We've moved to Monterey! It's pretty much amazing. We are within a mile of the ocean and are close to the aquarium and all! For those of you who don't know, this is basically what happened:
Kevin and I graduated this past December from Chico State University and up until recently were living with our parents. With the economy really not doing well, it was by far difficult for Kevin to find a job. (He graduated in accounting). So, for the month of January we applied all over the USA through craigslist, newspapers, etc. Side note, last Summer we stayed with my parents while I took some Summer classes at ARC so our church records were sent to Antelope. Then, while in Chico this last fall, we were attending the Spanish branch a little and ever so often would attend our ward. Our records never really left Antelope and were eventually sent over to Salt Lake. Anyway, this January, while Kevin was applying for jobs, I told him, "You know, I bet as soon as we put our records here, you'll find a job because we have not really been attending a 'permanent' ward since the Summer."
So, in the beginning of February, we decided to go on a trip to celebrate graduating (using our American Express points we had saved up..BEST idea EVER!!). We signed up for one of those last minute 7 day cruises which was heading down to Mexico. The day before we were leaving for the cruise, Kevin received an email from one of the places he had applied to. It was one of the partners of the accounting firm "Bianchi, Kasavan, Pope LLP" and he was not only asking to meet Kevin, but wanted Kevin to call the following Monday (we would be on our already paid for cruise...ahh!) So, it ended up working out that the partner told Kevin to go ahead an have fun on the cruise and to stop by the office when we got back from it. We drove down to Long Beach for the cruise and so we decided we'd stop by the office in Monterey on the way back up to Sacramento. Late at night on the way up from Long Beach, we arrived to Salinas at about 1am, about 30 minutes out of Monterey to stop for the night. We woke up the following morning and were eating the continental breakfast at the inn we were staying at when we heard on the Today Show, "Good morning it's Presidents Day!" That was a scare as we instantly thought that we were not going to be able to stop by the office... Luckily, after calling to see if the office was open, they were open! Kevin dressed up to be ready in case it was an interview he would be going to, since he did not know what it would be being told he was to just stop by.
All in all, he had an interview that day. Two days later he received a job offer. I asked Kevin's parents if our records were read in the Sunday just three days before, and they said yes. Isn't that amazing!? Kevin was supposed to work at a firm in Chico. The entire time that Kevin was at school in Chico, he was told he would be hired at that firm...but something fell through and he wasn't...leaving him hanging mid-October.. not having applied for any other job (which many other jobs he could have applied for, the application deadlines had already passed). We found out recently that that firm has been laying off many people, including first years... So, talk about a blessing in disguise! We are truly blessed to be where we are and that the Lord has provided a way for us. We are so grateful!! It was scary for a while not knowing if we would have enough money to pay our bills for much longer, but we made it! I am currently finding work to help save up to buy a house here in Monterey. We are shooting for a year from now to make that happen. I am undecided at the moment if I want to do student teaching for a multiple subject credential (I graduated in Liberal Studies for teaching Elementary) or attend cooking school.
If anyone decides to visit Monterey, give us a call!
