Hanging in There

I can't wait to one day log on here and write a post that says, "he got the job, we're moving!"... We still wait.

Last week we drove five hours so Matt could go on an interview that had to get rescheduled due to the snow storm. He returned this past Monday and finally interviewed. It went really well and we got all excited about the idea of e actually getting to move, soon. I had started looking at Craigslist ads again, trying to find that *perfect* place. Then we got the word on Thursday that they decided to go with someone else. I cried and cried.

The good news that came out of this week is that my job, which would have ended next Friday, has been extended by a couple months. A sister winery has acquired me to help with some data work, so I will attend a week long training on the west side and then work remotely. I am grateful for the work considering we are in such limbo, I did not know how I would find a job here when I cannot commit to anything permanently.

We managed to laugh a lot this weekend, all thanks to a "Good Fart" app that Matt found for his Android phone. That App helped me stop boo-hooing last night so I could actually sleep. We went to church this morning; it was part of a series on "Questions I always wanted to ask God." Today's was on how we can know God's will for our life. It was really interesting - how God purposely does not reveal all the details of His will for our life at once. It cannot be determined based on feelings, there is not a formula, and you cannot figure it out by randomly opening your Bible and reading what it says. It is about being a living sacrifice for Him. It was really good to hear. Living with Matt's folks is hard because they each have health issues that we wish we could fix and cannot. I can do what I can to help make meals, do dishes, clean the house, etc - but in the end, it is not my home. I spend a lot of time in our room because that is the one place I feel that has order and balance in it.

What is so crazy is we have the money and can afford to live on our own - but we have been in limbo since November with Matt's work, so we cannot up and move when we don't know where we are supposed to be! A month to month lease is not helpful either as my job is only good for two more months. :( All this to say, this is one of the hardest seasons that I have ever experienced. My relationship with the in-laws is deteriorating. My work is uncertain. Matt is unhappy in his job. We do not like living in our town. All my friendships here have suffered because I am too embarrassed to invite anyone over and our weekends get hijacked with Matt's work and school and our desperate need for alone time. Going for a weekend run now has a whole new meaning.

I hate being a complainer. In my life when all my circumstances were speaking to me like this, I have been able to make swift changes. In this, so many situations and issues are in the way for much change to occur at all. I miss the evergreen trees of Western Washington and we long to be there. If anyone is looking to hire a really great recruiter in the Seattle area, you would have the most dedicated and wonderful employee in my husband.

Well I have shared more than I normally would, but I hope that if someone out there is not understanding why bad things keep on happening to them, they would see that they are not alone. On a random note - we saved up money to buy a new mattress when we move - a fancy organic mattress that costs as much as a used Honda - and I am seriously considering sleeping on camping foam pads for a year and us using the money to go to Ireland. Thoughts?

A New Year

It turns out that making a long-time public blog private is proving to be more of a daunting challenge than I wanted to take up right now, so I'm not. Perhaps when the kiddos arrive - but in the meantime, I am okay with not being the best blogger and just posting when I can. And commenting when I can, for that matter. Plus, it would not be in folks' Google Readers anymore and that is a great time saver!

It is snowing here today. Finally a quiet day at home, unplanned. I am going a bit stir crazy, actually. I'd love to be catching up on some laundry, but our washer broke over the weekend and getting a repair technician here will not be anytime soon. So I am waiting until we run out of underwear before I do laundry!

I have to share that I was really touched by all of the comments I got on my last post - I had no idea so many folks cared about my lil' blog! It was really encouraging. Most days I feel like I have a relatively boring life. Perhaps that is why I live for weekends - that is when we break from "routine" and even weekends have one thanks to Matt currently having to work on Saturdays...

I also confess I have been waiting to write for when I had good news to share. We are still waiting on word about Matt's job, our subsequent move following news of work, and me starting a new job. My current one ends in about three weeks. "Ends" because, I gave notice under the impression that we were moving at the end of December...and have mooched as long as I possible can there now. Thank goodness we've been saving up, knowing this is coming. I will not pursue finding a job in our current city. Lord willing, it will not be a long season of unemployment.

I heard a sermon yesterday about "patient endurance", based on the book of Hebrews. There was an illustration of a young woman that was frustrated that God had not brought her a prince charming yet, in her timing. So, she settled for less than God's best for her, and suffered. We are hoping that in this season of vocational uncertainty, that God will teach us patient endurance. Because the Lord knows that I can certainly attest to its worth as I think about how long I waited for my sweet husband and how amazing of a man that God gave me. I want His best for us now, with our jobs and a place to call home. At this time it is a total mystery. And in the meantime, I pray that God teaches me how to endure the difficulties that I am experiencing with vocational uncertainty and gives me patience to live in a home that is not our own. We can only take things a day at a time right now, and I am okay with that. I trust Him!
Happy New Year all, a bit late ;) Stay warm and safe out there!

