A Beautiful Life

We have truly been blessed this past week! Since we have been married, I have felt like I am in a state of limbo- never really knowing where our life would take us. After Randy's last job ended at the closing of September, he has been searching for a job. He has had many promising interviews, but so far nothing had come of them. About two weeks ago he started volunteering with the Washington Division of Wildlife and helping them with deer trapping (he has promised me today that he will blog about it and share pictures!!!). The basic purpose of the trapping is to gain basic information on the health of the deer population. He has really enjoyed that and I am happy that he is learning new skills, meeting new people, having something to do that is out of the house, and not always working on applying for jobs.

After the meeting with Dr. Shipley last Monday, neither of us was very hopeful that she would be able to help us. However on Friday she emailed Randy with a JOB OFFER!!!!!!! She currently can only promise him a month of employment, but if more funding comes in the job will be extended. He will be helping a graduate student finish her project on Sage Grouse and Sharp Tail Grouse using radio collar telemetry. On his last job in Colorado, he spent a lot of time studying Sage Grouse and he learned how to follow the signals of that the collars put off. The job site is about 2 hours southwest where we are (which is wonderful- because most of the jobs he was applying to would require us to relocate to a different state). He will be gone during the week, but will be able to come home on weekends. (I have been spoiled having him here with me everyday) :D He is a little disappointed that he can't help with the deer trapping as much, but is hoping to be able to help out with it every now and again. I am so proud of him! I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for His guidance. He has been preparing us for this time and will continue to prepare us for the future.

Tomorrow we are starting our 8 week challenge! I read that we were supposed to weigh ourselves the Sunday before, but I forgot...and I like to do that first thing in the morning (before I can add weight with food :) ) we will be doing that first thing tomorrow morning. I still haven't figured out a reward if I reach my goals (6 weeks with perfect score and/or lose 8 pounds). I would like to do something like a spa treatment, but those can be pricey. I don't really want to do anything with food. There is a rock climbing gym that offers classes that Randy mentioned he would like to do- maybe that will be the winner. Any suggestions?

I realize that this is a rather long post but I wanted to share a few more things... well pictures...

This is a picture of an amazing sunset at our house. The silo and barn you can see are not on the property (the property is behind the camera). I wish the camera could have captured the full magnificence of the evening.

This is my interview apparel. It took me forever to find something that I liked and felt comfortable wearing (all the other suits I tried on I felt like I was playing dress up in my dad's old suits). 

This is a super cute little alpaca! While on our tour of the Large Animal Hospital with Gabi, he decided to come check us out.