in the place we’re heading.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Moving will never be “easy,” but it always brings lessons, laughter, and stories you’ll tell later with wine in hand. Amid the boxes and bubble wrap, remember: the chaos is temporary. What’s waiting on the other side? A fresh start, a new home, and space for new memories.

If you’re in the middle of a move right now, take it one step at a time. Give yourself (and others) some grace. And remember — God’s already there, walking ahead of you into this next chapter.