The past 17 months have been a real roller coaster ride for us. For a brief recap, Mike's company went into a joint venture with Basell in January 2008. This added a lot of traveling for him the first half of the year. He spent a lot of time in Europe, mainly Germany.
By January 2009, the company ended up in Bankruptcy. This put a new twist on our lives. Not sure if the company would survive or if he would have a job, we began earnest prayer to know what we should do. Well, we ended up selling the house and moving into an apartment.
When the company began to offer voluntary severance packages we had new things to think about. Mike began thinking about looking for another job. Late January I heard about a job fair for a company that was hiring in his field. I suggested that he consider it. The only possible hitch was that the job is in Saudia Arabia with Aramco Services.
Well he ended up with an interview with a promise of another interview with the boss. After the interviews time passed and nothing happened. Then the company offered another severance option. Mike decided to take the severance on faith, even though we didn't have a job to go to. The very next day we got a contigent offer from Aramco.
By January 2009, the company ended up in Bankruptcy. This put a new twist on our lives. Not sure if the company would survive or if he would have a job, we began earnest prayer to know what we should do. Well, we ended up selling the house and moving into an apartment.
When the company began to offer voluntary severance packages we had new things to think about. Mike began thinking about looking for another job. Late January I heard about a job fair for a company that was hiring in his field. I suggested that he consider it. The only possible hitch was that the job is in Saudia Arabia with Aramco Services.
Well he ended up with an interview with a promise of another interview with the boss. After the interviews time passed and nothing happened. Then the company offered another severance option. Mike decided to take the severance on faith, even though we didn't have a job to go to. The very next day we got a contigent offer from Aramco.
After a few weeks of getting tons of paper work done we have a job. We are moving to Saudi Arabia on August 8th to work for Aramco.
I am really excited about the move in so many ways. It will be a wonderful opportunity. We will have the chance to travel, see so many exciting things. Also we will be able to get ourselves better prepared for retirement and going on missions.
Our plan is to stay until mandatory retirement at age 60. That means about 6 1/2 years there. We will be able to travel back a lot to see family.
The main down side is that we will have Chiara, Ken and boys; and Jon, Cassie and Hailey living here in Friendswood area, Marrisa, Kevin and boys in Austin, David, Katherine and Norah in San Antonio. Mike and Ashlyn and girls will be in Phoenix. I will miss spending time with the grandkids here in Friendswood, but plan to come back very ofter for visits.
So once again things are getting very busy for us. We only have about 6 weeks before we leave. There is sorting stuff, giving away stuff, storing stuff and packing stuff, that needs to be done. Since the move will essentially be in three stages there is a lot of sorting of the things we are taking.
First we have to decide what to take on the plane with us. This won't be very much as we are limited by the amount of luggage we can take. Mainly these things will have to last at about 3-4 weeks. At that time we should receive our e-boxes.
We get two e-boxes to ship. These are small boxes that are considered unaccompanied air freight. They should arrive in the 3-4 week time span. This is where we put things we need to make life a little more comfortable. But we can't ship very much in them. Mainly, computer, sewing machine and projects, etc. These boxes aren't very big.
Finally the main body of our things will be shipped surface freight. This means a ship. We are allowed to ship up to 10,000 lbs of goods. This will be all our furniture and things to make life there more like home for us.
Even though there is a lot of work, I am looking forward to this new opportunity. I plan to take as many pictures as I can and post often on what our life is like.
I am really excited about the move in so many ways. It will be a wonderful opportunity. We will have the chance to travel, see so many exciting things. Also we will be able to get ourselves better prepared for retirement and going on missions.
Our plan is to stay until mandatory retirement at age 60. That means about 6 1/2 years there. We will be able to travel back a lot to see family.
The main down side is that we will have Chiara, Ken and boys; and Jon, Cassie and Hailey living here in Friendswood area, Marrisa, Kevin and boys in Austin, David, Katherine and Norah in San Antonio. Mike and Ashlyn and girls will be in Phoenix. I will miss spending time with the grandkids here in Friendswood, but plan to come back very ofter for visits.
So once again things are getting very busy for us. We only have about 6 weeks before we leave. There is sorting stuff, giving away stuff, storing stuff and packing stuff, that needs to be done. Since the move will essentially be in three stages there is a lot of sorting of the things we are taking.
First we have to decide what to take on the plane with us. This won't be very much as we are limited by the amount of luggage we can take. Mainly these things will have to last at about 3-4 weeks. At that time we should receive our e-boxes.
We get two e-boxes to ship. These are small boxes that are considered unaccompanied air freight. They should arrive in the 3-4 week time span. This is where we put things we need to make life a little more comfortable. But we can't ship very much in them. Mainly, computer, sewing machine and projects, etc. These boxes aren't very big.
Finally the main body of our things will be shipped surface freight. This means a ship. We are allowed to ship up to 10,000 lbs of goods. This will be all our furniture and things to make life there more like home for us.
Even though there is a lot of work, I am looking forward to this new opportunity. I plan to take as many pictures as I can and post often on what our life is like.
