Finishing Off the Week

Well here comes my end to living in three different homes. I guess it’s more normal to have one place… and that is what I am going to transition to now. When all the commotion of moving started it was rather overwhelming, I had things in Citrus Heights, Natomas, and Los Angeles. My husband was 400 miles away from me for 5/7 of the week well more like 4.5/7 of the week. And all we talked about was the m-o-v-e. Not only us but also those around us… Very often we got a surprised look from those who thought we moved and most of the time when we parted ways with friends it was a hug of— well we might not see each other for a while. Week after week this has been the case…. but now after this week ends, come Monday Vlad and I are leaving TOGETHER and probably for at least 2-3 weeks before we come back… or perhaps even more time. We need to make our Burbank apartment our HOME (for now). Thanks for all the prayers and support because I feel at peace with this transition and starting my new job at USC ß I feel so fancy saying that…. Yes…. I am a USC employee… no not faculty… I might elaborate on this later.

It has been rather sweet to be able to spend some more time with my parents and sisters while I lived with them Monday night through Thursday. And it was also sweet to spend some more time with Vlad’s parents from Friday through Sunday. Everyone has been so sweet, supportive, patient, loving, caring, giving, and thoughtful. I am so blessed to be surrounded by my loving family. My little sisters and parents are my best friends. I also hope that the distance in miles doesn’t grow a gap between us and our nice, tight, circle of friends. I am very thankful to have them in my life. I can’t imagine living 6 hours from them all but I don’t have to imagine it anymore, because it is actually happening. It seems like many people survive the separation and I guess I have to be part of that people group who are far away from their parents, siblings, and friends.

Now my hope is that all my loved ones find some time in their busy schedules, come visit us, help us make Burbank more “homey”, and make Los Angeles not seem so far away.   

Look at all the great things you can pass along the way to visit us… I hope you like fields, vista points, rest areas, travel centers, and straight roads!!! Easy-Peezy of a road to travel! 

Now to finish off the week I have plenty of farewell dates to go on with my family, friends, and coworkers, which I will share photos of once I am situated in L.A. with my computer, camera, and all.

One Thing Certain

God is so good to me. He is so patient with me despite of my impatience in certain circumstances (working on that now and for the rest of my life). There is one thing certain in the midst of all my uncertainties and that is: my Father knows, cares, loves, and will deliver. This has been a great time/opportunity to have to trust God in decisions that seem so big to us right now.  Fighting the fight of faith :).

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7

Moving Progress:
One way ticket has been purchased for Vlad to fly into Sacramento on Friday the 17^th to pick me and my stuff up  to officially move me down to Los Angeles! Southwest is the best with their $68.80 trips (one-way)= price of gas and time!

Now lets come back to the present: We have one eventful weekend coming right up! Vlad will be driving back up to Sacramento either tonight or tomorrow--- that's always a treat in itself. February holds a very special weekend, two super important people in my life were born.Vlad's birthday is on Saturday (2/11) and Mama's is on Sunday (2/12)!  

One more thing to brag about: my boss. In the midst of being nervous with leaving my current job, he assures me that if I ever come back I MUST contact him first! Wherever in the financial world he will be. He stated that his feelings would be hurt if I didn't... I sat and cried while I listened to him say that, because I don't deserve to hear that--- but I didn't argue and said of course! and you bet I will--- if that's where I am at in a few years.

I have different emotions with the official final move, but I am looking forward to living in one home with all my things in one place and most importantly my HUSBAND.

I will make sure to keep myself busy as soon as I officially move there. I already have a to do list such as: I have a goal to find my $106 IKEA store credit that I mysteriously packed away, in a not obvious way. (In August I thought it would be a treat to find $106 to IKEA in one random box, well all the boxes have been unpacked and IKEA store credit is no where to be seen) So I hope my gift from myself shows up soon, because I want to get something from there and I refuse to spend $106 not with that card--- because I know it's somewhere!!

