It's official...

Eastern Sierra at Sunset Photo by Ken Babione

Isn't this a gorgeous view? For those of you living here in the Rockies, you may not appreciate it as much as I do. And that is not to say that I don't find the Rockies breathtaking. They are. But they are not home. This view, the one you see right here? This, to me, is HOME. This is the Eastern Sierra (as in Brooke Sierra) and it also shows the Owens Valley (yep, Owen!). Sarah and I spent my first year as a "stay at home mom" here. Bradley was conceived and born here. I can breathe easily here and know exactly where I am.

Lake Sabrina Photo by Ken Babione

When I think about going back to the Eastern Sierra, I choke up. Tears fill my eyes and I yearn for it. Sure, it's a small town. It will likely never get any bigger thanks to the L.A. Department of Water and Power. There is one theater that shows two movies. All the restaurants are mom and pop. Everyone here has known each other's families for generations. The ward always walks the thin line to being a branch. But I love it. I miss it. It's been almost 8 years since we left it. Aaron and I have always said if a chance came up for us to go back we'd do it in a heartbeat.

So, after lo these many months of praying, and fasting, and applying, and calling, and sending resumes and praying and fasting some more-mostly with no results or results ending only in bitter disappointment-the call finally came. And what a call! One of Aaron's good friends who is a chief pilot for the air ambulance company called and said they needed him, like, yesterday. He interviewed with them yesterday and accepted the offer this morning. Pre-employment testing and training to follow.

Oh gosh! Are we really going back to California? SERIOUSLY? Are we going to pay an arm and a leg to register our vehicles? Indeed! Even with all the negatives I am jumping with joy and can hardly keep from shouting: WE ARE GOING BACK TO BISHOP!

I alternate between euphoria and sadness (Aaron has a job! We are going back to Bishop! We will have insurance! I will be just hours from my best friend, my Nonnie, my sister and Jack, my boys, my meg and my deb! Then...I have to move again?!? My kids start school tomorrow! What about Sarah's cheerleading? MY WARD FAMILY!?!? My'lissa! My Rosa! My Tera and Tara! My Cara! My Dawn! My Katie! My Jen! What do I do? My seminary kids! The temple!) And I have to remind myself of the path that brought us here. We have had a sobering year as many of you know. I feel like getting to go back is a reward for being strong and riding the storm, for not despairing (or not dwelling on it at any rate). I look and see the way things have fallen into place over the last week and cannot deny His hand in all things.

I am a pilot's wife. I know this is part of the deal. It looks like the move will take place mid-September unless we can come up with the money for deposits a bit sooner. Brooke and Bradley are all for the adventure. Owen's happy as long as he knows where we all are at any given moment. This is roughest on Sarah who worked so hard to make the cheer squad and get good grades. There is a silver lining though: the squad at Bishop High is losing a girl and will be having try outs about the time we get there. We're already in contact with the coach. It's looking good for her. We're all excited about the move and right now we're just going with the flow-first day of school tomorrow. Apa (my dad) is visiting this week. Aaron should be home tomorrow or the next day and then the cycle begins again...