Life the past month has been crazy weather, unexpected family visits, adjusting some more to life on my own, and a new church family.
This whole journey so far has been about The Lord providing and requiring me to trust in Him alone. I've had my doubts and frustrations along the way of course, but The Lord provides!
I shared with you all how I tried out a couple Calvary Chapels, and I just wasn't finding a good fit. I decided to take a week off from the hunt and just veg. And then one Saturday night a Facebook ad popped up with a suggestion about a news article connected to a church in the valley. I clicked on it, curious to see what this church was all about.
It was nothing I thought I wanted in a church. It was big, it was 15-20 minutes away, it was big. It was a church with multiple campuses. It didn't have Baptist or Calvary in the name. It was big.
I went anyway. I attended a church that sees 18,000 people a week across 3 campuses, with 5 services alone every weekend at the main campus that I'm attending. Okay. Big. But I showed up, and everyone was smiling. People looked at you, not through you. They asked your name and how long you'd been attending. The worship was good, the message was good. The people at the information desk learned my name, and followed up with me two days later.
The next week I went to their introduction class called Starting Point. It lays out everything about the church: what they believe, why they believe, their goals in ministry and outreach. I got signed up or a Neighbourhood Group that meets half a mile from my house every Tuesday. I've been twice now.
The thing about this big church is that they are concerned about relationships and people being ministered to. That's what I was looking for in a church, but I had no idea I could find it in a large church! And five services over the weekend really is ideal for my job. I'm not guaranteed Sundays off during fire season. But Saturday night at 6:00 pm is very practical! (And noon service on Sunday = I can still get some much needed sleep!)
I'm so excited, and grateful that The Lord provided. Why do I doubt??
In more exciting news, I talked to my momma today and she told me that the kids at home who are going to Africa this summer have raised all their money, and want to give their extra to me for Australia! They have a cans trailer set up in town, and this weekend my momma went with them to sort and turn them in. They turned in almost $1000 worth of cans. I'm floored and so thankful. The Lord will provide, and I'm just going to keep trusting Him.
In Christ Alone,
Katie
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
The ups, The downs, The in-betweens.
This week has been good. I had forgotten what working 40 hours a week was like though! Sunday, I was able to attend a Calvary Chapel. It wasn't the closest to choose from, but it had a smaller size, and I thought that would help. They had a nice service, and the people seemed nice enough....{chuckle} it was easy to tell I wasn't in the country anymore.
During their greeting time, the pastor had said to stand up and say hello to the people around you. Well, that's what people did. They say hello, and move on. No how are you, or what's your name. Just hello. As the body of Christ is that all we really need? No. We need relationship with other believers. So this Sunday I'll be attending a different church. I did go to their Wednesday night service as well, and both the sermon on Sunday and Wednesday were very good, but it just wasn't a place to call home.
On Monday, I had one of those days you just want to kind of forget. I'm incredibly clumsy. And I managed to spillwater a lot of water on my macbook air. :/ I was doing the dishes, like I've done a million times...apparently this time I was extremely clumsy. Oh well. There were tears, and a desperate phone call to my momma, and that is that. My sweet dad sent me his pride and joy tablet so I don't have to use my iPhone for everything. He's a keeper! Now I'm waiting for a couple of paychecks to replace my macBook Air with an iPad hopefully. I think an iPad will be easier to take to Australia.
Now with some good news! I'm having my very first house guest next week! I'm excited for some crazy cousin time :)
Thank you everyone from home who has reached out to me and passed along encouragement and hellos! It has meant so much, and you know who you are!
Phew, it's going to take some getting used to this Android tablet! Praying for sunshine where you are, and that you have a great weekend!
In Christ Alone,
Katie
During their greeting time, the pastor had said to stand up and say hello to the people around you. Well, that's what people did. They say hello, and move on. No how are you, or what's your name. Just hello. As the body of Christ is that all we really need? No. We need relationship with other believers. So this Sunday I'll be attending a different church. I did go to their Wednesday night service as well, and both the sermon on Sunday and Wednesday were very good, but it just wasn't a place to call home.
