Well, first of all, I've decided to nix the whole "blogging about my bottom five actors and actresses" thing. Sorry to disappoint--I know you were all waiting on pins and needles...ha ha. :) The past three weeks have been absolutely crazy and wonderful--full of big challenges and even greater miracles and blessings for our family.
When we arrived back in Florida after our Utah trip (about a month and a half ago) I started an intense job search for Utah jobs. We fasted and prayed and worked hard and, while we knew we would end up back in Utah eventually, it seemed as though we would probably be staying out in Florida for another year or so. We continued to pray and fast and do our best and stay positive (mostly) and soon we were blessed with two job openings. I applied for both (one in Ogden teaching middle school and high school kids at a charter school and one in Cedar Hills as a drama specialist at an elementary school) and got a couple of phone interviews. Both phone interviews were on Monday, August 1st (Ogden at 12:00 and Cedar Hills at 4:00). All the while, Isabelle and her friend Nina were watching Ivy in our house, while I interviewed just outside in our car. My first interview went really well (Ogden) and the second interview was one of the worst interviews I've ever had in my life (Cedar Hills). Keep in mind that our son Aidan had just had major dental surgery the day before and was recovering at a hospital two hours away (with Katie), so my mind and emotions were all over the place. In the middle of the day on the following Wednesday I got the first job offer and then a couple hours later I received the second offer. On that day we also found someone to rent our house and received news that we would have help with our moving costs and that I would not have to drive the huge truck from Florida to Utah. It was a day FULL of miracles and SO MUCH joy. The next day, after much deliberation, we decided to accept the elementary school job in Cedar Hills.
In the middle of all of the above craziness, we started our major packing efforts on Tuesday, August 2nd and had our house all packed up by Saturday, August 6th. We had SO much help from our ward--they were so amazing! We loaded up the truck on Saturday and said goodbye to our stuff and then started off on our long road trip back to Utah the next morning. On Tuesday (in St. Louis) I ended up getting very sick with my Crohn's and had to fly out the rest of the way. My wife is the most amazing champion of all time and drove the rest of the way from St. Louis to Utah with our three kids. 35 miles outside of Laramie our car died and, thankfully, the highway patrol got there really quick and, even more thankfully, about 45 minutes later the car started up and they made it to the hotel in Laramie. Katie took the car to an auto shop the next morning and they said nothing was wrong with the car. She took off from Laramie and made it to Utah that night without any problems (besides ornery children). My wife is beyond amazing. I just have to happily brag that I have the most amazing, patient, courageous, super-hero wife that ever will be. She has done so many amazing things over the past few weeks and I love her so much. YOU'RE SO AMAZING KATIE!!!!!
Anyway, I just have to say that this has been one of the most amazing and miraculous times in our lives and we owe it all to our Heavenly Father. I share all of this in testimony. I testify of the great love and concern He has for all of his children. He loves us. He cares perfectly and unceasingly. He's interested in everything we do. He loves every single one of his children and wants nothing more than to bless us and help us be happy together.
We're back!! Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!
