Eastward Bound

When John told me he was getting laid-off in October, I was shocked.

We both were.

We always talked about his job security and how he would always have a job with Safeco.

He was informed he could still have his job. 

He would just need to reapply for it and it was going to be in Liberty Lake (25 minutes east of Spokane).

Moving really wasn't on our agenda for the summer, so John applied for jobs in other departments at Safeco that would allow us to stay here.

With Safeco moving to Liberty Lake they are expanding his department which meant more management positions opening up.

John has been trying to get into management for the past couple years with no success.

He applied for a management job.

Got the job.  Yeah John!

They wanted his to start on Monday (about a month ago) in Liberty Lake.

Life became one big whirlwind.

John has been commuting back and forth between here and Liberty Lake.

We usually get to spend Saturday together and then Sunday he packs back up and heads to the airport.

The new job came with a relocation package which has been awesome!

They are paying for John to fly back and forth, stay at a hotel, food stipend, rental car, paying for all closing costs on our house and soon-to-be house in Liberty Lake, and the best thing---movers!  They are coming to pack us up and move us. 

Huge stress gone. 

We got our house listed.

Sold it in a week for our asking price.

Worked out all the things we needed to on the home inspection report.

Were excited to be in a position to buy another house in Liberty Lake.

Checking our homes on Zillow has been our nightly routine.

We had it narrowed down to a couple.

Once we were sure the sale of our house went through, I loaded up the boys and we made the 4 1/2 hour drive to meet John in Liberty Lake.

I had high hopes that the drive wouldn't be that bad by myself and the boys.

Um, it was rough.

Ryan had the hardest time staying happy in his carseat for so long.

So, we stopped along the way at rest stops and got out and ran and ran. 

Then back in the car.

I know Tate.

It was challenging keeping everyone happy.

They ate every snack I had brought for the ride down and back, watched a few videos, wrote in their journals, colored and asked "when are we gunna be there?" 

The car ride was worth it to get to stay in a hotel and go swimming!

Worth it for the boys mostly.

A night in a one-room hotel with three boys... um, I knew better then to think that would be fun.

It was a long night getting everyone to sleep. 

The most exciting part was finding our new house!

We met John and our agent there when we first got to town.

We pulled up and loved it right away!

John had already been through the house and had told me he really liked it and thought we would too.

I was really anxious to get inside and see if it was all that John thought it was.

It was great!

The boys absolutely loved it.

I think mainly because they had been in the car for the better part of the day and they just wanted to run around.

The house is a rambler with a fully finished basement in a great neighborhood in a cul-de-sac.

The basement was a big hit with Tate and Blake.

Lots of room to run around. 

 

We put an offer on it...went back and forth...finally settled on a price we were all happy with.

It was a fast trip...just down one day and back home the next.

I got smarter for the drive home.

Hit the store before we headed out and stocked up on prizes, snacks and a this cute neck pillow so Ryan's head wouldn't flop around while he napped.

It was a better drive home. 

Tate asked yesterday how long until we moved to Spokane?

We got out the calendar to see--33 more days from today (July 19th moving day).

I thought it would be fun to make a little chain so each day the boys could take one link down and have a better idea of how long it is until we move.

That chain doesn't seem nearly long enough for me to be okay with leaving our family and friends though.