Prior to leaving on this "adventure" Brian and I prayed, and we prayed hard to be guided. After many nights in prayer we were encouraged to go forth and head to Virginia. It would be for the good of our marriage, our quickly growing family and for our finances. So with faith we prepared as best we could to leave our home, our family, Brian's job, everything.
Our arrangements to come out here were just the beginning of everything seeming ideal but really being as difficult as possible. Brian's new employer was going to pay to fly us to Virginia, pay to put us in temporary housing for 30 days, pay for a rental car, hire a moving company to pack/unpack our belongings and transport everything from Utah to Virginia, and then help us get a place to live by giving us a $4000.00 moving allowance.
Everything seemed ideal and manageable. But let the drama begin. Brian's first day was scheduled on April 25, the day after Easter. He was given a month's notice on his start date. He was then told to be in contact with a "moving specialist." Excuse me but moving specialist, that is a joke! If I ever have a chance to meet "Joe" he and I will go the rounds, with me probably punching him in the face.
Brian's start date was set and then he received his offer letter. Inside this offer it was supposed to state all of the information listed above as well as his wages, benefits etc. Later that week he received an offer letter, a partial offer letter. Nothing concerning his travel arrangements were listed. So we had to start all over. Fast forward ten days. Leaving us with 21 days to arrange our lives. After the real offer letter was signed we were put in contact with a travel specialist. She was so much better than Joe. Within one 20 minute phone call we had an idea of when our flight would leave, where we would be staying, information about the movers, etc. What a relief!
We booked our flight to leave on April 23rd, early AM for Aidan. Linda, the travel specialist, was very understanding about our unique situation and worked with us on housing as best she could. We wanted a bottom floor apartment because I have a hard time with stairs and we have a rambuticous three year old. She looked for the better part of a week to find us something like that. Finally we settled on a four floor apartment with no stairs.
As for the movers, they would be moving our stuff two weeks after we got to Virginia. Our car would be transported differently than our stuff. We were told not to touch anything, that was their job. Then we were told we needed to pack everything. Then we settled on them just packing what we hadn't got too.
Our flight was relatively uneventful, and that was wonderful.
Once we landed we found out we had to walk what was the equivalent of probably 1 mile if not closer to 1.5 miles. This was because our gate was a distance away from baggage claim and then the car rental shuttle stop. This was difficult because we had all our luggage, a wandering three year old and my feet and legs were swollen more than twice their original size. Painful!
When we arrived at the designated car rental spot I sent Brian to go forth and get me a car. As he approached the desk and began getting the car it was mentioned about how much would be charged to his card... what? After panicking and then correctly explaining that his employer would be paying everything seemed fine. Until they saw me and told Brian that they would have to charge him personally for additional drivers to the car and that price was $150.00. After some more talking and promising that if I was to cost that much to add, I didn't need to drive for two weeks so I would not be driving, she finally believed us. We find the car and move all of our luggage and the car seat to the car only to realize that this small Toyota Corolla is going to barely fit all of our luggage and child in it. Great!
We then go and try and find our apartment. We found it without too much problem except we can't find an entrance into a lobby. After 30 minutes we found it. We quickly got checked in and we went and found our apartment. This apartment is a pretty posh set up. We took video of it and plan on posting it soon. When they said it was fully furnished they were partially telling the truth. Fully furnished for a single bachelor living within it walls, not necessarily for a family of three.
Our first weekend seemed to go pretty smoothly. We went to the grocery store on Saturday and got some essentials. We went to church on Sunday and got some good information.
Through the beginning of the next week everything seemed fine. Brian was enjoying his job and his co-workers. Aidan seemed pretty relaxed and enjoying himself. About Tuesday I started calling around about finding a doctor. We were told Brian's insurance would immediately be activated. Drama surrounding this will be posted later. Drama about finding a doctor and dealing with the insurance is a battle in itself.
About Wednesday we got our first complaint about Aidan being too loud at 930PM. Was he loud? Yes. But we were trying to get him to go to bed but he hadn't all the way adjusted to Virginia time so we were putting him to bed at 730PM, and Aidan has never gone to bed that early, ever.
We were told that the relocation money was on its way. So we casually looked online for a place to stay nothing to fervent though.
Beginning of the second week. With knowledge that additional relocation money was on its way Brian paid some bills. The check didn't come. We had the money to pay the bills so no drama, yet. However, food became a problem as did gas. I promise we aren't living large out here but not having our food storage or stability is beginning to take its toll on us. After some prayers and charity we were able to go to the store. At the end of the second week we had additional drama. Though we cancelled most of our automatic with drawl bills from home, some still went through. We got dinged in our checking account. Enter more prayers and charity. Lucky for us Brian got paid. Things were looking good and back to normal. His check was good, he paid some bills and hung on to some just in case. That "case" showed up. Comcast from Utah took out nearly $200 dollars from our account. What? Never has Comcast been that much. Brian scheduled payments, with an operator, for our student loans. Instead of the $200 he thought he scheduled, some how two different transactions were processed two days apart. One for $200 the other for $426. Um...more dinging. Our emergency fund was just depleted and we are back to negative.
Still no relocation money. Brian then contacts Linda. She does some research to find out that it has been processed and we should get money in two days, literally its in the mail.
Two days later no money. And we are out of gas. Thankfully I still have coins in my purse and very little on one of my cards. We get gas.
Enter complaint number 2 about Aidan walking around loudly. Grrrr.
Beginning of our fourth week. No money, broke again. We are stressing out about everything. Aidan starts to act up, more so than normally. I am hurting because these babies are growing big. Constant headaches (all stress related), and I can't control Aidan. It's hard to discipline and entertain a child while on bed rest in temporary housing.
We begin looking fervently for a house. We contact a realtor that is willing to help us. On Wednesday we go and look at three properties and fall in love with property number 3. 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, large backyard, living room, family room, den and it is being redone. The realtor is the owner of the home and is just as excited to find a renter as we are to find this house. She tells us she and her husband will be renting it for $2000 a month and only require first and last months down. We can do that we have a relocation check coming.
Early the next morning we receive an email from the realtor stating that for the price of first and last months rent ($4000) and an additional $2100, grand total $6100 due on May 31st the house is our to RENT! Excuse me! Brian is concerned and I get pissed off. I tell Brian we can't afford that nor was that the discussion yesterday, if this realtor wants to play we will play and walk away. Brian sends her an email saying $6100 ain't happening. She responds, Oops! $4100 on May 31st is what it was supposed to say. She then begins redo-ing the application process. Only down side to this house is it wont be ready until May 31st and we need to be out of temporary housing on May 22nd. So now we need to find a motel for 9 days.
Yesterday we finally got our "$4000" check. It was printed for $2544.00. Brian immediately calls and says what is this. Juniper taxes all checks such as this as a "bonus check and it is taxed at 25%". And the surprises (hits) just keep on coming. To add to the drama we get online and try and find the nearest Chase bank so that we can deposit this check only to find that the nearest bank is 150 miles away. All the banks that used to be here, went away. Double grrr.
Enter more prayers and more tears and more everything. We were blessed again by charity and love. Is everything better, No...hell no. But we may be able to try and survive.
Why is it that any good decision that I make, and I make them with the consent and blessing of the Lord, I have to be faced with unimaginable challenges? Why can't the opposition just leave me the heck alone? After all the drama this month I can honestly say yesterday was the only day I had a melt down. I got mad, I got snappy and I got ready to fight. Luckily, we didn't need to fight anyone, at least not yet. We will see what this weekend brings.
Through out the third week
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