On Monday, I had one of those days you just want to kind of forget. I'm incredibly clumsy. And I managed to spill
Now with some good news! I'm having my very first house guest next week! I'm excited for some crazy cousin time :)
Thank you everyone from home who has reached out to me and passed along encouragement and hellos! It has meant so much, and you know who you are!
Phew, it's going to take some getting used to this Android tablet! Praying for sunshine where you are, and that you have a great weekend!
In Christ Alone,
Katie
Saturday, January 26, 2013
I'm Growing Up.
My first week in a new job and a new apartment has been good. Tomorrow morning, I'm starting the church hunt and trying out a Calvary in the area! It's still a little crazy that I'm here in Phoenix. It's so right though. Guess what else it means? I'm really growing up. When I went to college, I didn't really feel grown up. It was just another adventure that took me from home for nine months for three years in a row.
My freshman year in college I had a dorm room all to myself, which was nice. It was lonely sometimes though. The best part was that it was home base. When I got totally overwhelmed from a football game with thousands of people it was nice to be able to go back to my dorm and just sit in the silence.
Then I moved with my best friend to a house owned by someone from my hometown. That was a year of firsts and trials living with unbelievers. But it was a good year too. We lived in a quiet culdesac, and our landlord had a dog. Cooking for myself everyday was a challenge. {Refer to my sometimes indecisive life in the last post} That year really grew me.
Last year my best friend and I got an apartment. We had a third roommate, but she fell through. So we waited on the Lord for five months to bring us a roommate. And it was the sweetest house of girls I could have imagined. We had way too much furniture and just about every Disney movie. My bestie and I got to host a ladies small group every week for two terms. It was a great place. We were in a large apartment complex, but it didn't feel like it. Our back patio looked out onto a wildlife area that won't ever be developed. It was peaceful.
And in between all of those places I moved home for the summer-time to work for the Forest Service. When both of my siblings and I were home at the same time, it was like high school all over again, except with rules again... it was a little weird that first summer. But I got over it. I loved being at home. Even though I didn't really have my own space, and at any moment a boy might come in and turn on the TV while you're in the middle of a book, it was okay. It wasn't okay at the time, but it's okay now.
So now I live in an apartment complex, by myself. Just Franny and I on this great adventure (Speaking of which, she needs some prayer... not sure what's wrong but dad thinks it will be okay). This week has been getting used to motorcycles starting outside my bedroom at all times of the day and night, rain, work, and thanking the Lord for this amazing opportunity. I'm growing up. I'm an adult. I'm living on my own over 1,000 miles from home. It's scary and exciting all at the same time.
It's amazing, the timing of everything. I'm also so excited for Australia! And all of the growth and change it will bring to my life. Good things.
Here's a shout-out to my cousin who most likely will never see this, but I'm saying it none the less. :)
Happy Birthday, Batman.
{On our cruise of the Caribbean, March of 2011. L-R: Kourtney, Me, Batman, Emily. Back row L-R: Michael, Luther}
My freshman year in college I had a dorm room all to myself, which was nice. It was lonely sometimes though. The best part was that it was home base. When I got totally overwhelmed from a football game with thousands of people it was nice to be able to go back to my dorm and just sit in the silence.
Then I moved with my best friend to a house owned by someone from my hometown. That was a year of firsts and trials living with unbelievers. But it was a good year too. We lived in a quiet culdesac, and our landlord had a dog. Cooking for myself everyday was a challenge. {Refer to my sometimes indecisive life in the last post} That year really grew me.
Last year my best friend and I got an apartment. We had a third roommate, but she fell through. So we waited on the Lord for five months to bring us a roommate. And it was the sweetest house of girls I could have imagined. We had way too much furniture and just about every Disney movie. My bestie and I got to host a ladies small group every week for two terms. It was a great place. We were in a large apartment complex, but it didn't feel like it. Our back patio looked out onto a wildlife area that won't ever be developed. It was peaceful.
And in between all of those places I moved home for the summer-time to work for the Forest Service. When both of my siblings and I were home at the same time, it was like high school all over again, except with rules again... it was a little weird that first summer. But I got over it. I loved being at home. Even though I didn't really have my own space, and at any moment a boy might come in and turn on the TV while you're in the middle of a book, it was okay. It wasn't okay at the time, but it's okay now.
