Tangled Emotions

      During his meeting with the guy in Northern Washington, Layne got a call from Rocky Mountain Power (what are the odds!).   Layne has been looking on and off at different jobs for the past 3 years or so.   I love it here, so I've been convincing him to stay all these years.   But, deep down, I knew that this job interview might be different, especially after they did a phone interview and immediately wanted to meet and interview him in person.   Too bad Layne is so charismatic and likable!   Of course they liked him and as one of my friends said, "He's handsome, he doesn't smell of smoke and he's competent.  He will totally get the job."
     I wasn't surprised when they offered him the job.  He has been offered 3 jobs in the past year, but none of them could offer him enough money to make it worth it.   So, I was pleasantly surprised when they offered him more money plus a moving bonus, a yearly bonus and relocation benefits.   We both prayed about it.  Layne feels confident that this is the job for him.   I felt peace that if Layne will be happy, this will be a good move for our family.   Although I have to admit, the Salt Lake area is on my list of Top 5 Places I NEVER Want To Live.  Go figure.  
      We decided to break the news to the kids on Saturday morning.   That went about how we thought it would....Kennedy bawled and said she would miss all of her friends, Matt ran up to his room and slammed the door and Hyrum just kind of whined that he didn't want to move.   Once they calmed down we told them a few good things about moving there.  The best reason is that they will get to see their cousins (my brother's kids) more because they live nearby.   Then we made a list of all the fun things to do within the Salt Lake area like Hogle Zoo, Temple Square, Lagoon, etc.  
     Later that afternoon, Kennedy came up to me and said, "Mom, I feel just like the girl in Tangled when she leaves the mean mom that's not really her mom and she's so happy, but she still feels bad and sad."   I think that's a pretty good way to explain it.  There are lots of exciting things, and lots of hard things.  I'm almost kicking myself for talking Layne into letting us stay longer as now I feel like I've made even stronger friendships and know the community even better.   So...it is definitely a bunch of tangled emotions:  sad, excited, worried, nervous, relieved (that is in reference to my current calling!)
     The good news is, we are all coping.  Kennedy is coping by writing down all 21 of her friends' addresses and phone numbers and promising them that she WILL keep in contact.  Matt is coping with denial.  He's been saying things like, "I never really liked this house, let's buy a new one" and "I'm glad we're moving".   Hyrum started unloading his dresser and telling us which shirts to put in the suit case.  All he cares about is that we bring his stuff.   Oh to be 5-years-old again!