Decisions, Decisions

So I mentioned that Seth went for a job interview on July 1st of this year, but I want to back up a little and tell about the events leading up to that point. Towards the end of May, Seth was really anxious to start up his own business. He was constantly brainstorming ideas and coming up with things he could do on the side. Around the same time, certain events at his job started to cause me some concern about our future with this company. After some pondering and prayer, we decided that Seth should start looking for a new job opportunity to better meet the needs of our family. He updated his resume and began the grueling process of job searching-something that felt all to familiar after only graduating a year ago. Several opportunities began to take shape after only a couple of weeks, including an opportunity to sell textbooks in the Salt Lake area for a company that Seth had wanted to work for for a long time. He went through several phone interviews, completed an interview project, and eventually flew to Salt Lake for a final interview. We were convinced that this was the opportunity for him. We felt good about moving back to Salt Lake. We felt like the timing was right, since that same month our renters had moved out of our house in Provo and we had not yet filled the place. Although things seemed to be moving in the right direction, we could not deny the sadness we felt to leave Rio Rancho and all the wonderful friends we have made. We didn't hear back from the textbook company for a tortuous week. I knew at that point that Seth would not be offered that job and that we would have to keep looking. Seth held onto his hope and finally excepted that was not the right opportunity. Although it was devastating to have that opportunity fall through, I knew that there was something better out there for us.
On top of the stress of job searching, we were also trying to get renters in to our house in Provo from long distance, and we were planning to move to a new home here in Rio Rancho at the same time! There was so much going on and so much to be stressed about all at once! Once we found out that the opportunity in Salt Lake was not going to work out, we decided to go ahead and move to a new place here in Rio Rancho. This was a HUGE decision that was so drawn out and confusing throughout the whole process. Here is the story with that-the home we were living in when we first moved here was part of a program where we rented a home for REALLY REALLY cheap while the home was listed for sale. We had to care for the home like it was our own and have the home available to show whenever a realtor wanted to stop by. Part of the deal was when the home was foreclosed on or sold, we would have to find a new place to live. We were told in February of this year that the home we were living in was going to be auctioned, and we may have a very short notice to move. We began looking for homes to purchase at that time, because we did not want to find ourselves in a situation where we did not have a place to live. We also really did not want to move out of our ward because we absolutely LOVE it. We found a home in our ward boundaries that we wanted to purchase and we began to move forward with the purchase, about a month later the deal fell through, and we found out we could keep renting where we were. Although it was a little disappointing to not have our own place, we felt really good about staying put. Not even a week later, my visiting teacher called me and told me that her neighbors (who were also in the ward) were moving and they would be interested in working something out with us to move into their home when they left. I was soooo excited about this prospect because I knew the family had recently remodeled the home and that it was just beautiful! We started to make arrangements with this family to purchase their home, though that also began to fall through. Then, when we decided that Seth needed to find a new job, we were unsure that we could commit to moving into this home. We hated to have this deal fall through and leave this family hanging when they were all set to move. We went weeks and weeks without knowing what our fate would be. When Seth was not offered the job in Salt Lake, we decided we would stay put, move into the new house, and pursue a new job opportunity here in Albuquerque! I began to pack up the house and prepare to move on 7/9. We left out of town on 7/13, with the understanding that we would move just a few short days after returning home from our 2 week vacation! It was such a hectic and trying time for us. We went such a long time without a plan and not understanding what it was we should do. It was really hard, but I tried to remember to take our decisions one step at a time and move forward with faith. We spent so much of the last couple of months in earnest prayer and I am happy to say that I know it has paid off. We are all moved into our new place now, and LOVING it. Jackson started preschool this week and Seth starts his new job here in Albuquerque on Monday!!!! Everything has fallen into place and it is so wonderful to feel like we are exactly where we should be! And as for me, I got a new callling in the midst of all our changes as the secretary in the YW presidency in our ward!  I am so excited about all our changes and new opportunites and I am grateful for all of the lessons learned over the last few months. I know now more than ever that things will work out just as they should and that I have to move forward with faith to receive those blessings :)