Finally!!!!

For those who know me....I have waited a long time to go out west.  California has always been my dream destination...with a house on the beach, surrounded by palm trees.  I knew this would be only a dream.  My other dream destination was Utah...or anywhere out west.  At first, we would move when Ben finished school....7 years ago. Then it was when Ben got a job....we came so close many times, but we knew that those jobs were just not right for us.  So, we waited....patiently and impatiently, at times.

We went to my sisters wedding in Utah a few months ago.  Several times during our visit Ben would say, "This is where we need to be."  When we arrived back home he started applying for jobs and he was interviewing for several a week over the course of a month or so.  We fasted. We prayed. We prayed hard.
He came so close...and the ones we thought he had in the bag, he didn't get. Trying not to get discouraged he went back out there and applied for more jobs....

During this whole process we both had a feeling something would come up....and by the end of summer we would be out west.  I started cleaning out closets, drawers, rooms.  Decluttering...is the best medicine for stress:) We took truck loads to the dump, car loads to Good Will and started packing things that we wouldn't need for a couple of months.

Then the day came....Ben got a call and was offered a job at the University of Utah!!! It will be a huge blessing for us....so many opportunities for Ben to grow and advance.  So many emotions went through our minds.  We are thankful for the friends who gave a good reference.  And we realized that all things come on Heavenly Fathers time.  This is our time!!! The hardest thing was to keep it secret until all the paperwork went through....I saw several people within hours of Ben accepting the job, that asked me if he got the job and I had to fib a little:) I wanted to tell everyone...that we were finally moving.

A few days later the emotions set in and I was a hot mess.  I started thinking about all we would be leaving behind.  An amazing school, an awesome soccer team, a ward family and best friends whom I have grown to admire, inspire to be like and love like family.  And family.  Ben's family lives close by....my parents and my Brooke and her family.  Though we plan to visit....it won't be near enough time to catch up.  I will miss celebrating holidays, school events....and just 'togetherness' with them.  It will be the hardest thing to do.  But it is what is best for our family at this time.

Our prayers were answered.  We will make our journey out west in a few weeks.  I will be closer to both of my sisters.  My parents have some plans of their own....but will join us soon.  I am so grateful for all I have.  I know my Heavenly Father had a hand in it all.  It will be hard to leave...but we will all be OK!!!! If anything this process has brought our family closer.

So for now....one more room to paint and a few home repairs and the house is on the market.  If you know of anyone looking for a cute 2-bdrm...send them my way!!!!