As I mentioned in my previous post, we were planted in Sioux Falls, thinking this was "it" for the long haul. A place to put down roots. One fall day in 2013, Chad got an email saying the President of the Foundation was leaving to take a new job out of state. We were saddened by this news, as this man was a man of integrity, a kind man, who Chad admired and was excited to work for and learn from. He and his wife actually ended up being our neighbors, so I got to know his wife as well. She is just as kind and wonderful as her husband. This was a bit of a shock to us personally, and to those who worked with Chad at the Foundation.
Initially, we were hopeful, thinking that Chad's direct supervisor would be promoted into the role and Chad could be promoted into her role. Wishful thinking. Instead, a big leadership change occurred that didn't benefit Chad or his boss in late December {right before Christmas}. In fact, quite the opposite. I don't want to speak badly of anyone or anything, so let's just say some people Chad's industry called this a "vanity hire."
As the news soaked in, we became more uncomfortable with the decision that had been made as well as the ramifications for our family. Chad didn't feel he could do what he was hired to do with all that was going on internally. So, the search began......
We were hopeful and optimistic as the job search began. Contacts that Chad had made from previous job searches were reaching out to him, interviews were scheduled and we were hopeful and optimistic this would happen quickly and be wrapped up in a pretty bow. After all, we had prayed about it and felt led to go on. God wasn't telling us to stay, in fact, the opposite. So, hopes were high, jobs were applied for, interviews were set, we were off and running!
We were so hopeful it would happen quickly that we put our house on the market before we knew where we were going! While I wasn't 100% in favor of the idea, I thought it would be a good opportunity to walk by faith. We didn't have a for sale sign in the yard, as we didn't want the kids to know we were moving until we knew where we were going and with the anxiety Lauren had last time, we tried to be proactive and avoid that. So, let's get this straight - Chad and I know we are moving, but we don't know where. We have our house on the market, and the kids don't know. We had a stager come in to stage the home, so the kids may have thought something was up, but they were cool with the changes we made. Thinking back, I'm not sure how we handled the interview component with them, but it must have been ok.
Chad had in person interviews in Iowa, Illinois, Virginia, California, Georgia {more than 1 city}, and various other places as well. Phone and skype interviews were all over the country! It's funny, when this first began we were very selective about where we would consider going and what areas would be off the table. However, as stress got worse at work for Chad, we were less selective.
One Friday night into the process, {May have been March or April}, I started crying and told Chad we needed to take the house off the market. I couldn't have it on the market anymore without knowing we had a new home lined up. We agreed to talk and pray about it over the weekend. Well, that Sunday night, as I was mopping the floor, I got a text from a realtor who wanted to show our house the next morning. Perfect! I had just mopped the floor and it was for a time when both kids would be in school, so that was easy! Problem is, Chad and I were so excited about the showing that we didn't follow up on the Friday night conversation we had had.....
TO BE CONTINUED.......
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