So now I live in an apartment complex, by myself. Just Franny and I on this great adventure (Speaking of which, she needs some prayer... not sure what's wrong but dad thinks it will be okay). This week has been getting used to motorcycles starting outside my bedroom at all times of the day and night, rain, work, and thanking the Lord for this amazing opportunity. I'm growing up. I'm an adult. I'm living on my own over 1,000 miles from home. It's scary and exciting all at the same time.
It's amazing, the timing of everything. I'm also so excited for Australia! And all of the growth and change it will bring to my life. Good things.
Here's a shout-out to my cousin who most likely will never see this, but I'm saying it none the less. :)
Happy Birthday, Batman.
{On our cruise of the Caribbean, March of 2011. L-R: Kourtney, Me, Batman, Emily. Back row L-R: Michael, Luther} Have a great weekend!
In Christ Alone,
Katie <3
Sunday, January 20, 2013
The World was Made in Seven Days,
so why was I surprised when the Lord chose to move in my life in that amount of time?
When I posted last (two weeks ago tomorrow), I had no reason to think I would be sitting in Maricopa, AZ, hanging out at my new boss's house (In 70* weather no less... sorry, LKV peeps.. don't be too jealous) getting ready to start a new job in two days.
Two weeks ago, I was getting ready to start a new term of school, and looking forward to a quiet few months at home. I was planning on fundraising, crafting, and just hanging out with my parents.
Haha. The problem with that picture was it was what "I" was planning. To really start this story, we have to go back to last June though. I had been working for about two months, and my boss walked out one day and asked why I wasn't statused National. {I'm sorry in advance for any strange fire lingo here, I'll try to explain as I go along for those who have no idea what I'm talking about} I didn't have a response, just that I hadn't really thought about it. Needless to say, I was showing National by the end of the day. At the end of a week I hadn't gotten any assignments, and I had one more day until my 'cutoff' day. (Cutoff day = the last day you want to be statused in order to be back for something. Assignments are two weeks long with a travel day on either side. In this case, I had a birthday camping trip planned.)
The call came in at about 4:00 on my cutoff day of an assignment to Arizona.
(photo credit)
I decided to take it. This was my first 'real' assignment. I had been to our sister dispatch center a few times for a day or two here and there, and once to our neighbor to the South in CA. So to say that getting on a plane to Phoenix, AZ was intimidating for this small town girl is an understatement. I've always had the travel bug, and I've done lots of crazy traveling in my day, so really this was nothing. Meeting new people and a whole new environment was the scariest part.
I got to Phoenix, and I loved it. It was completely different than at home, and after a few days of getting used to the differences in SOP and the fact that the phone (not the radio) was my new BFF, I got into a groove. They really wanted me to extend for another two weeks, but I didn't. {And I don't regret it, it allowed me to go to Wyoming for a total of 5 weeks last summer} I learned so much while I was there, made some great contacts, and had a blast.
(photo credit)
In the fire world, it really is about who you know. The more people you're networked with and that know what you can do, the better chance you have of getting out an assignment... or getting offered a job.
The bottom line of this story is about The One you know. I give every. single. ounce. of credit to the Lord. He had a plan all along. I love how the Lord is sneaky sometimes, ya know? For those that don't know, I can be a bit of a slow decision maker. Just ask Kayla. Making decisions on what to have for dinner for two years has probably scarred her for life or something. I'm not as slow as some people, but I have to do all my research and look everything over, and the whole shebang.
So, back to the story. On Thursday, January 10th I got a phone call from the Center Manager in Arizona, offering me a job. When I was talking to him on the phone, everything was just falling into place. (And remember, I wasn't looking for a job, I wasn't applying for jobs, I was just doing my thing... not looking for a job.) We talked about everything, and I was blown away about all the details. The pay, the hours, everything. And then I asked about that space of time I'm setting aside for the Lord from October to March, and how that would all fit in. He said, "No problem, we'll see you when you get back".