Going Private

Happy almost new year, y'all...

Lord knows I am SO ready for a new year.

Thanks for the kind thoughts regarding the tough times we have been having. It is still not easy. The only thing going right is marriage - Matt and I are in this together. We are hopeful a new job for Matt in the coming month so we can move.

Christmas was REALLY hard. We were all alone, and did not get a single phone call all day. I cleaned the house all day while Matt worked on his final paper. Then, he had to work at 5:45am on the 26th, so I started working on the house again around 6:30 and worked until 8pm at night straightening, dusting, vacuuming, organizing, purging, cooking, re-arranging, etc.

Well I have finally decided to take this blog private so I can actually write stuff again. And, take photos. I am embarrassed to put up photos lately as I have no time or software to edit them with. I miss that creative outlet.

I have had a public blog since 2005 - I did not mind my life being an open book then. For some reason, I do now.

So, if you would like access to my blog after January 1st - please leave me a comment. I will then contact you for your email if I do not already have it, and add it to my email-name list.

I am sorry to all of the blurkers! I hope that you understand.

I hope you all are doing great! Am I the only one having to work today?

:)

Dust Yourself Off and Try Again

No sooner than I had published my last post we got a tidal wave of bad news.

1. Matt found out he cannot move with his work-from-home job. He has to stay local.

2. He has been on several interviews for better positions and did not get any of them.

3. We had to give up our little dream house we found because we could not commit to a moving date.

4. Did I mention our little dream house had water views?

5. Matt has to work on Christmas. Again. We will be all alone on Christmas, again. Family will be celebrating a four hour drive away.

6. I already put in notice at my work and cannot be guaranteed a job past January.

The silver lining from this week:

1. I went to the dentist yesterday and had no cavities and he said he could tell I floss everyday.

2. I found this picture of Matt on my memory card that I forgot I had:


3. I got a new phone and will be able to blog remotely from it now. My ancient flip-phone is now retired!

4. Today is Friday and I get to dance with my life partner at the company Christmas party tonight!

5. I won a Starbucks card at a gift exchange just went my coffee budget was running out. God provides!

So, there is the truth. Just keeping it real. I bought slipcovers for our new (used) furniture with the hope that we will get to use it in the coming year. We also decided to join a gym because since there is no room at Matt's folks living room to do a jumping jack, I will have to retire my beloved Shred DVD's for awhile. My treadmill is also not in a place where I can really use it either.

I could use a nice long run. Get some stress out and leave it on the pavement. As soon as it is above 30 degrees F out - we will hit the trails again.

Have a good weekend, all.

December

Okay, 11 days into the year, I need to write something here...

We put up a tree this weekend. Okay, I put it up while Matt sat near me working (work from home assignment right now, woot!) and it is adorable. About a foot and a half tall! We are moving soon so this tree is all we will do this year.

Moving...yes...soon! We are waiting on one more green light before we pick from two houses (rentals) we found last weekend. This move is highly anticipated, somewhat planned, and a bit of desperation. We miss family and the west side of the state so much. Since Matt can work from home right now, we decided to go for it while he continues to interview for other opportunities at corporate in Seattle.

Speaking of, Matt endured six hours of interviews last Tuesday. I took the day off to be with him (and so we could go house hunting!). It was a fun weekend together, making our plans for the future. Great family time with my mom and dad, too!

I am exhausted tonight. Between Matt working yesterday and having to write a grad paper all day today, I have used the time to tackle a lengthy to-do list. I feel great about all that I accomplished but my arms feel like spaghetti!

This Friday is my company's annual holiday party. I am wearing a dress I bought in 2002 and I got new shoes today to go with it. I am pretty excited about it :)

We have a thick layer of frost on everything here right now. It is beautiful. Everything is quiet and still outside. It has been too cold to even go running, so I unearthed my treadmill this weekend. Literally - when my in-laws moved back home they brought back a lot of exotic fabric from around the world and that was what was covering it. It is now set up again and ready to go!

I made fudge today, following a recipe. It turned out chewy...not quite right. Oh well - we will enjoy making another batch! (Don't worry mom, we will pace ourselves).

