I’m referring to our move, not our yard (the old house had grass, where as we are still trying to get it to grow here!) John’s old job had him going to China for weeks at a time and late nights at work with video calls to China. Then there was the unplanned China calls that would come in the middle of family time. It was really starting to wear on John- he is a very family orientated person. He likes it when work stays at work and he can focus on his family when he is at home.
It is almost a year since he made the switch to his new job. Everyday we thank God for sending it to us. We had thought we had to go along with the transfer across the country and that it was where we were supposed to be. When John had looked for other jobs, nothing worked out for us and what we wanted as a family. Then this job just appeared out of no where. Truly a God send. John has found out through friends that did transfer with the old company, that trips to China became longer and more frequent for a while. Then there were layoffs. Even more reasons to thank God. We pray for all of those that made the move. We know that no job is perfect and things change, but right now we can’t complain.
Within this year John has only made three trips. There were two short trips that were almost back to back, but they were still short. I’m very thankful that I’m at home and not having to work like before. It makes his trips a lot less stressful.
He visited Seattle and Chihuahua, Mexico this past year. He made 2 trips to Seattle. He was able to visit Deception Pass back in June and in September he went to the Space Needle. Of course he was working mostly, but did get to see a few tourist spots.
With the Mexico trip it was very short and he didn’t get to do much sight- seeing. He did ask the friend/ co-worker he was with to take him to a Catholic Store, so he could look for a statue of Jesus. There is a story behind it- years back friends of ours that are from Mexico, but working with John in Texarkana had one. We really liked it, but have never found anything like it anywhere else. They moved back to Mexico and I guess tried to send us one, but it was lost in the mail. The store he was taken to was pretty special, because it was opened by Pope John Paul II on one of his visits to Mexico! So, this trip he brought home some beautiful religious items.
The Catholic store he visited.
The boys and I dropped John off and picked him up from the airport for most of his trips. I got pretty good at navigating through traffic to the airport. DFW doesn’t scare me!
Also, since the boys kept going to the airport they are really wanting to take a trip where they get to fly too. I guess we will have to work on that. It will take some planning- 5 kids on a plane!!! And maybe some courage on mine and John’s part!!!