...live by faith in future grace

Oh my, the past couple of days have been rather eventful and a great exercise of faith for me. No matter how afraid I am of change, it's happening and it is stretching me in all positive directions. I am soley banking on the promises of God.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Psalm 56:3


I made it to and from Los Angeles just fine, no car nor phone troubles. Thursday night was a nice and relaxing evening, although I was a bit nervous about my upcoming interviews the following morning, I still had a sense of peace. So instead of being nervous and wasting a perfect evening by being weary, I was able to enjoy my Burbank home from the start. It was very nice to see and be with Vlad.

On Friday I drove down to my interview, 14 miles away from the apartment= 45 minute commute in the busy morning.... Not too shabby. After the interview the COO told me that he would make a decision within two hours and I might be called back to meet with the CEO, so I went to my car, wasn't really sure what to think, but I gave it to God and wasn't going to take it back. I was ready for a yes or a no. I sat in my car and enjoyed reading through Jude and by the time I was done I received a phone call from the manager of the branch I applied for (btw Jude is only 25 verses long) so the phone call was less than 30 minutes later. She told me that I didn't need to meet with the CEO and I got the job!!! I am not sure who sounded more excited her or me, but it was one exciting phone call. And after about 4 hours of thinking about it, talking it over with Vlad, praying about it, I accepted the offer. DONE.

Then I also had an opportunity to meet with 3 individuals at Robert Half Finance and Accounting in Pasedena, this was a great opportunity and hopefully will open up a door for me within the accounting field. The manager even asked me if I ever thought of doing what she does, recruiting, I laughed and asked if she was sure because I have not been very good at finding the right job for myself. But she was serious and I might be interested.

Now, enough of my never ending job seeking blabbering. Did you know that Safeway in Los Angelss is VONS? Well it is and the first thing I did was sign up for the club card to get the club savings. So Vlad and I are officially in with our VONS club cards... It's linked to my cell phone #... FYI my friends--- so don't pay the higher prices, that's for visitors. We bought much yummy foods and enjoyed dinner at home just like the old times.

Saturday was a very fun day. While Vlad went to a Tirubian writing class, I went ahead and did a load of laundry for the first time in the laundry place on site, which went well, since the apartment complex is rather small and people take care of their things, the washers and dryers are nice and clean and the room they are in is also nice and clean... Nice and clean makes me happy. $2.50 per load.... I am not sure how happy that makes me but it is what it is. Then, I decided to be creative and type out a meal plan for Vlad, so that way when he is alone he doesn't have to always eat unhealthy. Now I hope he found it useful, we shall see.


Now to the fun part: when Vlad came home we had a delicious brunch, Vlad washed the carpet (twice), and we headed out to Santa Monica for the late afternoon through sunset. Followed by dinner at Zankou Chicken in Burbank and a movie, Courageous. Ah it felt so good to be with my husband at home, together, just as before.

On Sunday, for the very first time we attended the church service at Grace Community Church. We went to the 8:30 am service and Crossroads right after. Listened to great sermons. Met some new people who I will have to re-meet about 3 more times to remember everyone. And then had lunch at Mark's and Anna's. Such sweet siblings, they are very encouraging, and make the big and strange Los Angeles smaller and more homey. I am looking forward to becoming even better friends with them. It was difficult to leave because we were enjoying spending time together, but I had to get on the road, back to Sacramento. Then it was also difficult to leave Vlad when we got to our apartment for me to pick up all my stuff. Another week break from from each other, but it's helping me to stay objective and leave emotion out of my situation.

I ended up driving out by 5:30 p.m. which means I drove in the dark by the time I got to the summit. I had to be grown up and just do it. By the time I got back to Sacramento... My cold which has been developing since about the Thursday I left became a vicious yucky cold, so after so much action my body gave up and decided to let me get sick.

I had to go to work because I wanted to not delay even a day to put in my two weeks. So it's official my last day at work here is on the 17th of February. 5 years later I am leaving Premier West Bank. Bittersweet.

Now with my two weeks in, I am at home, in bed, sick. Hope to feel better soon because I have a few people to see before I head out.