I know it is the busiest time of year for most folks but I am really enjoying not having a whole lot on my plate. We had to step down from doing a lot of church service this year, scale back on running after the marathon, and attend less events thanks to being a one-car family. I am finally feeling "quiet" enough that this season feels more solemn and holy. It is hard to not see family and friends as much right now, but that is okay. I don't feel lonely.

Things are one day at at time until we get our green light. Until then...

Thanksgiving Weekend 2011

It was so wonderful to get away to the beach this past weekend.
We were so excited to join my older sister and her husband and my folks for a little couples' retreat!
Matt was super prepared with rain gear. Camo is not pretty, but the coat was functional :)
I loved watching the ocean, and these little birds that would run along the crashing waves. How fun is it to run away from a crazy incoming wave?
Bonfire at night, with smores, on the beach. Bliss!

I hope you all had a great long weekend! Lots going on this week and many changes ahead. We are excited....

Funny Friday

We just got the photos from the Marine Corps Marathon back - man, do Matt and I like to ham it up for the cameras! Me especially:
Really, I was not that tired...well... Just look at Matt, cracking up! So funny.
Somehow, they caught us smooching at mile 15...
And again, making my best face ever. My mom would say to me, "don't make faces like that when you are dating...". Welp, he married me anyway!
Best High Five Ever - from a Marine at the end of a 26.2 mile race!
Best Kiss Ever - at the end of a marathon! Well, we were stinky, but it was the thought that counted.
The two of us, marathon finishers, together. What a memory!

We got some good news this week that there is hope regarding Matt's job - he got an extension for his current assignment, and there were some other openings that he can pursue as well. We are praying and remaining grateful!

In the meantime, it is FRIDAY! Whoop whoop! ;)

Reality

This is sort of funny, and sort of makes me cringe.

In a previous post I wrote about my excitement about us moving soon. Well, everything is on hold now.

Just after we returned from DC, we got word that Matt's position would be ending around Thanksgiving, and he would have to revert back to his old job. He was crushed. He did such a great job at what he did that they set a department record. The news was total shock to us, as I had just put in notice at my job and we had started looking for places to live across the state.

I have been unable to write about it because we just do not know what to do. Matt is doing an amazing job at keeping his head up - I am a little slower at that, but we do manage to still have a sense of humor about it all. We are praying about it all, and trusting that God has His reasons for all of this.

I am aching to have a place of our own, but in the meantime I will remain grateful for Matts' folks hospitality. I long to rid my life of a time-sucking commute, but in the meantime I will be grateful for public transportation.

Well, at least I work at a winery! :)

I hope to update my blog soon when we know more, and I have access. Until then!

2 Years!

Two years ago today I married my best friend! We are a huge fan of marriage, and it has been awesome. It has been a crazy year, but we are so thankful to have each other. I love you Matt!

Ah I still need to write about our vacation...need to find my memory card... more soon! ;)

Vacation

DSC_0845, a photo by ruhiyyihrose on Flickr.

Fancy hotel in Old Town
A jog along the Potomac
Coffees at little cafes
Seeing all my former co-workers
Happy Hour at an Irish pub
Crazy metro rides
Dinner at the Edison House
SNOW (yes, in October)
Expo for Marathon
Doing crossword puzzles
Church service at Ebenezers' coffeehouse by Union Station
Pizza at Uno's
Another fancy hotel
Chop'd Salads mmmmm
Marathon jitters and preparations
Running a marathon...
Getting cheered on by family
Having a stomach ache for 6 hours...
FINISHING the marathon (barely!)
Hot showers and no blisters
Eating Chipotle for dinner
Laughing thinking about all the costumes in the race
Good SLEEP
Crazy traffic
Mt Vernon Estate and sunny skies
Crazy taxi rides and more traffic
Lugging our luggage all over DC
Seeing old friends, meeting new ones
The Pentagon Memorial at night
Catching our flight home by 4 minutes...
Awesome.

Will write soon after I get some laundry done and recover a bit! ;)

The Home Stretch

Back in February we signed up to run a marathon, not knowing that Matt's work schedule would change and that he would be in the toughest of grad classes at the same time. I am so proud of his hard work! Now, we are in the home stretch - almost to race day. And ironically, we've run a marathon this whole year. Well, actually, over 400 miles, but that is just road miles. Life mile markers are a whole category in itself.

Finding time to blog has not been easy, and then when I can write, I have a writers' block of sorts where I don't know where to start. My audience includes family, friends, and strangers - and I am just mostly writing to help me remember stuff. So all I have been writing about is the memories I want to remember. Not the yucky stuff. So, I am not apologizing for my lack of writing - that is just annoying - but really, saying that it has been a hard year.

