Life and Such

It has been absolutely KILLING ME to not be able to share this with so many of our friends and family for so long due to the nature of the situation, but we are finally coming out on the other side and I can let you know what's been happening in our life over the past couple months. Let me preface by saying that God is so, so, so, SO good and He has completely showed Himself to be our "Firm Foundation" this year in so many ways, like He promised He would :)

Do you remember when the Twin Towers were hit? The room you were in when you found out? What you were doing? Like it was all in slow motion so your brain could capture every significant second of it? Yeah, that happened to us at a little after 3pm on Friday, January 20th, 2012. We had some snow days earlier that week, so Jake finally went back to work for a full day before the weekend. ...Or what we thought would be a full day. He walked through the door of our house about 2 hours early with a weird look on his face. The last thing I expected to hear was that as of that day, his entire company had shut down completely. The kind of shutdown where you bring all your office stuff home in a box that same day because the building won't even belong to the company on Monday. The kind of shutdown that leaves people without severance pay, extension of benefits, or even (as we would soon find out) a final paycheck. Apparently the company had been struggling financially because of a lack of government contracts (no federal budget means no contracting action or investment from federal agencies), and while they were hoping to sell the company to a larger company, the negotiation fell through and they were left with nothing. I was sitting on the couch as he told me this, 6 months pregnant with a one year old napping in the next room, and bills that needed paying within the next couple days. Time kind of stopped for me, much like on September 11th, and we were suddenly surrounded by a thick, confusing fog. But, I kept hearing "Firm Foundation" (my 2012 "One Word") repeated over and over in my head. Jake and I immediately got on our knees and started to pray. Interestingly, instead of a prayer of desperation, it ended up being much more expectant and hopeful. Like God was already speaking to us about the amazing, almost unimaginable outcome on the other side of the fog.

But, that didn't leave us without challenge! Right away Jake started with his job search (which isn't easy or quick in this economy) and we began the process to start receiving unemployment. Almost immediately, God began to provide in absolutely AMAZING ways!! We had enough savings to get us through for a little while, not to mention that our healthcare is through the Army Reserves, so we didn't have to worry about discontinuation of healthcare benefits (thank GOD, since we were only a few months away from having a baby and I was in the throws of prenatal care for me and developmental specialists for Eli). And get this - we got all of our tax return documents early this year, and were able to file THAT WEEKEND! 2-3 weeks later we got the biggest return we've ever gotten, which just happened to be almost *exactly* the amount of one of Jake's bimonthly paychecks (like, within a hundred dollars)! While some people were complaining that they weren't going to be able to use their tax return toward something fun or fancy, we were on our knees in thankfulness and awe of God's perfect provision in helping us pay the next round of bills, our mortgage, and groceries for the next few weeks.

As the days passed, we started to receive unemployment checks, which also helped. I hear that sometimes takes weeks and weeks, but we got our first check just 1-2 weeks after applying. God wasn't just providing; He was being SO timely!! Meanwhile, Jake had applied for nearly 70 jobs in 2ish weeks, in Washington, Colorado, and Massachusetts/CT/RI. He actually started hearing responses and getting phone interviews just 2 weeks after his initial applications. Each day, we would set aside quiet time and prayer with God, and I journaled about the instances of the words "firm" and "foundation" throughout the Bible, and what each of them said about God's character and how we are called to live and trust Him. Through this challenging time, God drew us closer to Him and to each other in our marriage, and while we had moments of anxiety and frustration, we NEVER reached a point of hopelessness. Jake started to receive more promising interviews over the next month, but just as we started to think "this is it!!," we'd be thrown for a curve-ball, and things would fall through. I went back to work as a temporary preschool teacher to help with some of the financial burden, though at over 7 months pregnant (with a severely suppressed immune system), this turned out to be a much more challenging commitment than I expected! During this time it was really hard to stay focused and at peace because my body was becoming exhausted and very, very sick (not to mention Eli's, since he stayed in the daycare down the hall for free during those hours). In the end, I'm glad I did it and it was SUCH a blessing to connect with those kids and provide a much-needed respite for the other teachers who's husbands were coming home from a Navy deployment. But ever since, Eli and I have been battling virus after infection after virus after infection for the last month and a half, and I lift up a prayer every now and then thanking God for preventing me from going into premature labor with all the lifting, bending, and exertion those 2 weeks brought on my system! We would also make sure to thank God for closing doors since they obviously weren't the "right" job, as excited as we may have been about them. I'm learning to ALWAYS be thankful in EVERY situation! Haha