(photo credit)
I. Almost. Started. Crying.
We hung up, I said I would think about it, and we'd talk tomorrow. I was sitting in my mom's office on the floor. I looked at her, and I was speechless. We had literally just been printing sponsorship letters to send to friends and family. I felt like I had just been transported to a different universe. Suddenly, everything spilt out of my mouth, and then my dad was on the phone and he said he's be home in half an hour. Mom and I went to the store. I literally didn't know what to say. I just kept looking at her, and we would start laughing. It was so unreal.
We went home, and I made a pros and cons list for Oregon, Wyoming (Where I also had a job offer for the 2013 fire season), and Arizona. The Lord had literally worked every detail out. The cons list had a few things, and they mostly because I needed something to put there. Everything pointed to Phoenix. We talked about it, how we would make it work, where I would live. We decided my parents would drive down with me and then fly back the 22nd. That we would leave Sunday the 13th, and all of the arrangements were made.
I wanted to get a friend's opinion, so we drove to their house and explained it all, asked them what they thought. She told me that if she was still 21, she would absolutely take it and run. She told me to have fun. I left with a suitcase. :)
I went home and went to bed.
I didn't sleep though. I spent hours praying, writing, reading the Word. Asking for wisdom, clarity, and peace. I'd already sent an S.O.S prayer text to my three besties, asking them to pray. When I finally shut off the light, the wheels just wouldn't stop turning. I was excited, terrified, exhausted, and searching. I finally fell asleep somewhere around 1 or 2 a.m.
Friday 1/11/13
When I got up, it was still all surreal. We had lots to do(including learning a song to play and sing in church on Sunday!). I talked to my boss again, it was all decided (With even more of the Lord's blessings!), I would be in Phoenix on Tuesday the 15th.
Saturday 1/12/13
I cleaned out Franny (My 1997 Ford Explorer), packed my clothes, and made 26 pizzas to put in the freezer for the youth group.
{This is what Franny looked like Thursday morning}
Sunday 1/13/13
I sang with the worship team one last time, played and sang offertory, and then said goodbye to my church family. I appreciated everyone's well wishes so much! After church mom and I met with the mission's committee to talk about YWAM and Australia, and my moving to Arizona. It went great. We went home, finished packing, loaded the car and drove to Reno. My dad had a free night at the Peppermill, so we stayed there.
At this point, my body was in Reno but my mind was still sitting on the floor of my mom's office on Thursday. Throughout this whole process the Lord has realllllllllllllllly been stretching me, and asking me to trust Him with all of the details. Back to the Lord being sneaky: This whole process has been set in my lap, tied up in a bow. All I've had to do is trust that the package is a present and open it. I'm so thankful to the Lord most high.
Monday 1/14/13
The folks and I were on the road by 6:00 am, and we drove in shifts all the way to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where some friends recently moved. It was a great night just chatting, and hanging out by the pool (It was warm enough to go outside!!!!!). This sounds like an easy day, but look at a map... Reno to Lake Havasu is a littttttttle drive ;).
It was warm enough to have the AC on!!!!!
Tuesday 1/15/13
We were now in Arizona time, which is an hour ahead of Oregon time. We just took the morning easy, and drove the four hours into Phoenix. My boss opened his home to us while we were here, so we made it to his house.
Wednesday 1/16/13
I got my Arizona driver's license! Mom and I visited a mall that has valet parking... crazy. Just hung out, had a BBQ that night.
Thursday 1/17/13
We drove back into Northern Phoenix and stopped by the office to get a print screen of my quals printed out. {Who forgets their red card???? Apparently me..} Ate some yummy Greek food, and the apartment hunt began.
Note: In those first 24 hours after the phone call, we had decided that I would just stay in a hotel for a month or so until I got a few paychecks and could pay first and last months rent, a deposit, and all that jazz. BUT, my dad wanted to see where I would be living (in a few months), and we wanted to get a better lay of the land.
We found two places, had decided on one which was nicer, and then headed back to the office to see my boss and print some paperwork off. While we were there my dad was on his phone, looking at apartment ratings and found a place he wanted us to check out. Mom and I went to appease him. Of course, we ended up loving it.
The cool thing about Phoenix is that they have a preferred employers list. And if you work for one of the employer's on the list you get tons of concessions. Awesome. This complex also had a "Look and Lease" special. You get a tour, and if you like it you go back to the office and fill out an application. If you decide to keep it you get like $500 off your signing. (Blessings in a bundle, anyone? Unspeakable joy.) We looked, I loved it. I filled out the application, and had to wait until the next morning for the background check.
