The BEST Job EVER

I now have a new blog that follows what's going on at one of my jobs here in Ohio! This job is incredible, and I want to share the blessings with everyone!

http://exactlytherightplace.blogspot.com/

Check out our website at: http://firstglance.org/

Yet Another Checklist Full of Answered Prayers

Josh and I have officially been in Ohio for over a month now, and so far, we love it! It has been amazing, and we have been blessed in ways unimaginable. Last Sunday, I actually found a list of things dated May 29th I had been praying for prior to the move:

• A House with a yard in a safe neighborhood
• A Job where I can really reach and love on women who don't feel loved
• A Job that pays for Josh's school and gives him experience
• Great winter coats
• Encouraging and fun Friends

My exact list. Word for word. How my life is now:

• I live in a nice duplex with a backyard in a safe, family neighborhood! And let me tell you, after trying to find a house that was big enough for us and in a good location and one that allowed dogs, we were extremely lucky. There are very few of those out there...
• Jobs: oh my! I cannot begin to explain how happy I am. I have TWO jobs, and both are amazing. In the mornings, I work for a nonprofit called First Glance doing their fundraising and grant writing. And to answer the second part of the job prayer, First Glance helps out the at-risk kids, including teenage moms! <3 Then in the afternoons, I work at the Wildlife Bird Center of Hudson--which has gotten me into my newest hobby of bird watching (Check out my bird blog!) The customers are incredible, and it is seriously the best retail job I can ever imagine existing. 
• Josh is teaching classes at Kent State and able to cover his tuition! Woohoo!
• No winter coats, but people have offered to take me shopping to show me what winter coats work best here.
• No crazy games of Quelf or Jungle Speed yet, but we have met some incredible people. Because of one encouraging friend, I have the job at First Glance. And new opportunities to meet people are everywhere.

We are blessed.

Growing Up and Moving Out

Both Josh and I have lived in Georgia our entire lives with the exception of one summer--and that summer I only traveled as far as Tennessee and Josh as far North Carolina. But now the north is calling to us with the promise of a good education and more opportunity. So Ohio, here we come!

The move will bring about a lot of changes. We know no one there right now, and besides Josh knowing where he will be at school, we have nothing. No friends. No jobs. No house. No church. And possibly no washer or dryer. We should be stressed out, but with the exception of some nervousness on my part yesterday, we're not. We have yet to be in a situation where God has not provided for us, and we both have faith He'll pull through for us once again. 

It's going to be a journey, but I think it'll be a fun one.  

Josh's Near Death Experience

Josh tries practicing his photography in the kitchen.

Slipping on an old sock, Josh falls to the floor.

Caesar, thinking Josh is harming his sock, comes to the rescue of his dear cotton friend.

Caesar first goes for the eyes. Impairing your opponent's vision always gives you an advantage. 

Then Caesar goes for the jugular.

He shows no mercy.

But at the last minute he hears a knock which he thinks is coming from the door but is actually from the TV, so he runs away.

Hardcore Farkour

Again, I prove that I never write about things when they actually happen.

Yet another Labor Day Weekend adventure:

Since I was actually able to get off on Labor Day, Josh and I and some friends decided to go hiking. We drove up to Fort Yargo, and it was there that Josh decided to impress me with his new forest sport.

Forgive the poor quality...

 

Farkour, created by Josh on this day, is a special type of parkour done in the forest. He's really good at it.

Dirty Men, Nasty T-shirts, Free Ace Bandages, and my Family

I have ALWAYS been terrible at keeping up with a journal, and apparently, I'm also terrible with keeping up with my blog. I also always end up intending to write about something and not getting to it until a month later- like in the case of these next few posts...

Setting: Atlanta Motor Speedway Labor Day Weekend

Josh honestly had no clue what he was getting himself into when he agreed to go with me to visit my family while they were camping out for the Atlanta race. His first comment as we drove up: "When you said your family was camping at the race, I didn't know they were actually camping AT the racetrack."

My dad goes to the NASCAR race in Atlanta every year, and this year, the race was only a week before my birthday. My parents got me a cake, and since they were only two hours versus the normal 4 hours away, I really wanted to go see them.

Though I know what the crowd is like at the race, I never fully appreciate it until I am in the midst of them. You're not cool unless you have a mullet. Unlike at concerts, EVERYONE wears a shirt for who they are there to see. And everyone LOVES the free samples. We were able to get free post its, a dog hair remover, free knock-off Sham-Wows, and Ace Bandages -- And all from just ONE booth!!

Pepper Extremely Excited to See Us

More than anything that day, more than the birthday cake, free samples, and all the fun people watching, I just really loved getting to see my family. They always make me laugh, and I love being with them!

The Official Submission

Caesar has finally chosen his picture to be entered in the American Express Cutest Pet Photo Contest, and I must say, it looks like a winner.

Casear's Submission

Granted, there are a lot of cute ones here, but I really think he has a chance. Those puppy-dog eyes. That crazy hair. You just can't resist him.