About a month after Jake lost his job, we were facing financial instability again, and were beginning to wonder how we would get through the next few weeks. Then suddently Jake got a call from one of his old supervisors, who had been speaking to one of their old clients up at a nearby Navy base. Apparently, the client was still interested in finishing up the contract they had started with Jake's company, and Jake was the ONLY person in the company who really knew how to do that since he had been the project lead. One thing led to another, and suddenly, Jake had a temporary position up at Keyport Naval Base making the same salary that he used to make, with a VERY flexible schedule that would allow him to go on interviews, work on weekends, etc. It was about a 90 hour job contract, but they ended up wanting to pay him for 150 hours (since that was what they had been contracted for), so suddenly he not only got to finish up his old job, but make some extra cash too! Around this time, Jake's wonderful, wonderful mom also contracted him for a software job at her company which would also provide the same pay he was used to, and even allowed him to work from home. Um, wow. WOW. We were SAFE for at least another few weeks while Jake continued to search for the perfect job.

We didn't want to be too "picky," but we also felt that this was an opportunity to settle somewhere for a while (maybe even sell our house and buy a more long-term one) and raise our family without having to move every year or two. We also saw this as an opportunity for Jake to FINALLY get into engineering (his degree is in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, but he's never had the chance to use it!) instead of business and project management. Unfortunately, most of the interviews he was getting were for business-related positions, which he was ok with, but they weren't really his dream, and the longer he goes without an engineering job, the harder it is to get into that field (in fact, we were starting to wonder if he was already too late, being 6 years out of college). The few engineering-related jobs that he was finding were entry-level (can we say "pay cut"??) and involved developing specifications/tooling, building to specifications, or purchasing components. None were the *design* dream job that he really wanted, but we figured he has to start somewhere to get into the field, right?? Anyway, we just kept praying that God would be very clear to us about closing doors that weren't right, and leading Jake through the ones that were (regardless of how right they seemed to us!).

As we neared the 2 month mark, the pressure started to build in other ways. I would be full-term in just a few weeks, and still didn't know where we would be living, let alone whether Jake would be employed. I SO MUCH felt the desire to nest and make our home ready for baby Eden, but we were just so limited financially and knew nothing yet (except that we probably wouldn't be staying in our current home since no jobs were really popping up in our area). As things started to narrow into focus, we were faced with an opportunity in Kent, WA, one in Kirkland, WA, and one in Windsor Locks, CT (about 40 minutes from my parents). All three brought Jake out for an in-person interview, and all three involved some form of engineering (though the one in Kirkland was really Jake's dream design job). We knew the job itself was a major factor, but so was getting an actual *OFFER* (haha), compensation package, location, and whether the one in CT would relocate us, since we were officially out of funds to move. In the end, we narrowed it down to Kirkland or Windsor Locks due to location and benefits. Suddenly both were looking like real possibilities after having nothing for so long, and we were starting to see the downsides of *too many* options! Next thing we knew, Jake had an offer from the job in Kirkland, just a few days before he was scheduled to fly out for an interview in CT! We prayed that Kirkland would allow enough time for him to at least check out the job in CT (and hopefully get a red OR green light from them) before having to respond to the first offer. God came through! Kirkland didn't push about an answer, and Jake had a successful interview in CT (and also got to have dinner with his doting in-laws while he was out there). Jake explained to the CT company that he already had an offer on the table, so he really needed to know his chances, or at least what he'd be looking at in terms of compensation. They unfortunately couldn't be hurried to answer any of his questions, which in the end, left us at total peace about going with the job in Kirkland.

PRAISE GOD!!! Jake is no longer unemployed, and we will *hopefully* be relatively settled in time for Eden's arrival. I just want to quickly talk about WHY this particular job is just so, SO perfect and totally from God (even though I would have selfishly loved to be near my family...this is just so unquestionably RIGHT).

