David graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from BYU-Idaho in December 2009. He planned to become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), which required that he take (and pass) four exams. After graduation, we moved to Utah, where I was assigned my student teaching from January-April 2010. David was able to get a temporary job at a small CPA firm (Temporary because we knew we wanted to move back home once I completed student teaching.) When our four months in Utah were up, that CPA firm asked David to stay on permanently with them, but we declined. I was newly pregnant, so we were anxious to get settled in a place we really wanted to stay at. So we left a job offer to move to Indiana, where there was not even a hint of a job, and moved in with my parents.
We ended up living with my parents from May-September 2010. After hours of applying and having several interviews, David was offered a job at the end of August with a company called First Advantage, where he did tax credit calculations. The company was located on the north side of Indianapolis, so we found a two-bedroom apartment in the Castleton area. David spent practically every spare minute studying, and took the first CPA exam in November (and passed!).
Unfortunately, David was never crazy about his work at First Advantage, and it was not very transferrable to working for a CPA firm (which he wanted to do). During David's time there, the company was sold, and many employees ended up leaving of their own accord. He felt confident that his job was safe, but he worried that if the company tanked, his job skills would not be that appealing on his resume. He continued applying for other jobs while he worked.
In March 2011 David left First Advantage when he was offered a possibly better position with Simon Property Group. It was a temp-to-hire, but they assured him he would be hired on after 12 weeks. He was really excited about this job, and thought he could see himself working there for the next ten years. Once the 12 weeks ended, however, his boss wasn't sure what to do with him, and told him it would be a few more weeks. David got as much studying in as he could with a little baby around, and took (and passed) the second CPA exam in July. Well, "a few more weeks" turned into two months, and all along his boss continued to be vague and non-communicative. At the end of August he brought David into his office and basically told him that there was not enough work for him to do there, and they had to let him go. No warning. No severance pay.
If you think David sulked in bed lamenting his good ol' pay days, think again. He stayed diligent at applying for jobs, studying for the next exam, and taking interview after interview. We've always been smart savers and light spenders, so we were able to stay afloat and not get in debt or have to borrow during our time of unemployment. We prayed night and day that the right job would come along, and we had faith in the Lord and knew that He would bless us in time.
Very soon after David lost his job with Simon, he had a phone interview with Duke Realty (about the beginning of September). He really wanted to work for them, and he already had the experience in property taxation. When we didn't hear back from them, we figured they didn't want him back for another interview. It turns out they just take things slow. REALLY slow. Mid-October Duke asked him to come in to meet with everyone for the entire day. We felt that must be a good sign, since they most likely wouldn't take that many people out to lunch. David was impressed with everyone he met, and thought he would be a good fit for their company. To make it better, Duke also told him they might hire two people instead of one. They said that they would get back with him the following week.
Well, Duke did get back with David the next week, except they had just made a big sale and couldn't hire anyone quite yet. So he was told to wait 'til the following week. The next week they still hadn't made a decision between hiring one or two people. And so the story goes. We were grateful David was still in the running, and took it as a good sign that they kept making personal contact with him. But we were also getting a bit impatient, and just wanted to know for good already!
The fateful day finally came on November 11th. David was hired!! As can be imagined, we were swept over with gratitude and relief. Tears came to my eyes as I realized how proud I was of David. He stayed so strong and positive throughout all the uncertainty. He took interviews he was way over-qualified for, applied to so many jobs he couldn't keep them straight, and stayed faithful that something good would come. And it did! Duke Realty is located in Fishers, and we are THRILLED to be able to stay in the area. While David was applying, he would mention jobs in Elkhart, Jasper, Columbus, etc., and I would be so worried that we'd be stuck living in a podunk town, and would just have to move again when the "right" job in the "right" place came along.
The Lord was very aware of us and our situation and He answered our prayers. I must admit, it was also a bittersweet moment to learn that David would start working again. Eli and I have absolutely ADORED having him home these past few months. We were incredibly spoiled; not with money, but with TIME. I had a companion to stroll beside me on our walks. Eli had an hilarious playmate. I had access to a car, which meant grocery shopping and all other errands and outings weren't limited to only being done on Saturday. I had an extra pair of eyes and hands to assist me with bottle-making, diaper-changing, and baby-watching. How in the world will I do it all without him?! David is a wonderful husband and father, and works his hardest to be a good provider. We will miss him so much!
This song keeps coming into my head as I think about how blessed we have been, and how much the Lord loves and cares for us. I know He feels that way about ALL of His children, and that if we stay true and faithful, He will always watch over us.
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