A Big Move?

When I mentioned earlier life's been crazy lately, I didn't expound... other than life in general being crazy with 5 of us and a busy business, the big thing is that Jason and I are considering a big move to Springdale.
We've thought about it and talked fleetingly about it for the past couple years. As long as I was still working at the bank, it wasn't an option. Then when I started staying home (16 months ago) we didn't talk seriously about it much because we were busy trying to adjust to our "new lifestyle". Well, as if it was a strike of lightening from above, the topic became fresh to both of our minds a couple weeks ago.

For those that don't know, Jason drives to Springdale everyday for work. From our house, it's about 55 or 60 miles 1 way. With gas prices being what they are, just driving from our house to the yard where he parks his machines and from there back home each day costs us about $1,000 per month. Add in the cost of tires (which just cost us $2,000 to replace on the truck that they drive back and forth each day), oil changes and wear and tear on the vehicles. And that doesn't count when they drive 2 trucks home, which they do at least few times a month. Then, probably most importantly, the 2 and 1/2 hours or so Daddy spends driving/riding in a truck and not with us. Just wasted, idle time. Even he admits that he would, whole-heartedly, rather be with us. And we would certainly rather be with him. Maybe there will be less practices and games and Wednesday night church award assemblies that he would have to miss. Maybe we could have a more normal family life schedule. Eat dinner at a normal time, together, and get the kids in bed at the proper time, without them crying that they miss Daddy when he's still at work at bedtime. And perhaps Daddy would be able to stay awake for a few minutes after the kids go to bed since he won't have to leave the house at 5am AND work until after dark much anymore... (my eyes are filled with tears as I write this...) Our entire marriage, my sweet husband has worked LONG hours. He does work less hours now that he's self employed than he used to, and I know he'll always be a hard worker and will be working alot. For that I'm SO grateful. But to have more of an option for more family/couple time would be so wonderful!
Those are just some of the reasons for considering this move.
The reason we are thinking so seriously about it so quickly, is that we had the frightening thought that school starts in 1 month. The thing that concerns us the most about moving is the boys and school. We think it would be best to get them in a new school at the beginning of a new year, rather than in the middle of a school year. Right now the boys are really excited about moving, which kind of surprises us. We thought we'd get some resistance from them. I think it's because right now it's summer time and they're still young enough to kind of forget about their friends for a while. Right now, pretty much the only kids they hang out with are the neighborhood kids, and the kids they see at church. I think that once school starts and they make new friends in their classes and are reunited with old friends, it will be harder to move them. Then at the new school, starting after school starts means that they will be joining classes that have already gotten to know the routine and their classmates and their teacher...I know they're young and resilient, easy going children, so I know they would probably be ok, but we just think it would be harder on them.
But there are also risks to moving over there and getting them in school so quickly. We have a house in Berryville to sell before we can buy a home, so we'd have to rent somewhere... what if the house doesn't sell... on and on and on.
So, we're working on the house in BV, finishing the add on & will start painting, etc pretty quick. We are just taking it one day at a time, but the clock is ticking on school starting... so we know we can't wait forever to make a decison to go now, or wait. I have already done hours and hours and hours of research about the area, schools, churches, neighborhoods, sports and extra curriculars for the kids. We've already driven many many miles looking around and houses and neighborhoods. Now, we wait on divine intervention!

Please pray for us as we make this difficult decision. We are praying about it and feel that God has led us to this point. He already knows what happens next and what He has in store for us. We're just waiting on Him to reveal it to us. We know that if we listen to and follow his leading, we will be where we need to be. But ya'll know me, I'm just not good at waiting! I'm trying though! And thank God for my patient and understanding husband. I'm sure any other man would have been driven off the deep end by now after all this time!
Thanks so much for your prayers!!!! I'll keep ya posted!