MOVING ON!

So, as most of you know, Ben has been working as a contractor at one of our shipyards for 3 years. Well, on the last day of June, the government told the company he worked for that they needed to lay off 3 people. So, they had to go by seniority, NOT by performance, which made it so Ben had to go. There were 2 others below him and they were let go as well. Although Ben was one of their best workers and had some government people TICKED that he was laid off, they had to go by seniority. His company was very bummed and sad that he had to be let go, especially since he had been put on special assignments that no one else had been trusted enough to do. Well, this was quite a blow to us, especially since he received a call 2 hours after he got home letting him know. So, he went right onto the computer, updated his resume and got on it. My dad said immediately to apply ALL OVER and that we need to go where the jobs are. SO, Ben applied all over the nation and at the shipyard here. He received a call from the shipyard (about a week after he had been laid off) and they set up an interview for the end of July. Well, he continued receiving phone calls for interviews, but none paid enough or was worth the move for the same or LESS pay.
On Thursday, July 9, Ben put in for a job in Hawaii making A LOT more than he made here and working on the network security, instead of help desk stuff. This is what he's been wanting to do and partly what he was specially assigned to do at his last job. 2 hours after he applied for the job, he received a phone call from the hiring guy in Hawaii. They chatted for about 30 minutes and the guy said Ben would receive a call the next day. On Friday, Ben received a phone call from this guy again and they talked even more. He said that Ben was what they were looking for and if he was really sure he wanted to make the move to Hawaii. Ben said, "I need to go where the job is". We talked about it and decided that if that's what Heavenly Father had in store for us, then that's what would happen. I told Ben that I was OK with moving there, even though we don't know anyone. So, we went about the weekend and kept talking about it and actually began looking at places to rent, cost of living, etc. On Monday, Ben received a call for the actual interview and was on the phone for nearly 1/2 hour. At the end of the call, this other guy said that Ben was what they wanted and that he had a few more interviews to go and would let him know in the coming week. Ben then phoned the other guy and told him how well it went. The other guy said, "So, are you really prepared to move to Hawaii?" and Ben said, "Yes". He then told him that he was pretty sure he had the job and to start looking. On Tuesday, Ben received a phone call from him and was told he had the job and when could he start. Ben told him in a month, so we could get things squared away and start packing and going through stuff. Also, I had Girl's camp coming up and Keven had cub scout day camp as well, so we had other things we had to do . He told Ben that Ben was in the 2nd group of people to call. The 1st group all had Bachelor's degrees, but not the experience Ben had. Also, I forgot to mention that Ben still had his security clearance from the other job, so that saved them thousands of dollars! Also, they saw that he had been doing the exact thing that they needed, so it was little to no training. They told him they do reimbursement for school and that they wanted him to get his Bachelor's and then would get 15K more a year! WAHOO! Things happened so quickly and so well that we knew this is where we needed to go. All of this over the phone, an ocean apart. So, we headed to our storage unit to get rid of TONS of stuff!
We had a garage sale and sold most of our furniture and probably 1/3 of the "stuff" we had. It was a successful sale and by far the most we've ever made. We also sold one of our vehicles, because it's so spendy to ship 2 cars over.
After that, I went to Girl's camp, Ben & Keven went to Idaho to spend time with his family (they paid for gas!) and say goodbye until they come and visit us in Hawaii. I got home from Girls camp and they got home from Idaho on August 7th and we packed more, cleaned and headed out to Hawaii on August 11. We were moving Ben down there and looking for a place to live. We were lucky and found a place to live the 2nd day we were there and moved in on the 14th. I forgot about so many things that Ben would need to have while living there. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that Keven and I would be returning back to WA on the 21st for 1 1/2 months because I need to ship our stuff and vehicle down and we need Ben to get some paychecks to pay for it! Our home, which is a 3br/2bath, we found is 3 blocks from the beach and in old military housing, which is still military, but it's been open to the public as well. Ben is so lucky that he has a ferry that takes him to work FOR FREE because he has base access. We live in Ewa Beach on Iroquois Point, which is right next to Pearl Harbor, on the west side. We have truly been blessed in finding things so quickly and how things have fallen into place for us. We did make it up to the Polynesian Cultural Center (not inside, just looking), to BYU-Hawaii and to the Laie Temple (visitors center and the grounds). The drive was BEAUTIFUL and the temple was amazing, even though they're completely redoing it.
We went to our new ward and they were SO wonderful! We felt instantly at home. They are so excited for me to return and I've been informed that I'm "in trouble" when I get back. Basically, they have a calling for me already! Geez. We went to a ward BBQ on the 21st for 1/2 hour, because we were heading to the airport, and at least 15 people (there were about 50 there) said goodbye to us and said they were excited for me to return. We received a better send-off than Ben did on his last Sunday in the ward here, in WA! So crazy. But, Ben has been helped out a lot, since he doesn't have a vehicle right now. So much love from the ward, it's overwhelming. I didn't want to come back to WA, except to be with family and friends. The area was awesome and the beach is fantastic.
So, Keven and I came home on the 22nd (red-eye flight all night long!) and I was released from my Primary calling the next day, because our records had been transferred already. I thought I was going to be emotional, but I think with how chaotic it was that day and some other feelings I was having, I didn't get that way. I love those kids and will truly miss them, but know they'll deal without my lap to sit on! HAHA!
I packed most of the rest of things this week and got stuff off to the dump and to the storage unit. The basement looks kind of bare, but it's OK. Still have more to do, but got the majority of stuff out of the garage and basement so Dad would be happy.
I got to go to Sunday School and the combined RS/Priesthood meeting today for the 1st time in over a year and it was really wonderful. We talked about the temple in both and I felt completely uplifted and felt the need to attend the temple a few times before I leave for Hawaii, since the Laie temple is closed until next summer. Ben and I have planned on going to the Big Island when my parents visit in March and attend the Kona temple. Ben has lots of family that will let us stay with them, so no hotel cost! whoop whoop!
Anyway, LONG post, but had to update on what's up. Will update more another time.