1. Kirkland/Redmond/Bellevue is one of the nicest areas of WA...when I first moved out here, I told Jake that someday, if we ever stayed in WA, I'd want to be in that area. It's a short drive into Seattle, but still gorgeous with a small, uptown feel, AND it's within 20 min of Jake's parents' house! There are jobs galore in that area in case we ever wanted to explore other options.
2. Jake will be a mechanical design engineer, and will be working on a multidisciplinary team to design the aerodynamic exteriors of vehicles...RIGHT up his alley. Like, perfect match.
3. A job like this is usually not entry-level, but he was able to obtain it because of his previous experience as a project manager - everything was orchestrated so perfectly! Additionally, while we were expecting a significant pay cut so Jake could enter the field of his dreams, we won't have to worry about that at all!!
4. The benefits are amazing. Great vacation time, as much paid sick time as you need, tuition reimbursement, flexible hours, the best 401k contribution plan I've really ever seen with a company...and....
5. PAID PATERNITY LEAVE!!! That's right! *IF* he is able to get 30 days under his belt before Eden arrives, he gets a week of paid leave (not including my hospital stay) in addition to all his other benefits!! Eden better stay in there until at least her due date! (But even if not, he'll get the time off; just not paid)
6. It sounds like they have a very quick promotion process that could involve some significant pay increases even within the first year.
7. A hefty starting bonus in his first paycheck, which will likely be mid-April.
8. The company he is currently working with is totally understanding (as is Jake's mom's company), and they are willing to let Jake work from a distance or come in on the weekends so he can finish all that up while still being able to start his new job ASAP.


Really, we couldn't have asked God for a better deal. His provision is beyond what we need; like when He turned water to wine and the barrels were **overflowing**. That's how I'm feeling right now. ....And that's not all!! (Sorry, this blog was just way too important to try to shorten!)

So, we currently own a house in Colorado, so we're renting this house here. The lease isn't up until June, and we are WAY too far from Kirkland for Jake to commute (especially given the baby situation). So pretty much, we know we have to move - and soon. The following things need to happen:

1. Find a new tenant to take over the lease on this house so we can break our lease
2. Find a new place to live that meets all our needs and is actually affordable near Kirkland
3. Figure out where I'm going to deliver since our original hospital will probably be too far now...remember, I had like a 2 hour labor with Eli and showed up at the hospital basically ready to push. Hospitals more than 20 min away aren't an option.
4. Along with #3, interview and decide on a new midwife and new pediatrician
5. Pack our house and move in a timeline that works for the new tenant, and our new landlord. Easier said than done at almost 36 weeks preggo...

Did I mention I'm due in less than 5 weeks? If you want something to pray for, you could start with asking God to keep Eden in there until at LEAST my due date, for so many reasons! hahaha

Anyway, so far, God has already begun to answer #1 and #3, which was more complicated than expected. We live in an adorable little house right on the water, but it's age and size aren't everyone's cup of tea. ...oh, and the fact that there is no dishwasher... So far we've had like 6 showings, and no applications. I was starting to get pretty anxious about it, and then one day, God put this couple on our doorstep (her name is also Sarah), and they want it. They don't care about lack of closet space, a detached garage with no opener, and no dishwasher. They LOVE the location and the view, and really, really REALLY want it!! YAY!!! We'll all be meeting up with the landlord on Sunday, but it sounds like it might work, and the great thing is that they are willing to move in whenever we're ready for them. For #3, we interviewed a midwife at a brand new hospital in Issaquah today. I was a little concerned because I had a waterbirth with Eli (and LOVED it), but my old hospital is the only one that does that in WA, and I really don't want all the protocol-related unnecessary medical intervention that most hospitals do (we are limited to a hospital due to insurance). I was happily surprised to find out that they don't require an IV, I'm not limited to delivering on my back in a bed, AND they have huge, comfortable tubs in every birthing suite where I can at least labor. The midwife sounded perfectly willing to be more hands-off (which I loved about Eli's birth), and even allow Jake to catch the baby like he wants to. This could work out pretty well, actually! While it's not St. Joe's, it's a close runner-up, and they're so new that they don't have a huge patient load (every time we've been there it's been practically empty with easy access parking, really attentive practitioners, and beautiful, spacious, state of the art rooms). I'm also looking into a *small* possibility of a home birth, since this midwife recommended a nurse midwife in Seattle who is covered through Tricare and does home births. I'll have to call to check into it, but doing a home birth DOES require that you have a home, first....

The next step is finding a place for US to live!! But look how all of our prayers have been answered so far, and how faithful God has been already! I mean, c'mon. How can we NOT trust Him that He has #2, 4, &5 already figured out and in perfect timing? Doesn't mean we can't continue to pray, though! So, after this extremely long blog post, if you feel inclined to rest your eyes a bit from the computer screen and send a few prayers up to our amazingly faithful God on our behalf, we would SO MUCH appreciate it! First and foremost, we couldn't be more thankful, and are just so blown away by the way such a challenging situation has brought us to such a better place and truly helped us trust God more than ever before. Our prayers are EFFECTIVE and God loves to answer them! For REALS, people!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:4-7