Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
The DOT...
I don't think I have ever had a favorable experience with the DOT and lately with all of the car buying and selling we have been interacting frequently. Today I had my first run in with the Missouri version. All I can say is...Thank God I got the guy I did and not the mean lady in the booth next to him! Larry at the DOT was my friend because apparently buying two cars within 90 days of moving brings with it abundant paperwork and big checks. I spent no less than an hour at the counter and nearly a grand getting our cars registered. He was patient and only followed the rules given to him by the state, but seriously?
So, my advice to you...watch out for Missouri tax laws and if you ever need anything at the DOT talk to Larry. :) Another hurdle overcome...now we get to switch our drivers license, oh yea and my nursing license too. I'm sure it will be an adventure.
Monday, September 5, 2011
What a long week...
Our time in Iowa is over and it was so sad to leave! We are incredibly grateful for the time God gave us in Iowa City and all of our sweet friends. I'm trying not to dwell on the sadness of leaving though. I know I could just sit here and miss Iowa, but this is where God has us now. He has been so clear in His will getting us here, now it is time to trust Him through the transition. That being said...I miss Iowa.
So far so good on this whole Columbia thing though. The weekend was really refreshing. I got in Friday night after the most emotionally taxing week and went to bed. The rest of the weekend has been filled with cleaning, cooking, shopping, and meeting new friends. Sweet Elizabeth McKinney, her husband Chris and their small group have been a blessing from the Lord! We have loved meeting new friends and starting to form relationships in this city.
We also went for a walk downtown and on campus and decided that this place is A LOT like Iowa City...super trendy with fun shops and local restaurants...but with just a little southern flare. A big plus was the awesome little greek place we went for dinner.
I promise once I find our camera in this mess I'll get some pictures posted!
So far so good on this whole Columbia thing though. The weekend was really refreshing. I got in Friday night after the most emotionally taxing week and went to bed. The rest of the weekend has been filled with cleaning, cooking, shopping, and meeting new friends. Sweet Elizabeth McKinney, her husband Chris and their small group have been a blessing from the Lord! We have loved meeting new friends and starting to form relationships in this city.
We also went for a walk downtown and on campus and decided that this place is A LOT like Iowa City...super trendy with fun shops and local restaurants...but with just a little southern flare. A big plus was the awesome little greek place we went for dinner.
I promise once I find our camera in this mess I'll get some pictures posted!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
I think I am a Columbian...
I checked out of our apartment today. It was the first place we ever lived together and I was a little sad to go. We will always remember that little place.
Goodbye 30 #2...you were an nice little place to live :)
I had this moment as I was walking the last bag of trash out to the dumpster when I realized..."I don't live here anymore." I can't believe in the past few weeks we have made all of these decisions. The reality of leaving is really sinking in. I know it is a good thing though, God is in this and I am excited to see what He'll do.
Have I mentioned we like visitors in our new home? Seriously though...anytime :)
Goodbye 30 #2...you were an nice little place to live :)
I had this moment as I was walking the last bag of trash out to the dumpster when I realized..."I don't live here anymore." I can't believe in the past few weeks we have made all of these decisions. The reality of leaving is really sinking in. I know it is a good thing though, God is in this and I am excited to see what He'll do.
Have I mentioned we like visitors in our new home? Seriously though...anytime :)
Thursday, August 11, 2011
It is all a blur...
Life has been moving so fast. We were driving into North Liberty after moving our things to Columbia Tuesday and I just started crying. I really haven't been very upset about this whole moving process, but in that moment it hit me. God greeted me with the truth that this world is not my home and that far too often I try to find my comfort here instead of in Jesus.
Except for the moments of sadness things have been great. We moved all of our things down to Columbia last Monday. We packed our own boxes and then the movers came Monday morning to crate them down in a huge 18 Wheeler. I had never done this moving thing before but I honestly found it a little unnerving. The two men who came to get our things were nice enough, but I was grateful to have my husband around while they were there. Our new place is really nice and we went to a great restaurant that had the best green pepper rings. I didn't know they made rings out of green peppers but...wow.
Wednesday night we stayed at our favorite (ok it's the only one we have been to) B & B in Dubuque. It is called the Hancock House and we are walking advertisements for the place. We stayed there once last fall and went again to celebrate our first anniversary. The house is on the Historical registry and has the cutest rooms and a great view. The owners are this sweet little couple who would do anything so that you had a great stay.
Now we are back in our empty apartment. I work this weekend...it is my last weekend at St. Luke's and I feel pretty bittersweet about it. I will miss my weekend girls so much...but not working all night every third weekend has it's perks. Tonight we get to have dinner with my brother and sister in law who are in town from South Dakota and I am so excited to see them. It has been way too long. Praise God for sweet friends and family, I'm not sure what I would do without them!!
The top of our wedding cake after it got warm...yum
It tasted only slightly better than it looked.
All of our things ready to go.
The beautiful Hancock House!
We spent some time reading on the porch this morning. It was beautiful!
Except for the moments of sadness things have been great. We moved all of our things down to Columbia last Monday. We packed our own boxes and then the movers came Monday morning to crate them down in a huge 18 Wheeler. I had never done this moving thing before but I honestly found it a little unnerving. The two men who came to get our things were nice enough, but I was grateful to have my husband around while they were there. Our new place is really nice and we went to a great restaurant that had the best green pepper rings. I didn't know they made rings out of green peppers but...wow.
