Big changes ahead!

How to begin? You faithful readers and friends know that Dick's good job as an auto mechanic was terminated in September, and he has been job-searching ever since. At some point over the winter months Anthony asked if Dick would consider looking in State College for employment. Our immediate reaction was that it would be impossible! What about my job at school, at church, what about, what about, what about???? We felt very indispensable!

Then Austin came into their lives, and ours. They reminded us that in September when Lori returns to her position at Penn State they will be needing to hire a nanny, hint, hint, hint.

As we got into the Spring months and still no job was forthcoming for Dick, we decided it could not hurt for him to do some cold calling at car repair businesses in State College, and see what would come of it. A number of places gave him applications to fill out. It seemed they were not crying the blues about work being slow like most places in Lancaster County have been.

But April and half of May passed with no positive response from any of the places. How was I feeling throughout all this process? CONFUSED!!! One day I just knew I could never leave every relationship and responsibility we have here. The next day I felt like I was trapped by our sorry situation and I would probably have to work this hard until I'm 75. One day I hoped Dick would get a job offer in State College, the next day I hoped he would not. We chose not to talk about this with anyone but Anthony and Lori, because we weren't that sure anything would come of it anyway, and I didn't want to stir any waters if they didn't need to be stirred. But carrying around such a big idea with no one but Dick and Anthony and Lori to share it with felt like a burden sometimes. Looking back, perhaps that was the wrong way to handle it, but it seemed to be the only way at the time.

Over and over I would sing the Robin Mark song, Jesus, All for Jesus.

Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and have
And ever hope to be.
All of my ambitions, hopes, and plans,
I surrender these into Your hands.
For it's only in Your will that I am free.
Jesus, all for Jesus, all I am and have
And ever hope to be.

By the week of my Spring program on May 15th we had all pretty much come to the conclusion that the timing for this idea was wrong. Perhaps it would be God's plan some day, but not now. My program went really well and I felt a new energy for my job. I was glad I would be coming back next year.

Then the phone calls started coming for interviews. At first I was annoyed. I was tired of being on the teeter totter - I just wanted to know for sure what I was doing. But Dick DID still need a full time job, so on Tuesday, May 19th I took a personal day from school and we went to State College for the day for Dick's interviews. To our amazement he received a good offer from Pep Boys. Wow! Now what?

Thus began more praying in earnest, the careful process of talking to strategic people, making the call to accept the offer, then revealing it to my co-workers, Dick's boss at his part time job at Advance Auto Parts, our siblings, the school patron body and students, and our church family. And now you.

There are many uncertainties ahead, but we do know that Dick will start his new position the beginning of July and will live with Anthony and Lori. I will stay here at home to clean out and organize my classroom, spend time with the person who would replace me there, to organize all the church music and mentor the person/persons who would eventually take on the worship leading responsibilities there, to deep clean and organize my house, get rid of more stuff, etc. By the end of summer I would also move in with Anthony and Lori, probably returning home several weekends a month to be with Destiny, to see our parents, and to continue leading worship at church as we go through the transition.

At this point we are not making any moves to get rid of our house, but eventually we would want to.

So this will not be a sudden, once-and-done kind of move, which takes a lot of the stress out of it. As I share this news bit by bit with others and they are excited for me, I am starting to be able to move beyond the feelings of guilt over disappointing people to feelings of excitement, relief, peace, joy, and thankfulness.

I honestly feel like Anthony and Lori are extending a lifeline to us. It is a joke to think of me moving to a place that is even snowier than here, knowing how much I hate cold weather. But we're doing this moving thing gradually. Step one was leaving our big farmhouse four years ago and downsizing to this one. Step two is leaving my jobs and moving to State College for a slower pace of life. Step three will be Florida, I hope. And step four will be heaven!

Do you think I'm a little bit excited about being Austin's nanny? I still can hardly believe it is actually happening!!