Getting Settled

We have now been in Arizona for 3 weeks. It seems like a lot longer - despite our apartment still needing decorated. The picture frames and wall decor are just sitting propped up against the wall because I have no idea how to hang them and what configurations to put them in and on which walls. I need an interior designer! Wishful thinking! Our apartment has a lot of white walls, although the kitchen has beautiful granite counter-tops, but if there's a such thing as fake granite, then that's probably what we have...not that I'd know the difference anyway. I would love to paint a few accent walls and hang some drapery eventually when I get a job and generate some income. Which leads me to why it seems like we've living in Phoenix a lot longer, at least to me...not having a job or something new and challenging really makes the days seem long. I want so badly to dive into the world of critical care nursing! Chase works with a man who's wife is an RN on a neuro-surgical critical care unit and she gave him her card to give to me to send her my resume. That would be so awesome to work on a unit like that, two of my favorite things - neuro and critical care. But I am also scoping out other hospitals (there are TONS in Phoenix - it's the 5th largest city in the COUNTRY) and will be applying and submitting my resume to those as well. Until I am employed, I am focusing on writing notes and thank-you notes to many wonderful people, getting my name changed and all that goes into that, throwing one of my best friends a bridal shower in Indiana, and several other small things...oh and hanging out with my new husband!

Chase is really getting into his job as a management trainee with Cintas. He has to learn many different domains of the Fire Protection side of Cintas. Because he's training to be a manager, and eventual general manager, he is learning every aspect of the business, from the service techs, to managers, to general managers, to accounting, to the warehouse jobs...he has to learn and perform them all (well, he just observes the general manager ...let's be real). He learned how to inspect a fire extinguisher with a service tech out in the field...and then proceeded to show me how while we were at Walmart. We get to meet up for lunch a few times a week which is fun and special and we usually just goof around.

We have been looking for a home church for the last 3 weeks and have been to some very solid and sound churches, but we haven't found the church where we feel God calling us to call "home" yet. We know he has one out there that He wants us to build community in and have fellowship and go out and serve with...but we are still looking, and seeking His will for us in that. It would be nice to have some friends here! It's weird not knowing anyone! But God knows our needs, and He will provide and whatever His provision is, is enough...His GRACE alone is enough. 2 corinthians 12:9.

ARIZONA

WE ARE HERE! Oh my goodness we are finally in Phoenix (really north scottsdale) Arizona after an amazing wedding and honeymoon. I will start with the wedding, then honeymoon, and finally Arizona!

Our wedding was the most blessed day of our lives! It was an absolutely classic and beautiful day. Chase and I are so humbled and grateful that we have such wonderful, loyal, amazing friends and family! Korky, the missionary with College Golf Fellowship ministry who married us, did an unbelievable job at glorifying God in our ceremony. We definitely felt His presence there and His blessings. The church was beautiful with the natural light flowing in and the amazing floral arrangements on either side of the altar.
The reception was a BLAST. Who knew our wedding party was full of the most awesome and hilarious dancers...actually I did, that's the only criteria Chase and I used to determine who we would ask to be in our bridal party...ahhhh! It was honestly the most fun I've ever had at a wedding (I think everyone thinks that about their own wedding)! All of our vendors did an amazing job! From the florist with the lovely centerpieces (I'm partial to the really tall ones!) to the photographers whom we absolutely loved, to the awesome 5 tier cake (LOVED IT), we appreciate how hard they worked to make everything look good. The downtown Marriott people we unbelievable and so professional, they took care of everything. I can't wait to see the professional photos and the video!

Aruba was FANTASTIC! AHHH it was SO MUCH FUN. It looked exactly like the pictures, but better. The bright white, soft beaches and the turquoise water - it was like a paradise. The first few days we really just stayed around our resort, for good reason - it was so nice and luxurious, Chase did a great job on booking it. Aruba is in the dutch Caribbean and is actually owned by the Netherlands, so in some parts it has a very Euro feel, like at our resort. The Bucuti was only for adult couples, so it was quiet and relaxing (no children running around like at the high rise hotels). The rooms were like a modern European look, very sleek and clean. There was this extensive, delicious breakfast each morning. Chase grew very fond of the smoked salmon on top of a toasted cream cheese bagel...I think he misses it. We hung out under cabanas on the beach, and stuck our red flag in the sand whenever we wanted a drink or lunch - it was the LIFE! Chase especially liked hanging out at the pool (no sand). They had really swanky furniture at the pool and I think it made Chase feel a little like royalty (haha just kidding honey).
We had dinners at sunset on the beach, went on a sunset sail, a jeep tour of the other, uninhabited side of the island, and went snorkeling. The jeep tour was amazing! We saw huge waves hitting giant slates of volcanic rock (Aruba is a very windy island), secret, private beaches, and a natural pool made of encased volcanic rock. We were sad when we had to leave Aruba and the Bucuti resort, but definitely excited to continue our adventure and get out to Phoenix!

So Arizona! After spending a night in Miami after flying in from Aruba, we flew from Miami to Indy the next day. We were at my parents house for maybe 3 hours before we hit the road to Phoenix. My dad and brothers had gotten the Budget rental truck, and completely packed it up for us. What a blessing! Soon into our trip, we realized the AC wasn't really working (read = was not working at all). It was pretty horrible driving through some of the hottest states in the country with no AC. And those seats only sit completely erect! SO UNCOMFORTABLE. But we were thankful to be making the trip anyway, and arrived in Phoenix a few days later!
Now our address says Phoenix, but we are essentially in North Scottsdale. It's such a fun area, there is so much to do and see. We are praising God for providing an apartment at such a great price so that we can live in this part of town. Let's just say that my 2000 chevy blazer with 140000 miles on it is probably the junkiest car in the parking lot, but I don't care, I love him, and will drive him tell he dies (he was dubbed "Kyle" circa 2004.) We love exploring the area! Chase insisted that the first time I see the downtown area of Phoenix, it be from the top of a foothill overlooking the city at sunset. It was well worth it, it was beautiful!

