God Will Provide

So after Danielle and Shelby signed the lease last week to move into my house on August 1st, I realized that I needed to start looking seriously at places to live in Greenville. Since I put an ad for my house on Craigslist, I of course started looking there myself for places to live. I found a TON of listings! Friends and my cousins had told me certain areas to look in and some to steer away from. So I was pleased to find several listings that boasted of hardwood floors, maple cabinets, close proximity to downtown, etc. Well, let me just tell you in case I'm not the last to realize that you can make anything look good on the internet! The first place I looked was a townhouse in Taylors with mauve carpet and 3 TINY bedrooms. The next place was even worse. This was the house that the owner bragged about hardwood floors, maple cabinets, 2 minutes from downtown. First of all, it was off of a dirt/gravel road. The first thing I saw when I walked in was cracked...actually, crumbling tile floor in the kitchen around the door and the fridge...which, oh by the way, didn't come with the house! I don't know who expects for renters to bring their own fridge. Oh, but the best part was the window A/C unit! That's right! No central air...just a window unit...in SOUTH CAROLINA! Needless to say, I left there hoping never to return.

I was realistic at the onset though. I knew that I was going to have to see a few dumps before I found my palace and I kept reminding myself of that as the day went on. I decided to head on to Tres and Angie's (cousins) house where I was staying for the night. They have been so gracious in letting me stay often and talking to friends of theirs about places they might know of for rent. Tres pulled up the classifieds from the Greenville News and was able to show me on a map where to look and where not to look which was very helpful. We then headed downtown with the kiddos (Jaxson and Maddie--their two CUTE, CUTE, CUTE little ones) for an awesome dinner. After dinner Tres drove all around downtown to look for "For Rent" signs. Angie copied down the numbers and addresses while Tres and I looked. I felt a glimmer of hope that I might find "the place" the next day.

After two rather unimpressive (and far from downtown, I might add) townhomes, I ended up at an English cottage in the heart of the very covetted Augusta Road area of Greenville. Here it is...isn't it cute?

The couple that owned it were so nice. They came straight from church to show me the house. Two bedrooms, renovated kitchen, beautiful hardwood floors, 2 small rooms and a cute bathroom. There was a huge backyard...a plus for Sierra, not so much for me (I have not inherited Mom's green thumb as of yet) and a big deck along with a basement big enough to store all the furniture I probably wouldn't be able to fit in the small rooms. Needless to say, I fell in love with it and thought I had found my palace!

The catch was that it was a little out of my price range. I even talked the couple down $75 a month! But I was still excited and started thinking about ways that I could cut back and save money to be able to afford the rent. I called Mom and Dad and they were excited for me. But as I drove out of Greenville towards Columbia, reality set in. I started adding up all of my expenses and realized that this cute little house in a perfect part of town was just a bit too much for my budget to support. I walked into Mom and Dad's house and Dad asked me what I had decided and I told him I didn't think I'd be able to do it. And then I really got upset (yes, the waterworks were in full effect) when I realized that come August 1, I didn't have MY house anymore...the house that I love! Two other girls were going to be moving in making it their own for the time being and that really made me sad and made me question my decision to move. This decision that I had been so sure of months ago. This decision that after a lot of prayer I truely felt God had put me at peace with all of a sudden didn't seem so peaceful anymore.

Mom and Dad reassured me and offered their support and wisdom as they always do and I was on my way back to Charleston. On my way home I was pretty frustrated and very anxious. I've been reading a great book lately by Joanna Weaver called "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." I highly recommend it to all you busy girls out there! It's great! Anyways...one of the chapters is about worry vs. concern. She talks about how we shouldn't worry about anything because the Lord isn't going to give us anything we can't handle. There's a 12 week Bible study that goes along with the book so I've been keeping a journal while I've been reading the book. Below is one of the themes I pulled from this particular chapter and had to write in my journal. It's become one of the mottos that I live by (along with "You can do anything for a year," and "You only live once").

I kept trying to remind myself of this but still felt a bit disheartened. But then a bus pulled in front of me. That's right, a bus. As I looked at the bus, I read the message on the back of the bus.

Now, I'm not usually one of these people that reads into every little sign that I see, but this was too much of a coincidence. I think sometimes God has to yell things to me rather than speak them because I don't pick up on his message very often! :) And after I saw the bus, I knew that I needed to sit back and relax. I won't be homeless. I will find a place to live. I just need to let go of the reigns a bit and see where I end up! Pray for me though! I'll still need it!

