This is a song that's been replaying through my mind today. I'm sure it's something we all sang in sunday school, but it's just a reminder of how good our God is. God is so good, God is so good, God is so good. He's so good to me. God has been so good to Eric and I during this transition time of moving across the country and starting a new life here. We feel comfortable here, we feel God's Holy Spirit bringing peace and reassurance to us about the move, and now God has showered His blessing on us by way of a job for me. I interviewed 2 Fridays ago at Grand Canyon University, a christian university, here in Phoenix. The position was to be the faculty scheduler for the online college of health sciences. I have applied for about 12-15 different jobs since the beginning of May when we knew for sure that we were moving and this was the only interview I was called in for. I can view that in a positive or negative light, but I felt filled with God's peace about this one interview. I went back in this past Monday (yesterday) and interviewed with the director of the department who offered me the job within the first 5-10 minutes of the interview. What a blessing! This offer was great, such a huge financial burden is now lifted and I am filled with joy and praise for the Lord! I start July 6th at GCU and can't wait!
I've been off work from May 21st till now and although there was a move across the country in there, I'm ready to go back to work. I'm ready to relieve some of the burden off my husband and to feel like I am providing too. My days have been full of... well.. not much. Laying out by the pool, swimming, hiking, cleaning the apartment, watching movies, watching the World Cup on the spanish channel, walking to get the mail about 3pm everyday, and cooking dinner. So, yeah after about 4 weeks of that.. I'm ready to go back to work! Sometimes it's too hot to be outside so that's when movies come in handy :) It's gonna hit about 110 this week so I might take advantage of the pool. I've been asking Eric to go to IKEA in Tempe since we moved here, but we were really trying to wait till I had a job to do any shopping or eating out. Soooo... now that I have a job, he's agreed to do a little shopping at IKEA this weekend! I've never been there before, but everyone says I'll love it, so I can't wait!
That's the exciting things that have been happening in our lives here in Arizona. Only two more weeks till Eric's parents come to visit!! It'll be fun to entertain a little bit and do a little site seeing with them before I start the new job. Until then I just keep remembering, God is so good.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Rounding 2nd and Going Into 3rd
We've now been here a little over 2 weeks and entering our third here in Peoria. If I have not mentioned this to anyone yet, I love living here! And it's been a comfortable transition, thanks to our God's comfort and peace. We are completely assured that this step of faith was what God had been calling us to. It's been a rough couple of months in our lives with the miscarriage but God is showing us that He has a purpose for us here in Arizona and is teaching us about our marriage first and foremost. To be quick to listen and slow to speak, to be supportive and understanding and to be each other's servant. God has also been teaching us patience throughout the time that we've been here between needing our house in South Bend to sell and waiting for me to get a job. So if you know anyone looking for a house in the South Bend area let us know! The job environment out here is a lot like Elkhart, slow. I've applied to several local colleges, universities, and business, I've only had one interview, which we're hoping to hear more from this week.
Back to the transition...I thought it would really difficult learning the new roads, new location, and the weather, but so far so good! I do miss friends and family, but not tremendously yet because Eric and I are definitely enjoying our freedom as "just us" here. No offense anyone, please don't take it personally, but we've talked about how this is a get-away we needed, that fresh start to our lives to create our own adventures. We are looking forward to family coming to visit soon so that we can show them the life we've started here. It's hard for me to miss baby showers for my pregnant sister and friend back at home and August weddings for my cousins. And we all know Eric is going to miss Notre Dame come this fall! We try to keep ourselves active here enjoying hiking on the weekends and in the morning when Eric's doesn't go to work till 10am. And yes I've had my anxiety issues about the possibilities of seeing snakes on the trails. We went to a Diamondbacks/Cardinals game last Friday which was fun. We also enjoyed discovering Lake Pleasant about 30 minutes north of our apartment on Sunday after church. It's a huge lake with rocky, hilly shores, set in the middle of mountains and trails. It was gorgeous. We've also gone for walks about our complex and I try to exercise while Eric is at work, even if that means swimming and laying out by the pool a couple days a week.