Wednesday night we stayed at our favorite (ok it's the only one we have been to) B & B in Dubuque. It is called the Hancock House and we are walking advertisements for the place. We stayed there once last fall and went again to celebrate our first anniversary. The house is on the Historical registry and has the cutest rooms and a great view. The owners are this sweet little couple who would do anything so that you had a great stay.
Now we are back in our empty apartment. I work this weekend...it is my last weekend at St. Luke's and I feel pretty bittersweet about it. I will miss my weekend girls so much...but not working all night every third weekend has it's perks. Tonight we get to have dinner with my brother and sister in law who are in town from South Dakota and I am so excited to see them. It has been way too long. Praise God for sweet friends and family, I'm not sure what I would do without them!!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Home Sweet Home?
One year into our fun little marriage and our concept of, "home" is still fuzzy. Adam just finished pharmacy school and is licensed in Iowa. I am a nurse at the greatest NICU/Peds unit on the planet. We live in North Liberty, IA and love it here. We are surrounded not only by many of our amazing college friends but also some great new friends from church. Speaking of church, North Liberty is home to our wonderful church, Grace. It is a place where God's name is adored and people see the true love of Christ in the people who call Grace home.
Or at least until recently, that was the case. I knew when I married a Pharmacist that moving was a possibility. I escaped a move after I graduated by God's grace alone. I was hired at the site of my senior internship during a time when hospitals were not hiring. At that point Adam and I were still dating and getting pretty serious, so moving wasn't an option I wanted to take.
That wasn't God's plan for Adam. He took a job in Moberly, MO on Tuesday July 26th. During the past 6 months or more of applying and interviewing doors have been shut from all directions. The first plan was a pharmacy residency, which he was told would not be hard to obtain. Think again. There were several other jobs that came up after that and a bunch of interviews, but none were the perfect fit. Just last week I remember asking the Lord, "What direction do you want us to go when so many doors are closed?" I spent some time in Philippians 4:4-13. The words, "Rejoice in the Lord always, Rejoice," I knew were not true of my life. I was also convicted that I was not thinking about, "honorable, just, pure, true, lovely or commendable," things as the passage states. I spent some time confessing these attitudes as sin and walked away with a better view of the truth.
I am glad to say that I was the one to ask my sweet husband, "Have you looked a Missouri yet?" Last week in 1 day--after my tiny breakdown with Jesus--we went from no interviews to 3. Had an offer by Friday and another on Sunday. Then came decision time and after much prayer and discussion Moberly Medical Center is the place for Adam. We are choosing to rent a really nice apartment in Columbia (it is called "The Greens" look it up and be amazed) I'll start applying as soon as I can. There are a couple of big hospitals in Columbia including a Children's Hospital. So that's that. All the wishing and hoping and praying and we end up in Missouri! Bottom line, this decision was nothing but clear to us and we know we are going where the Lord wants us. We have no idea why, but we are following his lead.
We are so sad to be leaving our friends and family in Iowa but this is the first of many invitations...COME VISIT US! We have a pool, hot tub, sauna and golf course. We will also come back often. I am here at least through the 18th of this month for work but we get our apartment the 7th so Adam might head down to start training during the weeks before I am done up here.
Or at least until recently, that was the case. I knew when I married a Pharmacist that moving was a possibility. I escaped a move after I graduated by God's grace alone. I was hired at the site of my senior internship during a time when hospitals were not hiring. At that point Adam and I were still dating and getting pretty serious, so moving wasn't an option I wanted to take.
That wasn't God's plan for Adam. He took a job in Moberly, MO on Tuesday July 26th. During the past 6 months or more of applying and interviewing doors have been shut from all directions. The first plan was a pharmacy residency, which he was told would not be hard to obtain. Think again. There were several other jobs that came up after that and a bunch of interviews, but none were the perfect fit. Just last week I remember asking the Lord, "What direction do you want us to go when so many doors are closed?" I spent some time in Philippians 4:4-13. The words, "Rejoice in the Lord always, Rejoice," I knew were not true of my life. I was also convicted that I was not thinking about, "honorable, just, pure, true, lovely or commendable," things as the passage states. I spent some time confessing these attitudes as sin and walked away with a better view of the truth.
I am glad to say that I was the one to ask my sweet husband, "Have you looked a Missouri yet?" Last week in 1 day--after my tiny breakdown with Jesus--we went from no interviews to 3. Had an offer by Friday and another on Sunday. Then came decision time and after much prayer and discussion Moberly Medical Center is the place for Adam. We are choosing to rent a really nice apartment in Columbia (it is called "The Greens" look it up and be amazed) I'll start applying as soon as I can. There are a couple of big hospitals in Columbia including a Children's Hospital. So that's that. All the wishing and hoping and praying and we end up in Missouri! Bottom line, this decision was nothing but clear to us and we know we are going where the Lord wants us. We have no idea why, but we are following his lead.
We are so sad to be leaving our friends and family in Iowa but this is the first of many invitations...COME VISIT US! We have a pool, hot tub, sauna and golf course. We will also come back often. I am here at least through the 18th of this month for work but we get our apartment the 7th so Adam might head down to start training during the weeks before I am done up here.
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