For Christmas 2012 I got a "fancy" camera. An awesome Canon Rebel and I told myself I was really going to get off the auto settings in 2013 and learn how to shoot in manual, but alas, it didn't happen. I mean, I definitely learned more than I had previously known, but the auto settings are still my best friend.
So at the beginning of this year I seriously put some thought into joining the 365 project. A picture a day for a year. Then I remembered that I don't always get my teeth brushed or a shower every day and making sure I got my big camera out every. single. day. seemed overwhelming.
Then I stumbled upon a hashtag on Instagram for the 52 project. A photo a week for a year. Much better.
I'm already behind, but it's ok. I missed the very first week of the year, but got a shot in last week and will try and make up for my slacker tendencies this week with 2 pictures. So much pressure...
Anyway, here is my first shot- a Texas road on a foggy day. (Don't worry mom and dad. I checked both ways for cars before I stood in the middle of the road.)
1/52
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Monday, January 13, 2014
Friday, September 9, 2011
one month
Sunday, July 31st- we move everything we own out of our duplex and into a storage unit. Jason, myself, as well as John and Connie Pringle- clean, paint, clean, move more stuff, clean, fix holes in wall, clean.... all on this day.
August 1st-6th- all 6 of us live with my parents for a week at their home which is in the process of being sold. Only rough day was when it was being inspected and I had to be out with all the kids from 9am to 2pm. My day was so crazy that I was gone from 8am to 5pm. I've never gone up and down Putt HIll so many times.
Saturday, August 6th- we drive to Durango and get our moving truck and trailer. We drive back and Jason helps load the truck for an hour before he drives back to Durango to take his Journeyman Plumbing License test. My dad and I, along with 6 wonderful friends finish loading the truck in a few hours. Jason and Dad finish loading the van on the trailer that evening.
Sunday, August 7th- we leave at 7am for Austin, Texas.
Monday, August 8th- we arrive at 7am in Austin, Texas.
Feels like the longest 24 hours of my life.
Monday, August 8th- we check into our one room, extended stay motel. It's not all it's supposed to be.
Tuesday, August 10th (morning)- we move everything we own into a storage unit. Again.
Tuesday, August 10th (afternoon)- Jason interviews with Radiant Plumbing for a permanent position.
Wednesday, August 11th- we drive around looking at apartments and find one that has an opening in 3 days. All the others have no availability for weeks. I decide that now is a good time to get a nasty head cold.
Thursday, August 12th- Jason interviews twice more on this same day and gets the job! Liz and Jamie take us out to dinner to celebrate!
Friday, August 13th- Jason starts his new job at 7am. So he leaves the hotel at 6:30am.
Saturday, August 14th- we sign a lease for our new apartment!
Wednesday, August 17th- Jason is at work, I move everything out of the motel and into our new apartment. The kids and I go to Target and get Katie a cake as it's her 9th birthday today. Liz and Jamie come to have cake and pizza in honor of Katie and then Jason and Jamie move all the really heavy stuff out of storage.
Thursday, August 18th- I get up, get ready and take all the kids to register the girls for school. Find out they are short one immunization shot each and we go get that at the "ready clinic." Go back to the school to finish registering them. Go back again (by myself with all 4 kids) to the school that night for "open house" to meet the girls teachers and see where their classes are. Finn starts screaming in Evie's class- I am super embarrassed.
Friday, August 19th- it's tax free weekend! We go shopping for school supplies. Jason moves more stuff at night.
Saturday, August 20th- still tax free, so we go shopping for school clothes. Jason moves more stuff at night.
Monday, August 22nd- at 7:30am Katie starts 4th grade, Evie starts 1st. Jason finally finishes getting things over to the apartment that night.
Tuesday, August 23rd- I sit around with Finn and Liam watching movies.... all day. Fast food for dinner.
August 24th - September 2nd- Life happens. It includes me throwing my back out and finding a new chiropractor.
Saturday, September 3rd- we move half of what we own from a large storage unit, to a smaller storage unit. I hate moving.
Monday, September 5th- we take a day off and go have fun at Barton Springs with Liz and Jamie. We have officially been in Texas for a month.