This week we're looking forward to a birthday party for our little 2nd cousin Kyle and also attending the Rattlers (arena football league) with some family. Eric is involved in a softball league with our extended family out here to and is having fun as that season starts. Continue to pray that our house sells in Indiana and very soon and also that I will be able to find a job very soon. We're praising God for each other and for the promises He has for our future.
KELLY
Back to the transition...I thought it would really difficult learning the new roads, new location, and the weather, but so far so good! I do miss friends and family, but not tremendously yet because Eric and I are definitely enjoying our freedom as "just us" here. No offense anyone, please don't take it personally, but we've talked about how this is a get-away we needed, that fresh start to our lives to create our own adventures. We are looking forward to family coming to visit soon so that we can show them the life we've started here. It's hard for me to miss baby showers for my pregnant sister and friend back at home and August weddings for my cousins. And we all know Eric is going to miss Notre Dame come this fall! We try to keep ourselves active here enjoying hiking on the weekends and in the morning when Eric's doesn't go to work till 10am. And yes I've had my anxiety issues about the possibilities of seeing snakes on the trails. We went to a Diamondbacks/Cardinals game last Friday which was fun. We also enjoyed discovering Lake Pleasant about 30 minutes north of our apartment on Sunday after church. It's a huge lake with rocky, hilly shores, set in the middle of mountains and trails. It was gorgeous. We've also gone for walks about our complex and I try to exercise while Eric is at work, even if that means swimming and laying out by the pool a couple days a week.
This week we're looking forward to a birthday party for our little 2nd cousin Kyle and also attending the Rattlers (arena football league) with some family. Eric is involved in a softball league with our extended family out here to and is having fun as that season starts. Continue to pray that our house sells in Indiana and very soon and also that I will be able to find a job very soon. We're praising God for each other and for the promises He has for our future.
KELLY
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Adventures
We have arrived! After full day of packing a moving truck last Thursday and some really hard goodbyes, we took a 3 day road trip from Indiana to Arizona. We, (Eric, Kelly, and Kelly's dad), traveled across 7 states in a moving truck and all experienced a taste of what it means to be a truck driver as we hauled our SUV on a trailer behind a 22 foot moving truck. We moved into our new apartment in Peoria, AZ on Sunday, May 30th with the help of family here in Arizona. It was really hard moving into a place I've really never seen before. Although Eric and I looked into moving into the same complex a few years ago, it's still not the same when you're not quite sure the measurements of the rooms. Eric did a great job though picking a great place for us to live. The apartment is 2 bedrooms with walk-in closets, 2 bathrooms, large living room with a balcony over looking the pool. The kitchen is very small compared to even our little one at our home in Indiana, it's definitely been hard finding a place for everything. Luckily we do have a small storage unit at the apartment complex which is filled with our old high school stuff, Christmas decorations, etc. But after putting our pictures on the walls and seeing the familiar faces in them, it's starting to begin to feel like a house... not quite home yet.
I have spent the days unpacking and organizing and unpacking. It's amazing after having 2 garage sales before we moved how much stuff there still is! Yesterday was the first day I went out to our pool, which felt amazing! It's surrounded by palm trees and has a small waterfall as well as a hot tub. The kids are already out of school here so there are usually families in the pool playing. Yes, it's pretty much like we're on vacation right now, except all our things are with us. The first day we were here it was 101 degrees, so far it's It's been in the upper 90s... 100 degrees is the projected high for today... and 108 for this weekend. I keep saying, "bring it on!" but then today when it's already 80-85 degrees at 8am, I'm starting to realize why the guy at the truck rental place told me, "Welcome to the oven!"
Eric's working everyday at Citi Financial. And that the right job will open up for me too. My devotions have consisted of the theme of trusting God. I've written down verses about trusting and leaning on God as my Rock on notecards and taped them to my bathroom mirror so I see them every morning. It reminds me to "lean not on my own understanding," but to trust Him and know that He is our Rock.