“we went for another applicant"

“Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”--- Isaiah 41:10

That’s right. God has it all under control. Every single rejection I receive is all in God’s hands. He has the proper place, with the proper employer, and at the proper time for me to start work.  It’s rather interesting to go through a few interviews, think you actually might have become friends, and then you get “we went for another applicant”…. I guess we were never friends… I am just an applicant in this world of business.

I won’t bore you with the lists and the lists of lists of where I have applied, interviewed, and have been ignored/rejected…. But the latest is this morning… for a secretary position… I call back the person who was in charge of hiring, had my notebook out--- ready to take notes… the call was much shorter than I hoped for… this is what I wrote down:

Pay= $0

Health Insurance taken out per pay period= doesn’t matter

I didn’t get it. Treading on……

And I did a little...very little...cry… asked God for help because I cannot do anything at all, and went back into my comfortable office to continue working, surrounded by co-workers that I have grown rather fond of.

My Upcoming "Tread":

Ladies and gentlemen for the first time ever in my life I am going to drive 400 miles away from home… to my other home and of course back. I drive everyday… and I never really worry about car troubles—such as tires popping or car overheating (I’m pretty sure worse things can happen)… but awaiting this Thursday that is what I think about. Vlad did a good job to prepare my car for trips as such and also gave me a handy dandy AAA card where someone will come rescue me wherever I am…. This leads me to my second worry. My iPhone… it’s a great phone but sometimes it has a mind/world of its own and chooses to crash and disconnect me from the world completely. So as long car troubles and phone troubles don’t happen at the same time… it will be good. I was thinking of learning how to change a spare… but that tire is way too heavy--- it’s not a small spare--- no I am not pretending to be a feeble girly girl who can’t learn to change a tire… but it’s a very heavy tire.

On this 3 day trip I will have the opportunity to interview for a banker type position with USC… first with the company COO and then the CEO (hopefully!)… and if that fails…  I will be meeting with a recruiter from Robert Half Finance and Accounting.

I will also be able to spend some time with Vlad, cook up some meals, make my home even homier, go to church, and drive back to my lovely Sacramento.

Exposed

...Wow... I don't know where to begin... I am not sure what I want to write down and remember so well. But this has been one of my life changing 2 weeks... It has not been very easy, but I think something great has come out of it. The Lord is definitely working on me, through this experience I was able to see what I was struggling with and did not even know it! Of course in the comfort of Ashton Parc, Sacramento, surrounded by family and friends, steady income coming in, etc... I thought I knew what I meant when I said, "I trust the Lord, He has it all under control, by His grace...." now I am able to live it and it does not seem that it will become any easier very soon (it might); however, I know that my Creator has given my husband and me an opportunity. Although there isn't a very clear picture in front of us on how we are going to do this... I trust that God will provide when it is the right time.

Last Sunday's church service was a sobering one for me. The word was encouraging and convicting as Vincent continued preaching through the first chapter of Romans; and singing hyms in church was such a great time of repentance for me because the words of complete dependance and trust on God, were flowing from my heart, sometimes it was difficult to sing along because as the melody went on I felt exposed, exposed of my weakness and sin. After church, Vlad also helped me as he talked me through what I was feeling and believing and we got to the bottom of it... we are going! I support Vlad in his studies, I believe in what we are doing, and right now there isn't anything else I would rather work so hard on.

On another note:
I was able to let my manager know what is going on and he completely understood and blessed me. He is being very supportive and appreciated that I let him know ahead of time by including him in my situation. I am seeking employment and he let me know that I can use his name and phone number as my reference! Great! I can answer YES to "may we contact your current employer". So for now, Vlad gets to go down to Los Angeles every Monday and come back to Sacramento Thursday nights for the next couple of weeks until I obtain employment. Praying for wisdom on exactly how I should transition to my Burbank home. Hopefully, I could schedule interviews for Fridays and drive down to our Burbank home some weekends too; that way we can sort of alternate weekends on driving up and down. Interstate 5 has become our normal route and feels rather "homey".

