Update on our new home..and other things

I just wanted to give everyone an update on where we are now with our new home. I will be using a little bit of advanced terminology that I am not even 100% sure on, so I apologize in advance if I don't make sense. 

SO, here's what's gone down:

The seller's accepted our offer on the home

The inspector found a few things that that we asked the seller to fix

The seller was going to fix some of the major things on the house, meanwhile the VA appraiser gave a list of the things that NEEDED to be fixed for them to grant the loan. Some of those things were really stupid, like removing all the paint from the home and the shed and repainting them and adding railing on the staircase. So, we may not have a blue house after all :(. But I am happy with brick if it looks nice, and it should definitely be less maintenance. 

But, basically, all of the appraiser's requirements are going to cost a LOT of money, so we told the seller that if they would do those things, we would be fine with them not fixing the things we requested. 

Thankfully, we have VERY motivated sellers, so they were willing to do everything on the appraiser's list, as well as a few things on ours! 

Unfortunately, all of these repairs take some time, so we had to push the close date from today to March 14th. It's really not that big of a deal, but we have been living with other people since we got back from Germany, so we are just READY to have our own space again. 

We have asked the seller if we could move into the house before closing, and they are fine with it, but there will be a few days the house does not have electricity and a LOT of the windows need to be fixed, so it won't be the best living experience. Jonathan and I think it's worth it though, so we are going for it!

So, hopefully we will be "moving in" to our new home on March 3rd & it will be ours by March 14th!!

IN news not related to our home purchase, Jonathan will be a captain as of tomorrow, which is very exciting! But the poor guy isn't even part of a unit here yet, so there is no one to even recognize it or have a promotion party with. I know he's really torn up about it ;) (that's sarcasm, just so you know). But it also may be a blessing in disguise, because the girl we are staying with will also be a captain tomorrow, and she said she is expected to throw a party for her office & bankroll everyone's meal. So, kind of happy we don't have to do that. We'll just have to have a blowout when he becomes a major in, I don't know, like 8 years. 

ALSO, I have reconnected with the wonderful and amazing Beka Adam who is working at a ranch in Steamboat Springs. I love this woman and it was such a blessing to talk to her a few nights ago. She doesn't have facebook, and apparently if you don't have FB, it is super easy to miss out on what is going on in all of your friends lives. Isn't that sad? Note to self to keep in touch better with people who don't have FB. 

I am also proud to say that my New Year's Resolutions are on track. I decided to read the Bible in a year, going the very rebellious route of Genesis to Revelation straight through. People have tried to warn me off, but I will not be peer pressured! ;) I am on track with 1 Samuel & going strong! I also made the resolution to run a half marathon this year, which should surprise you all if you know me even a little. I have been waking up early and running 5 days a week. It's like I am a completely different person. Don't worry though, I still enjoy the occasional vegging with my Doritos and Gilmore Girls. Some things never change. 

That's all folks! I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Let's get on with it already!

Well, the past few months have somehow been ridiculously hectic and boring all at the same time. We have been (and still are) vagabonds living out of suitcases and at the mercy of our wonderful family and friends. We spent the holidays in Atlanta with our families and took a trip to visit Jonathan's grandparents and extended family in Phoenix & Tonto Basin. We spent way too much money on after-Christmas sales and answered way too many of the same questions about "what's next for us" at the different parties and gatherings and church events we attended. I took a trip to Fort Collins, CO to visit my wonderful friend Lauren & her beautiful baby Lucy. Jonathan and I went to our future possible home of Fayetteville to continue the search for house, made an offer on one in Pinehurst, had that offer pretty much rejected, and came back to Atlanta empty handed. 

Thankfully, it seems that all the transitional time is coming to an end. Jonathan has a few more days of Airborne school and then graduates this Thursday. I have spent the past few weeks in Fayetteville looking for homes & we have one under contract in the historic downtown district. Believe it or not, we have done the whole process while Jonathan has been in Airborne school, so he hasn't even seen the house! If that's not trust, I don't know what is. 

