cali update.

So....11 days and counting...we're heading to the Great WEST!

I no longer have a job, as of yesterday...the "move" really hit home...when i left work yesterday ...we are moving to the west coast!! CRAZY...something we've talked about for SO long...is actually happening!!! Most of our plans don't work out.....so the fact that this HUGE one is...it's crazy. but excited.

a little update...we sold my car, the bike is selling today....we are mostly packed up, just my kitchen still needs to be done...and cleaning...we have a place to call "home" when we get there... Tuscaro Apartments in Sacramento....so hopefully we will be showing up there on Friday Sept. 5th. We're super excited for this next chapter in our lives...

we played at the G8 one last time this last Wednesday, it was really fun. It'll be interesting what I'll be doing "musically" out there in Cali...if anything...i got vids up on facebook, for you to check out...good times...

Ok, so i'll try to update before we go, but the next week is going to be crazy...

I'm excited for this weekend, lots of hanging out time!

cruisers.

So here are the items that we will be cruising in California with!! Just another thing out of the way before we head out. in about 2 weeks!! crazy! enjoi. packing & cleaning for me..this week is my last week at work...the summer went so fast!!

Moped...Yamaha R6...and of courses the 1991 Honda Accord w/ 271000 miles on it. gotta love it!!!

falling.

WOW!!! things are falling into place with the move to KIlla CALI. i'll give details when i have'em. God has really helped this thing all come together for us.

less than a month!!! no turning back...

Soon, we'll be packing, strapping the good ole Cali Cruiser ( brown honda shown below...haha) on the back of the truck and making the trek.

Lots of little details...annoying at times, but worth it!!

I can't even wait.

SP

last weekend we went to Point...good times. river time, movies, sun burn, a car, dogs, helmets, friends, etc.

enjoi.

mike's ready to attempt the "large" cone at BELTS.

"large" cone...he did it. it was all gone and he didn't have to use the cup at all.

met with good friends...!!

sale.

so tomorrow is the moving sale!!! a month and a 1/2 to go and we're making our way to the west coast. can't even wait. anyways, i didn't understand how much work this freakin' sale would be. crazy, but to think all the stuff we're not going to hauling along with us...good stuff. it should be fun!!

i have a few pics of the wedding i sang at, wknd of July 4th. it was gorgeous!! Beautiful bride, heather. it was fun. unforunately i couldn't make the reception, cause my husband got really bad food poisoning at culvers (beware!!) ok, so enjoy.

CONGRATS HEATHER & SHAUN!

plans.

so, reserved the moving truck yesterday....for beginning of Sept.
scheduled the carpet cleaning, end of july.
rummage sale next weekend. lots to do.

excited.

changes....

OK, so, i thought i would update everyone with our plans for the future....a lot has been happening.

--so a lot of people already know, we are moving to Sacramento, CA in September. Mike is going to WyoTech School for Advanced Automotive Training and Performance Engines(race cars, etc. & such-pretty much a lot of crap i don't understand!) ha. Anyways, so I really felt as though, when we went out to Seattle in January, that was the confirmation time for me, at least, about this move, why seattle, i have no idea, it was just a time to get away, vaca, and think. So we got back, and I went and talked to my bosses at the flower shop and told them, we will not be staying for another year, we would be leaving this summer/fall. Anyways, so I've been researching the area, jobs, apartments, churches, etc. However, a couple of months ago, i really felt i needed to make a change while i'm still in Rochester. As I typed above, I told my bosses at FBJ's, i would stay until Aug, but I decided to cut that time short. The Tuesday after Memorial Day Weekend...I put my "2 weeks notice" or I said i would be quitting Mid-June. It was a shock for them, but it all worked out and I really feel at peace with my decision and enjoying my time a lot more...so right now I am just working about 30 or so hours at Dunn Bros Coffee and loving it. great people, great enviroment, etc. Mike got a GREAT job in a town about 20 mins away from where we live here in Roch and he is enjoying that as well, and best yet it is a 90 day job, so it worked out perfect with the timing of the move in Sept. He loves riding his new toy out there and saving a hell of a lot of gas on that sucker!! The weather has been perfect!!

ANYWAYS...so that is now...as for Sacramento, as i said before, I have been researching a lot about out there. I kind of got a good feel about where the "ghetto, rough" parts of town are...so i'm staying away from there, I figured I would just get a quick job at a Starbucks out there or some coffee shop. Anyways, for apartments, i had pretty much found the "zip code" we wanted to live in...95833. ha. Close to Mike's school, a nice area, close to a couple of Starbucks, just north of downtown Sacramento, and real close to the river.

These are the apartments, we're looking at....you let me know which ones you think we should live at...

