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!