As we begin this new adventure in our new home of Arizona, pray that we can adjust to the time change, the weather, our location, and our jobs. Those are the basics to start with, of course it's always hard to leave the place your grew up and our families. Hopefully we can keep you all informed of our lives here in Peoria as we start a new adventure.
I have spent the days unpacking and organizing and unpacking. It's amazing after having 2 garage sales before we moved how much stuff there still is! Yesterday was the first day I went out to our pool, which felt amazing! It's surrounded by palm trees and has a small waterfall as well as a hot tub. The kids are already out of school here so there are usually families in the pool playing. Yes, it's pretty much like we're on vacation right now, except all our things are with us. The first day we were here it was 101 degrees, so far it's It's been in the upper 90s... 100 degrees is the projected high for today... and 108 for this weekend. I keep saying, "bring it on!" but then today when it's already 80-85 degrees at 8am, I'm starting to realize why the guy at the truck rental place told me, "Welcome to the oven!"
Eric's working everyday at Citi Financial. And that the right job will open up for me too. My devotions have consisted of the theme of trusting God. I've written down verses about trusting and leaning on God as my Rock on notecards and taped them to my bathroom mirror so I see them every morning. It reminds me to "lean not on my own understanding," but to trust Him and know that He is our Rock.
As we begin this new adventure in our new home of Arizona, pray that we can adjust to the time change, the weather, our location, and our jobs. Those are the basics to start with, of course it's always hard to leave the place your grew up and our families. Hopefully we can keep you all informed of our lives here in Peoria as we start a new adventure.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
And the leap begins...
First- Happy Mother's Day last Sunday to my mother, Eric's mom Ranae, to my sister who will be a mother in August, and to my friend who will be a mother in September. I am also going to wish myself a Happy Mother's Day. This past Sunday was hard for me- I was 3 months pregnant when I miscarried our baby. And Sunday I thought a lot about holding a baby and having the presence of a baby in the flesh with me, being able to talk to it and change it's diaper, holding it close in my arms, and carrying it around. Tuesday at work I spent most of the day thinking about holding my baby and thinking about how instead, God is holding it, which is so much better, but still hard. I have a worship CD at work with me and when I'm by myself I often have my own little worship time. I replayed a song over and over and was almost in tears as I sang several time, the words I focused on were: "You're mercy flows like a river wide, and healing comes in Your name. Helpless children are safe in Your arms. There is none like You." But more than anything "healing comes in your name and helpless children are safe in your arms." Thank you Jesus that healing only comes in your name and I know that my child is safe in your arms. THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU!
Tomorrow Eric leaves for Arizona and we begin our giant leap of faith into this crazy adventure God is sending us on. We couldn't be more excited! Anxious, yes, a little.. it's a HUGE change in our lives! I've been thinking about the changes I will have to get used to living in Arizona compared to living in Indiana. First of all, the 3 hour time difference. As Eric moves out there for the next two weeks and starts work, he'll have to try to go to bed later and start to adjust his body and mind to the time change. Of course, the weather will be a huge change. I mean, today in South Bend, it was 55 degrees and we have a flood watch. Tomorrow it will be 78 and stormy. In Arizona, the temperatures are already reaching into the 90s and will be in the 100s by the time we move. And I doubt there will ever be flood watches. Although we've been to Phoenix in July and have experienced 113 degrees... it's different when you live there.
Another change is that we will be moving from our 2 bedroom cozy home to a 2 bedroom apartment. We, well, I am looking forward to decorating to new place and we both are especially excited about having a pool in our complex. God totally knew we were going to be on this adventure at this time in our lives. 3 years ago when we were engaged, we looked at moving to Phoenix, even went out to look at apartments and I looked into going to Arizona State to get my masters. Back then the cost of living, as well as out-of-state tuition, was too high for us. But now that God has been preparing us, and the place we are going, He has also prepared the same apartment complex that we wanted to be in 3 years ago for us now. Arrowhead Landing (www.arrowheadlanding.com) is the place we wanted to live 3 years ago, and it's the place we'll be moving into at the end of the month. God's funny like that huh? We are praying that our house sells and that I find a job soon so that we can afford to live in the apartment as soon as we move while our house is still on the market.