I'm heading back up to Greenville this past weekend to check out a few other possibilities! I'll keep you all posted! Thanks for checking in! Stop by again!

God Bless Craigslist!

WooHoo! I found some renters!!! Now I'm really 'on the move!' I had soooo many people answer the ad I put on Craigslist a couple weeks ago! The first group of girls I showed the house to were pretty young (a year or two out of college) but very sweet. They really liked the house and wanted their 3rd roommate to come by for a look. When I talked to their landlord, she gave them a good recommendation but then threw in the hook...they weren't very good housekeepers...messy, she said. But I thought to myself, as a 22-23 year old girl, I wasn't the cleanest tenant either. So I gave them the benefit of the doubt. And then I got a call from another girl who answered the ad the same day. I showed the house to this prospect the day before the other girls 3rd roommate was to come for a look. When I opened the door, there stood this really cute, very put together girl and her boyfriend. They both walked through the house and we talked for a long time about rental properties (her boyfriend, who is a Merchant Marine, used to work for a property management company), the house, the neighborhood, our dogs, etc. I just had this really good feeling about her. Danielle called her roommate, Shelby, and told her about the house over the phone and they decided they wanted to sign the lease. So the hard part was calling the first group of girls and telling them that the lease had already been signed but the easy part was entrusting Danielle and Shelby with my house that I love so much! I've been reading a lot about concern vs. worry and how we should worry about nothing! So I just handed it over to God and told Him to deal with it! And He provided, as always! So goodbye 370 Culver (for the time being) and hello G-Vegas! Yippee!!!

Math Girls Weekend '08

Last weekend was the 8th Annual Math Girls Weekend in Atlanta, Ga. Jennie Ray, Katherine Hart, Christen Coleman and I all went to Auburn together and majored in Math Education. I remember when I got to know Jennie my freshman year at Auburn. We were at the library completing study hours for Chi O. Jennie was studying her Calculus book and I asked her what she was majoring in. When she said Math Ed., I told her that was what I wanted to do as well (I was undeclared until Spring quarter). I remember that she got excited and said, "Oh! You should!" In fact, I think that's what helped me make my decision to go ahead and declare a major. (And you thought it was my passion to influence young minds. Ha!)

So when I took my first methods class in good ol' Haley Center, which would be my home away from dorm for the next 3 years, I met Katherine and Christen as well and the Math Girls group was formed. Being the math nerds that we were, we were also in the same math classes all through college together. We would study long hours for math exams, ed psych tests, etc. and soon realized our common love for the Dr. Pepper that we would all bring to cram sessions to stay awake...most of which were led by Katherine because she was the true math genius of the group. Our study sessions eventually turned into occasional game nights, bible studies and just good girl time. So when it came time to graduate, we were definitely NOT ready to leave all the fun behind. Since I was moving to Charleston, Jennie to Charlotte with her hubbie, and Katherine and Christen to Alabama, Atlanta seemed to be the most central place to meet. And what else can 4 girls do in HOT-Lanta but shop, shop, shop! And so the tradition began. Now after 3 masters degrees, 2 marriages, 4 (soon to be 5) babies, several moves, job changes (in and out of education), we just celebrated our 8th Math Girls Weekend. We had so much fun! Look at all of those clothes!

I don't know whether it's our math minds or whether we've just been doing it for so long, but our weekend plans always follow the same routine...they never change! On Friday we all arrive at the hotel (which Katherine always finds for us) and talk, talk, talk. I'm usually the last to arrive because I have the longest drive (not for long!). We then head to California Pizza Kitchen and Jennie normally drives (when shes not 8 months pregnant like she was this year) because she is a human GPS! Then it's off to a movie...if we're lucky, a chick flick. Back at the hotel, we drink Dr. Pepper that Katherine brings, eat something yummy that either Katherine or Jennie bring (being the mommies of the group) and catch up on our entertainment news through the quality literature we all bring like People, US Weekly, InStyle, etc. Saturday morning we wake up, get showered and dressed and hit the mall. Over the years we've decided that Perimeter Mall is our favorite so we spend all day there shopping. We all have specific places we have to go...my request is always Anthropologie. When we leave the mall, our arms heavy and our wallets light, we pile our bags in the car and usually take pictures of the huge mound of bags in the trunk of the car. When we get back to the hotel, we spread our clothes out on our respective beds (Christen and I always share a bed while Katherine and Jennie share the other...always) so we can stand in awe of how much we spent. We then usually add up our receipts and declare a winner of the weekend (whoever spent the most). Last year it was me! This year however Christen claimed the title! :) After we get over the sick feeling of how much we spent in one day, we get dressed up in some of our new clothes and head the the Cheescake Factory! And yes, we usually order the same things each year. After dinner, we head back to the hotel where we stay up and talk. And then Sunday morning, we get up, pack our things and head home to friends, husbands, babies and doggies! And then we start planning for our next weekend! It's a great tradition that we all look forward to every year!





