This post is going to be hard to write but I think it’s time. This will probably turn into a long post, but will explain a lot. Over the past few months, I’ve made several references to things being difficult and have asked for prayer for our family.
The bad started back right after we returned from our summer vacation in July. That week, my dad was let go from his job of 18 years. They couldn’t give a good reason, just that they weren’t “satisfied” with his performance. This being the first time he’d heard that in all 18 years, he asked if he could have a chance to make it better. They said no. However, that same day, the other owner (one came to talk to my dad), went to Oklahoma City and also let go the man in the same position as my dad in that office. Coincidence? Don’t think so.
I have to stay, in spite of this, we have all been so proud of my dad. Not many people I know would be out the same day as losing a job, looking for a new one. He was willing to do whatever it takes. We prayed long and hard for something to come open for him. He had several leads early on and sadly none of them panned out. Fortunately, before he ever went to work for this company, he worked with my grandpa and uncle doing home construction. They don’t build homes, but rather work on cosmetic things on the inside and outside. They still have this business to this day and my uncle offered my dad to work until something more permanent came open.
One by one, the Lord worked things out. They found short term medical insurance that was affordable. Another uncle whose truck just sat in the driveway b/c of having a company car let my dad drive his truck for a few months (he’d had a company vehicle he obviously had to turn in). We prayed for a new job for months. The bad thing was is that my dad worked in a very specialized line of work. It’s not something that you will find everywhere. So, despite having impressive experience as well as an MBA, the job search wasn’t easy. He faced two things: finding a new job in a new area or leaving here. He wasn’t crazy about either option but just continued to pray for guidance.
In the middle of October, someone who worked for another company in the same field and had heard of his predicament, called and said they had the same position job open and would he be interested in it? Huge praise. The downside: it is six and a half hours away in Amarillo, TX. Not so much a praise.
They headed out to Amarillo at the end of October to just check it out. After that, they decided they needed to look into the job further. My dad went through the interview process. For a while, we didn’t think it would come to fruition because of several factors. But the company really wanted him. And as happy and sad it made us at the same time, he took the job. He started in mid-December.
I have a sister who is 18 and in her last year of high school. My parents decided that they didn’t want to take her away from her last year. So, she and my mom are sticking around here for the time being. My mom will move later this year. Our family has an exciting summer/early fall. My older brother and his wife are expecting my first niece or nephew in June and Stephen and Leslie are getting married in September. After that, mom will pack up and join dad.
This has been really hard on all of us. We are all very close and it makes me so sad to think of my family living so far away. As of now, my dad comes home to visit every other weekend. Because it is a bit of a drive, it’s not one that you can do easily for just a weekend but fortunately his new work is being very understanding and accommodating about his family being here. He always really likes the new job and in all reality, it will probably end up being the best thing for him.
It’s so funny how so often God takes something that can be so hard to deal with and turns it into something positive. And in reality, God knows that it will turn out ok. But He uses that time to draw us closer and cling to him for peace. The offer of the job was definitely an answered prayer and although it wasn’t answered how we’d hoped, it was answered nonetheless. And for that we are thankful. This has pretty much been my mantra the last few months: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thessalonians 5:16-18
I’m sure as this plays out, it will be hard over the months to come to see my childhood home packed up and my parents to leave for good. But I know that God’s will is always right, so everything will be ok. How could it not?
If you made it this far, thanks for hanging in there!
And because I hate to post w/no pictures, here’s a couple from the weekend. It was a dad in town weekend. Ava and I had dinner with them last night because Zach had to be out of town most of the day. Ava really enjoyed some dessert:
And today we celebrated my mom’s birthday. Ava had to help blow out candles and thought everyone was singing to her!
I hope you have all had a great weekend. Word is that we might get a tremendous snow storm this week. Hoping it’s not the case! Yesterday was in the 70s. The high Wednesady is 23. Blech.
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