New Job

WARNING: Super long post ahead... read at your own risk!

Well, for those who know us personally, you know that this is BIG news!

But, here's a little background info for those who don't know us personally...

Back in 2003, we moved to Minnesota for Randy's job. It was a very dark period in my life. We left our family, friends, church... everything that was important to me. Elisan was 18 mos. old and I was pregnant with Kyla, so I was not in the most stable emotional state at the time of our move.

We were surprised at how expensive everything was in Minnesota and quickly realized that our standard of living, including owning a home, would be sub-par as to what we had grown accustomed to in Texas. Sounds snobby, doesn't it? But really... when you consider that we owned a fabulous starter home in Texas for less than $150K only to see that something that would even be comparable in Minnesota was $300K... you get my point. (And that was 5 years ago... that same house is probably $400K now.)

So, when the first opportunity to "get outta Minnesota" came about we took it. And, that was going to Denmark for what we thought was going to be a year long project. We ended our stay in Minnesota after 7 looooong months. We waited until Kyla was born, then we high-tailed it back to Texas while Randy went on ahead to Denmark and found us a place to live.

We were in Denmark for 7 months. Looking back at that time, it was wonderful and scary at the same time. We met some awesome friends and I am thankful for the time we spent there, but I was schlepping around 2 kids (ages 2 and 6 mos.) around a foreign country using public transportation (buses and trains), not speaking the language (thank goodness the Danes learn English in school), and being very far from the comforts of the U.S. To say the least, I was ready to go home.

Randy accepted a job back at the Texas plant (YEEHAW!) and we moved back to our old neighborhood and even on the same street! (Isn't that funny?) The dark days of Minnesota were far behind us. We were in Texas and loving life. We found a new church, reacquainted with old friends and made new ones. We visited family often. Life was good!

Then, the dreaded China talk began. Randy had already seen one of his co-workers accept a job in China and we actually believed he would be considered to take a job in China as well. Thank goodness, that did not come to pass. The next thing up? The Philippines. Yep, there's a plant in Manila. Again, the possibility that Randy would be offered a job in the Philippines was always a very real possibility. Thank goodness, that never came to pass... But, you see what I'm getting at... It was never "oh, we're going to be here for the rest of our lives and live happily ever after..." it was always, "oh no... were are they going to ship us this time?"

Back in December, Randy was approached to take a job in Minnesota again. This job seemed very promising and Randy was able to set the terms this time. Randy even went so far as to accept the job, but for one reason or another, it never came about.

Within recent months, Randy's company announced that it was shutting down the Texas plant. That meant one of two things... either we stay with his current company (which would mean moving to Minnesota) or take another job. Randy decided to ride the job out in Texas, collect his severance package and look for a job at a leisurely pace at the beginning of next year. But, within in the last month, he was approached by a former co-worker about another job (with another company) so he went on an interview. He was offered the job and he accepted.

Last week the "powers that be" began to scramble about trying to keep Randy on at his current job... And, in the process was offered more money AND a move to Minnesota. As you can imagine I was dying here because I did not want to go to Minnesota, but I could not face the guilt (is it guilt?) of standing in the way of his career and his future with a company that he had invested 14 years with. What to do?

Well, he made the decision to take the new job, instead of stay on. In the process, he took a big paycut and now has to be at work at 6:00 a.m. (which means waking up at 4:45 a.m.) The new job is 40 miles away by toll road (translating to an extra $8.00/day for tolls). His old job was only 7 miles away. And now I wonder if it was worth it? Should I have just sucked it up and supported him MORE and had him accept the job in Minnesota? Part of me feels guilt for being such a panty-waist and not being more gung-ho about the promotion.

Well, nonetheless, what's done is done. Randy has a new job... in Texas. So, no disruption in my little life all due to the sacrifices that are being made by my husband. Thanks, Randy. I love you. And, you know, God has always provided for us and tended to our needs. I know He will not fail us now!