Since my blog is titled "On the Move," you might be wondering how "on the move" I actually am. Well, I'm happy to let everyone know, it's looking like I'll be in the Greenville area in August! After no showings in May (ahhh!) I decided to put my house up for rent this past Tuesday. By Wednesday afternoon I had 5 emails in my inbox all from interested renters. I think the girls who came by to look at it this week will sign a lease next week! Yay!

Before I go, I have to brag a little on how cute Sara Beth Kahn (my goddaughter) is! Paige took Sara Beth to a photographer in Montgomery and had some pictures taken of her. She's 8 months old now and Paige says that they are having so much fun with her at this age. Anyway, evidently the photographer posted a picture of Sara Beth on her blog. Check it out! She's the baby in the first picture. Look at those eyes! http://gracephotography.typepad.com/

How Old Am I?

Whew! What a weekend! Beach season has officially begun! And while the crappy housing market is definitely affecting the impending sale of MY house (no showings in May...just reduced the price...boo!), that only means that I have more beach days in my future. I admit I'm spoiled. As I was sitting out on the beach on Saturday AND Sunday, I thought to myself, "What do people do on the weekends who don't live at the beach?" In the 8 years I've lived in Charleston, I've forgotten what else there is to do on a spring/summer weekend. Starting around Memorial Day every year, my beach bag and chair are permanent passengers in my car and the sand that I sweep/vacuum up in my house and car is as normal to me as the dog hair that Sierra sheds every move she makes. What will I do on a beautiful Saturday afternoon when I move to Greenville? It's weekends like this past one that I wonder...Am I crazy? Why would I move away from this? But I know I can't stay in a place simply because I absolutely LOVE the 3 months out of the year that I spend every chance I get on the beach. So maybe I'll just have to take up hiking? What else do mountain people do? Hmmm...

Along with beach days in Charleston and glorious (though HOT) weather, comes any excuse to hang out outside and have a few drinks with friends. Which brings me to Saturday night. After spending a day out on Sullivans with friends, my friends Nick and Craig threw a "Stock the Tiki Bar Party" at Nick's house. Which is the reason for the title of this blog. How long can I keep up these shenanigans? What do you get when you gather a bunch of 30 (& almost 30) somethings around a Tiki Bar (purchased off of Ebay, no doubt!) with 2 blenders and a cooler full of frozen mixers and liquor? You get a bunch of 30 (& almost 30) somethings who forget how old they are until the next morning when they wake up with the world's worst headache. Here are just a few pictures that I took. I wish I had more. It was a fun night. We played Survivor Flip Cup and I was the lone survivor for the girls...had to go up against 2 boys all by myself! No pictures of that though!

I tried to end the weekend with a relaxing Sunday on the beach...well, as soon as I walked out on Folly Beach at our usual 10th street hangout, I saw a group of friends who had the same idea. I should have known better...on any given Saturday or Sunday I can find someone I know at 10th street! Colin and Virginia ended up walking down from where they were hanging out and let all us know about the Reggae band that was playing at the new beach bar down the street. So after a couple hours on the beach with the boys and a game of horseshoes, we all headed down to Conch to listen to some Reggae and drink more frozen drinks. No headache for me this morning though. :)

So it's another Monday...working out of the house. I would have thought that Sierra wouldn't know what to do with herself since she didn't have to be in her crate all day long. However, that seems to be the place she spends most of her time. Her crate is in my office. When I turned around the other day to check on her, this is how she was sleeping. Crazy dog!

I've also noticed that she has come to love sitting on the porch in one spot. Now, she does NOT like to be shut out of the house. In fact, if I close the door behind her she'll spaz out and bark and drive the neighbors crazy until I open it. As long as she has access in and out of the house, she's fine. So, while it's not too hot outside, I've been leaving the back door open so she can go in and out on her own. Occasionally, I won't hear her running around which, just like when a small child is off of their own and things get quiet, is cause for me to go searching for her. When I went out onto the porch the other day, this is what I saw. The back corner behind the chair has become her favorite place to sit and watch the birds and other dogs that are in their respective yards in the neighborhood. She will sit there forever and just watch. Too funny!