It’s a new school year and a season of big changes for our family.
Back in June, Pres and I started having some heartfelt conversations about our future. When we first moved to California, we saw it as a stepping stone, a temporary stop that would lead us somewhere else within a few years. But six years later, we were still in Manteca, feeling the tug to either finally plant roots or see what else the Lord had in store.
When Preston was hired by Kaiser just six months earlier, it started to feel clear that the Lord wanted us here — specifically in Northern California. With that reassurance came a big realization: it was time to stop renting and start building something of our own.
We began to pray about where we should go — stay in Manteca, head west toward the Bay, or look north toward Sacramento. After a lot of prayer, research, and long conversations, we decided to start with the Bay Area. I reached out to a realtor to help us understand what to expect and which neighborhoods to explore. We spent a weekend touring open houses in Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin. But after seeing the prices and how little space you get in return, we left feeling pretty discouraged.
That night, I went back to the Lord and prayed, “Okay, we tried the Bay (the place we thought we wanted to be), but it’s not practical. Where would You have us go? Where will our family feel peace and belonging?” Schools were also a huge factor. We wanted a place that would help our kids grow and nurture the awesomeness they already have.
After talking with our realtor, Tonya, I felt impressed to look into the Sacramento area more seriously. Tonya connected us with another realtor, Brian, who right from the start, felt like the right fit (and not just because his name is Brian, which made us smile). He quickly became a friend and someone we trusted completely. He told us about the best schools and neighborhoods, recommending Granite Bay and Rocklin as areas to focus on.
When we visited, it just felt different. The moment we stepped out of the car at the first house, we could literally breathe deeper. There were trees everywhere, green grass, and even a lake nearby. It felt peaceful. It felt right.
Soon after that trip, we left for the Clark Family Reunion to Nauvoo, all the while staying in touch with Brian as he kept an eye out for listings. Once we got home, a window opened to tour a few more homes. Pres had meetings and couldn’t come, so I went on behalf of both of us.
It was at the fourth house that everything fell into place. Brian and I walked through it, and I just knew. We decided to put in an offer, not expecting much — maybe a counter, maybe nothing at all. Buying a house usually takes time, right? But as we were driving to Utah, I got a text from Brian: our offer had been accepted!
Pres and I looked at each other like, “Wait—what?!” We were beyond excited (and a little nervous, too). This was a huge step for our family, and need I say a huge purchase. No pun intended! The funny part? Pres hadn’t even seen the house in person yet, haha. He just trusted my judgment and the photos he saw online. Everything suddenly became very real.
We went from exploring the idea of moving to owning a home in just four weeks! It’s hard not to see the Lord’s hand in every detail. Our lease was set to renew on September 1st, and we were hoping everything would fall into place before we had to go month to month. Even our lender and title company were amazed by how fast it all came together, especially since we weren’t paying in cash.
Through it all, Pres and I have felt deep gratitude and peace. Every door opened exactly when it needed to. The timing, the people, the place, it all just aligned. We truly feel like the Lord guided us here, to Northern California, to this next chapter for our family of five. Here’s a look at saying goodbye to Manteca to saying hello to Rocklin!
Pres and I decided to have the kids start school in Manteca while we waited to close on the new home. We wanted the kids to have time with friends before we left, plus, it gave me a kid free zone for packing up the house 🙂 Rocklin Elementary didn’t start until August 13th while Manteca was starting on the 4th. Since school was starting soon it was time for haircuts 😉
Some before and afters for Beckham and Jack. They both asked to have haircuts like their Dad. How cute is that?!
First Day of School for Walter Woodward in Manteca.
The kids really enjoyed their first day back at school. It was a bitter sweet day because they were stoked to see friends, but knew they only had a few weeks with them.
A quick trip to Rocklin, CA!
We found out that Rocklin was hosting its Back-to-School Night on August 11th, and Pres and I thought it would be the perfect chance for the kids to meet their teachers and explore their new campus. We hit some traffic on the way up and worried the doors might close before we got there, but thankfully, we made it just in time!
Each of the kids had a chance to meet their teachers, tour their classrooms, and check out the school grounds. All three of them loved their teachers right away. Each teacher took the time to chat with them individually, welcomed them to Rocklin, and shared how excited they were to have them in class.
Pres and I left feeling so relieved! Honestly, the event couldn’t have gone any better. Seeing the kids’ smiles and hearing their excitement made all the miles, prayers, and planning worth it.
This sweet kid makes ramen noodles every single Sunday for himself and his siblings. These cooking classes are really paying off 😉 The kids are getting more and more comfortable using the stove, following recipes, and tackling meals on their own. Watching their confidence grow in the kitchen has been so fun to witness. These are the life skills they’ll definitely be grateful to have in their back pocket in years to come.
Here we go!
We packed, drove, unloaded, and repeated—running on adrenaline and gratitude. That first night, we camped out on mattresses, all of us together, exhausted and happy.
The next morning Pres grabbed some donuts and egg sandwiches for breakfast. We geared up for one more trip south for our final truck load at 2156.
Once we got to the new house, it was dinner time all over again. We grabbed some food, rolled up our sleeves, and started unloading the truck. With the kids’ help, everything went so fast! We had the whole thing emptied in no time and even managed to return the truck that same night.
That night we all slept together on mattresses again. We were too tired to care about anything but sleeping. After the long drives and unloading, we crashed hard. By morning, all three kiddos had somehow made their way into our bed, haha. Let’s just say a full-blown tickle fight broke out, complete with morning breath, giggles, and a lot of laughter.
The place we now call home!
On Monday we dropped the kids off for their second first day of school. They were feeling all of the feels – nervous, excited, anxious, and ready for new beginnings. All three of the kids loved their first day. They really enjoyed getting to know their teachers and classmates. Rocklin is definitely on another level as far as education and the organization of the school. I have never seen anything like it. It has been an absolute blessing to say the least.
One full week of school in the books! We celebrated with ice cream at Handle’s! I tried their dairy free, almond milk ice cream. It’s not great, haha, but the kids and Pres loved theirs.
This August was not what we expected for our family, if you would have asked us just a few months ago what the new school year would look like. What started as simple conversations about the future turned into one of the most life-changing seasons we’ve ever had. We were so grateful to see the Lord’s hand in every decision we made from June through August — from exploring new areas to finding the right home, right community, and perfect timing for it all.
We feel incredibly blessed to now call Rocklin home, but equally blessed for the memories, friendships, and great years we had in Manteca. That chapter shaped us in so many ways, and leaving it behind reminded us just how much goodness we’ve experienced along the way. As we look ahead, we know we’re exactly where we’re meant to be — ready to grow, to settle in, and to make new memories in this next chapter of our lives.
