Let the Adventure Begin...

If you haven't heard the BIG NEWS yet, here it is:

Rob just accepted a job in Petaluma, California!

Here's the story:

Robert was laid off from his job about a month ago when his company merged with another and the managers that had been there the shortest amount of time were let go. (If any of our close friends or family didn't hear, please don't be offended by this. It was a really hard time for us and we kind of kept it on the down-low.) Well, we have been searching and searching for something around here, but just haven't had any luck at all. 

When my Dad's boss, Lynn Perry (who is our close family friend who we go on vacations with, party with, and I've grown up with him as my adopted uncle, basically) found out about Rob's lay-off, he immediately wanted to talk to him about a job opportunity in Petaluma, CA. He actually said he wanted to talk to him about it a year ago, but because we were in a good place in our lives with jobs and our home, he and my dad didn't think it was a good time.

The job is with a company that is here locally (Wheatland Seed) for a position in a distribution company (Keith Giusto's Bakery Supply) that they own out in Petaluma, CA which is about 45 minutes north of San Francisco.  We talked to Lynn about it a lot and he invited us to go out to California with him to interview for it and to see if it would be a good fit for us.

So, last week we headed to San Francisco and then on to Petaluma to see the company, meet the people, and see the city.  We absolutely fell in love with the company and the people there, and thought this part of California was beautiful. (Although, I was so completely bummed out to find that the beaches in Northern CA are COLD. What!?)

We spent several hours with the people Rob would be working with getting to know them and talking about the job. Then, we spent some time driving around Petaluma and the surrounding cities. We also spent a day in San Francisco having fun and exploring.

This whole time we were thinking, talking, and praying about this job opportunity (as we had been the weeks leading up to it). We talked about how we have always thought that moving outside of Utah would be a great adventure, something that would make our little family learn and grow. We talked about what an amazing career opportunity this was for Robert. Wheatland Seed and KGBS are growing and growing by the month and Wheatland Seed employs my dad and all of his fun co-workers that we love and spend time with- people who we trust and who we know will take care of us. Then, we talked about leaving family and leaving Utah (that's when the tears started). 

But after much thought, we decided that we didn't want to let fear get in the way of what could be a life-changing opportunity for our family, so we decided right there in the middle of San Francisco to take the job!

And..that means we are headed to California.  

I don't know Rob's exact job title yet, but he will basically be helping manage KGBS and will help to get their pricing right, manage the employees, help with the financials, and everything else that they decide to throw his way. We will learn more as we get there. This is a great company and it helps that we are close with the people high up in the company and trust them- this was a huge part of our decision.

One of the better things about this job is that I, ME, LINDSAY, will no longer have to work and will be able to just work by choice.  AGH!!!! This is the greatest news of my entire life. This is something Rob & I have been working towards for a couple years now and we are very excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will definitely find a job out there once we get settled. I love my nursing degree and want to keep my license current, but it will just be something where I work once a week or a couple times a month- SO AWESOME!

The plan from here is:

We will be taking the move slow. Rob leaves next week for Petaluma and he will go out and work for a week or two and then come home and work in Utah for a few days so that we can all see each other, or we will go out and see him. It's going to be hard to have a long-distance relationship, but it will be worth it so that we can make sure everything goes well there before we uproot our family. As we get settled down in the job, we will be trying to sell our home in Brigham and get somewhere to live in Petaluma. So we aren't actually planning on moving the whole family out for a few months. 

We are so sad to leave Northern Utah and our family, but are very excited to head out on our little adventure.  Excited and nervous at the same time. I find myself to be on a complete emotional roller-coaster. One second, I'm SO excited and thinking about how great it's going to be (living that close to the ocean AND San Francisco- awesome!), and the next I'm bawling because I can't imagine my life without seeing my family every week, or my life without snow in it, or not being here when Rob's parents come home off their mission. It's HARD. It's really hard, but I know it's going to be okay. Life is supposed to be hard. But, it's also supposed to be enjoyed. I know this move is going to be hard, but I know that it's going to bring us JOY in the end. (And, I keep repeating that to myself every day)

We feel so unbelievable blessed though. We found such a great job in such a short amount of time. And it's a job with family close-by! We are finding so much comfort in the fact that Rob's brother's family lives 2 hours away and two of Rob's aunts and uncles live 2 hours away. And my cousin lives 30 minutes away! I'm so excited to spend time with all of them. The other great thing is that my dad travels to KGBS once a month to do their accounting so we will at least be seeing him that much (hopefully my mom will tag along with him). All other family BETTER come visit us! Friends too! I mean it! :)

A huge shout out to all of our family and friends who have been praying for us and keeping us in your thoughts through this rough time. I'm sure we'll continue to need them as we get through this move. What an exciting time in our lives though! 

Let's end with a little bit of Katy Perry-

"California Girls, they're unforgettable!"

Love, Lindsay 

(the soon-to-be-California-girl-who-longs-to-not-be-forgotten)

We're gonna need a few more of these shirts!