And So It Begins...

We officially have an offer on our house! It was on the market for about a week and a half. We had two showings over the weekend and Sunday night we got a call from our agent telling us that we have an offer. It was from our very first showing!!!! We know that this deal to very well could fall through, as do many first offers in this market, but it a super important step in the right direction. I continue to feel so very excited for our future. We have plans and goals to help us purchase the right home for us somewhere in the future. God's plan is perfect and I am continuing to work on trusting that plan. Although I never thought we'd be in this place, I'm am becoming so very thankful for it. God uses all things for His purpose and according to His plan. I can't wait (but am having patience) for the unveiling of that plan!

Our Home

It's official- Our home will be listed for sale within the next few days. It has been a LONG and HARD year dealing with our house related issues, but I'm finally coming to a place of peace about it. Although this is not the direction we were hoping to go, it is going to be the best in the long run. And I am super excited to see what is in store for us in the next year or so. It will be fun to look at new homes and see what our future holds in that respect!

I have been so attached to the idea of this house, because it has been our HOME. It is where we stayed the first night we were married, it is where we found out we were pregnant with both our babies, and it is where we brought them home. But through this year of much change, I have come to realize that our home is where we make it- it is not a building, it is the combination of us wherever we happen to reside.

As for the future, we think we will be here about 6 more months. After that we hope to rent for no more than a year, and then we will look to purchase a new house.

Again, I am super excited and relieved to get some answers. Good times are ahead- I can feel it! :)

My New Inspirational Verse

I get a verse of the day emailed to me by ChristNotes.org each morning.

This morning 's verse was:
"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:38-39

This is what Jeremie and I have been working on recently. We have been going through so many, many trials this past six months and have had many, many days of frustration and pure disappointment. And, for the most part, we have been attempting to change things on our own and according to our own purposes. As Acts clearly states, if a purpose is of human nature it will fail.

Just in the last few weeks, we have been changing our focus. We have been starting to want to do it God's way, not our own. And surprise, surprise, things are looking up. We are focusing more on our marriage and family and asking God how we can support those we love rather than trying to meet our own needs.

There will still be many bumps in the road ahead of us, as I don't think we are through this valley yet. But at least there seem to be some bright spots up ahead. We are praising God for it!

So Many Changes

With so many changes in our lives these days it's hard for me to stop and enjoy the present. But, luckily I have a one-year-old to help me with that! Since she goes over to my friend Lisa's house three times a week, she gets to see Lisa's little man swaddled, rocked and nursed a lot. With that being said, she is now practicing her own "mommy skills" by asking us to swaddle her bunny so that she can sit in an infant bouncy seat and rock it to sleep. It is so precious.

I also got a wonderful reminder of how good our God is this morning. My wonderful friend, Brianna from high school, instant messaged me to see how we are doing. We don't see her often and she hasn't heard about all the changes we are facing. She just wanted to know if there was anything she could pray for right now. It felt so good to know God put us on her heart so that she could support us through prayer.

Working Woman

I called the Tacoma Public Schools HR office this morning to see if it was even possible for me to return to work this late in the game- school starts tomorrow!!! All I wanted was to be allowed to sub a few days a week even though I'm on leave from my contract.

The answer was no I can't sub, because when you are on leave that means you are unable to work for whatever reason. But, the woman in the office said she thought she might have a 0.5 (reading teacher/title I) job available to me at Downing Elementary.

When I got off the phone I prayed that if this was the right move for me the job would be a 3day/2day split or at least an afternoon position. When I got the call back the answers were: yes the job is available, yes I can have it, and it's an afternoon schedule. So it's official- I'm going back to work part-time.

This is not the direction Jeremie and I wanted to have to go, but it will be great in the long-run. First, the pay is way better than subbing and I get paid time off. Second, we get great state employee health insurance. Third, it helps me work on converting my certificate from a temporary (residency) state to a permanent (professional) state. Fourth, it guarantees me a contract with the Tacoma School District until at least a year after we have another baby instead of expiring this Spring. And fifth, it will significantly help with our new budget.

Please continue to pray for us. We are excited that at least one prayer has been answered. We are continuing to pray for Jeremie's career direction... I've been on the computer all morning researching firefighting positions and EMT training courses!

Changes

"My son, preserve sound judgement and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, and an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." Proverbs 3:21-26

This pretty much sums up where the Neighbors family is. Our "sudden disaster" came on Friday when we found out that we are no longer self-employed independent distributors. Jeremie is now an employee of Smith Brothers Farms. This significantly changes our budget and requires us to prayerfully consider our next move.

Right now we are at a loss of words. We do not know which direction to turn. Should Jeremie continue working on becoming a firefighter? Should he aim for a sales job? Should I be the one to go back to work and let him work on a bachelor's degree?

This time of change is stressful, confusing, exciting, sad, overwhelming... I could go on and on. We ask that you keep us in your prayers. We need discernment and sound judgement as we consider the direction of our family and our future. We need patience for answers. We need contentment in the meantime. We need thankful attitudes for the past blessings we received and thankfulness for this time of trial that will lead us in the direction that ultimately strengthens us. We also need prayers as we consider my return to teaching on a part-time basis while we sift through this transition.

I will keep you posted with new developments, as this is sure to be a LONG work-in-progress. We thank you for all the love, prayer, and support.