August 1st-6th- all 6 of us live with my parents for a week at their home which is in the process of being sold. Only rough day was when it was being inspected and I had to be out with all the kids from 9am to 2pm. My day was so crazy that I was gone from 8am to 5pm. I've never gone up and down Putt HIll so many times.
Saturday, August 6th- we drive to Durango and get our moving truck and trailer. We drive back and Jason helps load the truck for an hour before he drives back to Durango to take his Journeyman Plumbing License test. My dad and I, along with 6 wonderful friends finish loading the truck in a few hours. Jason and Dad finish loading the van on the trailer that evening.
Sunday, August 7th- we leave at 7am for Austin, Texas.
Feels like the longest 24 hours of my life.
Monday, August 8th- we check into our one room, extended stay motel. It's not all it's supposed to be.
Tuesday, August 10th (afternoon)- Jason interviews with Radiant Plumbing for a permanent position.
Wednesday, August 11th- we drive around looking at apartments and find one that has an opening in 3 days. All the others have no availability for weeks. I decide that now is a good time to get a nasty head cold.
Thursday, August 12th- Jason interviews twice more on this same day and gets the job! Liz and Jamie take us out to dinner to celebrate!
Friday, August 13th- Jason starts his new job at 7am. So he leaves the hotel at 6:30am.
Saturday, August 14th- we sign a lease for our new apartment!
Wednesday, August 17th- Jason is at work, I move everything out of the motel and into our new apartment. The kids and I go to Target and get Katie a cake as it's her 9th birthday today. Liz and Jamie come to have cake and pizza in honor of Katie and then Jason and Jamie move all the really heavy stuff out of storage.
Thursday, August 18th- I get up, get ready and take all the kids to register the girls for school. Find out they are short one immunization shot each and we go get that at the "ready clinic." Go back to the school to finish registering them. Go back again (by myself with all 4 kids) to the school that night for "open house" to meet the girls teachers and see where their classes are. Finn starts screaming in Evie's class- I am super embarrassed.
Friday, August 19th- it's tax free weekend! We go shopping for school supplies. Jason moves more stuff at night.
Saturday, August 20th- still tax free, so we go shopping for school clothes. Jason moves more stuff at night.
Monday, August 22nd- at 7:30am Katie starts 4th grade, Evie starts 1st. Jason finally finishes getting things over to the apartment that night.
Tuesday, August 23rd- I sit around with Finn and Liam watching movies.... all day. Fast food for dinner.
August 24th - September 2nd- Life happens. It includes me throwing my back out and finding a new chiropractor.
Saturday, September 3rd- we move half of what we own from a large storage unit, to a smaller storage unit. I hate moving.
Monday, September 5th- we take a day off and go have fun at Barton Springs with Liz and Jamie. We have officially been in Texas for a month.
Monday, August 8, 2011
welcome to texas
I am reminded of Philippians 4:13 this morning, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
We left Colorado at 7:30am on Sunday morning and we arrived in Cedar Park, Texas at 7am on Monday morning. You do the math.....
The truck was so slow. Finn was great, Evie and Liam were tolerable. Katie was a huge help. We didn't stop for a whole lot of sleep - I took 3, 30 minute naps on the way down. Whenever I couldn't keep my eyes open I called Jason and told him we needed to pull over. He drinks all those energy things, but I can't handle them so I have to rest. But it still just took us forever to get here.
Once we came into town, I thought Jason missed the exit and pulled off - but Jason didn't see me or hear me calling on the phone and went right on by. So now we were separated in early morning rush hour traffic in a city that neither of us is familiar with. Me on the brink of absolute exhaustion and with no map to even try and find Jason at the other exit. It took us almost 30 minutes to find each other and then another 45 to find the hotel as we kept getting turned around. We finally got to the extended stay place we were booked at and got to our room.
I told Jason that being cheap in this instance was obviously the wrong thing to do. The pictures on the web site were way misleading and the "fully stocked" kitchen, has one pan/pot thing, 2 forks, 1 dinner knife, 2 bowls, 2 plates, 3 cups, one dish towel, a small cutting board, a small serrated knife, a spatula and a can opener. I thought there would be more than one towel, a few pots and pans, utensils and at least 4- bowls, plates, cups and silverware. I am making a list of things that need to come over from the truck, when it gets unpacked tomorrow and trying to decide if it’s worth it to get all the stuff we’d need to stay here and make it function or not.
