Changes

Do you remember the Peanuts film, Snoopy Come Home? Charlie Brown sings a song about change: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jldngb69BTc, and it's rather depressing.

Thankfully, the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us that change can be a good thing. We've experienced for ourselves that "In every change, He faithful will remain," and as Sound of Music buffs may recall, "When God closes a door, some way he opens a window."

We are currently looking forward to seeing what the view is out of that window. The current state of the economy is effecting people in careers everywhere, including the field of education. The program that David's been teaching at MATC will be mothballed when the current term ends this Spring. We've seen the writing on the wall for some time now. David's been unhappy at MATC the last few months. They're going in a direction he's not comfortable with. And he's going in a direction they're not comfortable with. So he was planning on resigning this Spring or Fall anyway. We've enjoyed the steady paycheck and great benefits (which we do hope to keep at least for awhile through Cobra). But David is looking forward to striking out on his own, which he has wanted to do for a long time. We feel like the experiences we have had in our lives have prepared us for this step. And we're pressing forward with faith. (It's still kinda scary though.)

David's been pursuing a grant through the National Science Foundation to help fund his Elements Unearthed project (see http://elementsunearthed.com/). Multiple applications are usually required before acceptance. The results of his first application to them were promising. They liked his idea, believe him qualified to pursue it, and offered some suggestions so he knows what to work on before he applies to them again.

We're refinancing our home from an adjustable to a fixed rate mortage (to take advantage of one profitable aspect of the hurting economy), and cashing some funds out at the same time, which will allow David to obtain all of the equipment he needs to work on his own (without the school's resources)...just in time for us to go to Philadelphia for the summer.

The morning after Larissa graduates from high school (Yay, Larissa!), David will take our minivan cross country, arriving in Philadelphia on May 31st. William, Jonathan & I will fly out on June 2nd to join him. (I figured 1 difficult day on a plane would be better than 4 or more difficult days on the road.)

NOAA_Photo_Library

We're looking for a place to hang our hats while we're there.

We plan to return to Utah at the end of August. Then we'll see what happens.

One step at a time, One hope then another, Who knows where this road may go!

It will be an adventure!

Change usually is.