Settling Down...For Now :)

Jacks and I had a fun-filled summer, filled with vacations and playing! But behind our smiles and pictures taken around the world was two kids trying to figure things out. I hope and pray the decision that we had to make this summer will be the hardest one we'll ever have to face...because it was sure a trial for us. 

When Jacks finished his ball career at SUU in March he knew he wasn't ready to give it up. We immediately started talking to agents, pursuing playing basketball professionally, overseas. I thought for sure that when the SUU team started post-workouts and training/conditioning in the Spring he'd admit that he was glad and relieved to be done...I was terribly wrong! He missed the game even more. As we decided on an agent (Steve James) in June, offers started rolling in, however we hadn't received that offer that we called "the deal maker". We practiced patience like it was our life support. We had quite a few long, hard, and sleepless nights. Finally in August we were faced with a final decision, as we both had job offers here in Sevier County. Luckily we had picked a great agent who understood what we were facing. Even though there were a couple of those "deal makers"  promised to us, we felt that we couldn't take that risk-for our opportunities here were opportunities that we have wanted since day one. The next fear was facing the fact that teams still might offer after we had already committed to our jobs here. We didn't want to know what we were missing out on overseas. Luckily, our agent respected that and wished us well. I hope that someday we will understand why things worked out the way they did, but for now we are happy with the promise we've made to each other to get overseas and visit a few of those places in Europe that we want to see. I'm holding him to it! :)

We are so blessed to have very supportive families that comforted us throughout this decision. Ultimately it had to be made by us and the promptings we felt, but we wouldn't have survived without our friends and family helping us along the way. 

I took a job teaching first grade at Monroe Elementary, where I've always wanted to be. We've made it through the first week of school and going strong:) Jackson is working in the accounting department at Barney Trucking in Salina. He did an internship there a couple summers ago and loved it. He will finish his Masters degree, online,  in December and working full time - yes he will be super busy, good thing he doesn't stress;)

I'm so lucky to have a selfless husband who isn't scared to work his butt off. I know he gave up his dream to prepare for our future and future family. He's my hero! I love you, Jacks!