**Regatta Apartments:
http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/999909648.php

**Garden Villas:
http://www.rent.com/rentals/california/sacramento-and-vicinity/sacramento/676880/

**Terracina Meadows:
http://www.rent.com/rentals/california/sacramento-and-vicinity/sacramento/484565/

**River Glen Apartments:
http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/1007408.php

Just to make sure i was on the right path, i decided to send a random to a few churches out there, asking about the area, what areas to stay away from, etc. One church didn't respond, another church gave me a general idea, but the other one i email, has really gone out of their way...with just a random girl's email. ha. I really feel good. anyways, the churchs name is "Mars Hill Family" church in Sacramento ( marshillfamily.com ) . The Pastor's wife, Pastor Karen, has been in contact with me. Giving me good advice and ideas...anyways, I had emailed her back to tell her why we're moving and where Mike's school is and telling her I was just thinking about getting a job at Starbucks for quick employment... and she responded with excitement, cause her daughter went to North Central in Mnpls and i think she felt a "connection" in that way...anyways, she said that West Sacramento(where Mike's school is) is really close to where the church is...and that in the same area as the church there are some nice apartment complexes to check into. She gave me a rental agency's contact information as well...

but best yet....she told me that her nephew and son both work at Starbucks...her nephew (he is also a pastor at the church, i later found out) is a Manager, so she told me to be sure to connect with him when we're out there!!!! AN IN!!!!

BUT the BESTEST PART OF ALL....like i said i found the zip code i wanted to live in before i even connected with this church....i looked at the address of where they meet on a weekly basis for church and you guessed it.....SAME ZIP CODE!!! all in the same area!!!!

Need less to say....we feel so good about this move so far, and much more to come i know, but a good start!!!

It's crazy to think we're moving where we know no one, don't know the area, etc, but we really feel a peace with everything. and are very, very excited!! WARM YEAR AROUND!!! Hallelujah!!

Anyways, so that's that, right now.

Our plans this summer so far are...
July 5th-Heather's Wedding
July 18-20 Rummage Sale (we're selling pretty much everything we own...give or take a few items, ha)
August 3rd- OUR ONE YEAR!!! (went by fast, holy crap)
August 15-17-Family Reunion in Iowa.
there will be a couple of trips to Point, i just don't know exactly when...


i'm tired, my fingers hurt.

so. yea, i haven't typed for a while. it's good to be back. sitting at Dunns, getting some things in order for the big move. lots to do and think about. Less than 3 months now. Anyways, new things on our front.... my last day at Flowers By Jerry was YESTERDAY!! no more flowers for me. it was a "season" and now onto something different. I'll be working at Dunns about 30 hrs. a week, it'll be a good change for me. Mike got a good job....90 day job, so it works out perfect with the move time. He starts tomorrow. And he'll still be working at checker 10 hrs a week or so.

anyways. so that's that. in other things. my cousin, (shall remain nameless) ...deserted me in Rochester. interesting times this last year, but i'm convinced that we will reunite somewhere in this world again. she is missed right now, tho.

planning the summer out....crazy. this summer is going and will continue to go really fast. it'll be fun though.

Adventures, i love'em.

One of our new adventures is this...




we got rid of our truck and got this. Mikes baby, although, now he wants something bigger. We both got our motorcycle permits, so enjoying these awesome days with that...it's fun.

Ok i'm bored....

view.

views. a lot has changed. a lot is still changing. my mind, my heart, etc. instead of sitting in my house glued to my TV and browsing on the internet, i am sitting enjoying the view in the good ole Roch PL. looking at the skyways and the muddy water of the great zumbro stream (i think it's called "zumbro", not forsure)

ANYWAYS, we had a fantastic weekend away. Mike and I went up to Mnpls for a night, ate at Cheesecake Factory and went to Comedy sports, stayed at the Hyatt dwntn and then on Sunday we went to MOA. it was really good just to get away. do something different. back to normal now...work, (i started back at Dunn Bros coffee) as well as Flowers by Jerry. I just love the atmosphere of Dunns, just chill, i missed it. and need a little extra cash...always good.

Life is good, but i'm ready to get out to CA...start a new chapter. the unknown. love it.

views. i'm realizing a lot about myself lately...things i've always thought were bad, but actually things that are ok. like.....i am always in need of change...any kind of change. i can last about a few months, then i need change, whether that be location, occupation, or whatever...need it. I'm always going to need it, but for a long time, i have hated that part of me, cause i wasn't like everyone else who hates change....,and that's ok, its just another thing that makes me, me.

well, i gotta go now...my time here at the library is done.

reading.

i'm reading more lately. it's good cause we're getting rid of our internet/cable. so it gives me something to do.

i just started reading this....



www.alongwaygone.com

read.

http://www.johnmayer.com/blog

FROM THE HEART....


read. good.

outer space.

life...wake up in the morning, go to work for 8 hours, come home, eat, go to bed, just to start it all over tomorrow...life.

that's the life i long for, when i'm busy and crazy, but when i'm not busy and crazy, that's the life i dread. so where's the in between?

