July 2008

Here is our July update.  Stay tuned for August's coming soon!

We're off to Boone, NC this weekend for a little retreat with Matt and Kristin.  Mike officially starts work on Monday.  I had an interview yesterday and hope that it pans out.  It would be a great way to combine ministry and work.  We took a couple of walks today and shot some photos to give our friends and family a better feel of our new home.  We'll try to get those posted soon too.  Have a great weekend and keep us in your prayers!  $650/month to go!

our new home

Despite the dread of going to the DMV, we were quite impressed by the service. The photo machines broke for awhile, but they still moved us through quite quickly. Apparently, most people fail the driving test that everyone has to take in renewal or changing state. Mike proved differently, but he studied - NERD! Ok, so maybe I should have taken things more seriously because I have to go back tomorrow to try for round two. Maybe they were right...

Here are some photos of our new place! We're almost done settling in, but have some minor decorating to do. It's a perfect neighborhood (Truman Show-ish) and a STEAL of a price for the city! Mike's under 2 miles from work and we can walk to the grocery store and Chinese food place. :) Check back soon for more updates!

'tis the season...

It's summer, weddings after weddings, after weddings...true, but not encompassing.

I think the journey for Mike and I has started to twist, one that we didn't think would come quite this soon. BABIES! They're everywhere! Well, not really yet, but they're in the making. The first few weddings we went to, are now on to the next step. I can't mention several of these for now, until some time has passed, but we are finding more and more of our friends are expecting. Here, there, and in between. Friends old and new. Yes, a joyous celebration, but for Mike and I, we're just not there yet. We seem to be nowhere closer than what we were two years ago when we got married. Call us selfish, or cautious, but we're just not ready for that, and have no idea when. Hopefully our friends were right when they say this can truly turn on a dime, otherwise, we might be waiting for awhile.

And on another note, the season of heartache. As we have watched so many of our friends celebrate a new life, we have also seen the joy ripped out of their hands as they have lost their beloved. A few years back, Mike and I mourned with some of our friends as they miscarried. I feel as though this has become all too familiar to the friends around us. We are saddened by the sin and death that has been brought in to this world. You are not overlooked, nor forgotten. For God knows you and your hearts.

We will be praying for you all, in celebration and grieving. We love you all.

Moving In

Well, it is finished!  The truck arrived on Monday morning and a group of 12 people showed up to help us unload.  EVERYTHING was completely emptied from the truck within about an hour.  It was unbelievable, especially that 200+ pound bookcase that somehow made it in the house.  We are so blessed by a new family and friends!  We will post photos soon...once we get the boxes unpacked.

We have been a little MIA as we have had visitors from Orlando this week.  It has been such an encouragement and we can't wait to have more.  Hopefully, these friends will come back too.  We put them to work!  Now we have beautiful new pillows in the guest and the majority of the house is unpacked.   

I'm still looking for a job and we have our first Sunday service with the church this coming weekend.  We miss our dear friends, but are really excited about what the Lord will bring us next.

the life of a Nomad

We're in RALEIGH!

We thought this would be a joyous celebration.  However, things crept up on us and our last few days in Orlando were chaos.  As we found out the house we were planning on living in was the center of a ghetto - literally with prostitutes, drug deals, and even arrests being made, we were on the hunt for something house.  We left quickly and drove slowly.  We arrived Sunday night to two exhausted and patient hosts.  Let the hunt begin!

Monday morning we had an appointment to see a house and then started canvassing the city.  We crossed a possibility off immediately after driving by and saw NOTHING of interest after our first interest.  This place was doing, great for a family and if it were owned.  There was no character, interaction in the neighborhood, and it definitely didn't feel like home.  After an agent locked her keys in the house and rescheduled for a later appointment, she told us about a new property becoming available.  Finally, some hope!

The next morning we rushed to see the place.  Perfect location.  Great neighbors.  Lots of character.  Big bedrooms...HUGE bedrooms.  And a pleasing layout.  Downside, not available for another month.  We searched and searched and searched.  NOTHING!  Too much.  Trashed college apartments.  Ghetto.  ETC.  Another day, and nothing to show.

