It's Official... We're Moving/ Jacob's Trip to Idaho and Washington

It's amazing how quickly news travels in a small community like ours. Jacob met one of Ammon's soccer teammate's moms at soccer practice tonight and she said to him, "Oh, you're the special ed teacher from the Kenai Ward that's moving away, right?" Most people already know this, but yes, it's official. We plan on moving back to North Idaho soon after the school year is over.

During spring break, Jacob flew to Washington state to attend a job fair in Spokane. Besides being totally spoiled by my family and eating some fabulous food (he made sure to rub this in every time we talked on the phone!), he also had a great time at the job fair itself. He did get a few job offers, but not from any places where we'd like to live. We expected this because for Spokane's standards (which is where he wants to work), it was way too early for them to have their openings posted. However, he got some really good networking done. He met with several friends, teachers and administrators from the districts where he'd like to work and he feels that he did a good job of getting his name and desires out there. The extreme highlight of the trip is that the entire time he was there, he felt the for-sure confirmation that this is a move we need to make!

When he returned home, he went ahead and wrote his letter of resignation to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (their deadline for declaring intent for the following school year, unlike Spokane's, is very, very early!!). While it was a super scary thing to have to do this without first having a job secured in Washington, we both felt (and continue to feel) that it was the right thing to do. We came to Alaska with the intent of staying for about two years. Now, three years later, we feel very strongly that we need to settle down closer to family (grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins are simply irreplaceable!).

Many people that find out we're moving ask us if the winters are too much or if we simply didn't like it here... NOT the case AT ALL!!! Alaska has been wonderful for our family. Heavenly Father made no mistake in guiding us here and He has blessed us in innumerable ways while we've been here. We constantly talk with our kids about the many, many unique experiences we've had while here and the many ways in which we've all grown individually and as a family. Although it hasn't all been peaches and cream, if I had to do it all over again, I'd definitely do Alaska all over again!

Now for some photos of Jacob with our family (who, by the way, know how to make one feel oh so loved, and welcome and hungry for more!)

Ammon and Abe were especially excited that Jacob got to see good ol' Joe!

This is our little nephew Diego (in the middle) with some new-found cousins Ava and Zara Munyer.

Another trip highlight was finally meeting a new-found cousin, Trent Munyer. We didn't learn that he and his family were in the same area until after we left Idaho. We look forward to getting to know them better. And yes, they are both Munyers!!! (Jacob's great grandfather and Trent's grandfather were first cousins).

My sweet mom and dad.

Cousins Diego, Aitana and Acasia.

My Dax... how you've grown???
Jacob was lucky enough to get to be at Dax's 16th birthday feast at my mom and dad's home.

This is what I most look forward to... the family gatherings!