This week has been completely different than the rest! For me, that is. Chase is doing the usual work. Actually he's been filling in for a service manager that recently resigned. Chase will become a service manager after his 18 month management trainee program. He is enjoying managing all the service techs and is really gaining their respect because he is always on top of things. He gets done what needs to be done, and he works hard. That's something I've always admired about Chase, is that he has a serious work-ethic. To the point that his first weekend of college EVER, he stayed in to read his econ book...BEFORE class EVEN STARTED!!! Ok - let's be real, that's a little ridiculous. I think I called him a geeeeeeeeeeeeeek for that. But in all seriousness, he's not afraid to put in the work because he knows that it pays off.
My week has been so wonderful because I've had the opportunity to volunteer at Just Moved Ministry. As the name explains, it's a ministry for women who have just moved. The woman, Susan Miller, who founded this ministry is leading the Tuesday morning class I go to at Scottsdale Bible called "Moving On After Moving In." I have met such wonderful and Godly women! They have embraced me as family already. That has really filled my days, and has been such a job. In the meantime, I am still applying for jobs.
Last night, Chase and I decided we needed to start running again if we want to actually run this 10k we keep telling ourselves that we are training for. We had taken about a week off of running. We decided to run to the Mayo Clinic, a hospital 2 miles away from our house. About .25 miles into our run to mayo clinic, the sidewalk on the road ends. Between our apartment building and the Mayo Clinic is literally nothing but desert and one two-lane road. We ended up running into the wind and sun THROUGH THE DESERT. And when I say through the desert, I mean like literally a desert (have I said that before?) with no buildings or civilization around for about a couple miles. Tumbleweed, little pathetic shrubs, and a whole bunch of flat sandy dirt. Into the wind, into the sun, and then it started to rain...which neither of us were mad about because the wind and rain droplets kept it cool, and not 110 degrees - which would have made for an impossible run.
We didn't stop until our hands touched the Mayo Clinic building. We went inside, got some water, and then proceeded to take a longer way back to our apartment (we walked) while exploring the desert around us. Because it wasn't as hot, and the sun was setting, it was actually quite beautiful! Also, the rain had stopped. We really enjoyed it and definitely saw God's beauty in a different way. If this is a taste of Arizona winters, I think I am going to LOVE this place Oct-March!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, September 6, 2010
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!)
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!)
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