Goodbye Seattle

Pike Place Market

The carousel on the pier

Ivaars

Feeding the Seagulls

June of 2010 was a very difficult time in our family. At the beginning of the month Matt was laid of from his job and we were less than two months away from the birth of our little Lucy. We were scared, anxious, and overwhelmed to say the least. Thanks to very loving and giving parents we were blessed with the opportunity to take over their basement until Matt found a new job. We had Lucy at the beginning of August (just a day after our insurance ran out), and still did not have sign of a new job on the horizon. Two weeks later I was called to be in the Young Women's presidency and Matt was called to be assistant ward mission leader. It was then that I really knew that we may be in Seattle for the long haul.

We had two choices. We could sulk and be miserable or we could bloom where we were planted. I'm not going to lie - there were days when sulking seemed the better option - but we really took advantage of the opportunity we had. I LOVED my Young Women's calling. I consider the opportunity to serve with those leaders and those Young Women one of the best times of my life. Matt loved serving in the ward mission and was able to meet and serve with so many good people and was able to learn so many things that helped him to be where he is now. We took advantage of where we were. We loved going out and seeing the city and making new friends. More than anything it was so great to be with family and friends that we love and still miss so much.

In January Matt interviewed with a company that did commercial building sales. They are a nationwide company, but he interviewed for the job in Seattle. He felt good about it, but didn't get the job. He interviewed for their office in Orange County, but didn't get that either. A month later he received an email from a manager in Washington DC asking if he was interested in a position there. He almost declined the opportunity to interview with them. Washington DC was so far away and we didn't have much hope that anything would come out of it. But we gave it a chance a not too long after his phone interview he was offered the position. We couldn't believe it. We were so grateful for the opportunity, but so sad to leave everything we had grown to love. We decided to take one last trip to the city to say goodbye.

I left Seattle when I was twenty years old and didn't miss it at all. I knew what a great city it was, but felt like it was time to move on. I never really considered coming back. This time was much more difficult for me. I miss it a lot. I think about going back. I'm so grateful for that time spent in Seattle.