So much going on!

The past two weeks have truly been a whirlwind, filled with blessings and disappointments. It all started last Sunday, Zach and I were finally coming close to a position to move to Nashville, but we had an great offer from our sweet Aunt Vickie to come check out her house that she rents out...the only downside..it was in Gallatin, a bit far for us. Side note..we had been praying and asking the Lord for direction about moving and whether we should take the opportunity and move to Gallatin instead of Nashville or if I should stay employed at my little coffee shop job (which at that point, it was a struggle to be there everyday, due to some issues that aren't really necessary to mention). We weren't sure if Zach should get another job and if we should get another car, since our Mercedes broke down again and it costs a lot to fix and we have put sooo much money into it since I bought it in CA, it just didn't seem worth it to spend that much money again... Okay so that's what was on hearts and in our prayers.

On our way to Gallatin to see the house, our only car started shaking a bit weird and making a delightful noise of "Just so you know..I'm about to break down." Out of nowhere we saw a nissan dealership..I'm thinking.."Hey!! We have a Nissan!" We pulled in annnnddd it was closed. It's Sunday, of course. We ignore it, since there was really nothing we can do, but move on with our day. We stop by a Starbucks, thinking if we can both get jobs here, we'll probably move. Turns out, that the manager doesn't like to re-hire and isn't a fan of married employees. HA!

I get a phone call while we're there, from my boss, whom I called earlier, because I needed to quit for many reasons, but also we had to go out of town that week (emergency) and there was no way for me to make it to work. Well she was calling me to tell me that I was getting laid off anyway (how convenient for them!! haha). They had closed the second location and didn't know if they were going to keep the first one open, which is where I worked. It was just so funny because a few weeks prior to that day, I really felt like my time there was coming to an end. By then I was super curious to see what the Lord was working out...We went to see the house, it was pretty cute! On the way back, it started storming and our car started acting funny again..we took our exit and right then, we hear this terrible grinding noise, the car wouldn't really move, we pulled off, called Dad Hoffman to let him know we weren't going to make it to the Youth Night/Camp Recap service, which we had been looking forward for a month! ugh! I was thinking "Are you kidding me? Could this day get any worse?" While Zach's praying, "Lord keep em' coming!" Ha, what a great example I am, right? So thankful for such a wonderful and calm husband!

The car got towed to a local Nissan dealership in Nashville (which was so close to where we were and praise God that we broke down right off of our exit and not the stormy interstate) and a friend of ours picked us up, we went to eat with her and her boyfriend and it made me realize how much Nashville felt like home and I want to live there if anything. So that was then decided...in my mind at least. Dad picked us up at our old Starbucks after the service and after a long, long, day we finally made it home. WOW!

A few days passed, we found out our transmission totally busted, cost a few thousand dollars to fix (we came to the conclusion that we would rather spend that much for a transmission and make the car like new, instead of spending more money and getting another car). We received 10% off and a free rental and as it turned out..we didn't have to go out of town after all. So instead we were able to leave on Saturday (took Alex...ok maybe kind of forced Alex to come with) to Lincoln, Nebraska (Where!?) and pick up our dear friend Zoe, who was moving to Nashville and had a friend who could only take her halfway from Utah. We were back earrrly Monday morning and were SOO thankful that NOTHING went wrong on the trip. We got stuck driving through a horrible storm but the Lord kept us safe and our car and the trailer it was pulling had been running absolutely perfect! Praise Him!

So currently, I am unemployed and looking for a job (which I am kind of enjoying..I'm getting to things I've meant to do for months), Zach is working for VCE, but looking for another job. I am still struggling with my previous job, because they don't have the funds to pay me for what I have worked, but in that, God has provided for us through Zach's parents and we are forever grateful to them for all the help that they have so sweetly offered. The Lord answered our prayers and most definitely gave us direction--with me getting laid off and the car breaking down, we clearly can't move yet, but know exactly where we want to move AND through all of that, we were able to serve Zoe and get her out of a "not so great" situation in Utah. And somewhere in between all of that, I got to have dinner with my dear Mom and Dad, who happened to be driving through Nashville!! :) God really got our attention and shook us up, realizing, we were way too comfortable with our lives and where we were at. I can't wait to see what the Almighty and Sovereign Lord, "who works all things for the good of those who love Him," has in store for Zach and me. We're walking into this new chapter of our lives not knowing what is going to happen, but we trust our Savior to lead us through and make us more like Him, while giving us grace, mercy and endurance for the trials He has so lovingly placed in our lives. Glory be to Him who LOVES His children enough to discipline them and mold them to be more like His Holy Son!

Love,

Aleksandra