Hopeful and Honest
Since changing to a new blog layout, I have an “About Me” page. Check it out and learn some more about who I am.
Also, the picture at the top of my blog was taken by my father from my favorite place in the world: On the deck of the cabin he built for our family in Tincup, Colorado. Yes, that is just one of the views we are so lucky to have there.
I stood outside my work, with a piece of paper in hand that gave me 5 different options of getting home on the bus. Yes, you read right, I am riding the bus to and from work. Those of you who truly KNOW me understand what a big deal and how much stress this can cause me, and those of you don’t fully know me (yet, I hope) will probably brush it off. You see, I was born and raised in Colorado. My family lived in a small town and when I went to college I chose another small town. Riding mass transit never was an option, nor did I really want to. It is not that I am above mass transit busses, it is just that I never had the option, and besides it can be so confusing so why think about it. Well, I now live in Seattle. Matt and I have one car (thanks Dad!) between us, and the new job does not offer parking, but they will pay for a bus pass. By the way, if I did drive and parked it would cost me $6 a day which quickly adds up. Therefore, the best option quickly became riding the bus.
So, there I stood on that busy street, nervously waiting for bus route #8 to come get me. I spent the previous night finding all the different routes and times that could get me home so that if I left work late, I wouldn’t worry. I had them printed on a sheet of paper I kept very securely in my pocket. But, you know what, I was worried. I saw my bus, got my bus money out and boarded. I sat right up front, because I needed to follow the map and see that Bus Route #8 truly was going the same direction the map said it would be. Of course the bus was on track and I was at my first stop. The location for my job required a bus transfer to get home, thus making my life even more complicated and gave me more to worry about. I got out crossed the street to go the next stop, and waited again for Bus Route #28. I stood at this stop holding tight to the piece of paper I had printed, as if this paper would save me and make riding the bus okay. I stood there and looked around me. Cars, trucks, busses, and crazy people who ride their bikes on the road zoomed passed me. I had a fabulous view of the Space Needle and a green, grassy park full of people behind me. I could not believe this was my life and how overwhelming and huge city life can be at times. I held back the tears and wondered if I was strong enough to pull it together. The bus came, still nervous I sat in the front seat again. I was starting to think that I couldn’t do city life, where was the quiet peacefulness that was Colorado. At that moment the bus crossed a huge bridge over a big water way. The sun was just setting and I looked to my left – the beautiful Olympic Mountain Range, to my right – the Cascade Mountains, underneath me – many sailboats, prop planes, kayaks, and then I looked behind me – Mount Rainer was visible in its full glory. I then realized it would be okay, Seattle is beautiful, and I was indeed going to make it home on the bus.
Well, today was my first day at my new Job at a Financial Group. I always have disliked first days of school and jobs. It is always awkward, there are a million new things hitting you at once, and you almost always feel overwhelmed with how your day just went. Needless to say, I am glad I got my first day over with. It was a lot of training and I know I have more to come, but over all it was successful and I think I will enjoy it.
However, today was a big change for me. I had a schedule to follow, places to be, things to do before the clock hit 5 pm. I haven’t worked for 3 months, not by choice, but due to life’s uncertainties. Gone are my days spent with my friends Ellen, Dr. Phil, and Oprah. Here are the days that carry a purpose, have structure, make me more productive, and allow us to pay rent, haha.
The day was good, Matt was great! He picked me up from work and told me I could pick wherever I wanted to go to eat dinner. It was fun, and when we got home he had left a note saying congradulations. I hope more good days follow.
What have I been doing for three months that I could not even update my blog, you may be thinking. Good question. Moving to Seattle was a huge adventure for me. I have never moved out of Colorado. The farthest I had been from my family was a 6 hour car drive to Durango from Evergreen. So when Matt and I decided it would be a great opportunity for him to attend Mars Hill Seminary, the move to Seattle consumed me (you can read previous posts and see it was on my mind a lot). I pictured my new home to be a huge, busy place, full of millions of people. I was scared to death of city life. I did not want to live in the so called concrete jungle, because I had always had mountains, and fresh air. How would I survive. I feel bad for the countless nights I kept Matt awake because I was so upset we were moving.
Flash forward: We found a great little duplex house in Fremont. It is off the busy street, we can park in front of our home, we have a small front yard and a good size backyard. There are trees all around us, and I even spotted a rose bush on the side of the house. I live near I park I can walk to where I can sit, look to the left and see the Olympic Mountain Range, and right in front of me is a lake with sailboats, kayaks, yachts, and propeller planes that take off regularly. If I go in the evening, I can watch the sunset, see the moon rise, and watch the lights in downtown Seattle turn on right in front of me. I enjoy this park, it has offered a sense of peace and belonging.
