We’re Moving?

That’s right, we’re moving. I alluded to this possibility in an earlier post, and now it is official. So, here’s the scoop…

Ernie decided it was time to leave his position in Oak Harbor, with my full support. He has been unhappy there for a number of reasons. We decided it wasn’t worth the grief anymore. We thought about options for another teaching job in our area, and decided that the possibility would be slim that a job would even be open for next year. We decided that we needed to widen our search area. Then we remembered that Ernie’s dad says so often that special ed teaching positions often go unfilled in his area. So we thought maybe it was time to move south.

Also, there are more opportunities for me to advance with my job in the Olympia area, so we decided that would be a good place to be. Ernie will have a large radius of school districts to apply to (or to sub for if a permanent position can’t be found).

It turned out that there was a position open in the Tacoma office, to work for the manager who trained me originally. I decided to jump at the opportunity. Unfortunately, I will have to start working in that office sooner than we expected. I start in Tacoma on April 1st. So, while Ernie stays at home and finishes the school year, I will be traveling between home and Tacoma for the months of April and May. Ernie’s parents have graciously offered to let me stay with them during the week. I’ll be working 4-10 hour days, and coming home on weekends.

Also during that time we will be trying to sell our house. Our house went on the market today. We have been busy the last few weeks getting it ready to show. Now we just need people to show it to (and for one of them to fall in love with it and buy it). So, if you know of anyone who is interested in a 4 bedroom, 2 bath house in Ferndale, please let us know.

Then in June I will return home to have baby #2. We will all have the summer off together. Then in late summer we will make the move to the Olympia area.

We are praying that Ernie will be able to find a permanent teaching job in the greater Olympia area. We are praying that our house will sell in time to buy another home in the Olympia area that we can move right into. However, if neither of those prayers are answered in the affirmative, we are grateful that Ernie’s parents have offered to have us move in with them (are they saints, or what?), that Ernie will be able to substitute, and that I have a job we can be secure in.

While our lives are definitely in upheaval right now, we have a real sense of peace that we are following God’s plan. Looking back we can see times when God has tried to nudge us in this direction and we just didn’t listen. Well, now He is shoving us in this direction! We are excited for new opportunities, scared because we don’t know what the future holds for us, and sad to leave our comfort zone and many good friends. All of these changes are really uncharacteristic for us, and we are leaning on God to light the path for us. Please pray with us as we make so many transitions in so little time!