Coming Up Roses

I can remember just a few months ago when Beverly and I were in the midst of broken down cars, overdrawn bank accounts, medical leave and general work stress and our constant prayer was just for things to get easier.

Often times as Christians we walk for so long that we take our struggle for granted. Beverly and I would pray for each other that our worries would subside and we could just breathe easy. During that time we would listen to WBGL together and encourage each other to keep our faith.

This week, specifically today, it seems like our faith and patience has been rewarded. Just this week alone I am ending one job, starting another, moving into a loft, reuniting with my duck after 5 months and packing and cleaning endlessly.

Beverly is celebrating her own transitions, with a new apartment, new job and blossoming relationship. It seems like we are indeed growing up.

Today I left the job I have been at for nearly two years. Through this job I have met my two best friends and ultimately my dearest duck. It has been a hard two years but I have grown, learned and transformed so much that I have to look back on it fondly. I am starting a new chapter right now. I am moving, starting a new job and opening up so many pages in my life. I can't wait to see where this road takes me.

Mustard Seeds

Considering the last two weeks have been a total and complete blur of God just blessing me left and right in every aspect of my entire life, I'll try to sum it up as best as I can...with a list. 

1) I felt God calling me to move back to my hometown, get more involved with my church youth group, specifically the teenage girls. 

2) I finish my internship for my master's program in 9 days. 

3) I started applying to post-grad jobs in Bloomington, praying along the way that God's will be done and would be completely and totally obvious to me.

4) In a matter of 7 days I applied, was interviewed and hired onto a wonderful company in Bloomington that is literally perfect for me. God showed me along the way that it was his will, by sharing that my new supervisors I'll be working with are also strong Christian women. 

5) Last week at church my youth pastor asked me to step up and be a leader on the youth trip to King's Island this week. In a matter of three days I had wonderful coworkers switching shifts to accomodate the days off needed to go on the trip. 

6) I found the perfect apartment. I viewed it. I needed a deposit. I prayed. I saw mustard seeds everywhere and my family and friends came together to get me the deposit. 

7) I made my application and my deposit to the leasing office literal moments before someone else went  to apply. 

8) The apartment is mine pending the approval of my application. Yesterday when I went to look at it with one of my bff's the key I got from the leasing office didn't open the door. In perfect timing the neighbor to my future apartment let me in the front door and then I was able to see the apartment. 

9) It is completely gorgeous. 

It's so amazing how God just shows me each and every day how big and loving He is. Two weeks ago I didn't know where I was going. Now I'm weeks away from moving back home, into a beautiful apartment, blocks away from my best friend, my new job, my church and grandma. I couldn't be happier. 

Oh...this would be my view every day when I walked out my front door :-) 

Run, Don't Walk

Hello friends. I apologize that it has been over a month since I last wrote. My life has continued to be increasingly insane and it really hasn't slowed down. In two weeks I will be finishing my internship and officially done with graduate school!! In other news....I'm moving!

A few weeks ago I started applying to post-grad jobs. I really felt the Lord calling me back to my hometown. He was laying it on my heart to get more and more involved with my church and making it clear that in order to do so, I'd have to be in Bloomington. This was equal parts welcoming and hard for me. My family and a few friends are still in Bloomington, while my love is 2000 miles away in California. I put in a few different applications, not expecting to hear anything back this soon. Well...in a 5 day turnaround (!!!) I applied, interviewed and was hired for a salary position in Bloomington.

I guess it turns out that when God wants you somewhere he will move in giant ways to get you there. On top of that...I start in 3 weeks and somehow have to find a place to live in that amount of time. I have replied to 34,523 Craigslist ads (or so it feels) for rooms for rent, people seeking roommates, etc. I'm blessed enough to have gotten a response and it seems like God is once again working in huge ways to physically get me down here.

Life has been insane lately. I put in my notice and I end this job on July 25th and start my new job on July 26th. Yeah...this is happening FAST. I have NO money saved up for a move because I haven't bounced back from medical leave yet and I wasn't expecting to move this soon.

Now would be the time for huge prayers for me as I continue to put my ducks in a row and start this new chapter of my life.