All in the Lord's Timing

In Sunday School today, we had a lesson about journal writing and the importance of it.  In my year's as a teenager, missionary, and first year's of being married I wrote journals.  However, life happened and I slacked off.  Also, it hurt to write with my hand after a while.  Then I blogged really well but, after time stopped doing that.  After today's lesson, I feel I need to get back at it.

Rather than go back in time too far, I'll just start with what we are currently in the middle of.  In December, Mike was offered a contract as a Public Defender for Cache County, UT.  Mike has been looking for a change in jobs for YEARS!  The law firm he had been working for was sucking him dry and not paying him what he was worth.  They would make promises, over and over, and not keep them.  Mike was the only one running the St. George office and it felt like NO ONE had his back, including his Paralegal!  A year-ish earlier, Mike had interviewed for a position in Cache County but, didn't get the job.  Well, based off that interview, they called him and offered the public defender contract.  The second Mike told me about it, I knew he would take it, although I didn't want him to take it.  I had finally felt settled in St. George and came to grips that we would always live in St. George.  For years, we have tried to move up north, towards Salt Lake or more north.  Nothing ever panned out and we had given up on that happening.  So, now I was ready to make St. George home and then this was happening. Mike questioned the decision and still does.  He feels that he's never made the right decision in life for us and doesn't trust himself to make the right decisions.  Well, Mike took the job.  He then had to let his firm know.  He agreed to help them through March and then he was done helping them.  So, Mike started in Cache County in January.  His required days are Monday and Tuesday.  Once court was out on Tuesday, he would drive back down to St. George.  That strained him.  It's a 5-5.5 hr. drive and he hated it.  So, it was good for him once he was done with the firm in St. George and could focus on Cache County.  Now he comes home very 2-3 weeks, depending on what's going on with our family & his job.  The time being apart has been hard.  Mike lives with my parents, and one brother, who has his 3 kid's some of the time.  Then, just not seeing each other has its wear and tear.  So, hopefully the time goes by fast to where we'll finally be together.

The time came that we needed to start searching for a place to live and we were having to rent.  I really didn't know where we would live.  I just knew I wanted on the south end of the valley and in the Cache County School District.  As soon as I knew we would be moving up to Cache Valley, I immediately contacted the charter school in the area I was hoping to live.  I began the enrollment/lottery process, in hopes that by getting my kids into the charter school, it would help with the transition since they are already used to a charter school.  Long story short, my kids were all drawn out.  I wasn't positive that's where I would send them though.  I knew I didn't like the idea of sending Connor to middle school (he'll be in 6th grade) being the youngest grade, straight off of moving.  So, keeping him in a charter school would keep him as one of the older students.  Also, the south end of the valley (Cache County School District) had added a new highs school.  So, they changed things to where all of their elementary school's are K-6.  So, the idea of a regular public school intrigued me too.

I also knew I wanted a house that had 3+_bedrooms and was pet friendly (we have a cat, Teddy).  I came across a place in Nibley, which I was stoked about!  It was a tri-level home, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, and was in the area I really liked the idea of living.  It was also pet friendly, which was hard to find.  We put in the application and they chose us!!!!!  I just knew it was meant to be, I envisioned us there, I had decided to put my kids into a tradition public school there and was excited to live near the Major's, some law school friend's of ours.  It was just THE ONE!!!!  We were EXCITED.....all except Mike.  Mike looked at the home and wasn't impressed but, went ahead with the idea.  So, he met with the landlord and, needless to say, it DID NOT go well.  The landlord called me and said that due to the reaction my husband gave him, he thought it would be best if we didn't continue with the home.  Mike had not been kind and we lost the house.  I tried talking to the landlord but, it was too late.  The kids and I were HEARTBROKEN!  It felt like we would NEVER find a house like that.  I was so defeated, frustrated, angry, and sad!  I didn't want to have to search AGAIN!!!!  My Aunt Jackie then quoted something along the line of something Jeffrey R. Holland said, "Keep your chin up, trust in God, & believe in good things to come."  This would be hard to do, especially when I thought everything was perfect before.  

Once again, we began the search but, nothing was falling into place.  Mike decided, and I agreed, that we would apply to the house we liked (regardless of whether they allowed pets or not), and then go from there.  So, we looked more.  One night, around 11pm, I was heading to bed.  I decided to get onto www.rentler.com one more time (which I now feel was a prompting from the Holy Ghost).  I looked and there was a BEAUTIFUL home, with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath, wonderful yard, on a dead end street, etc.  It just seemed perfect.  So, I applied right then.  Come to find out, the guy had only posted it 1 hr. prior to me applying.  That weekend was TOUGH!  He had told us he would consider us first but, yet wanted to let other prospects see the home, etc.  Oh I was super impatient and ancy.  We finally received news that had gotten the home!!!!!!  I was SOOOO EXCITED!!!!  We told the kids and they were excited too!!! Mike, not so much, but that's typical.  So, he sent the deposit, we signed documents and it's ours!

Then, another twist happens!  Mike went to look at the home. Yes, we signed before we saw it physically.  The owner had included so many photo's, I felt like I already knew the house inside & out.  Anyway, Mike came back nervous we had been keeping our cat, Teddy, a secret because he learned the Father-in-Law lived in the neighborhood.  That really got me thinking and I suddenly became VERY NERVOUS & ANXIOUS!  I couldn't breathe and stomach hurt.  I knew at that moment I needed to be honest with the owner.  There's no way I could lie about Teddy anymore.  First, I did not want to teach my children that it was ok to lie, to get what you want.  That was wrong of me to do.  Second, there's no way my kids, especially Corie, could keep it secret. Third, it was just plain wrong.  I talked to Mike and he begged me not to tell the owner but, I just had to.  So, I contacted the owner and I told him.  Unfortunately, he said we had to get rid of Teddy.  I was devastated and my heart was broken.  However, the anxiety and nervousness went away.  I know I did the right thing but, I felt awful.  Teddy means the world to me!!!! He is my comfort and my best friend!  It made me sick inside to have to find a new home for him.  I just couldn't tell the kids yet.  Mike was very upset I went ahead and told the owner.  He was angry and didn't agree with me in doing it.  I sobbed, sobbed, and sobbed for at least 3 days straight.  Thankfully, my sister (who lives in Tooele) agreed to take Teddy for us.  That way we would know who had Teddy, they would care for him, and we could go see him when we wanted.  So, time went by for make a week or so.  I was so very sad and decided to wait and tell the kids when Mike was home.  So, Friday night Rylie was asking about keeping Teddy, just out of the blue.  I knew I had to tell them. So, I gathered the kids & Mike.  Mike didn't stick around long.  I explained to the kids and the reaction was what I expected and worse!!!! I had hurt my kids and broken their hearts!!!  Their world was changing every way possible.  It was SO, SO SAD!!!!!! I cried and cried.  Yes, some may say this is pathetic over a cat but, we love our Teddy!!!!!    I finally got the kids settled down enough to go to bed.  Then, Mike said he wanted to try one more thing.  So, he called the owner and VERY NICELY explained the devastation of the kids, and offered to pay a larger deposit for Teddy.  The owner said he would have to ponder it and get back to us.  I will say he was VERY NICE and patient with us!!!!  So, the waiting happened again.  Well, I got a text this morning and, WE ARE SO BLESSED!!!!!  They are letting us keep Teddy!  All is well in the land of McGinnis'!!!!!! The kids were so excited and happy that they had tears in their eyes!  I feel like Heavenly Father has blessed us so richly!!!!!!

So, July 1st we move into this new home of ours to rent!!!!!!  More pictures to come!!!!!!