Friday 1/18/13
Called to set up my electricity and internet. More blessings? Down here, you don't have to pay anything up front, it's all billed with the first month's utilities. And the extra fees were all waived for one reason or another.
The apartment complex called. I had an apartment! Second floor, two bedroom, two bath with a patio! Oh my goodness. If I wasn't already feeling blessed, it was a good thing I was sitting down during all of those phone calls.
When we were at the apartment on Thursday, the leasing agent (Who was amazing!) gave us the number for her mattress lady. We called, got her prices, and went to pick one out. $230 for a queen sized mattress, box spring, and hollywood frame. Did I mention it was also delivered??? Unbelievable.
Note: When I moved home in April 2012 to start working again, I thought I would be back in college come September. So I left everything in storage except for my clothes and a few craft supplies. Seeing as I didn't have time to go get my stuff before coming down here, and I thought I was going to be living out of a hotel, I only brought clothes and my sewing machine and crochet hooks! So I will be furnishing an entire apartment. It's all so crazy!
I signed all the paperwork for my apartment and got the keys. Oh, and we also went to IKEA. THAT was so cool. I got some dishes, a duvet cover, and some hand towels. I'll be going back :)
Saturday 1/19/13
So every day, we've been driving back and forth between Maricopa and North Phoenix, which is an hour drive in good traffic. A two hour drive in bad traffic. We went to see my grandpa a few hours South of Maricopa, and then drove all the way North again.
We scouted the area a little more, hit up Walmart for a dining room table and chairs, and also stopped at Goodwill and Ross for a few more items to fill my empty apartment. Oh, and Lowes. Every girl needs a cordless drill and a tool set!
Today (Sunday 1/20/13)
The plan had been to attend church near my apartment and start the Church Family search, but as I'm sure you're exhausted from just reading this, imagine how exhausted our bodies are! The adrenaline is finally wearing off, and it was nice to sleeeeeep and not worry about an alarm clock!
In the last 10 days we've put 1,665.45 miles on my car, I've moved into an apartment, have a job, and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting.
Thank you for sticking with me through this post!
In Christ Alone,
Katie
When I posted last (two weeks ago tomorrow), I had no reason to think I would be sitting in Maricopa, AZ, hanging out at my new boss's house (In 70* weather no less... sorry, LKV peeps.. don't be too jealous) getting ready to start a new job in two days.
Two weeks ago, I was getting ready to start a new term of school, and looking forward to a quiet few months at home. I was planning on fundraising, crafting, and just hanging out with my parents.
Haha. The problem with that picture was it was what "I" was planning. To really start this story, we have to go back to last June though. I had been working for about two months, and my boss walked out one day and asked why I wasn't statused National. {I'm sorry in advance for any strange fire lingo here, I'll try to explain as I go along for those who have no idea what I'm talking about} I didn't have a response, just that I hadn't really thought about it. Needless to say, I was showing National by the end of the day. At the end of a week I hadn't gotten any assignments, and I had one more day until my 'cutoff' day. (Cutoff day = the last day you want to be statused in order to be back for something. Assignments are two weeks long with a travel day on either side. In this case, I had a birthday camping trip planned.)
The call came in at about 4:00 on my cutoff day of an assignment to Arizona.
I decided to take it. This was my first 'real' assignment. I had been to our sister dispatch center a few times for a day or two here and there, and once to our neighbor to the South in CA. So to say that getting on a plane to Phoenix, AZ was intimidating for this small town girl is an understatement. I've always had the travel bug, and I've done lots of crazy traveling in my day, so really this was nothing. Meeting new people and a whole new environment was the scariest part.
I got to Phoenix, and I loved it. It was completely different than at home, and after a few days of getting used to the differences in SOP and the fact that the phone (not the radio) was my new BFF, I got into a groove. They really wanted me to extend for another two weeks, but I didn't. {And I don't regret it, it allowed me to go to Wyoming for a total of 5 weeks last summer} I learned so much while I was there, made some great contacts, and had a blast.
