Wait, WHAT?!?!?!?!

After a mere 2 years and 4 months, we've made the decision to leave Portland and return to CA (to the Central Coast, where we originally lived before moving to AZ 8 years ago).  This decision didn't come lightly, and we didn't seek it out.  But, it is happening and we're pretty stoked about it!

Believe me, you aren't asking yourselves any questions that we haven't asked ourselves.  Such as:
"Wait, what?!?!"
"I thought they loved Portland?"
"Didn't they just move?" (not just, but yes, within the past 2.5 years)
"How will the kids handle it?"

First of all, it should be known that we weren't seeking a way out of Portland.  Unlike when we left AZ, we didn't want to move.  We LOVE living here.  But, when Peter lost his full time job (and benefits) back in November 2012, life became a little rough (he only worked 20-30 hours a week, barely making enough to cover our expenses).  The job market here is still recovering.  He focused his search in Portland, but not a lot was available in his field for the salary he needs to support a family of four (and the cost of living is still going up despite the poor job market).  After 8 months of searching, even the viable prospects were fizzling.  Back in March, we got an email that San Luis Obispo county was hiring, for three different positions.  It came at a weird time of transition, as I had just exited the nursing program and wouldn't be returning until January 2014.  It didn't take long for us to decide to pursue the job.  Nothing was happening with his search here, and I had to essentially "start over" in school anyway (I didn't have to reapply at PCC, but I'd be graduating a year later), so what's stopping us?

We did consider the kids and how uprooting them (again) would affect them.  But, in the long run, we feel that being back in CA less than a 4-hour drive from either set of grandparents and the only cousins they have would make up for it.  We know they are excited about returning.  We'll be arriving a mere 3 days before their first day of school.  They are excited to make new friends and have new teachers.  They are excited about living a mile from the beach.  They were both born in CA (Alayna was actually born in San Luis Obispo) and every time we visit, we can see that (just like us) they are California kids at heart.  In addition, we've been really struggling with Jeremiah's behavior this past year--he had a tough school year (not academically, but socially).  We think this will actually be a positive thing for him.  To start over in a new school where he hasn't stirred the pot with any kids.  He even said something along those lines himself.

We kept the possibility of the move hush hush until now because we weren't sure whether or not we would actually go through with it.  Unlike the move from AZ, it has been a really tough decision.  We  prayed for (literally) months.  And, up until last week, we weren't sure if we would continue to pursue the job(s) there.  But, we gave ourselves a deadline (July 28) and made the decision: we're moving forward.  Peter is currently in the background check process for one of the 3 jobs he applied for; if everything checks out (and it should), he'll be cleared to start.   The scariest part is the slim, SLIM possibility that something doesn't check out--but we're having faith.  We moved to Portland with that slim chance (although Peter moved first and we stayed behind until it was "certain"--can't do that this time).  We moved to AZ with that slim chance (and he ended up NOT getting the job that time--but less than 3 weeks later found a different one).  We're trusting God that this decision is the right one.

Scariest thing yet: we're moving in TWO (and a half) WEEKS!  School starts August 22 there and we want to be there the weekend before.  We made arrangements for a rental house (with the help of our friends Mike and Zabrina--THANK YOU!) and signed the one-year lease and sent in the deposit.  Now that it is official, we knew we had to officially announce it.

And so begins yet another tale of our Wandering Adventures.  We say this is the last (major) move, but we said that last time....so, we'll see.  In the words of Mr. Peter Pan, here we gooooooooooo!