Finding Community

As I mentioned earlier, Chase and I found a church out here called Scottsdale Bible Church. We were really drawn to the sound doctrine and people that seemed to truly live out their faith. The members here really seem ready and excited to pour into us. Every sunday, we go to a class for young married couples called Faith Forward. There are also some older "mentor" couples in the group. We have had a great time getting to know these couples. Many of the couples, even if they are only a few years older than us, have children. It's really neat to see them balance finances and glorify the Lord in the way that they raise and discipline their children. After Faith Forward, we go to a service called Eleven10 that has contemporary worship, followed by watching Pastor Jamie's sermon from the main auditorium over videocast. We have really enjoyed this!

This week, the bible studies started! AHHH Chase and I were so thankful! Finally we can meet people in a more social setting and get to know them more intimately. This was honestly an answered prayer. The cold-turkey transition we had moving out to Phoenix has been rough lately, especially on me. I have never been a home body! I thought I would go so far away from school, even though I only ended up going an hour away (hey, that's where I was recruited!). I've never really been "homesick" nor have I ever did the kind of thing where I talked to my parents every day. Maybe once every two weeks. BUT, this is the first time in my life I've ever been completely uprooted from community, without having another community in which I already automatically belonged (like going to college, where I already belonged to a team from Day 1). Chase has moved a lot in his life, with his parents, and then to UNC for school while his parents lived in Savannah, GA, then they moved to Tampa a few years later, and are now in Texas. This is all after he spent the first 13 years of his life at various residents in Southern California.

We both agree that it is tough to be in a different part of the country, where no one knows you or your family, and it's also hard to find things in common with people. I guess the best thing you could have in common with someone is a relationship with Jesus, and we have definitely found plenty of those people at Scottsdale Bible! On Sunday night, a bible study from Faith Forward started up, and Chase and I both enjoyed it. The study drove deep into scripture and really challenged us. Afterwards, the men and women split up to share prayer requests and pray together. This was the time I was looking forward to. I love hearing the hearts of women who love the Lord, they are honestly so beautiful and real. Chase said he enjoyed talking to the men, and really felt like he learned a lot just being in the presence of Godly men who are great leaders and husbands.

This morning, the church-wide women's bible studies started. I was so nervous walking into the auditorium by myself not knowing a soul! I knew that if I was in Zionsville or Indianapolis in a room full of strangers, it wouldn't have bugged me one bit because, I don't know, that's just home! So this was good for me, and definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone (one that I didn't know that existed, I have never been shy). After we did praise and worship with all the women as a whole, we split up into the individual bible studies that we registered for, I think there were like almost 12 different ones. I was advised by several women of Faith Forward to do the bible study called "Moving On after Moving In" and that it would really help me let go of my former life and start over in Arizona. I can already tell this is going to be great. I was the youngest woman in the room by at least a decade (probably younger gals are in the night class), but I didn't mind at all, in fact, I liked it because I would love an older Godly woman to mentor me!

The class is full of woman who had just moved to Phoenix/Scottsdale for whatever reason, and most were emotional about it, like me. At first our move was exciting! Then reality set in that I am in a community where no one knows me. It has slowly become depressing and discouraging, and feelings of worthlessness start creep in. It's not like Ball State, where I saw my name and picture in the paper after a great game, and had whole articles written about just me. It's not like Athletes in Action, where I found immense joy in meeting with young women to show them the hope that is found in Jesus Christ, or leading bible study and watching my girls grow in faith. It's not like Indianapolis, where I was a new nurse at an exciting downtown hospital with endless possibilities in sight. Or like Zionsville, where our neighbors of 15 years have watched me grow up and still ask, and really care about, details of my life.

All of those things I have to learn to let go of! I didn't know it would be this hard! But it is honestly such a good thing. There is absolutely nothing that I can have my identity in anymore except Christ! I remember when I was playing soccer in college, and how it was always such a challenge not to be prideful or place my identity in how good, or not good, of a goalkeeper I was! It was always a struggle to glorify God in my sport. I feel like He was constantly reminding me that it's not about me! And everything that I have, everything that I am, is because of His Grace! And then after soccer, it was hard not to put my identity into what kind of nurse I wanted to me. So I am thankful to be in this humbling position and I feel that God is teaching me a lot about increasing my faith by putting my identity in Him alone in this trying time of waiting.