In the fire world, it really is about who you know. The more people you're networked with and that know what you can do, the better chance you have of getting out an assignment... or getting offered a job.
The bottom line of this story is about The One you know. I give every. single. ounce. of credit to the Lord. He had a plan all along. I love how the Lord is sneaky sometimes, ya know? For those that don't know, I can be a bit of a slow decision maker. Just ask Kayla. Making decisions on what to have for dinner for two years has probably scarred her for life or something. I'm not as slow as some people, but I have to do all my research and look everything over, and the whole shebang.
So, back to the story. On Thursday, January 10th I got a phone call from the Center Manager in Arizona, offering me a job. When I was talking to him on the phone, everything was just falling into place. (And remember, I wasn't looking for a job, I wasn't applying for jobs, I was just doing my thing... not looking for a job.) We talked about everything, and I was blown away about all the details. The pay, the hours, everything. And then I asked about that space of time I'm setting aside for the Lord from October to March, and how that would all fit in. He said, "No problem, we'll see you when you get back".
I. Almost. Started. Crying.
We hung up, I said I would think about it, and we'd talk tomorrow. I was sitting in my mom's office on the floor. I looked at her, and I was speechless. We had literally just been printing sponsorship letters to send to friends and family. I felt like I had just been transported to a different universe. Suddenly, everything spilt out of my mouth, and then my dad was on the phone and he said he's be home in half an hour. Mom and I went to the store. I literally didn't know what to say. I just kept looking at her, and we would start laughing. It was so unreal.
We went home, and I made a pros and cons list for Oregon, Wyoming (Where I also had a job offer for the 2013 fire season), and Arizona. The Lord had literally worked every detail out. The cons list had a few things, and they mostly because I needed something to put there. Everything pointed to Phoenix. We talked about it, how we would make it work, where I would live. We decided my parents would drive down with me and then fly back the 22nd. That we would leave Sunday the 13th, and all of the arrangements were made.
I wanted to get a friend's opinion, so we drove to their house and explained it all, asked them what they thought. She told me that if she was still 21, she would absolutely take it and run. She told me to have fun. I left with a suitcase. :)
I went home and went to bed.
I didn't sleep though. I spent hours praying, writing, reading the Word. Asking for wisdom, clarity, and peace. I'd already sent an S.O.S prayer text to my three besties, asking them to pray. When I finally shut off the light, the wheels just wouldn't stop turning. I was excited, terrified, exhausted, and searching. I finally fell asleep somewhere around 1 or 2 a.m.
Friday 1/11/13
When I got up, it was still all surreal. We had lots to do(including learning a song to play and sing in church on Sunday!). I talked to my boss again, it was all decided (With even more of the Lord's blessings!), I would be in Phoenix on Tuesday the 15th.
Saturday 1/12/13
I cleaned out Franny (My 1997 Ford Explorer), packed my clothes, and made 26 pizzas to put in the freezer for the youth group.
Sunday 1/13/13
I sang with the worship team one last time, played and sang offertory, and then said goodbye to my church family. I appreciated everyone's well wishes so much! After church mom and I met with the mission's committee to talk about YWAM and Australia, and my moving to Arizona. It went great. We went home, finished packing, loaded the car and drove to Reno. My dad had a free night at the Peppermill, so we stayed there.
At this point, my body was in Reno but my mind was still sitting on the floor of my mom's office on Thursday. Throughout this whole process the Lord has realllllllllllllllly been stretching me, and asking me to trust Him with all of the details. Back to the Lord being sneaky: This whole process has been set in my lap, tied up in a bow. All I've had to do is trust that the package is a present and open it. I'm so thankful to the Lord most high.
Monday 1/14/13
The folks and I were on the road by 6:00 am, and we drove in shifts all the way to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where some friends recently moved. It was a great night just chatting, and hanging out by the pool (It was warm enough to go outside!!!!!). This sounds like an easy day, but look at a map... Reno to Lake Havasu is a littttttttle drive ;).
Tuesday 1/15/13
We were now in Arizona time, which is an hour ahead of Oregon time. We just took the morning easy, and drove the four hours into Phoenix. My boss opened his home to us while we were here, so we made it to his house.