So, we left Matt and Kristin's and headed for the North side of town.  A friend of a friend opened up his home to us.  Vacant, but furnished.  A place to ourselves...after 1.5 years of living with people, we like a place t ourselves.  Some big decisions for tomorrow and an interview at 12.  A quick bite to eat (I'm sick of eating out) and let's call it a night.  NOPE - breakdown!  Seriously, BREAKDOWN, manic depressive.  You would have thought the end of the world was coming. I simply wanted a goodnight's sleep and hot shower.  Oh yea, and some shoes to wear for my interview since all my heels are in a moving truck.  Well, hot water heater is busted.  Yep, nothing.  Zero.  I didn't get a shower.  I couldn't find shoes to wear.  The house was dirty and I was supposed to sleep in a stranger's bed.  I was feeling displaced more than ever.  Beyond the stress of being without a home and no leads, now I had no hot water and an interview in 12 hours.  Mike tried to comfort me, but he was thrilled with an excuse not to shower.  Not me - I was furious!

We dug out our own bed coverings and pillows from the car and called it a night.  We woke up early and Mike was ordered to clean the bathroom so I could attempt to get ready.  The tub was filling up with cold water while I was boiling three, yes, THREE, pots of water on the stove at a time.  After two rounds, there was enough water for me to get in.  It didn't take long before Mike had to make another round of boiling water.  I was shivering and still had no shoes.

So, off we went to Target.  I love Target.  But not today.  I was dreading the search.  Luckily, I found a cute pair of shoes.  Universal and $10.  They didn't quite match, but they would work.  Check!  Off to the interview.

We pulled in just in time.  The rest of the day was packed with appointments to view some more properties, but nothing seemed promising.  In I went and Mike was off with Matt to drive around and expand the house hunt.  I met the director and after shaking her hand, looked down to see my Rainbow sandals still attached to my feet.  I forgot to change shoes!

Interview went well, but nothing exciting.  The position is great, especially for a church plant.  There's just a lot of responsibility for little compensation.  Back to the house hunt...

Wendy's for lunch (at least I got a Frosty) and then rushing to the next house.  After a prolonged 10 minute explanation and signing of forms before we could enter, we found ourselves in a cute, quaint, awkward property.  A little overpriced, character, but nothing else worth mentioning.  So...15 extra minutes to spare before the next appointment, so on with more driving.  Across the street was the picture perfect Truman show neighborhood.  Super cute, but when I had called 1-2 months prior, there was a 1 year waiting list.  We thought we would venture in to see exactly how it worked.

We have 2 available:  1)  2 bedroom/2.5 bath townhome  available right away  2) 3 bedroom/ 2.5 bath house available in the next couple of months.  She handed us the key to the townhouse, and off we went.  PERFECT!  A few minor touch-ups - beetle in the toilet, but nothing that can't be fixed.  Large bedrooms.  Private baths.  Porch.  Storage.  Entertaining.  Even the price was perfect.  Almost half of the place we were going to see next.  So, off we went to view the next place, but application in hand.  Great next house.  Old, but beautiful and in great condition.  Wonderful neighborhood, but only 1 bath and over our budget.  So, we called it a day...but not before we handed in our application and found our new home!  We move in tomorrow.  I think I will sleep a lot better tonight and look forward to saying good-bye to the life of a Nomad.

4th of July

7 months later, we're back!

For those that haven't heard, we are MOVING!  In the next week, we will be on our way to Raleigh, North Carolina.  Mike accepted a pastoral internship position with a church plant - Fellowship Raleigh.  As Mike has felt the call to pastoral ministry, his heart was quickly and deeply burdened for the city and college.  I never really thought we would be able to find that in a church, but somehow it worked out.  This new chapter of our lives is a breath of fresh air.  Although we have been married for over 2 years now, we have only lived on our own for 6-8 months.  We are eager to develop our relationship, ministry, and lives together.

We have loved our time in Orlando, but have been eager to settle down somewhere.  We cannot imagine a better fit for us than Fellowship Raleigh!  We are so grateful for Matt and Kristin (the pastor and his wife), but we are sad to say goodbye to all of our friends in Florida.  We hope to have lots of visitors and look forward to sharing this journey with you!