Sunday, September 23, 2018

A New Adventure

Hi people!

I seem to have taken a hiatus from the blog.  I'm not sure if anyone even noticed.

But I'm back now.

A new adventure has prompted my return.

Let me back up a few months and fill you in.

At the end of May Andrew resigned from his job.

This afforded us something we'd never had before.

A summer off work together.

I tell my fellow teachers this and we joke about how awful it must be to have your spouse home all day every day during summer break.

And I'll admit it drove me crazy at first. Having Andrew home was a change to my summer schedule.  Thankfully it didn't take him long to settle down into a summer routine of nothingness.

It gave us the opportunity to take a vacation we've only dreamt about before.

In June we packed our car to the gills, dropped the LBs off with family and headed west.

We had no itinerary, no spreadsheet.  

We've never traveled so irresponsibly.  

There were a few nights in hotels but for the most part we camped our away across the west travelling over 5,000 miles through 13 states in 14 days.

Maybe we'll share some of those adventures with you soon.  I've wanted to blog it since we returned but it was such a big trip the thought of putting it all in words was overwhelming.



At the end of June we moved out of our rent house and back to our home in Heber.  By this point our house was on the market and we planned to live there until it sold or until school started again.



August arrived with no offers on the house and it was time for me to go back to work.  Working almost two hours from where you live is not the ideal situation.  

On Monday mornings I get up crazy early and make the long commute to work.  I then stay with Andrew's parents throughout the week.  

Staying with the inlaws. 

 People tend to apologize to me when I tell them that's what I'm doing.  I guess not everyone has inlaws like I do.  I've enjoyed staying with them and hopefully they haven't been too bothered by my presence.  Big Man is always good to make sure I'm comfortable and the air is set to just the right setting.  Belinda has given me a new love for all the cooking competitions on Food Network.  

When Friday mornings rolls around I pack my backs so I can head home for the weekend.

This isn't the first time Andrew and I have been what I call weekend spouses.  But I wouldn't mind if it were the last time.  

As I returned to work, Andrew decided it might be time for him to do the same.

And the job search began.

There was talk of several different options.  Some were short talks.  Some were more serious.

I continued to tell him I'd follow him wherever he wanted to go.  


Seems like a cheesy cop out answer, but it is how I felt.

Life has felt very unsettled and I simply wanted to feel settled again no matter where that meant we lived. 

He mentioned cities I didn't really want to call home, but I just wanted that feeling of being unsettled to disappear.  I was willing to discuss any and all options.

In the midst of the job search we accepted an offer on our house.   God  brought the perfect buyers and we are set to close at the end of October.  

Not sure where we would be living after moving out of our beloved home, things picked up speed as Andrew interviewed with Redneck Trailer Supplies in Springfield, Missouri.

Springfield sounded the most appealing out of all the places he has mentioned.  It's not that far or that different from home.  

I could do life in Springfield.

From the beginning RTS has appeared to be very interested in Andrew.  

I can't say I blame them. :)

His interview was over five hours long.  He had five different interviews for one job.

I would have be physically ill.

Actually I was physically ill the day of his interview.  My students could tell I was a bit preoccupied.  I'm pretty sure nothing I said made sense that day and I made one mistake after another.

 On Friday Andrew accepted a job offer from RTS.

We are moving to Missouri.

We are going to be...

Wait, what do you call people from Missouri?

Missourians?

Yes I think so.

We are going to be Missourians.

I have never been anything other than an Arkansan.  

Never thought I'd be anything different either.

We are excited about this new adventure.

But if I'm being honest I must tell you I've also already had a good cry about this new adventure.

I told my principal Friday and my BeMS Math Family (Earhart, just pretend like you are a Math guy).

They were all very supportive.

But they also gave me dirty looks and told me they were not talking to me anymore.

Makes a girl feel wanted.

Makes a girl feel good

Also makes a girl cry.

I love these people and my current school.  It breaks my heart to leave them.

Andrew has been saying he was retired for the past few months.  I was hoping I might get the chance to be retired for a few months but I may not get the opportunity.

Springfield has a 7th grade Math position available.  

I'm applying this weekend.

Looks like one more way God is lining it out all for this new adventure.

Andrew will move and start work in one week.  I'm not sure when I will join him.  It will depend on whether or not I have a job there.

You have prayed us through so much in the past.  We would be honored if you would pray for us as we begin this new adventure.

We love you all!