Wednesday 1/16/13
I got my Arizona driver's license! Mom and I visited a mall that has valet parking... crazy. Just hung out, had a BBQ that night.
Thursday 1/17/13
We drove back into Northern Phoenix and stopped by the office to get a print screen of my quals printed out. {Who forgets their red card???? Apparently me..} Ate some yummy Greek food, and the apartment hunt began.
Note: In those first 24 hours after the phone call, we had decided that I would just stay in a hotel for a month or so until I got a few paychecks and could pay first and last months rent, a deposit, and all that jazz. BUT, my dad wanted to see where I would be living (in a few months), and we wanted to get a better lay of the land.
We found two places, had decided on one which was nicer, and then headed back to the office to see my boss and print some paperwork off. While we were there my dad was on his phone, looking at apartment ratings and found a place he wanted us to check out. Mom and I went to appease him. Of course, we ended up loving it.
The cool thing about Phoenix is that they have a preferred employers list. And if you work for one of the employer's on the list you get tons of concessions. Awesome. This complex also had a "Look and Lease" special. You get a tour, and if you like it you go back to the office and fill out an application. If you decide to keep it you get like $500 off your signing. (Blessings in a bundle, anyone? Unspeakable joy.) We looked, I loved it. I filled out the application, and had to wait until the next morning for the background check.
Friday 1/18/13
Called to set up my electricity and internet. More blessings? Down here, you don't have to pay anything up front, it's all billed with the first month's utilities. And the extra fees were all waived for one reason or another.
The apartment complex called. I had an apartment! Second floor, two bedroom, two bath with a patio! Oh my goodness. If I wasn't already feeling blessed, it was a good thing I was sitting down during all of those phone calls.
When we were at the apartment on Thursday, the leasing agent (Who was amazing!) gave us the number for her mattress lady. We called, got her prices, and went to pick one out. $230 for a queen sized mattress, box spring, and hollywood frame. Did I mention it was also delivered??? Unbelievable.
Note: When I moved home in April 2012 to start working again, I thought I would be back in college come September. So I left everything in storage except for my clothes and a few craft supplies. Seeing as I didn't have time to go get my stuff before coming down here, and I thought I was going to be living out of a hotel, I only brought clothes and my sewing machine and crochet hooks! So I will be furnishing an entire apartment. It's all so crazy!
I signed all the paperwork for my apartment and got the keys. Oh, and we also went to IKEA. THAT was so cool. I got some dishes, a duvet cover, and some hand towels. I'll be going back :)
Saturday 1/19/13
So every day, we've been driving back and forth between Maricopa and North Phoenix, which is an hour drive in good traffic. A two hour drive in bad traffic. We went to see my grandpa a few hours South of Maricopa, and then drove all the way North again.
We scouted the area a little more, hit up Walmart for a dining room table and chairs, and also stopped at Goodwill and Ross for a few more items to fill my empty apartment. Oh, and Lowes. Every girl needs a cordless drill and a tool set!
Today (Sunday 1/20/13)
The plan had been to attend church near my apartment and start the Church Family search, but as I'm sure you're exhausted from just reading this, imagine how exhausted our bodies are! The adrenaline is finally wearing off, and it was nice to sleeeeeep and not worry about an alarm clock!
In the last 10 days we've put 1,665.45 miles on my car, I've moved into an apartment, have a job, and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting.
Thank you for sticking with me through this post!
In Christ Alone,
Katie
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
First Day of Term.
The real fun begins this week. I'm getting over a cold and starting online classes, as well as keeping up on all of my Australia stuff!
Ready for some good news?
Due to my cold this weekend, I didn't get anything else put up in the shop, so that's still a work in progress! But today is Monday, so I still have two days to get as much done as I can. :)
And did anyone notice the ticker, count-down, thingy-ma-bopper over on the sidebar? That's mostly motivation for me to be on time with things! The cool thing is though that once it hits zero, it will start counting up so then we'll all know how long I've been in Australia. Handy-dandy.
I'm off to sleep so my body can keep fighting this cold.
-Katie
This is what the Lord says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is,
and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
~Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
Ready for some good news?
