Friday, May 1, 2015

Playing Catch Up LONGEST POST EVER!

So, hello there. I guess you can tell that we have moved around quite a bit. With Facebook it is easier to keep in contact with people so I quit blogging. What a mistake! I wasn't much of a blogger to begin with but I'll try to do a bit better since I can count this as journal writing right?
My kids are growing so fast and I have been a failure in the documenting memories department.

After a couple year extensions at BYU-I Zeb applied to a permanent position and almost got it. He was their #1 candidate some say but for some reason unknown to us he was not chosen. They ended up giving the position to a nice Hawaiian girl with a Masters Degree. Interesting.
While applying to BYU-I a three year position opened up at BYU-Hawaii. He applied as back up. It turned out that although he did not get the job in Idaho, he did get the Job in Hawaii. Nice consolation prize right?  It was only a three year position and we were told by some to NOT expect to get a permanent position but others in the administration told us the opposite. So, we hoped.

After a little over a year he was told by his chair that there will be an opening for the next year but that he will NOT get it so to consider not applying. When he told me that I  had the strongest feeling of 'WHAAAAT in the world are we doing here?'

Laie was one of my favorite places we have lived. Zeb had a different experience. He was very sick all the time. He got plantar fascistic while running up Laie Falls and couldn't run after that. He then got Bells Palsy. It is my theory that although he enjoyed Hawaii itself and all the friends we were making the job situation and how expensive everything was became such a stress for him that his body exploded.
So after the Chair said he "MIGHT NOT" get the permanent position. I could see the writing on the wall. The same thing happened at BYU and BYU-I. He applies almost makes it, and then of course, does not. Except this was different. We were not making enough money, we were far from home and couldn't afford to get back and.... as much as we loved it... it wasn't home. So we decided to leave. We were there a year and a half.

Perhaps the child that was most affected by this move was Laura. She LOVED Hawaii!!! She made so many friends and now, 3 yeas later, still keeps in contact with them. I think she will go back some day. Perhaps for a semester during college.

So after very, very, very intense (did I mention VERY) intense fasting and praying to figure out if it was right to quit with no prospects ahead it immediately became known to us what we should do. Move back to Provo, into my moms basement and regroup. We called her up and she was suuuuuuuper excited. She has been quite lonely in her big empty house in Provo.

Zeb finished the semester at BYU-H and in the mean time contacted BYU to see if they had any part time options for him. One of the professors told him that they might have a class for him to teach but that he should consider applying for a tenure track position which was opening at that precise time. Excited but confused, we applied. He of course as usual was invited as one of the finalists.

When we decided to leave Hawaii we had decided that teaching was not something that was going to work for Zeb. So we were thinking we would start a business or something like that. When they invited him to apply at BYU we decided that he would do his best and if he did not get it it was a sign that the Lord does NOT want him in teaching. And as you can expect.... The whole thing was a disaster. He worked hard to prepare for all the things they require but toward the end of the process he got a sick feeling like he did not belong. He did not. He knew it, they knew it. What's up with that?

So now we are at my moms basement with 5 kids and OH I forgot to mention. We brought a little Polynesian souvenir. A cute little baby made in Hawaii. Not born yet, but coming. We moved from Hawaii in December I had a baby girl in June. Little Franny. Our Sweet little girl. She is almost two now and spunkier that fiery bee. I will post more on her later.

Zeb applied for jobs everywhere and nothing worked. It was ridiculous. We thought of opening up a Subway, Bread, store, Gardening business, building brick ovens, starting a sprinkler business and nothing got passed the planning and experimenting stages. In Idaho when we were uncertain of him getting the job I mentioned Law School to him. He thought it was a good idea, looked into it but then got an offer from BYU-H so we put Law School out of our minds.  Now, we were back on square one. Zeb did not like the idea of Law School at all. He even asked me not to mention it to him again. Ever again. So I didn't. After a couple of months of not having a job he himself started to consider Law school. It wasn't a serious desire but the desire grew with time.

End of April he went to speak with an old professor of his at BYU about an editing position that was advertised. This professor, teaches at the Law school as well as in other departments. Dr. Welch told Zeb to not apply for the position because they were looking for someone with different qualifications. Big surprise.
Zeb asked him what he thought about someone like him making it in to BYU Law School. Dr. Welch asked his GPA and immediately took him over and introduced him to the dean of admissions. He took the LSAT got a good score (my husband the genius) and got into BYU-Law School super easy.

Around the same time he took the LSAT he Took the Foreign Service Written exam as well. We considered trying to get back in the Foreign Service. Zeb often expresses regret for having left that opportunity. He feels he may have made a mistake leaving. But we are torn because of how much we have learned these past few years. We have had wonderful things happen and at the same time the lack of money and job security has been one of the hardest things we have gone through. (We are very blessed. I would not ask for anyone else's burdens). He took The Foreign Service Exam and of course passed. They have now added an extra step to the hiring process. A Personal Narrative Essay portion. He did not expect that part. He did not pass so we went with Law School. We were excited.

So BYU-Law has been a really wonderful experience for our kids. We live with my mom in her basement. Our kids have gotten to spend time with her every day. They know her well and will never forget her. What an incredible blessing. Another blessing is that my mom, who was all alone in this big house has gotten company for 3 years. Going on 4! The kids LOVE the school here. Rock Canyon Elementary and Centennial Middle School Have been wonderful schools. The kids are great good kids and our children have build friendships with many good kids from good faithful families. These friendships will last forever as well.
We have had so many adventures these past few years I cant even describe what a rich life we have had. I will post on our baby girls birth and Law School next.  Adios 4 now.

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