The most difficult change will be leaving our amazing family and friends. Almost all of our family (both sides) live in Indiana or Michigan. It will be hard to leave our parents and siblings, and the new nephew that will arrive in the August. Along with our close friends who will welcome a beautiful girl in September, our great church family, and our crazy dog Rockne (who will be moving in with Eric's parents)... yes these will be the hard things to leave: Notre Dame football games, Bethel, our first home, the US 20 bypass, green trees, planting flowers, Hacienda, mowing, etc.
But we know that we have a lot to gain. We completely feel that God has big plans for us. This is GOD's adventure for US- something GOD has blessed and something we have prayed over for years. This will help us to strengthen Eric and I as a family, our own family, our own adventure. It will be good for us to be on our own, to rely on God and each other to grow, learn, and develop in our marriage. We are still praying for guidance and patience as I continue to to apply for jobs. We're also praying that we find a church that shares the same beliefs and values we do based on God's word. This will help us to develop relationships and find others to share our journey with and become accountable with. There are a lot of changes about to occur... we are so blessed, so excited, and so ready. This giant leap of faith is about to begin.
Tomorrow Eric leaves for Arizona and we begin our giant leap of faith into this crazy adventure God is sending us on. We couldn't be more excited! Anxious, yes, a little.. it's a HUGE change in our lives! I've been thinking about the changes I will have to get used to living in Arizona compared to living in Indiana. First of all, the 3 hour time difference. As Eric moves out there for the next two weeks and starts work, he'll have to try to go to bed later and start to adjust his body and mind to the time change. Of course, the weather will be a huge change. I mean, today in South Bend, it was 55 degrees and we have a flood watch. Tomorrow it will be 78 and stormy. In Arizona, the temperatures are already reaching into the 90s and will be in the 100s by the time we move. And I doubt there will ever be flood watches. Although we've been to Phoenix in July and have experienced 113 degrees... it's different when you live there.
Another change is that we will be moving from our 2 bedroom cozy home to a 2 bedroom apartment. We, well, I am looking forward to decorating to new place and we both are especially excited about having a pool in our complex. God totally knew we were going to be on this adventure at this time in our lives. 3 years ago when we were engaged, we looked at moving to Phoenix, even went out to look at apartments and I looked into going to Arizona State to get my masters. Back then the cost of living, as well as out-of-state tuition, was too high for us. But now that God has been preparing us, and the place we are going, He has also prepared the same apartment complex that we wanted to be in 3 years ago for us now. Arrowhead Landing (www.arrowheadlanding.com) is the place we wanted to live 3 years ago, and it's the place we'll be moving into at the end of the month. God's funny like that huh? We are praying that our house sells and that I find a job soon so that we can afford to live in the apartment as soon as we move while our house is still on the market.
The most difficult change will be leaving our amazing family and friends. Almost all of our family (both sides) live in Indiana or Michigan. It will be hard to leave our parents and siblings, and the new nephew that will arrive in the August. Along with our close friends who will welcome a beautiful girl in September, our great church family, and our crazy dog Rockne (who will be moving in with Eric's parents)... yes these will be the hard things to leave: Notre Dame football games, Bethel, our first home, the US 20 bypass, green trees, planting flowers, Hacienda, mowing, etc.
But we know that we have a lot to gain. We completely feel that God has big plans for us. This is GOD's adventure for US- something GOD has blessed and something we have prayed over for years. This will help us to strengthen Eric and I as a family, our own family, our own adventure. It will be good for us to be on our own, to rely on God and each other to grow, learn, and develop in our marriage. We are still praying for guidance and patience as I continue to to apply for jobs. We're also praying that we find a church that shares the same beliefs and values we do based on God's word. This will help us to develop relationships and find others to share our journey with and become accountable with. There are a lot of changes about to occur... we are so blessed, so excited, and so ready. This giant leap of faith is about to begin.
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