To top off our morning, Jason called to set up his interview time with the company interested in him here in Cedar Park and the guy he's been in contact with is out of the office today. One of the main reasons we kept trucking last night was because Jason told them he'd be here today and they said call and come interview right away once we were here.
We are in a complete holding pattern till Jason gets a job. We can’t apply for an apartment till he gets a job- we have to provide proof of income. We can’t get a mail box till we get an physical address. We can’t get a drivers license till we have an address. We can’t register kids for school, till we have both a drivers license an address.
I am beyond frustrated. I have no idea what God’s plan is. But things seem to be getting harder (if that’s possible) rather than easier and it’s very depressing.
Up until this morning, I felt a peace about being here. Getting lost by myself (while completely exhausted) with 4 tired & hungry kids kids, driving for 24hrs. with little sleep, getting to a hotel that’s not equipped for our needs, then Jason not even being able to interview today sort of destroyed that peace.
I will feel soooo much better if Jason can start working and we can find a place to live – in the next two weeks before school starts. Those are my main prayers right now. Please join with me in for those requests.
Thank you all for your support in this move!!! From the gift cards and cash, to the prayers and scriptures, to the moving and cleaning help. We love you all and miss you tons. I asked Liam today if he liked being here in Texas and he said, no. He wanted to go home and go to Durango. Jason and I laughed and said sorry, but this is home now. Welcome to Texas.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
details, details, details
I am a details person. I plan things out so far in advance that I have been known to "think ahead" by years. It's really NOT a good thing (and it drives Jason nuts.) Inevitably, MY plans don't always go the way I want. I've been learning the "wait and be patient" lesson the hard way over the last few months. Nothing has gone right or in my time frame when it comes to Jason getting to take his licensing exam here in CO before we leave for TX, we still don't even know if he can take it or when. And now because of some jobs here in CO that Jason is waiting on to complete we have to hang out someplace for a week or so (after we are due to be out of our rental home) and my carefully, well thought out and totally awesome "moving" schedule and plan has gone the way of the dodo.
My cousin posted a blog link the other day on Facebook about church and tradition. I thought it looked interesting and it was. Enough so that I decided to see what else this guy wrote. The very next blog post down was one entitled, "God Doesn't Do Details."
Yeah. This I had to read. (Copied and pasted for your convenience!)
Pastor Steven Furtick - God Doesn't Do Details
Sheesh.
It's the "wait and be patient" lesson again. God is obviously trying to get this through my thick head. So I printed the above out to read every day till we get to TX.
And I'm trying... really, really hard... to let God take care of the details.
My cousin posted a blog link the other day on Facebook about church and tradition. I thought it looked interesting and it was. Enough so that I decided to see what else this guy wrote. The very next blog post down was one entitled, "God Doesn't Do Details."
Yeah. This I had to read. (Copied and pasted for your convenience!)
A common phrase you often hear from people is, “I don’t do details.” Usually they mean they’re more big picture people. They don’t like to get bogged down in minutiae.
In His own way, God doesn’t do details either. At least when it comes to His commands to people in the Bible. In fact, He can often be painfully vague.
He told Abraham simply, “Go to the land I will show you.”
When He beckoned Peter to walk on the water, He simply said, “Come.”
On His command Moses to free the Israelites from the most powerful nation in the world, He merely commanded him, “Go, I am sending you to Pharaoh.”
When He beckoned Peter to walk on the water, He simply said, “Come.”
On His command Moses to free the Israelites from the most powerful nation in the world, He merely commanded him, “Go, I am sending you to Pharaoh.”
God didn’t use any detail. He didn’t lay out a step-by-step plan. He just issued the command and expected obedience.
Sometimes people wanted more detail. Moses wanted to know how it was going to happen. What should he tell the people? But God didn’t fill in much detail here either.I will be with you.
Tell them, I AM has sent me to you.
Tell them, I AM has sent me to you.
That helps.
