We Made It!

Yippee! I am officially a "Texan" now! Yippee-yi-yay! Heeeeeeeee-hawwwwwwwww! Okay, now that I got all those goodies out of my system...I'll give you the latest news. We survived the trip here with only minor difficulties with our car hauler...one breakaway box and two new tires (btw, got the money back on the trailer thanks to awesome Jeff...saved me $238.50 so that paid for the gas) later we were on our way!!!! We arrived safe and sound on Saturday afternoon. We have since put all my earthly treasures...including my beloved chair which made the trip safe and sound thanks again to Jeff...who is sitting behind me while I am writing this.

Let me tell you...you can see for miles out here...I was thinking to myself "where are all the trees?" Well, let me correct myself, you can see for miles out here if you are somewhat out of town because Plano being the ritzy area that it is has millions and millions and millions of houses!!! It's utterly amazing! There are more houses everyday! We did stop by and look at an unfinished condo like I am interested in today! Niiiiiiiiiiice. And everything is BIG out here. The U-haul storage center is all one BIG building, not the little strips like we have in Florida. It's a two story monstrosity! Very, very nice though. I am going to have to adjust to the traffice lights and the bumps in the road instead of lines, but Plano (thank goodness) is laid out like a grid so there is not much chance of getting lost.

I did make a rather large decision not to persue the job at Prestonwood. I was shocked to learn that the rate of pay was quite lower than I expected. I do not think I could have survived on that amount to live on my own. So, back to the drawing board. Don't get me wrong, pay was not the only thing I considered...I prayed and I just had that gut feeling that it wasn't right. I always think that is God's way of letting me know to keep going, keep searching. He's got the right one for me somewhere.

Well, enough boring info. We go to open my bank account tomorrow and get my vehicle inspected which I am NOT looking forward to at all. Not because my vehicle is scary or anything, but because I remember going for inspections when I was a kid. I always hated them because I was in the backseat and dad would have to slam on the brakes and one time I was so scared that I got down in the floorboard with my hands over my head. After that, mom said I didn't have to go again. Funny what you are scared of as a child. Which brings me to another hilarious thought from childhood...I was scared of the Pirates of the Carribean at Disney World. I thought they were really shooting at me!!! I think I embarassed my mom to death! I know I scared my cousin, Paulette, into thinking the same thing. That was really dumb...I was old enough to know better. Well, off to bed!

Stuff and the Chair

Wow! I have gotten rid of so much stuff!!! Keith & Shawn can really vouch for that. They helped me move last time and they told me they would have to see it to believe it...well, now they are believers! However, I still have a bunch of stuff!!! For one thing, those of you who know me (no comments, please) that I am not exactly organized. It's not that I am a total disaster, but I have bills and paperwork stuck just about every place in the house! It's amazing! And to think if I just took a little time every week to sort through it all, I could file it in a file cabinet and it would look so much tidier and smaller...but I absolutely despise filing!!! I guess it's because I have to do that at work and it's just sooooooooooo boring! I'm gonna try to do better at that...either that or I'll leave a little pile for Jeff, aka Mr. Tidy, to file for me! He loves to do stuff like that...

Okay, so I've gotten a lot handled in the last day or so. Kinda messed me up because I forgot it was President's Day on Monday and I couldn't go to the bank or post office; so, I will do that Tuesday. I've scheduled everything to be cut-off, unplugged, disconnected, etc. so at least that is done! Yay!

I did get the most awesome gift today! Mom, Dad, and I were at the Avenues on Saturday evening and....let me back up a second...we had been looking for me a comfy chair before all these big changes and events began to transpire before Christmas. We searched high and low and, yes, I am picky when it comes to some things, I just wanted the chair to "talk to me" when I saw it. Well, there wasn't any conversation...anywhere. A few close calls, but the right chair just hadn't come along yet. Back to Saturday, mom and I ended up going in the Bombay Company because we hadn't been in one in awhile. So, there we are browsing through the store looking at all the beautiful items minding our own business and all of the sudden, from out of nowhere, I look in front of me and there it is...this awesome leather chair...I thought I heard it whispering to me "come, take and seat and see that I was meant for you". I sat down in it and instantly knew it was perfect!!! Fit me great as far as seat length and height is concerned. I was in awe; however, I was almost afraid to look at the ticket...but it was on sale!!! Nearly half off! Mom and I looked it over and ended up leaving and not purchasing it (which was okay because we would not have had any way to get it home)...so, my most wonderful mother told me on Sunday that she called the Bombay at the Orange Park Mall and that they had the same chair in stock and that it was an add'l 10% off due to the President's Day Sale! Rock on, Mom!!! So, today we went and scoped it out and I got it! I got it! It is just so beautiful...an nice mocha color...not too dark, but not too light...I can't wait to get settled out there so, I can enjoy my new, comfy chair! Yay, Mom and Dad! Thanks for your help and the gift! It's the greatest and I'll have it for many, many years of enjoyment!

Well, if any of you have figured it out yet..I am typing this at two o'clock in the morning EST. My sleep cycle is on the fritz. So, my eyelids are feeling heavy again...so, I'll be back at least once more before the big trip!

MOOOOOOOOOVING!

Welcome family, friends, strangers...to my blog! Hopefully, I can keep in contact with you much easier this way! My friend, Resa, in Korea keeps us informed of her life and I thought it would be a good way for ya'll (trying to use that Texas terminology as much as possible before arriving) to see what's happening in my world!

Obviously, I am preparing to move. I keep having to go back to work to keep Keith from losing any more hair than is necessary (love ya, man...you've been very patient with me...thank you); so, maybe, just maybe, Friday will really be my last "inneroffice" day. Mrs. Cathy Baird will be assisting me with some packing Friday morning and Keith/Shawn/Colleen, my faithful packers, will be assisting me Friday evening. I keep telling Shawn there is WAY less stuff than last time, but I think she and Keith are going to have to see it to believe it! But they are AWESOME and I hope they know how much all their help means to me!

Considering this is my first "real" move to foreign territory...there is SO much involved! I've got a checklist at least two miles long that I keep wondering if it will ever get handled! I also have a HUGE praise/prayer request. I have a phone interview Tuesday morning with Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano for a position there as a Student Ministries Assistant. That job would rock..only because I have already worked with the best...David and all the youth workers at RBC! Okay, you can now pop your swelled heads. Of course, it is a gigantic church 'cuz everything is bigger in Texas...check out their website...www.prestonwood.org.

Well, enough for now. I love to write and I'm sure if you check back often you will figure this out! Please share your prayer requests and update me on your life as much as you'd like. I might not always note every comment, but please know that I will read them and want to know what is going on in your lives!

I love you all, family, friends, RBC...and, well, strangers...love one another.