This week feels like something of a watershed week in the waiting period that has been the past few months. Today Jonathan will jump out of a plane for the first & second time in his life. I am waiting in anticipation for the call at the end of the day that he is okay. Tomorrow is my 26th birthday, which doesn't really mean anything in the transitional period, but it is always nice to have something to celebrate. Wednesday we will have the inspection on the home we have under contract and the VA will appraise it, so we are also holding our breaths that there is nothing majorly wrong with it & that is appraises higher than our purchase price. By Thursday Jonathan will have, hopefully & prayerfully, jumped out of an airplane 5 times and will be graduating from Airborne school. Oh, did I mention that he can't officially check into Fort Bragg until that happens, so we have really been without a home for almost 2 months now. And meanwhile, snow is on the way; which, in the South means that any or all of the above mentioned things could be cancelled until further notice...Except my birthday, unfortunately it seems aging is the only thing snow doesn't shut down here. 

If everything goes according to plan, we should be closing on the house on Feb 28th. So, while we still have a few more weeks of twiddling our thumbs the end is nigh & I could NOT be more excited about our new home. 

Please be praying for us as we set up our new lives in Fayetteville. I have already been blessed by friendships here and it has only been a few weeks. I know God has great things in store for us, and I want to be humble and willing when called upon. 

Love from Fort Bragg!

1705 Fort Bragg Road - Hopefully our future home!!

The holiday season is upon us

I don't care what Nordstrom says, when the weather gets chilly I put on some Christmas music, light a few candles and spend my weekends BAKING!

This is my FAVORITE time of year. It's the time to be thankful and realize how blessed you are. It's the time to cuddle and do puzzles and watch movies with your family. It's the time for festive dresses and hot chocolate and twinkle lights. 

But the best thing about Christmas is, in my opinion, Christ. Now is the time to realize you are free from the penalty of sin because of Him coming to earth as a humble infant. Jesus came to rescue Israel and bring forth the new covenant. He came to defeat Satan, if that isn't a reason to celebrate, I don't know what is. (Unless, of course, you don't believe in any of it, and then I guess you can just celebrate presents or time off work or something). 

But really, 'O Holy Night' is just around the corner, and I can't wait for the skies to open up so we can all rejoice with the angels in remembrance of such a sacrificial event in the birth of Christ. 

Here is hoping your holiday season is full of joy & not stress, thankfulness at your Thankgiving feast & not exasperation. Here's to silent and holy nights & not chaotic and fretful ones. 

And here's to lots and lots and lots of Christmas cookies. 

Catching Up

So, in the past few months a lot of things have gone down.

#1: Jonathan got into the Psychological Operations program and we found out we will be moving to Ft Bragg, NC

#2: We went on a cruise in the Mediterranean, going to Rome, Sicily, Ephesus, Athens & Crete.

#3: We spent a few days in Geneva visiting some beloved friends

#4: We went on a few weekend trips to Luxembourg, Bastogne, Tubingen (where I "studied abroad" in college), Stuttgart, Heidelberg, and a few other small towns.

#5: We realized we were leaving sooner than we thought, and have started the leaving process. We have shipped one of our cars and I am getting all of the home goods ready to go while Jonathan is spending his last month in Germany doing training. (Note my frustrated tone about them sending him away his last month.)


And here are some picks from our cruise & visit to Geneva:

Girl's Getaway to Cologne, Brussels & Amsterdam

The cathedral in Cologne

"a-a-A a-a-a-a-A A-A-AAAA" (Think Little Mermaid) THE CHOCOLATE MUSEUM in Cologne

Enjoying our chocolate drinks at the chocolate museum

The famous Cologne Cathedral

Belgian Waffles & Le Manneken Pis

A canal in Amsterdam

I love the Amsterdam architecture

DANGER ZONE!! We gorged on the cheese samples

   

The Amsterdam flower market

Back in Brussels!

This past weekend my friend Emmy & I went on a girl's trip to Belgium and Amsterdam. J and his friends also went to Belgium to do a battlefields and beer tour. I've seen enough of the Belgian battlefields, so we spent our time enjoying the scenery, eating Belgian waffles & chocolate and Dutch Gouda!! (J came home with a ton of Belgian beer gift packs & I came home with tons of tasty treats).

