DWI

DWI. That's right. I did it. I "drove while ill."

It's not fun being sick with no one to bring me soup so if someone could fly down here and make me soup I would be eternally grateful!

I don't have much to say today. I've started to work more, most likely why I am sick now... snotty little children. Oh well. I need to go back to bed now.

I hope all is well with everyone!

Attitude Adjustment

Not many of you know but I got a part time position at Build A Bear. At first I did not want to share this information with anyone but God has been working on me. There are many reasons I didn't want many people to know but to give you the Cliff Notes version: I was embarrassed. I am a college educated woman with years of experience and training in the field of human services and I can do better than a minimum wage job in a mall. Sounds kinda prideful, huh? Well it is and that is something I have been trying to work through.

My plan when I moved down here was to find a job, any job, then work at finding something full time within my field. If you noticed, that sentence started with "My plan." I've started to realize that my plan might not be God's plan and it says pretty clearly that "His ways are higher than our ways" and so I have been trying to learn humility and patience. I don't believe that God led me down here to work part time but I do know that he has a plan and that he is getting me to trust him and to wait. Two things I'm not very good at. A verse I have continued to go back to is Proverbs 16:9. Look it up and maybe you too will go through an attitude adjustment.

In other news, I think I may have found a church! I went to one yesterday that was amazing. Before I even walked in the door I had about 10 people welcome me and show genuine interest in me. Then the worship was just a group of people coming together to sing to our Jesus. It felt great. I will keep you updated on that.

I also went to the Hillsong United concert which was absolutely amazing. At first I was worried about going alone but it didn't matter, I was there to praise.

I'm pretty excited for this weekend because there is going to be a "Really Good, Really Big, Really Cheap Book Sale" downtown. (I didn't come up with that myself, it's what is on all the signs) And since I have read every book on my shelf I can get some more!

I hope all is well with each of you! Miss everyone!!

One Week

It's been one week... since you've looked at me... just kidding. I apologize for starting this blog off with a bad reference to the Barenaked Ladies but I couldn't help myself. Here I go again....

It's been one week since I dropped my mom off at the airport and started my new life by myself. Here is what I've accomplished:

- I've read 4 books

- Watched 10 movies

- Called the maintenance men 3 times

- Gone on countless visits to Target

- Slammed my thumb with a hammer 5 times

- Stubbed my toes on my bed twice

- Walked around a farmers market

- Unpacked everything but my bedroom

- And made dinner every night

So it's not as much as I would have liked to accomplish but I think it was fairly productive for a first week. This upcoming week I plan to get out more. I want to go to a state park and go for a hike, attend the outdoor music nights downtown, and find something new that I didn't know about. I also am attending the Hillsong United concert on Tuesday!!! (Be jealous)

Here is what I have done so far with the place:

My Living Room

My Dinning Room

My Kitchen

My Bathroom

And My Deck

I have been having so much fun making this place my new home. That's all I have for now. I hope all is well with each and every one of you. :)

New Home

I got my keys today! Tomorrow I will be moving all my stuff in!

As I got ready to move here I went through a rolodex, if you will, of emotions. I have felt everything from overwhelmed to carefree, panicked to peace that passes all understanding, and nervous to excited. The final emotion that I felt was sadness. I was completely unprepared for that one.

I am thrilled to see where God is taking me down here and what is in store but leaving my home was much harder than I thought it would be. I have lived at 9 Little Ascutney Rd for 20 years and now, not only am I moving away but when I come home to visit, home will not be home. My mom is also moving out of the house in Perkinsville and my brother and his new wife are moving in. There are many changes happening and it all hit me in the last three days before I left.

I am not attached to the walls and ceilings of my house but rather the memories. The house is where my brother Matt taught me my times tables and Tim taught me about power tools. It's where I roller bladed in circles for hours while my grandfather chipped away at a piece of wood with his swiss army knife. It's my childhood. But I'm growing up and moving on.

I am loving my new home. Mom and I pulled in at 4:30 this afternoon and after picking up my keys we went downtown for dinner. Of course I had to find a good brewery first so we ate at Blue Ridge Brewing Co. It was delicious. Then we needed a chocolate fix and found a cupcake haven called The Chocolate Moose. The best part (after the delicious cupcakes): they serve Green Mountain Coffee!! A little piece of home all the way down here.

Apartment!

I have an apartment!

Here is the view from the parking lot. My balcony is the one upstairs on the left. Building 23. I think it's a sign. ;)

Here is my living room and dining room.

More pictures will be added once I make it my own.

Lessons from SC

In my continuing learning journey tonight I will bring you insights about South Carolina. Here are a few things I have learned about this great state:

1. They, like most southern states, love NASCAR. (Not a sport!)

2. No matter what kind of music they normally play, all radio stations become christian on Sunday mornings.

3. No one uses blinkers.

4. I'm pretty sure they still harbor anger towards yankees.

5. People stay up past 9pm!

I'm sure there have been other things. Let's face it, it's the south, they're weird. But I'm loving it! I applied to 10 jobs today. My hand it still seizing; but I already have two interviews for when I get back! Tomorrow I am going to be looking at a few apartments. This is the part I have been most excited for. I will hopefully have pictures and more to talk about tomorrow!

Lesson #2

Lesson of the day: Confidence

I know this may come as a shocker to all of you but I lack confidence on occasion. Some things I am not confident in include snowboarding, breakdancing, and foreign languages. At the top of the list, though, would be eating alone in a restaurant. I hate it. I don't want to do it. Unfortunately I am alone, in a new state, 16 hours from home, and hungry.

I did it though. I went to Applebees. I first went to the downtown area where there are a lot of quaint outdoor cafes and local restaurants but I really couldn't do that. I at least had to go somewhere that I was mildly comfortable. I would like to point out at this point that instead of sports playing on the televisions at the bar there was Nascar. Not a sport people!

I feel the need to mention that I am not trying to be negative. When I started out on this trip I knew that I would be growing in many areas and I was, and still am, excited for that. But as you all know, growth is tough and I struggle with it as much as anyone else. So this is not me pointing out the bad points of my trip; it is me being human and trying to grow.

Overall, I am having a wonderful time. I love this town already. The Main St (which was apparently voted America's best Main St in 2003) is absolutely adorable. Just what you picture when you think of "Main St". There are cute local shops for everything from stationary to leather. There are also numerous restaurants, all with outdoor seating. I'm even getting to know my way around. Other than my trip to Target, I haven't used my GPS today. I also got to enjoy one of my favorite places, Steak N Shake! I know, it's another chain. Maybe tomorrow I will work up the courage to go into a local cafe.