Hitch up the wagon train boys and girls...We ride west!

Our time here in Indiana is coming to an end. We'll be moving across the country and into a brand new life. It's a pretty long story but I'll try to be brief.

J's job here in Indiana started to tank a couple months ago. They ran out of work and out of money and basically it's all been falling apart. We came to find out that they lied to us when we moved here about the amount of backlog work they had. They've been forcing the employees to work "off the books" so that they can make some money on their projects. It's been a mess.

So, J started looking for a new job. We weren't having much luck for a while. He's a bridge engineer and with the economy in the tank, states were cutting back. In the last month, however, things really took off. He's had 3 possibly 4 offers on the table. Two of them are fabulous opportunities. The other two are still good but not the direction he wants to take his career. One of these opportunities stands head and shoulders above the rest. It's the kind of job we've been working toward for 10 years. Every move and every new job has been to advance his career in this direction.

It just happens to be in Utah. That's 30 hours from my family. Or a few hours by airplane.

Believe me when I tell you that we have thought, discussed and run the scenarios hundreds of time. We've decided to take the plunge and take the job in Salt Lake City. Things are about to start moving very fast.

Our landlord told me that she was glad we gave notice because the day she got our letter, she was working on a letter of her own letting us know that she was selling the house and we had to be out by June 30. She was upset about having to do it but her husband's GM plant is closing, and they may have days or months but they want to be "lean" when the closure happens. So they are selling off their rentals. I guess I didn't take as much of a gamble as I thought. I agonized over that for days and we were going to have to be out anyway. Isn't it amazing how things work out.

I am very at peace with our decision to take this opportunity. I know that Utah is far from home and a completely different culture. I'm comfortable enough with our own convictions and our independence as a family to not be afraid of the adventure. We are really excited about exploring the beauty of our new home. The mountains, the desert, weekend trips to Yellowstone or camping and fishing at one of the many many amazing parks in Utah. The first thing I want to do is see the Grand Canyon. A mere 6 hours or so away. I've wanted to see it my whole life. Granted it will be the north rim, not the popular view but I'll see it. Nicholas is going to stay in the car! My heart won't be able to take him peering over the edge of the canyon. He can see it when he's in his 30s.

Another thing I'm excited about is the long-term nature of this job. The project is something like 5 years. 5 years of stability! How wonderful is that?! I've learned to appreciate the small things.

Everything is going to be happening so fast at this point. We have 3 weeks to be out of our house. The new company is taking care of all the moving but we have to get all that set up and ready to go. I'm a BIT nervous considering we don't have anywhere to live in Utah, yet! The company will get us movers (YES!!!) and put us up in temporary housing if we need it etc. So, I feel good that it will work out.

I am also starting a 2nd blog. My family doesn't know about this one (except my husband), it's more my sounding board for how I feel. My other blog is going to be so that people who care can keep up with us, I'll detail the cross country move, our homeschool adventures and progress, and our day to day lives. I intend for it to be heavy on pictures and details. I'll still be posting here but this is more for me. I'll get it up and running just as soon as I get a few pictures to start off with.

I am happy, excited, scared and sad all at the same time. I have loved our time in Indiana. Our lives will really be changing. My son's life is going to change in ways he doesn't understand. However, just because it is different, doesn't make it bad. It's exciting and scary. It's life. And it's good.