We spent the first evening in Cologne on our way to Brussels. We spent the morning there checking out the cathedral, a renowned chocolate museum & doing a little shopping. I forgot how much fun it is to shop with friends. Then we drove into Brussels and checked out the main sights that evening.

The next day we trained it to Amsterdam and walked a few miles all around the city. I just love the architecture of Amsterdam. I try not to let all of the drugs and sex everywhere ruin the beautiful city for me. We went to the newly renovated maritime museum, but I'd say the highlight was just walking down the canal roads. We found a hidden church which had some great history, and had such a good time we almost didn't get home. The trains all run differently Sunday nights, so we had a few mishaps and ended up missing our train from Antwerp to Brussels by TWO minutes. Yeah, the LAST train to Brussels. Thankfully, there was one that got us about 30 minutes away..and thankfully someone else was trying to get to Brussels too, so we ended up sharing a taxi the rest of the way. A little pricey, but definitely better than sleeping on the train station floor.

Our last day in Brussels we walked through some of the ritzier parts of the town, and then the place that used to contain all of the lepers, Marolles. There is some much to see in Brussels, and so many different areas, it's hard to tell when you are leaving one neighborhood and entering another.

The trip ended with a stop at a furniture shop. A Belgian woman once came to a Bamberg bazaar on post to sell her beautiful handmade furniture. A few of my friends bought pieces last time she was there, but J & I missed out. I have been green with jealousy ever since, so I just went directly to the source and got a beautiful kitchen island. I'm in love!! (And J doesn't hate it much either).

Emmy left for America the morning after we got back, so that was our last hurrah until I am back in the states. There is a good chance we will be stationed relatively close, so here's hoping!!

This weekend J & I are going to a medieval fest, so look forward to pictures! I hope you have a great weekend.

Rosh Hashanah/Where I have come in 2 years

Rosh Hashanah

Today is the start of the Jewish New Year. Shanah Tova!!!

Fun fact: this is the earliest in the year Rosh Hashanah has fallen since 1899.

Two years ago I was in Jerusalem for this particular celebration and it is always such a joy to remember my time there. I remember the blowing of the Shofar and greeting everyone with “Shanah Tovah” (have a good year). Rosh Hashanah is the start of the Jewish holiday season. Rosh Hashanah is followed by Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah & Chanukah. Somehow I ended up in that city for the new year, Atonement day, the festival of tabernacles & the celebration of the Torah. Needless to say, I had a lot of fun & learned a TON.

There is a group of Jews who call themselves the “dancing jews” and drove a van around Jerusalem during Simchat Torah. The van had a huge Torah on it and they followed it around dancing throwing the torah up in the air…it was really interesting. 

I actually started thinking about all of this last week, and then today I got an email from my old employer, the woman who I au paired for. She was rejoicing in the same things I had been thinking about. What an amazing past 2 years it has been since we were preparing for our move to Jerusalem! Her husband was already there studying and awaiting our arrival. 

Jerusalem meant so much to me. It was definitely the best time I have ever experienced in my relationship with Christ. It was a time of learning and of growth and of declaring my love to Him by being baptized. I also came in contact with some amazingly spiritually people and was often humbled to tears. I am often jealous of my time there. 

 Psalm 46:4-6
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

This is the WesternWall on the night of Rosh Hashanah two years ago. I had no idea what was going on when I heard of all of the Shofar's blowing throughout the city.

After I was baptized by Sam Fiore in Jerusalm

I took out an excerpt from a previous blog post: “Living Without Limitations” for the rest of this post:

“I keep feeling like this is just a pause out of my "real" life. That I will go back to Georgia, go back to school, go back to living with my parents, go back to work, go back to my friends, basically go back to the life I had before I left...and that was kind of a depressing thought. I want to change. I want to grow. I didn't move to Switzerland to stay the same person. And more importantly, God didn't send me to another place with completely new people and experiences to not show me something or use me in some way or teach me something.