On the one hand, you would think God was kind of winging it. On the surface, it would seem that His plan was just to deal with the details as they came about. And that’s not very reassuring. Not when you’re being asked to step out on faith.
On the other hand, when you read on in the stories, God had every detail covered. Abraham’s journey. The plagues. The Red Sea. Even Peter’s ability to walk on water. And that’s very reassuring.
God is extremely meticulous. He is all about the details. Far more than you’ll ever be. He has everything already figured out. Every pitfall and possibility accounted for. Every detour arranged to get you to your final destination.
So God definitely does the details in terms of His plan and working it out.
But God doesn’t do the details in terms of what He communicates to you.
But God doesn’t do the details in terms of what He communicates to you.
That’s because He knows there are some details you’re simply not ready for.
And ultimately it’s because He’s more interested in your full obedience than your full understanding.
And ultimately it’s because He’s more interested in your full obedience than your full understanding.
Don’t worry. God has every detail in your life covered.
He just doesn’t need you to know them first to follow Him faithfully.
He just doesn’t need you to know them first to follow Him faithfully.
Pastor Steven Furtick - God Doesn't Do Details
Sheesh.
It's the "wait and be patient" lesson again. God is obviously trying to get this through my thick head. So I printed the above out to read every day till we get to TX.
And I'm trying... really, really hard... to let God take care of the details.
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Saturday, June 11, 2011
changes
Your life is defined by opportunities....
I'm headed home. Well, I'm headed back to the place I was born. Jason and I feel that God is leading us to Austin, Texas. At least that's what we hope we're being told....
4 days before Finn was born Jason lost his "steady" full time job due to being a man of integrity. It was hard for both of us to make a decision that basically resulted in Jason firing himself from the company he worked for, but we felt that by standing up for what was right, we'd come out ahead in life.
The day Jason lost his job I started sending out resumes. We looked at Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Florida, Utah and Texas. We got immediate response from a guy in Florida who really wanted to speak with Jason and then when they missed each other on the phone twice, that turned into a "see you in person" request that we had to turn down as Finn was a day old when the request came in. We asked if a telephone interview could be conducted and never heard back from the guy... I was crushed as *I* wanted to move back to Naples. I love the ocean and beach and had just figured that's where we would wind up!
But a couple of weeks ago Jason was looking at help wanted ad's in Texas and called on one in Austin. He spoke with the owner in the morning and asked me that afternoon to email them his resume. I did and they called Jason about 10 minutes after they got my email and asked how soon could he come down and interview.
Jason just got home Thursday morning from being in Austin for 4 days. He has 3 offers- 1 is dependent upon him attaining his Journeyman license here in CO, 1 is a "as soon as you get here I will hire you" offer, 1 is open ended and not as firm, but still an offer. And he got a call at 7:30 Thursday morning from another company who is interested in him and wants him to come interview once we get there. (So that's a total of 4 and there are still more companies he applied to that we could potentially hear back from!)
So we need to get there. Because of the Lord's providing hand moving in our families hearts, friends lives and our church family we were able to pay the bills and buy groceries in May. Without the monetary gifts they gave us, we would not have made it (the winter season in Pagosa ate our savings.) June is shaping up to be a better month and for that, we are grateful to the Lord for providing. But plumbing work is really drying up here (ha...ha) and Jason is not getting the amount of work he needs to, so that we can stay.
Jason and I have "tried" to move for the last 4 years. We've sent out resumes all over the U.S., but we never really planned TO go. Every year things have opened up to stay - we've gotten a new job or our housing situation was remedied. We made the decision to trust in the Lord, that no matter how hard it would be, that we WERE going to move (someplace) this summer- the place He wanted us. As soon as we did the calls started coming in, in response to the resumes we sent out in the last month.
We still have some hurdles to jump! The state is being a pain and has told Jason he is short in his hours, by 6 weeks, to qualify to test for his Journeyman license. We're sort of shocked that they are telling him no because of a 6 week difference. The man has worked 5 years in the plumbing trade in CO and this is annoying. So we're trying to see what can be done and praying that the Lord works it all out as it's very important Jason attain this license before we move.
We should know by the end of next week what's going to happen with that and then we will set an "official" moving date. But for now, it's going to be sometime between July 10th and August 1st.
