Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go!

That's right, I got a job!!  Actually, God blessed me with TWO jobs -- both of which are for guys from Chi Alpha, and have very flexible schedules!  God is so good, amen?  I'm working for Mason, the pastor for Chi Alpha, doing mostly administrative work as well as working with Ben and helping him set up and promote his business that he's starting.  Both are going really well, and I'm super excited about working for Ben, especially, because it's something I can continue doing once I move back to California, which is a huge bonus.

Which brings me to my next piece of awesome news.... I'm coming home!  As those of you who follow me on Facebook or Instagram (and possibly Twitter, although I don't "tweet" very often) may already know, not only am I planning to come home in May (for good!), I also have already bought my plane ticket.  So it's officially official!!!  I'm flying in late May 17th, and I seriously cannot contain my excitement! Michael's also very happy (imagine that?), and we're really looking forward to celebrating our 2-year anniversary in person (instead of Skype - bleh), as well as enjoying our summer together before classes begin again in the fall.

Life is on the up and up, and I'm planning to make the most of my time left here in Mobile.  The moral of the story? God is in control, and prayer works!  Okay, so that's two morals technically, but it really is just one: God loves us: me specifically ;)

I will wrap up this rather short post by sharing this with you: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28, NKJV.

Much love,
katiebell @>->--- 

Monday, February 18, 2013

If there was a song for job hunting.....

....then it would be my theme song right now!  Three weeks ago I was actively looking for a job, but now I'm hunting.  Did you know how expensive it is to move from Alabama to California??  I started looking into the prices, and discovered that just renting the smallest moving truck -- just the truck alone -- would cost about $1,000.  A thousand dollars!! Once I added in the cost of fuel, food, and boxes, I realized I need a job.  ASAP.  I literally cannot afford to move to California, unless I fly with a suitcase (and believe me, I'm seriously considering that at this point).

With this revelation in mind, I am hunting down jobs.  I have turned in many applications, with no feedback or response so far.  I had a walk-in interview today at Books-A-Million, but unfortunately they are only hiring people with sales experience (of which, I have none).  This is a shame, because the guy I interviewed with was clearly impressed by me; he mentioned two or three times how organized I was.  I have no classes on Tuesdays, so tomorrow I am going out and talking to as many people as possible to try to get something.  At this point, I would be happy with anything.  So if you want to pray for me (I would really appreciate it!  There is great power in prayer!!), please pray that the people I talk to tomorrow like me, and that I am able to fill out many applications.

My moving out to California this summer is kind of a window-type deal.  I have a job lined up IF I can move back by August.  I have struggled with the lack of control I feel I have in this situation, and it has caused me great stress, anxiety, and depression this past week.  However, I believe God's promises.  He already has provided me with an amazing job and a wonderful place to live, and I know He wouldn't desert me now.  "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11.  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.  With these two promises in mind, I have taken to reciting this verse every time I feel myself becoming anxious or worried: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

If you could join me in praying these verses over me, and praying that I will get the right job (and soon), I would very much appreciate it!

Do you have any go-to verses that help you through difficult times?  Please share!  And feel free to leave a comment; I'd love to know what you think.

Much love,
katiebell @>-->---

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Let Me Catch You Up.....

I'm back! hopefully for good this time.... Life got busy, but busy is good right?  So here's what's new:

I'm attending the University of South Alabama now and I just started my second semester.  Last semester I took Music, German, English, and Psychology and got two A's, a B, and a C.  I enjoyed my classes, for the most part, and I enjoyed being back in school full-time, without having to worry about work.  I didn't really get involved in extra curricular activities on campus, except for Chi Alpha.  Chi Alpha is a Christian organization on many university and college campuses across the US, and the Chi Alpha here at South was a blessing to find.  I was immediately welcomed to the small group, and have formed many good relationships with the people I've met in it.  I began leading worship almost immediately, and it has been a blessing to be singing and playing the guitar for them.  I've also helped plan many activities that Chi Alpha has put on, and I was recently asked to be the Vice President of Chi Alpha at South.  This past week, I was even hired to do some administrative work for the campus pastor, which was great.

Outside of Chi Alpha, however, I'm not making many social strides.  My roommate of last semester, with whom I never really spoke, moved back to Pensacola, Florida over the break because she didn't like Mobile.  I don't blame her, but now I don't even have someone to share a room with, and it can get pretty lonely.  Don't get me wrong; I'm enjoying having this much space to myself, but sometimes I feel like I might go stir-crazy just sitting in my room all the time.  I met a few people in my classes last semester, but I don't have any classes with them this semester, and I haven't seen them around campus at all.  So right now, it's mostly just me and my classes.

This semester, I'm taking Math, another German class, Biology lecture and lab, and US History from reconstruction to present day.  The Bio lecture is my first real "college lecture" class, so that's a new experience.  I'm about three weeks into classes, and so far I'm pretty much enjoying them.  However, this semester quite a few things are different from the last.  I'm actively looking for a job now, because not having any income is taking quite a toll on my account balance.  Also, my plan as far as how long I'm staying here has drastically changed.

When I moved out here eight months ago, my plan was to finish my four years at the University and then decide -- based on my relationship status and how many roots I'd put down here -- whether I was going to move back to California or just stay on living here.  It seemed like the best idea at the time, mainly because it was what everybody wanted me to do.  When I decided to move with them, my parents were thrilled beyond belief.  And who can blame them?  I'm their first daughter, and to have their oldest not only move out, but choose to stay on the opposite side of the country, must have been a hard thought to consider.  Even my sister seemed pretty happy that she wasn't moving alone with them; that she'd have someone to share the experience with.  Many of my grandparents also experienced relief that I wasn't staying in California, but moving out to Alabama to focus on school. 
But once I settled in, and the reality of everything became -- well -- real, the actuality of my own feelings became clear.

In August, I moved into my dorm on campus.  Being across the country from my boyfriend, and now across the Mobile bay from my parents really isolated me and made me reconsider all the decisions I'd made.  Was I making this decision for myself or for my family?  I do believe that, at the time, the decision I made was my own.  I had to come out here, live out here, and consider settling down out here, otherwise I would've always wondered about it.  Alabama had been a sort of "greener side" for me.  Ever since I was in middle school, I would always tell people, "I was born in raised in California, but I'm an Alabama girl at heart," and I believed it.  I always thought I should've been born in Alabama; that it was where I really belonged.  I thank God that I had the opportunity to move out here, mainly because if I hadn't moved out here, I never would've know how wrong I was.  Living in Alabama, just like any place, is a lot different from visiting it.  For me, there's something about it that just doesn't quite fit.

Besides all that, I of course miss Michael.  I will admit that as much as we talked about the future, when I left I wasn't sure we'd make it through the long-distance.  But since moving out here, I've realized how important he really is to me.  I honestly couldn't imagine a future with anyone else, and the fact that we've made it this long in a long-distance relationship really just reinforces that for me.  I'm not saying I'm moving back only to be with him, because I'm really not, but he is definitely one of the main reasons.  My life is in California, and my love is too, and it took me moving to Alabama for a year to realize that.