Rather than just waiting for my life to start, I really think this class about Moving On after Moving In will help me become more active, and take a bigger role in starting my life out here by getting myself plugged into community and serving in the church, and then trusting that God will provide employment in the exact area and hospital that He wants me in.

IT WENT THROUGH HIS HANDS!

Chase LOVES UNC. LOOOOVEEEEESSSS Carolina. Wants our children to grow up as faithful, unwaivering carolina fans, and in carolina gear, still checks www.tarheelblue.com every day, etc. And I don't blame him. He was talented enough to play golf at one of the nation's best universities, in academics, and as everyone and their mom knows, in athletics. The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill is one of the top apparel selling colleges in the country, not to mention all those national championships.

However, recently, as in every day (while Chase is undoubtedly watching sportscenter), Chase mentions how upset he is about UNC football, and their ineligible players. Apparently they were supposed to be unreal this year (everyone knows UNC isn't usually known for their football teams), but the NCAA decided to come investigate the football team and found some noncompliance with NCAA rules. Chase, being a devout UNC fan, would really rather the NCAA didn't investigate and just let the players play and bring glory to UNC. I think that cheaters need to punished. I, too, had to comply with the NCAA for 5 years, and I did, AND I wrote MY OWN PAPERS.

Chase was GLUED to the TV watching the UNC/LSU game. I kind of hoped carolina would get slaughtered like the announcers predicted. But they didn't! They had a great come back, and almost won the game. HAD the game in their hands! And then they dropped TWO perfect passes in the endzone from 6 yards away! Chase was so distraught! I seriously could not believe what I was hearing, he was moaning "no, no, no". I, like a good wife, thought this was HILARIOUS! It's just football (not carolina basketball, for goodness sake!) and they were supposed to lose anyway. I wish I would have acted faster, but I was able to catch some of Chase's pouting on video. Here it is! (Don't worry - I asked his permission!)

Chase the Bug Slayer

A couple nights ago, as I was up past chase (he's got to go to bed early!), I noticed several little bugs infiltrating our apartment. I HATE insects with a passion, I absolutely cannot stand for them to be around me, just the thought of them jumping on me is horrific. These little bugs were crawling on our walls and ceiling by the front door. I managed to get the courage to kill a few, and then next thing I noticed, I would look over to the door frame and see more! Oh my goodness is was horrible! I was so paranoid with them being there, that I had to muster up the courage to continue killing them. This was a several hour ordeal, and my adrenaline was pumping. It was a borderline murderous rampage. Over the course of the night, until about 3am, I probably killed 20.

Waiting for me the next day, when I woke up, were 6 more crawling on the ceiling. I killed them and then gratefully was able to get out of the house and meet a friend for lunch, then I took my time running errands so that Chase would get home before me. At first, he didn't see any bugs, but upon a second glance, he said he had to kill about 15.

I was distraught over these insects. We tried to google what they were, maybe the arizona blister beetle? Luckily, the maintenance people at the apartments came and installed a new door weather frame, because when we shut our front door, it never sealed and there was a visible gap in which the bugs were entering.

Haven't seen a bug come in since...although 3 hours ago I did find a few stragglers left behind. I'm really trying not to look for them until Chase comes home. He is the bug slayer - and he really is relishing in that title.

Friendship

Chase and I were at Trader Joe's getting some groceries, when we saw some basil plants for $2.99! Buying a little package with way less basil costs more, like 3.99 or 4.99. This is a pretty decent sized plant so we realized it was a pretty good deal, and we were getting a lot of basil leaves for our money. We (I) named the basil plant Friendship. Friendship needs his soil to stay moist and get plenty of sunshine, but not too much in the Arizona heat or he will die. I have accidentally left him outside on our back porch a time or two. Now I keep him inside on our table to soak up the rays through our window. Hopefully he can still photosynthesize.

Living With a Man

Today I woke up to a text from my husband asking me if I could check the parking lot for his lunch. He said he thought it fell off the top of his car while he was driving away to work because he set it up there and accidentally left it. I laughed imagining the scene! I make Chase's lunch for him every night because, according to Chase, there is something about the way a woman makes a turkey sandwich that makes it so much more delicious (I agree). Anyway, I walked out of our bedroom after waking up and the first thing I see is Chase's lunch sitting on the counter top. Ya just gotta love my husband:) Makes my job easier for his lunch tomorrow - all I had to do was put it back in the refrigerator!