I moved every 4 years as a kid, but I've lived in Pagosa for the last 15 years, Jason for 17. As annoying as it can be sometimes, I've gotten used to the small town life. No busy, confusing highways. No shopping temptations! Not having to pick a grocery store as there is only one in town. We LOVE our church family. We LOVE our friends. It's going to be hard for us to leave and I've been in a sort of denial about it. The emotional stress of leaving something I've known for so long is going to be difficult on me. I've been telling people individually that yes, we're moving, but I haven't actually posted it on Facebook or anything. Because of course, once it's on Facebook, it's official.... :P
But it's time. I need to start hugging and crying it out when I see those I'm leaving.
We're moving.
I'm headed home. Well, I'm headed back to the place I was born. Jason and I feel that God is leading us to Austin, Texas. At least that's what we hope we're being told....
4 days before Finn was born Jason lost his "steady" full time job due to being a man of integrity. It was hard for both of us to make a decision that basically resulted in Jason firing himself from the company he worked for, but we felt that by standing up for what was right, we'd come out ahead in life.
The day Jason lost his job I started sending out resumes. We looked at Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Florida, Utah and Texas. We got immediate response from a guy in Florida who really wanted to speak with Jason and then when they missed each other on the phone twice, that turned into a "see you in person" request that we had to turn down as Finn was a day old when the request came in. We asked if a telephone interview could be conducted and never heard back from the guy... I was crushed as *I* wanted to move back to Naples. I love the ocean and beach and had just figured that's where we would wind up!
But a couple of weeks ago Jason was looking at help wanted ad's in Texas and called on one in Austin. He spoke with the owner in the morning and asked me that afternoon to email them his resume. I did and they called Jason about 10 minutes after they got my email and asked how soon could he come down and interview.
Jason just got home Thursday morning from being in Austin for 4 days. He has 3 offers- 1 is dependent upon him attaining his Journeyman license here in CO, 1 is a "as soon as you get here I will hire you" offer, 1 is open ended and not as firm, but still an offer. And he got a call at 7:30 Thursday morning from another company who is interested in him and wants him to come interview once we get there. (So that's a total of 4 and there are still more companies he applied to that we could potentially hear back from!)
So we need to get there. Because of the Lord's providing hand moving in our families hearts, friends lives and our church family we were able to pay the bills and buy groceries in May. Without the monetary gifts they gave us, we would not have made it (the winter season in Pagosa ate our savings.) June is shaping up to be a better month and for that, we are grateful to the Lord for providing. But plumbing work is really drying up here (ha...ha) and Jason is not getting the amount of work he needs to, so that we can stay.
Jason and I have "tried" to move for the last 4 years. We've sent out resumes all over the U.S., but we never really planned TO go. Every year things have opened up to stay - we've gotten a new job or our housing situation was remedied. We made the decision to trust in the Lord, that no matter how hard it would be, that we WERE going to move (someplace) this summer- the place He wanted us. As soon as we did the calls started coming in, in response to the resumes we sent out in the last month.
We still have some hurdles to jump! The state is being a pain and has told Jason he is short in his hours, by 6 weeks, to qualify to test for his Journeyman license. We're sort of shocked that they are telling him no because of a 6 week difference. The man has worked 5 years in the plumbing trade in CO and this is annoying. So we're trying to see what can be done and praying that the Lord works it all out as it's very important Jason attain this license before we move.
We should know by the end of next week what's going to happen with that and then we will set an "official" moving date. But for now, it's going to be sometime between July 10th and August 1st.
I moved every 4 years as a kid, but I've lived in Pagosa for the last 15 years, Jason for 17. As annoying as it can be sometimes, I've gotten used to the small town life. No busy, confusing highways. No shopping temptations! Not having to pick a grocery store as there is only one in town. We LOVE our church family. We LOVE our friends. It's going to be hard for us to leave and I've been in a sort of denial about it. The emotional stress of leaving something I've known for so long is going to be difficult on me. I've been telling people individually that yes, we're moving, but I haven't actually posted it on Facebook or anything. Because of course, once it's on Facebook, it's official.... :P
But it's time. I need to start hugging and crying it out when I see those I'm leaving.
We're moving.
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