In the words of a dear friend, the past nine months have been filled with "magnificent chaos." Just before my last post, Doug's company laid him off. Let's just say they were not the only engineering firm laying off employees. Since I already accidently hit the Post button, I will give a brief summary and then come back and fill in the blanks later this week. How's that for keeping you hanging? Actually, most of you already know the gritty details, but just in case, here ya go.
End of January - April: Doug was laid off. After 60 days and still no job, we let our landlord know that we would not be able to close on the house in August after all. But the Smith's kindly let us know that we were welcome to continue renting the house until the kids got out of school. It would work out perfect for them since they were moving back to Utah and would just move back into their home.
End of May, 2012 - as we moved out the front door, the Smith's were moving in the back door. Still no job and with no job, no one wants to risk signing a lease with us. I don't blame them one bit! What to do? We still hoped to stay in Utah County. The kids were thriving there. The offers from friends to stay in their homes humbled me. We felt the best course was to set up our tent trailer in Becky(Soug's sister) and David Brooke's driveway. They live in a tiny 2 bedroom, 1 bath house, but we all made things work -- thanks to the Texaco Station down the road that opened at 6:00am!
I don't know if I have ever been more terrified than that first week in the trailer when a big wind storm hit. As the wind buffeted the trailer and twigs and branches fell all around us during the night, I kept singing "When Faith Endures" over and over again: "I will not doubt, I will not fear; God's love and strength are always near." I finally fell asleep, and we were well protected.
I met Becky's sweet friend Jusun. She taught us how to make kimchee. I blogged about it on www.anwafounder.blogspot.com and I'll try to link it here later. Jusun and Becky showed me what it really means to serve as Christ served. I love those women.
July 2012 - A friend contacted me on Facebook about a possible job for Doug in Oregon. Long story short, Doug was offered the job, but the very first day there, Doug had a horrible feeling come over him and he felt very strongly that we needed to head back to Arizona -- so he packed up the car and headed south, not knowing how or where he would find work. He called Ron Neal as he drove down the coast. Ron told him he was glad he called and that he could put a plan together and have a job for Doug by the time he arrived in Arizona. The day after Doug pulled into Kenny's driveway, he started working for Edkey, a charter school organization run by Ron.
I spent a great deal of energy being angry about this whole thing until I realized that I was angry because I was so stinking scared. I focused on the love I have for my eternal companion and the blessings we enjoy as an eternal family unit. I am grateful for the covenants I have made and for the blessing of being married to an honest, God fearing man who honors his priesthood and cares for his family. He listened to a prompting and we both knew that there is a reason for coming to Arizona.
So...I moved Levi and Micaela down to AZ just two days before school started on August 8th. Micaela was a good sport about starting school on her birthday...again. We are living with our oldest son, Kenny, and his wife Aprlilynne and their children.
Yesterday, my mother shared the frustrating news that her blood work indicates that her cancer has returned. I am very grateful that we are close by and can be a support to my parents. The timing of all this just confirms in my mind that we are where God wants us to be right now.
Another perk -- Aprilynne asked if I wanted to be a guinea pig for her. She has been following a primal/paleo type of eating and wanted to know if I would be willing to let her be in charge of everything I ate for 2 weeks. If I did okay, she would go until Thanksgiving. I opted in since I was trying to train for my first 10K (another www.anwafounder.blogspot.com post that I will link here.) Let's just say I feel fabulous. I finished strong, if slow, and lost 8.5 pounds in just 16 days. More to come on that...lots of interesting blogs to link to and recipes to share. I just can't seem to get away from the food theme on this blog.
Tomorrow I will be reviewing a new novel by my dear friend Marsha Ward! And yes, there will be food -- I can't think of a more fun way to get this blog rolling again!
hugs~
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