I looked through my Flickr photos just so I could remember the fun times we have been blessed to have this year. The best thing about the year? Marriage. Matt is a dream husband and a treasure. More than I had ever hoped for, he continually amazes me.

The worst thing about this year? Not having time to be the friend or family member that I want to be. I hate to sound like a broken record, but being away from home 11 hours a day makes a lot of things have to go out the window. Like, a weekday social life, for example. Then, on most weekends this year, Matt had to work one day of them. Since August he has been blessed with a new position at work, but it has come with lots of overtime. We are grateful for the income, but it is hard on him. On us. Lots of work hours + marathon training + grad school = grueling year.

Matt's folks whom we have been house sitting for 2 years for returned home this summer - we love them to pieces - but there is just no room for us anymore. We are taking up space that they need, as we waited out if this job for Matt was the right one. Since it is work-from-home, he can move with it.

All this to say, we are moving back to Western Washington before the end of this year. Iamsoexcited.

But before that? VACATION. A much needed, year overdue long week away. Back to DC - where the Marine Corps Marathon awaits.

Remind me next time I plan a vacation to leave the marathon part out though, okay?

I will be back next week with a recap. In the meantime, cheer us on! ;)

Finally - A Post!

Life is so crazy right now. I have thought about a bunch of potential blog posts in my head then never get to writing them. My only "down" time is at work, when all my projects are done and I am stuck there for a day. Once home it is a race against the clock to get to all my personal projects and tasks.

We are less than two weeks from freedom - the marathon will be over by then, and Matt's really tough class that he has right now will be completed. Yeah! He has worked so hard, I am so proud of him!

In spite of the crammed schedule, we were blessed to get in some much needed family time this past weekend. On the four hour drive over, Matt worked on a paper. On the drive back - same paper! Even now, he types.

We celebrated my older sisters' birthday on Saturday by going on a chocolate tour! It was really fun and a beautiful day in Seattle. Fall colors galore. Lots of laughs and lots of...you guessed it...chocolate ;)


We loved seeing our little nephew and sister-in-law. Love those curls!


Sunday was a big half-marathon race for us. "Big" in the sense that it was a run in which we really pushed ourselves, and for the cause - our soldiers! "Race for a Soldier" was a blast - and we got personal best times. It was cold, and I am getting over a bug, so I struggled a bit. But, we did it! Immediately afterward, we found our way to a nearby Panera and indulged in a broccoli cheddar soup bread bowl. YUM!

God blessed us with a beautiful evening ferry ride across the Puget Sound:

That is all I have time for now, just a little fun update. Happy Monday, all!

Friends

Matt and I ran in a half marathon on Saturday morning as part of preparations for the Marine Corps Marathon next month. It was gorgeous out, an awesome course, and we were dead tired at the end which means we need to seriously step up our training...
So we had some good friends visit us on Sunday. I should say that Matt and I have not had one social event all month. Yes, that is correct. Between 11-12 hour work days, commutes, school, running, and trying to have time to also help out his folks we have no spare time whatsoever. So to have friends come and visit us was a real treat. It was a breath of fresh air to hang out with an engaged couple. I love love!
Drew and Stacey's story is similar to ours in that they courted long distance and have a miracle ring story. They are affectionate and affirming with each other and it was delightful to be around. Matt and Drew have known each other for over a decade. The storytelling was so funny!
I can hardly stand it when Matt's nose scrunches - it is one of my very favorite things about him, because he laughs so much. I am one blessed woman!
He stayed up late writing a paper on Sunday night. What a stud. I am really looking forward to when our schedule slows down, tho. I really miss spending time with other couples. We feel bad turning down invites and not taking initiative with inviting folks over. Well, then there is the other issue which is our living situation...more on that later.

Happy Monday, all!

A Quick Trip Home

My middle brother was visiting from Colorado, so I jumped at the chance this past weekend to see him while he was here. Our family cat was in seventh heaven getting so much attention!
My youngest brother was also visiting, after a summer away in Hood River. Mom gave him a haircut.... :)
Mom spent most of her time in the kitchen, as usual...
I found dad checking on the progress of his growing bean stalks...
And my dear Matt was off on a camping trip with his brother. I came down sick so I pretty much just laid around most of Saturday and Sunday.
But the weekend was not a loss, per se. It was just really great to see everyone :)

I am home sick today and a bit bummed about it. When I am home I like to get stuff done. I am not so good at the laying around part!

Happy Monday, all!