Is it possible to do something you love with out getting burnt out or discontent in a few years??

Is it possible to be content?
As "christians" are we suppose to be content or not content? i get confused.

Is there always going to be uncertainty?

is there always going to be defeat?

Is there always going to be a fog in my mind?

When is it all going to unfold?

Is the ache ever going to go away?

will i ever let God in completely?

will i ever give over control to Him?

will i ever lose control?

is this really the life i am meant to live?

am i suppose to be doing something bigger?

how can i do something bigger?

will i ever get to where i would love to be?


Answers?



--i'm just sitting here, thinking. questioning things. pondering. those questions are in no particular order. just came out.
it's a friday night. i'm wanting to be in Seattle right now just chilling, but i'm here in rochester and i'm going to wake up tomorrow and still be in rochester. why can't i be content??? is it always going to be impossible for me?? who knows...

so i leave you with this quote from Michael Scott -
"I am an adult. I don’t have to think…or…do anything"

laughter.

so tonight Mike surprised me with a date night. chinese, always good choice. Horton Hears a Who, cute movie. and lots of laughs...till i cried :) ha. it's always a good feeling to laugh. to smile. to feel free to let loose. we both were dancing to "Low, Low, Low" in the car (only a couple of people have seen me do my dance to that song...ha.) ...people along side us must thought we were weirdos...pretty much correct. Anyways, it started making me think...what makes me smile...

*surprise date nights
*music (esp. rap/hip hop...hehe)
*Mimi & Stella
*Baxter
*Spring...with no snow...
*Walks outside
*Driving with all the windows down.
*Sunsets (preferably FL sunsets-the best)
*Strawberries
*New ideas
*Photos
*Seattle
*Real-ness
*Words spoken incorrectly...ha.
*Popcorn
*Piano
*Singing
*Light at the end of the Tunnel
*Bush's Stimulus Package
*Crossword Puzzles
*David Archuleta & Brooke White
*Naps

And lots of other things...everyday, i hope i can focus on the things that make me smile, instead of the things that don't. That's my goal. Where my pet peeves and annoyances...turn into something to smile about...ha.

thats my thoughts right now...

new addition....

so we know it isn't the most practical...but we couldn't resist...

say "hello" to STELLA!!! our new puppy!! Doxie/Terrier.

church

So for a long time now...it seems like it's been forever since we've done music or even gone to church, but really it's only been like 5 or 6 months, but doing music for about 10 years or so...it's a big gap...long over due break, I'm getting new thoughts and new ideas through these months. why oh why do we play music? why music in church? silly music. anywho. we got to play at a church today bout 45 mins away. We really felt at home. Great time and great conversations. Great people. The Pastor & his wife are amazing people, we had a great lunch with them. Just felt so comfortable and felt like we belong there for the time being. It's what we have been on-again/off-again looking for a long time. I can't wait to go back...since it is 45 mins away, we'll be going about every other week. We're very excited to start this new journey. I'm so happy to see excitement back in Mike's eyes and words spoken, new dreams, etc.

Ok well that's some new stuff for you, all the faithful readers.

***Side Note...All the songs on the show "Oprah's Big Give" are AMAZING!
*Need to Breathe-"Shine On"
*Five For Fighting-"World"
*Suzie McNeil- "Believe"

In fact...after listening to more songs... I will go out on a limb in saying... NeedToBreathe is my new fav. (and it just happens to be a "christian" band...and i dont 'normally like those bands...) the singer dude seriously sounds like John mayer on a few diddys.
Good stuff!!

my precious.

so we've been keeping my dog in the kitchen, cause she's being a "bad girl" so the other day, we had kept the dryer door open (washer/dryer are in the kitchen) and Mike came home to find her inside of the dryer, laying on the dried clothes, it was so stinkin cute. so he took a picture.

so not much new here, i went to the doctor today for the first time in a long, long, time. apparently nothing is wrong with me, but why do i feel like i do then...?? not good.

whatev. i'll be going again soon.

valentines week. i think after this week. i'm going to forever hate that day. last year wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be but this year, already...on friday i was getting annoyed. this year...new store, new customers...we will see. i always thought of it as a "romantic day", bull. it's hell for people in the floral business. ORDER EARLY!! haha.

so i'll be working crazy hours this week, for all your valentine's needs.

peace out.

have i said how much i "love" MN, yet??? -40, are you kidding me???? CA here we come!