- I submitted my Blue Card Application! My daddy is the best and took the paper to be signed. :) Lucky for me, I've known the Chief of Police for a very long time. He and my dad have worked together for over 20 years.
- Next item on the list is to print my sponsorship letters. The official on these sorts of things has reviewed it and given her stamp of approval, so we're a go.
Due to my cold this weekend, I didn't get anything else put up in the shop, so that's still a work in progress! But today is Monday, so I still have two days to get as much done as I can. :)
And did anyone notice the ticker, count-down, thingy-ma-bopper over on the sidebar? That's mostly motivation for me to be on time with things! The cool thing is though that once it hits zero, it will start counting up so then we'll all know how long I've been in Australia. Handy-dandy.
I'm off to sleep so my body can keep fighting this cold.
-Katie
This is what the Lord says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is,
and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
~Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Good News.
We found out last week that my Papa's cancer does not involve a tumor or any lymph nodes! Praise the Lord! They decided to still go on their yearly trip to Hawaii, although this will be their last year.
In other good news I found out that I was accepted into a Youth With a Mission (YWAM) Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Townsville, Australia! I'll be going this October, and will be back in the States in March of 2014! I'm blogging about that over here.
Praying that you all had a safe and happy New Years!
Until next time,
Katie
In other good news I found out that I was accepted into a Youth With a Mission (YWAM) Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Townsville, Australia! I'll be going this October, and will be back in the States in March of 2014! I'm blogging about that over here.
Praying that you all had a safe and happy New Years!
Until next time,
Katie
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Week's End.
I know it's the middle of the week... but I've decided that Wednesday is my goal day. It gives me something to look forward to!
Here is a re-cap of the things I did (and did not) accomplish this week. Find the original post with my goals here.
1. Fill out my application for a Blue Card. The application has been done since Saturday! The only thing I'm waiting for is the local Chief of Police to notarize it (a.k.a prove that I am who I say I am). With New Years being yesterday, and the fact the New Years Eve is pretty much a holiday, it's been hard to track him down. It will hopefully be done tomorrow!
2. Pay my downpayment! Check :) This one is done.
3. List all of the craftiness Sarah and I have been up to in my Etsy shop, then open it! My Etsy shop if officially open! I'm still adding to it every day, but open it is. All of the proceeds of the shop go towards my DTS. I'm selling rice bags, hats, scarves, and cowls! I will also be listing jewelry int he future made by the fabulous Sarah. Everything in the store is hand-made by the two of us. To purchase or just look around, please visit: easy.com/shop/totheoutback
4. Finish and start sending out sponsorship letters. I'm down to the fine tuning! And happy with how it's turning out. The best part? Yellow paper :)
Thank goodness for grace, and the fact that deadlines can shift a little here and there!
This coming week I will be working to complete #'s 1,3, and 4. I also start online classes this coming week, so I'm going to have to figure out the balance of everything!
Have a wonderful evening!
In Christ Alone,
Katie
Here is a re-cap of the things I did (and did not) accomplish this week. Find the original post with my goals here.
1. Fill out my application for a Blue Card. The application has been done since Saturday! The only thing I'm waiting for is the local Chief of Police to notarize it (a.k.a prove that I am who I say I am). With New Years being yesterday, and the fact the New Years Eve is pretty much a holiday, it's been hard to track him down. It will hopefully be done tomorrow!
2. Pay my downpayment! Check :) This one is done.
3. List all of the craftiness Sarah and I have been up to in my Etsy shop, then open it! My Etsy shop if officially open! I'm still adding to it every day, but open it is. All of the proceeds of the shop go towards my DTS. I'm selling rice bags, hats, scarves, and cowls! I will also be listing jewelry int he future made by the fabulous Sarah. Everything in the store is hand-made by the two of us. To purchase or just look around, please visit: easy.com/shop/totheoutback
4. Finish and start sending out sponsorship letters. I'm down to the fine tuning! And happy with how it's turning out. The best part? Yellow paper :)
Thank goodness for grace, and the fact that deadlines can shift a little here and there!
This coming week I will be working to complete #'s 1,3, and 4. I also start online classes this coming week, so I'm going to have to figure out the balance of everything!
Have a wonderful evening!
In Christ Alone,
Katie
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