So, I know that, when all is said and done, when I go back home in December, I will have changed...or I will have done something for the Kingdom. Maybe I won't figure it out until I am sitting in class in Georgia, or maybe I will never know. But I am sure that there is something for me, or something for me to do here. Which is exciting. Also, know that you are wherever you are for a reason.”

One thing I have been struck by recently is how my life has been so perfectly ordained. For instance, there is a possibility somewhere down the road J & I would have had a time to become friends and decide to get married; but if you take a good look at how our lives have gone, it doesn’t seem likely.

I just want to give a little timeline/reasoning for doing the things I have done & J doing the things he has done to show how it must all be some epic, pre-ordained plan:

Choice: J joined the army

Choice: I decided to be an Au Pair for family in Switzerland

No Control: J was stationed in Germany & deployed to Afghanistan Jan 2011

No Control: The family that I chose to work for decided to move to Jerusalem and take me with them Sept 2011

No Control: I had to fly back to America from Geneva before Dec 8^th (I think), because of the ticket I bought & because all of my stuff was in Geneva

Choice: I gave a blanket invite to my friends in Jerusalem to come with me so they could experience Europe

No Control: Only one friend excepted…and it was a guy

No Control: J was back from war

Choice: Try and figure out how to not have a super awkward weekend w/ just me and this guy in Geneva. Find someone to invite.

No Control: See that random friend from college (J) is back from deployment and is stationed in Germany

Choice: Invite random guy friend (J) to Geneva for the weekend

Choice: J decides to come

No Control: Guy friend from Jerusalem did his own thing most of the weekend & left J and I with each other

No Control/Choice: J & I really hit it off

Choice: J goes home for Christmas break

Choice: J & I hang out most of his Christmas break & he asks me to marry him & I say YES!

Basically, if you look at the above list, there are TONS of circumstances that we had no control over. If I had not been coming back from Jerusalem, I would not have invited a friend and then wanted someone else around to make it less awkward. If J hadn’t been stationed in Germany & gotten back from deployment when he did, I wouldn’t have been able to invite him. If I had a different day I needed to fly home, or my friend from Jerusalem didn’t want to spend time on his own and left J & I together all the time, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get to know each other like we did.

But most of all, if J wasn’t created by God the way he was, and if I wasn’t made the way I am, neither of us would have been comfortable with getting engaged after 9 days of dating. One or both of us would have thought that was insane, and he would have gone back to Germany & I would’ve stayed in America and we would’ve just chalked it up to a fun Christmas break.

Going back to my original excerpt, I am not saying that the point of my going to be an au pair was so I would end up married to J. There is SO much that came out of that amazing year in my life. I never would’ve been baptized in Jerusalem, I never would’ve become friends with amazing people like the Fiores, the Trumpers, and off the young adults at Crossroads & EBCG.

I’m just saying it was one obvious perk…

J came to visit me in Geneva the weekend I got back. This is the day I picked him up from the airport. Who knew what would come of a Swiss Christmas village and a Medieval castle?

 Psalm 48:14
For this God is our God for ever and ever;
    he will be our guide even to the end.

I will praise the Lord for what he has done in my life. I will celebrate Him and glorify Him with my life. Thank you Christ for your grace. Thank you for your overwhelming blessings. Thank you for Jerusalem, for the New Year, for J, and Michelle, Sam, Mia, little Sam, Margot & Lydia. Thank you for revealing your love to me through such amazing people in my life. 

I am exceptionally blessed. 

Soli Deo Gloria

Visitors!

J's best man & his wife came to visit us this week in a pit stop before their family reunion in Scotland.

It was so much fun for me to get to know them better. I loved hearing stories about J in highschool & at Carriage Lane church. I wish they could stay longer or that somehow we'd end up together on a joint Army-Air Force base. Thankfully, we all love to travel, so I am sure we'll have plenty of times to catch up in the future. 

As they head off the Scotland, I am headed to Amsterdam & Brussels with my friend Emmy & J is going on a trip he planned entitled: "Beer, Battlefields & Belgium with the boys." (Okay, I added the "with the boys" part.)

I hope you have a great weekend too!