Now that the battle with Sandy was over, Tom began to focus on his real estate finance business and, with his family nearby, he was finally starting to feel like life was turning around for him.  Because he owned his own business, Tom could enjoy the freedom of working from home which included the peaceful view of the bay during the day.   Occasionally, he even slipped in a small nap between calls just because he could.  Life seemed settled for the first time in a long time for Tom.

During one of those helpful naps, he was awakened by what sounded like an audible voice saying, ‘It’s Time!’.    Though it was all he heard, in his heart, he knew what that probably meant; to move closer to his kids in Texas.  Yet, somehow, he knew it wasn’t to go back to the battle.  This was different. 

Tom spent the next few weeks praying about what he heard in his dream.  Nearly two weeks had passed, while he was sitting on a park bench enjoying the sound of the crashing waves from the bay, when he had an answer to his prayers come to him.  In that still, small voice he knew from many times before, he heard the words, ‘I’m going to restore your family in a way you do not expect.  I want you to move to Texas, but not to fight.  Trust me...’   

That was it.  He knew what he had to do.  Within a few days, Tom had let his family know about his move and was ready to turn in his notice at the apartment when he asked God one more time for a sign that this decision was right. 

It was a terrifying thought to be moving away from what he now had re-built considering all he’d been through.  Still, part of him was excited about the opportunity to say goodbye to California.  The thought of leaving it all behind was appealing, no doubt.  Family being close made the decision more difficult for Tom as they had grown close with him spending many evenings at their home playing board games, laughing, and just being together. 

The day came when he was going to turn in the two-week notice of his leaving.  On his way down, Tom felt a strong nudge to check his mail.  He decided to look in the box before going to the office.  Inside was a brochure with the picture of a man walking quickly.  Written on top were the words in bold print above saying, ‘MOVE!’.   It leaped off the page at Tom and his heart raced with a sense that this was the final sign he needed to make the move. 

With a smile, and a snicker at God’s sense of timing and humor, Tom confidently walked into the office and gave notice.  He was now, officially, on the way to the next step in his journey.  He didn’t know what lay ahead, but he knew God was behind it.  He knew he wasn’t going to battle again.  He knew he was stepping into something far better.  In just a few short months, he would find the restoration he was promised, and it certainly wasn’t what he had expected.