The Long Awaited Move

***this is a super long post, but it's more for me to remember.  there aren't many pictures and what pictures there are, are poor quality phone pictures. I've also been updating and post dating things so if you haven't been here for while there are a lot more posts below***

I've been trying to write this post for awhile.  Part of me just wants to move on, but the other knows I want to remember it.  Nothing bad happened, it was just a long stressful event.  I guess we'll start from the beginning.

This past summer we came to the conclusion that Todd was most likely not going to apply for vet school.  It just wasn't a true passion of his and he had started becoming interested in other things.  We thought about staying in Idaho for awhile and see what happens since I had a job and such.  WE prayed and fasted about it.  There wasn't a real clear answer.  Nothing seemed wrong.  So for awhile we just plane planned on staying there.  I started looking for houses and see what was out there.  There was one thing that was for sure I was not going to keep renting! Our owners would be back in a year and half and I was not going back to apartments. 

After a few months things just didn't sit well.  It just didn't feel right.  After talking and praying again we came to the conclusion that we were going to move.  Either to Colorado or Texas.  That way we could be close to family.  The plan was to apply for jobs in both states and see what happens.  When it got closer we made plans that we'd spend Christmas with the Wilsons in Colorado and the be on our way to Texas.  Todd would look for jobs in Texas and then if there wasn't any luck go back to Colorado and continue his search here.

A month or so before graduation Todd was sending back application after application for jobs.  You'd get the generic response from the system but nothing real helpful.  It looked liked we'd most likely be out of a job for awhile. 

The first of December Todd receives one of the greatest blessings.  An email about a job opening he applied for.  It seemed so unreal, but unreal it was not.  It was for an Assend Trainee Program with Pilgrim's Pride in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.  After some emails and a phone interview they wanted to fly him down to Texas for some more interviews.  He was originally going to go down the first of December, but after some talk it got changed until just before Christmas.

In the meantime we were preparing for our big move.  Todd's parents came out for his graduation and helped us get everything back to Denver.  How grateful we are for their help.  The drive was exhausting. Way too long.  What took his parents 9 hours to drive a few days before took us 12-13 hours. The weather started out horrible.  I knew if it was like this the whole way I'd never make. Todd was driving the budget truck, I was in the van with the kids, and his parents followed us from behind. 

 

Luckily things calmed down for a bit. I thought we'd have a decent ride the rest of the way, but I should have remembered we were driving through Wyoming.  It's windy. Super windy. And cold. And icy. It..was..not..fun... After the nice break of sunshine we ended up hit a 3 mile stretch of icy and severe wind speeds. I would see Todd fish tail and then see huge semis on the side of the road and knew we weren't going to back. And of course during the icy stretch Jacquelyn decides to throw up everything she had eaten for the day.

We thankfully made it safe and sound.  A lot later  then we wanted, but we made.  And how grateful I am for that. While we were in Denver Todd went to his interview down in Texas and thought everything went pretty well.  We were told he would be contact the following week.  So we just decided to enjoy the holidays and not worry.  Whatever happens happens.

After Christmas we made our last stretch down to Dallas.  We left most of our stuff in Denver and just took things we didn't want to be without for a few months since we were unsure how long we would be staying with my parents.  We made a 1 day drive into 2.  It was worth it.  Especially with 2 kids and being nauseous most of the time.  It felt like it took forever, but once again we made! No bad weather.  It was nice.  We were all pretty ready to be done with driving.  I think we all never wanted to be inside a car for quite awhile.

The time period Pilgrim's gave us came and went.  We were told it was the holidays and not to worry.  So we went through Christmas and then New Years.  Finally the 4th of January Todd receives a call.  It was the best call we could receive! He had been informed that he was picked out of the applicants to enter into the training program.  All I can say is a huge relief was lifted. Throughout this whole process I never once felt worried, or scared.  I knew we would be ok.  But I will admit that once we never heard back from Pilgrim's I started having doubt creep in. But I knew no matter what we'd still be ok. We'd make it.  It would be difficult but we'd make it.  How grateful I am that we didn't need to see how far our savings could stretch, or how many interviews Todd would have to go through.  We were truly blessed.

He was to start in 2 weeks.  We had 2 weeks to find a place we'd never been to. We went out a few times and decided on some town homes in Mt Vernon, Tx.  It's about 20 minutes west of were he works.  They just seemed the best.  He worked for a week and half out there while the kids and I stayed with my parents.  Then he went to the corparate offices in Greely, CO for more training. Instead of flying back he drove the rest of our stuff back by himself.  I am so grateful I didn't have to make that trip again, but I felt horrible Todd had to do it all by himself.  After a late start and being lost for a little bit he finally made.  We were finally done. Ahhh.. Untill you know we find out own place :)

While Todd was driving our stuff down my parents and I were getting what we had and their place to take to our new home.  Everett was so excited.   

After moving some of our stuff in my parents took the kids back so Todd and I could move the rest in and get a little settled before they got there.  I went and picked them up the 5th of February to finally bring them home.  No more being unsettled.  It's something we really needed.  The were ecstatic as they went room to room.  Everett was especially excited about using his new toilet.  Seriously....Way to excited.

It took a few weeks to get all our stuff unpacked. A lot is still in boxes in the garage.  We purchased our very first brand new appliance.  Our last washer and dryer was used and ancient and broke lots.  So hopefully this is a vast improvement.

Todd has been loving his new job.  Each week he is in a new field within the company.  Learning how everything works.  After 6 months he will be able to be placed, most likely, in a supervising position with a higher potential of moving up.

The kids and I are slowly adjusting to life at home.  No more work or Ms. Julia's.  Just us.  It's difficult at times, but I know it's what suppose to be happening.  The hardest part is not having friends or other kids to play with.  We moved to the country, which we love, but there are not a lot of young people.  I was use to being able to meet people through church, but not this time.  There are only 2 other sets of families that are our age.  And they live about 45 minutes away.  So it's different.  We have to find other ways to branch out. 

But things are good.  We're happy and excited for what's to come next.  This whole experience has been a true testimony builder.  I know that we are at the mercy of the Lord.  I know he knows each and everyone of us and has a plan for us.  I know that when we have true steady faith we will not fear.  How grateful I am for this and no matter how stressful times got I am ever grateful for the peace that I would constantly feel. 

We are truly grateful for our friends and family that helped during this time.  I don't think we would have been able to make it without them!