The Phoenix 10k

After the wedding and honeymooon, Chase and I were feeling a little bit out of shape. We thought at the time of the wedding, we would be in the best shape of our lives, but with me working crazy shifts and all the preparing that went into the wedding, we definitely did NOT have time to work out near as much as we liked. In fact, the four days leading up to the wedding, we had been going to bed at around 4am and getting up at 9 or 10am! (Chase graciously helped me with my arts and crafts projects). That, coupled with the way we ate on the honeymoon (really, really good, but really, really unhealthy), we were feeling a big sluggish when we got to Arizona. So last week we decided we would go for a middle distance race and try a 10k. I have never run in a race before in my life (if you don't count fitness tests). Chase, on the other hand, used to run cross country in high school (for the sole purpose of getting out of basketball preseason workouts because the two seasons overlapped). Anyway, so we just started training for this 10k, or 6.2 miles. We have different methods. Chase just goes out and runs and tries to go farther each time (he said that's what worked for him in high school). I, however, am going to need a plan if I expect to run the entire way, and not get passed by anything being pushed in a stroller. I have researched a plan I am loosely following that combines distance running, with adequate rest, and cross training. I will probably throw some strength training in there, although last time that happen, I crushed my ipod (still works, just busted screen).

I realize that a 10k is not that far of a distance, really. I think that is why we chose it to start with. Who knows, we could maybe want to do a half-marathon after this, and I may really start to enjoy running. This is very far fetched though. We chose the 10k because it's not near as intimidating at the half-marathon, but a challenge. A 5k would be too easy (for Chase).

This 10k is part of the Arizona state fair, which I guess is pretty popular amongst all the state fairs. It is in early November. We've given ourselves a lot of time to train!

The hardest part is just making yourself go run, knowing it's going to be long, and hard, and boring. If any one has any suggestions about running at 10k, or making it fun, or training for one, feel absolutely free to let me know!

Moving Along

Today (Monday) I just randomly checked the Arizona state board of nursing online and to much joy after I searched for my name, found an RN license number next to it! This was a little earlier than I expected as they told me it would be at least 30 days from when I turned in my fingerprint card, which was like July 13th. And I think part of me just assumed there would be another complication and I would never get my license to practice. But praise the Lord! Now I can properly apply for jobs and be completely qualified (apart from my lack of RN critical care experience...minor detail). Honestly though, I feel really encouraged because a few different men who work with Chase have wives who are critical care RNs and NPs and have offered to help me out and see that my resume gets where it needs to be. I know this doesn't guarantee me a job at all, but it is nice and encouraging just to know people are willing to help. There are like a bajillion hospitals in Phoenix, not to mention like 5 adult level I trauma centers (Indiana has 2...right next to each other downtown). So I am optimistic and really praying that God is glorified through this process and not myself, because it is really easy to just do what I want to do and not follow where the Lord is directing me. And in my short 24 years, I've at least learned that if it's not in God's will, then it's not worth doing. So Chase and I are praying that the Lord leads me to the job He has laid out for me. My only fear is that it's med-surg! (just kidding -- learned about 1000 value lessons from med-surg nursing and the excellent nurses I worked with at IU, but man, you gotta be ORGANIZED to the max, and you have to really, really enjoy walking...!)

So that's probably the most exciting news I've gotten since we've been in Phoenix! I absolutely look forward to checking our mail everyday, and (if I were to be honest) Sundays are kind of a disappointment (strictly in reference to the lack of post - darn you US postal system!). Chase thinks it's pretty pathetic. We will go work out at the gym at our apartments, right next to the mail boxes, and I make us go first to our little mail box to check it, even though we leave the mail there until after our workout, then we take it out and take it home. This is not a plea for mail!! Really I just wanted to make you laugh. But the story is true.

However, we think we found a great church! We've been looking for weeks! It's an adult ministry worship service called SOMA with Scottsdale Bible Church. We went on Sunday to the main service at Scottsdale Bible, and then to SOMA (a separate service - almost like a church within a church), and it just fit. The music was so passionate and high energy, and people LOVE and FOLLOW Jesus there. We listened to a guest pastor that night who was 61 years old, and that man was solid. He loves the Lord and really preaches the Truth, and does not water it down an ounce. He definitely challenged us and the Holy Spirit really used him to convict us, and Chase and I LOVED it. We are excited to go back and get involved. There is a volleyball tournament coming up with 2 brackets - competitive and non-competitive. I'm sure you all can imagine which bracket chase and I will be in... Also- the membership is an 8 week class, and we are excited to go through that and learn more about the doctrine and vision of the church.