two years, two months - part six

Around the beginning of autumn, I brought my car in for a tune-up or something, and the mechanic gave me a list of too many things that were wrong with my car, repairs of which far exceeded the worth of my 11-year old, second owner's low-end Mazda. This would've been a much bigger problem had the mechanic not wanted to sell his daughter's car, and had he not been familiar to and trusted by my dad.

So, with my parents' help, I was soon re-acquainting myself with a manual transmission in a '97 Ford Taurus through the thankfully desolate streets of my neighborhood. In retrospect, I can't think of a better place to learn stick in the city of Chicago than my neighborhood near United Center.

This is worth noting because it was this newly mastered skill that would serve me weeks later in California.

In looking for a job in the Stockton area, a prospective employer in Manteca flew me out in November for an interview. Grace's long-time Stockton friend, Clarence, and his wife, Sandra, graciously put me up and offered me the use of their stick shift car.

I had misgivings about the job I interviewed for, but while there, was able to interview for the job I now have. Kimberly, the wife of another of Grace's long-time Stockton friends, Nathan, worked in Stockton and had a connection to he who would become my future boss. She got word that a good marketing position was open, and I followed it up.

I returned to Chicago and soon ran into the nerve-racking course of decision-making that is being offered a job you don't want in light of another potential one.

Soon, however, time yielded God's will for my employment, and I was offered the position of Marketing Senior Specialist. I had a job waiting for me in Stockton.

Coincidentally, Grace's contracted position with MBI was to end that December and news came that her position would not be renewed. Her leave of employment in Chicago was facilitated at the end of December.

God was continually gracing us with His providence, putting in place the requirements for our new life in California.

The end of the year cumulated with a December 17th wedding in LA, a short 3-day honeymoon drive through Napa, Christmas in Stockton with Grace's family, a return at the end of the month to Chicago for Grace's and my final days at our jobs, Christmas with my family, and a New Year's Eve celebration for those who didn't fly to LA for our wedding.

Our one-way flight to Sacramento airport would bring us into Stockton Sunday, January 8, and my first day of work would be the 9th. Clarence and Sandra graciously agreed to house us for two weeks, and out of God's abundant blessings, Nathan and Kim, found for us a house in a wonderful neighborhood.