So, as I explore the city, I learn so much about how cool Seattle really is. There are not only huge Mountain ranges that I was so afraid I would miss, but a vast amount of water. It is a unique combination of scenery that I did not imagine. It is so pretty. Matt’s parents visited and took us on a sailing trip out in the bay and to be able to see where I live from the water was even better. It was a great treat. 
Is moving to city life all that I feared it to be? In some ways yes, in some ways no. I am enjoying it so far, and some of my fears have been wiped away. I miss my family and friends a lot, but I have a sense that they to will come to find Seattle an OK city to live in.
Wow! I know, I know. It has been a long time since I have updated. A lot has changed in my life since June when there were only twenty days until I was to be married. Yes, a lot of change. I hope to recount all this change in the next few blogs to help you get up to date with me and see what happens to me in the future. For now I will give you a quick rundown.
I married Matt in the best and most fun ceremony of our lives. We will never forget the memories we have with all of our friends and family in one place.
We had a great honeymoon in San Diego, ate at fancy great restaurants (for probably the last time in 3 years!), went to the zoo, toured Catalina island on foot, and relaxed.
Matt and I packed up our life as we knew it in Durango, Colorado, said goodbye to our friends and drove to Seattle, Washington.
After twenty-two hours in the car, a week at my cousins, we found a cute little one bedroom house just North of Seattle in a neighborhood called Fremont.
We sold or got rid of everything in Durango, so we went shopping for everything new. After many trips to Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and most importantly IKEA we have a house full of great new stuff to start a home together.
Matt looked and found a job quick. I, however, looked and looked, interviewed and interviewed, felt horrible and rejected, and finally after two and a half months found a job. I start Tuesday at a banking institution.
Matt started grad school, I started to figure out how to entertain myself without the company of friends or my spouse. I thank God that our dog, Basil, is still around because without her I truly think I would have gone crazy here.
To end: moving to Seattle, while it has been a challenge to me, has caused self-doubt and struggle, will turn out to be one of the best things to happen to myself, Matt, and us as a couple. I can’t wait to share more of my experiences of our move here, and what is next to come in my life.
It has all gone by so fast, planning the wedding, figuring out every detail, that I can't believe we have only 20 days left until the big day. I am getting so excited, but at the same time I cannot image the the whoe day. Matt and I had our final pre-wedding meeting to map out all the big details. Ever since we have planned out each minute of our ceremony it has become glaringly real that we are truely going to be married. Before, all the planning just seemed like what you do when you prepare to get married, but actually sitting down, reading every word that will be spoke, imagining the events, it finally felt real! Our ceremony is going to be very traditional and very classic, I am extremely happy with how it is going to go. I can't wait to be a part of it, and have all my family and friends there to support Matt and I.
I wish I had more time to write some posts, however lately I just haven't had a chance to post. After moving out of my apartment I no longer have internet and my job at the bank does not offer much free time to blog on the internet. I hope to keep up as much as I can with blogging, so please stay with me!
I have been extremely busy this past week. After a great vacation with my family, I returned to a have moved out of house, and more issues with the trailer we were trying to sell. I spent the last two days working full time at the bank and then working at least 5 hours to finish moving and cleaning after work. I finally got into my new room, which I will be living in for the next two months last night. It felt great to be done, and now my room is engulfed with nothing but boxes and as I look around I can't decide if it is a great thing, or a scary thing, that everything Matt and I own fits in a small bedroom! Now everything is done and I can focus on wedding planning for now.
As for the trailer, it is finally moved off the lot, and someone else has a new home to live in. It was a lot of work, more than I think Matt will ever let me know. I drove by the new place it was moved to today, and was a little sad. It was Matt's place, it was wierd to see it moved and someone else putting effort into it. However, it is a real weight off of our shoulders and I am excited to start focusing on our life together and our wedding day.
I will be taking a mini vacation to my favorite place in the world this weekend – Tincup, Co. It is a small ghost town on the Western Slope of Colorado. I have grown up visiting the town since I was born, Tincup is a very special place to me and my family. About 8 years ago my parents decided to start on their dream of building our own cabin. Summer after summer my amazing father build us a cabin with his own hands. The only professional help he had was putting on the tin roof. I grew up in this small community each summer, and have many fond memories. It has resulted in my love of history as each summer I find new treasures from the past that fascinate me. I am so excited to start off my summer with a trip to Tincup and spend time with my parents, sister, and grandparents. It will be a great time to be with my family one last time before I am married.
I was feeling a little down at work today, and my favorite coworker was so nice to cheer me up!