We are almost completely settled in our apartment. We just need to hang a few more things. As for other stuff (changing name, getting our own cell phone service, car insurance) we are still working on. Over the honeymoon, I received a package from the Arizona state board of nursing saying that my fingerprint were unsatisfactory. I had to have them professionally done and then hand delivered them to the Arizona State board of nursing myself - although I won't have a license to practice for another 30 days! So while Chase is at work, I keep the apartment in order and get things done that I need to do. Chase is enjoying his job with Cintas, he's like the understudy to the GM, essentially training to be a general manager in a 4-5 years. We went out and got him so more dress shirts and ties, it was so cute. He liked getting his first big boy pay check, that's for sure!

Thank you for reading this ridiculously long post and I hope that caught you up to speed on our life in Arizona. IT IS HOT OUT HERE! Thank goodness for air conditioning!

5 weeks??

Honestly, I can't believe how fast time has gone by. When you are looking forward to something, it goes by sooo slow, and then all the sudden it's right around the corner. I can't believe our wedding is only 5 weeks away. There is SO much to do in the mean time - almost gives me anxiety thinking about it! I just pray that I can be diligent in my time and get this sucker completely planned!

Our move to Arizona is also in the back of our minds...well the front of Chase's. We already have literally 20 boxes of awesome gifts to pack up. That doesn't include any of our individual possessions - actually now I am really starting to hope the truck is big enough. By the way, if you are moving and need a "u-haul", don't actually get a U-Haul, try Budget truck rental. Uhaul was going to charge us $1500, Budget wanted to beat their competition and gave us the same truck, same size and same car carrier, for 900...wowzaaaa. Anyway, so we have furniture and a king size bed, a dresser, and a million boxes to put in this sucker. Hopefully my brosefs will help load the truck while Chase and I are on our honeymoon cause we have to LEAVE the night we get back from Aruba. Insane right, I know. Chase's job says the latest he can start is that Weds morning (we get back Sunday around 4pm) and they can't really budge because he is actually already starting later than their latest start date. So, we just gotta make it happen! The drive out to Phoenix is 28 hours. Possibly more with a big truck, I'm not sure. We aren't exactly sure how we are going to break down the drive yet. We have to arrive in Phoenix with enough time to at least unload the bed and few essentials!

On a slightly less complicated note, I sent in my application for licensure in Arizona. It was $230 all together, but well worth it. Gotta have a license to practice as an RN. Hopefully the process of getting licensed will be quick and I can apply for jobs. I have been looking online and seeing things I like. The next step is actually calling nurse recruiters and speaking to them. But man, with everything else going on, on top of grueling 14 hour days at the hospital, I have no idea when that's going to happen.

Let's just say this week long vacay to Aruba is going to be SO needed!

Big Things

So first post. I've never been much of a blogger. As in I've never done it. I don't know that there are many people out there who would be interested in hearing my thoughts. I've always felt blogging begins for just 2 reasons: The first being that a person has a lot of things on their mind, and have thoughts they want to voice, but not specifically to anyone, so they blog, in sort of a therapeutic kind of way, and if they're lucky it turns into a business, a professional kind of thing, or merely for entertainment. The second being that someone is going on an adventure, and leaving a familiar place, and blogging is the means by which others can keep up with their journey and new life.

I chose to begin blogging for both reasons. The first because I have thoughts that come across my mind that I will put on my blog in cyberspace space that hardly anyone will really read or even care about, but for myself, it's nice writing them down and being about to go back to them (and a lot quicker than journaling, although I will continue to do that as well). Maybe the occasional random blogger will stumble upon this blog and be interested.

The second reason (the main reason) is to in a way document my (our) new life that will be beginning shortly in Arizona. I was born and raised, and even attended college in the awesome state of Indiana. I've never been a fan of the desert-like west, but here I am, preparing to move out there because my awesome fiance as he just recently accepted a job in Phoenix. We will be moving out there immediately after our honeymoon in early July. I thought this blog would be a great way to give my family and friends an opportunity to check in from time to time without having to schedule a phone call (although those will be nice). But more than just moving to a foreign city, Chase and I will be embarking on the even greater adventure of beginning a marriage together.

About the title. First thing you should know - I HATE cheesy, cliche things with a passion. They make me feel uncomfortable. But this one was too good to pass up. My new last name will be MacFarland. And we're moving. Across the country. To Arizona. A "far land". So you get the point.

The big move will take place after our big day on June 25th, when we get back from our honeymoon. It really all depends on when my future husband will be starting his job. We are praying for about a week (after our wedding, before he starts his job) to pack up and drive out there. Don't ask me about the details...I have no idea how we are supposed to find an apartment, or get one or both of our cars out there before the official move, or if we'll need a U-Haul. Do they make manuals on how to make cross-country moves? Oh yea - my fiance (Chase) will be coming from North Carolina. Talk about ridiculous logistics. But we trust that the Lord has a plan for us out there, and that he will provide a place for us to live, and an authentic, dynamic church that we can call home where we can get plugged and poured into and grow to be more like Jesus Christ.