For Now:
I get to continue working at my current job as a credit analyst and enjoy living in three different homes, Vlad's parents, my parents, and Burbank. I am able to spend quality time with my family and friends while I am still here, and when I go down to Burbank I get to spend quality time interviewing, hopefully! Keeping my ears and heart open for counsel I get from my loving family and friends, it is encouraging. Most importanly, I am dwelling in the bible, constantly being reminded that if this life is lived without glorifying God and living for Him, it is a waste; to obtain things on earth and enjoy when everthing clicks together will never ever ever ever compare to when it clicks in the Kingdom, whether when Jesus returns or I am called home.

What to Expect

I am really not sure what to expect. Right now I am living about two or one and a half day at a time... that's it. Employment? Uncertain. Move date? Uncertain. Is this going to work out? Uncertain. How long is this going to take? Uncertain.  I can keep going on and on... but I won't because it feels like it won't end. And I know that it will all work out and all the uncertainties will either no longer matter or will be figured out.

Now let me bring up the fun part: (it's only going to be fun if I make it that way)

The HOME!:

 What I am expecting: 

- Wood-like smell.... Old wood smell--- or actually there is this strong-smelling paint that the older places pour all over everything to make it... look nice.

- Foot traffic past our windows and door

- Electric Guitar playing neighbor

- and the rest of the miscellaneous things/objects that need to tended to.

I can either mope, dread, and worry... but how silly would that be?! I can make this fun and enjoyable... I must react correctly and enjoy what I do have... seriously as long as I am with Vlad it doesn't matter.

First things First:

- I’ll come with Windex, bleach, multi-purpose/surface cleaner, and air freshener plugs.

- Figure out where to get inexpensive heavy and long curtains to put on the windows.

- I just need to like listening to electric guitar, maybe pick up violin lessons again to balance out the noises, and if it gets out of hand… I guess we can always politely knock…

Now back to right now:

I really miss Vlad and cannot wait until we get to spend a week together- in between his studies and classes. Right now he is at orientation for an entire week--- all by himself in a city that is not home and in an apartment that does not feel like home. 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God." - Phi 4:6 

Reminiscing...

Just reminiscing on what has happened thus far..... [probably too early to do that; but it feels like it has been a very long time] and it is very nice for me to look back and see how much God has got us through and it reminds me that He will see us through right now and later....

Here is just a brief-ish list of somethings we have been doing in the past 2-3 months... and it isn't over yet.

- Hours upon hours searching on the internet for places to live… hanging out on Google maps to get to know neighborhoods.

- 3 x’s 800+ miles: 2400+ miles driven

- More than 40 units and many neighborhoods.

- 2 hotel stays

- 1 day trip back and forth

- Lots of laughing and sometimes crying...crying

- Changing and eating on the go in the car

- Almost getting stuck in the summit in the night time--- I cried from joy when we got to Tejon Ranch… I really did and couldn’t stop bawling… from being so happy THANKING GOD.

- On the long stretch of I-5 on the way back home we caught up on the first season of Modern Family.

- Settling on possibly living in something from way past (not the pretty kind), thinking we are going to live in something wonderful as a California 20s home (fabulous), and finally we are settling in an very nice apartment that feels just like home J

- Buying a refrigerator… 90% of units usually don’t come with one….

- Learning how to send an overnight priority Fed Ex shipment (an envelope for $35!!)

- The recipient was in the shower….. so the envelope could have been sent  via standard 2 day and NOT for $35…. WAIT… I called lovely Fed Ex and GUESS what!? Yes. You can CATCH the envelope in transit and they can redeliver it for you! Chris the delivery man called me and told me he will get it to my recipient within 30 minutes! How lovely! Now I am not too sad about having to pay $35 for an envelope, this time.

- Moving in and absolutely doubting the decision. We prayed, cried, and pleaded. Then we were reminded that this is exactly what we’ve wanted/dreamed and thought about for the past two years… so we HAD to attempt it.

- Checking my email every hour during business hours

- Staying hopeful and having faith when what is in sight didn’t seem possible.

- Realizing we are not really LOSING much…There’s a way to recuperate.

- Understood the power of support from our family and friends. From packing, moving, carrying, wiping my tears, their care, and prayer--- they are here for us.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I amyour God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." -Isa 41:10