Gardner's Garden: 2nd Week of Summer-Journey of Faith Begins

This week brought an incredible spiritual experience for Dallin and Josh as they went with our Apache Junction Stake to a Pioneer Trek. They had wonderful Ma and Pa's. Josh had the Doucet's (Tiffany the wife is who I did Preschool with for Ben) and Dallin had the McKinley's (Bro McKinley was just put in the Stake Presidency 2 weeks ago and couldn't be much older than Wes) . What an amazing week! While the boys were gone on Trek Mon-Wed, Wes was in Virginia, Brennen had Aviation Camp, Brookly and Jarom had Oceanography Camp and Ben and I watched Jocie and Harry here at home.
This made for a very busy week! When the boys got home I sat with them in the living room and we talked for a long time about their experiences there. Watching the women pulling the handcarts alone and then seeing the angels come to the resue was very powerful for both the boys. They grew to love the kids in their "families" and had many stories. Dallin had blisters on most of the bottom of his feet. Josh fared better for blisters. Each Ma and Pa said sweet things about the boys when we got to meet them at the Trek fireside the next Sunday. Dallin's said he bonded with their own son and was so good to him they could tell he had younger siblings. His Pa said he was proud of Dallin for not spending his money from the Mormon Battalion and giving everything to their family. Josh's Ma texted me that I have an amazing son. He was helpful and kind and also didn't spend his money.

I anxiously looked forward to Wes's homecoming on Wed night for our Anniversary Getaway Weekend. After he got home the boys and Wes and I stayed up late recapping the Trek for Wes.

Then our weekend began. We had tickets to Les Miserables on Thursday night and the music was wonderful but the sensual innuendos and outright crudeness was enough to make us not see this play again. So sad to ruin such a wonderful message and story.
Mom and Dad Gardner came down and on Thursday to also attend Les Miserables with Vicki and Verle, Rita, who flew in from Texas, Aunt Karen, and Karisa and Eric.
Wes and I enjoyed our time away but spent the entire time praying and making some very important decisions for our family.
During this incredibly busy week some instances were brought to light that made moving our family a real possibility. On Tuesday while Wes was in Virginia we pretty much decided that our family needed to move away from this area. After a long talk with Bishop, after Wes was asleep in Virgin,a, I really felt that our Heavenly Father wanted us to get away as well. I felt an urgency in this new endeavor. I couldn't sleep so I began looking at homes for rent. There were several in the kid's school district and the next morning I called a friend so see what she knew about the area where she lived. On Wednesday-the day the boys and Wes got home-Wes suggested that we try to buy a home if we could work the financing. Definitely inspired counsel. Buying is a cheaper payment than renting for our family. With so many details to begin the process we left on our weekend away and didn't tell the kids what was happening. Dallin saw me looking at houses later and we did tell him then. We went with a realtor that was highly recommended to Wes from a guy at work and on Wed we looked at homes in Mesa. By Thursday we felt guided to look farther away and began looking at Queen Creek area. Each step of this has been a test of faith and miraculous.
So we kept praying and on Saturday we looked at 7 homes and saw things we liked and didn't. The last one we looked at on Oak Road was a great fit for our family! There are some minor things to fix ans work with but it has the big game room upstairs and even a pool so the kids can bring their friends to play. We took pictures and prayed some more and after looking at another house a second time we decided that this one on Oak was perfect for us with all the greenbelt behind our home and at the end of the street. So we put in an offer and waited. In the meantime we tried to look at schools, wards, and other vital details of moving that concern our entire family. We decided to let Dallin finish his Senior year at Skyline but move the rest of the kids. We talked with fmaily about this and found out that dear freinds from early married ward are living on our street! They have a boy Brennen's age, a girl Brooky's age, a boy just younger than Jarom and a sweet Down Syndrome daughter Ben's age. I felt this was a confirmation that this is where we are to be. Wendy Hargrave, my friend on our new street, told us about the ward and the area and we are so excited! She sends her kids to Legacy. We are nervous but going forward with faith that the Lord led us to this area and he'll provide a way for each of our kids to find friends and get into the schools that would be best for them. Legacy Traditional is where we've decided to put the younger 4. It's a K-8 school and after many reviews of friends who have children there we think it's the bet fit for our children as well. However there is a long waiting list for 6th Grade for Brookly. The boys list is shorter and they will most likely get in but we don't know for Brookly. They are talking of adding a classroom for 6th and we are praying this happens so they can all be together next year.
I just feel peace and comfort through this whole process and know that it will be the Lord's will for us whatever happens. Somehow our Ray Lane house will rent and we'll figure out those details. Somehow I'll be able to finish the packing and moving process and all these inspections and loan info with Wes gone. We got Power of Attorney becaue Wes is in Virginia for 2 weeks through the middle of this move. He should be home July 2nd but we are packing more each day and hope to close on June 30th and move the 4th of July! More prayer for the timing as well so we can move before we leave for Utah for Sheppard family reunion or we'd have 1 week until school starts for Josh to move and get settled. We are letting him choose his High School out there but he is leaning towards Queen Creek High or Higley HS. Higley is a little far but we found out that his best friend from younger days is there and they are so excited to have us closer again. Queen Creek starts July 27th. Legacy starts Aug 8th. Josh will miss Scout Camp with our old ward with school starting then. Crazy but things will work out. I feel the blessings and strength that my dad promised me in my last Father's Blessing from him. I was promised health and strength while Wes is gone on travel this year. At the time of the blessing he was only scheduled for Alaska, now he's been to Virginia twice and plans for CA upon return. I truly feel lifted and peace through this process as I turn to the Lord daily pleading for what we need to make this all happen. I wonder if I lean on Wes too much when he's home and the Lord is trying to teach me to come to Him more often. There are many unknows but I don't feel afraid. It's life changing and a huge undertaking to move this crew in so short a time alone but I feel that with the Lord's help it will just work out. We know this is what we are supposed to do and we've learned that life goes smoother when we follow those promptings. I know the Lord loves each of my children and my worries for them with all the changes are addressed by him in little miracles daily as things work out. The kids loved seeing their new school today and are anxious to meet Wendy's kids.

The Home Inspection was today and the inspector said it's a clean home with only minor normal wear and tear. The things found wrong can be fixed and aren't deal breaking. Each day as I don't know what's next things just seem to fall into place.
Last Fast Sunday Ben really wanted to bear his testimony and so I told him he could if he practiced a little with me for a minute. He thought he was ready but wanted me to come up with him. I sat behind him and he started but then forgot. I went up to help him and just aked him what he knows to be true and he finished and he sat down. I felt that was so like in my life when I want to do things on my own buyt I need a little boost and the Lord steps in and helps me finish if I just ask. We have witnessed the power of prayer repeatedly in our home-whether it be a dying fish who miraculously lives, a printer that's broken to work one last time, keys to be found, or the skies to open so Wes could come home on time- there is no denying the power of the Lord in our lives. I know He's aware of me and my needs and I feel Him guiding this whole experience. I always say each day is an adventure around here! We've had different reactions and we can't really discuss all the details with too many people so it's hard to see others struggling with why we are leaving when our ward needs us so desperately. Our kids cried and had a hard time at first but seem to be accepting the Lord's will now. I told them to pray for their own answer and to find peace and find friends and happiness in our new area. Our last Pack Meeting was emotional for me to see Jarom get his Bear and 3 arrow points and noone mentioned we would be gone. I am sad to leave good Young Men leaders who have influenced our boys and those we love but I just feel such comfort in the good people we've already reconnected with down there.