Thanksgiving Weekend

It was great to have Thursday and Friday off this week. Since our lease is up mid December, this weekend we spent a great deal of time looking for and at apartments. Today we found one that we would love to move into. We're filling out the applications now and Lord willing we will have a new place to live! It's a cute little unit, on a lot with only 2 other residences. I was happy it has a refrigerator and laundry!!! (Believe it or not, these features are not always the norm is southern CA.) It's actually only a few streets down from where our current place is, and we really like the area.

On Saturday I continued our thanksgiving tradition by making my grandma's Turkey Soup!!! (It's my favorite soup!) In addition to apartment hunting, we went to the movies. We saw "Bolt" in 3D. It was a great movie and we got to wear nifty glasses!

Eventful Day

This past Wednesday was a very full and eventful day. The day began with James taking the cars to get oil changes while I got ready for the day. Once he was back, James and I were going to go to the Style House to watch E! Entertainments "Clean House Comes Clean" shoot. James works on "Clean House" so he does not work on this show, however the hosts for this show are the same hosts that James works with so they invited him and I to come check it out. It was my first time on a real set and it was really neat. Style House is Marilyn Monroe's old home, and it was neat to see all of the crew there and the way the house has been modified for filming purposes. The set was quite small, smaller than I was expecting but on the viewing monitors the set looks amazing and quite spacious. It's funny how t.v. can give that effect. I was able to meet the hosts, some of James friends who work with him on "Clean House", and some of the crew. Everyone was very nice and had the wonderful California charm that you would expect (real laid back and go with the flow). They even invited us to have some of the free food that was coming for lunch which was sushi. Yum!

After lunch we headed to my interview that was scheduled with that company that had called me back. We didn't have much time in between so James came with me and hung out at Starbucks while I interviewed. The interview went fabulous! I really enjoyed the company that the description of the job they were looking to fill. How cool right?

After the interview James and I went to a music store on Sunset Blvd. to hear a free small concert of one of our favorite artists Amos Lee. It was great! The store had so much character and more CDs, records, posters, etc. than I knew existed. James and I thought it would be neat to come back sometime, since they also sold a wide assortment of used CDs for reasonable prices. Well Amos Lee was fabulous and wonderful to hear live. It was a simple acoustic set and he is such a talented musician that the set needed nothing more than a drummer. It was fun. We walked around Sunset Blvd. for a little while before coming home.

Once home we rented two movies, and made it through one before we were too sleepy.

Yesterday, Thursday, James and I vegged out and did some small errands. I found some cute shower invites for my cousin's bridal shower coming up. I'm definitely excited to go home in August for the shower and celebrations. I can't wait to see everyone!

Today James and I went to the movie theater to get the early weekend price. We saw the movie WALL E . It was really good, and included a funny twist I was not expecting. Though James and I still enjoyed Prince Caspian more, WALL E was a well done movie worth seeing. Tonight we're making steaks and chilling out. I might try and work on a painting that I started last night. It's been years since I've painted....it's fun and hard having to re-learn some of the techniques I used to do. Thanks Mom for the paint set it is wonderful!!!!! I love it!!!

I'm not sure what we have planned for the weekend yet! I'm sure we'll find something fun and interesting to discover for ourselves in LA. There are so many things to do here it's great!

One ticket for.....?

Tonight James and I went to see "Iron Man". We were both excited to go to a movie, but naturally James had to research each prospective option on the list of movies currently playing showing. He loves doing this...so naturally he picked the one with the best reviews. Not to mention it was the whole super hero action movie, which always wins extra points with us. Now mind you James is the movie fanatic in our family. I on the other hand, am a little in the fog when it comes to the finer details of movies. I couldn't tell you what the actors names are, when the movies come out, or even their titles. Though we had discussed what movie we were going to go see, when I approched the ticket counter I told the man that we wanted to go see "Rocket Man". He smiled politely and gave us tickets for "Iron Man". He was too kind.

Well the movie was great and as far as I know lived up to all the reviews. (You'll have to read James' blog for his thoughts.) Although we were a little disappointed that no one told us to stay after the credits. Oh well! We figured out what happened by researching the internet when we came home to see what we had missed. :) Definitely go see theres lots of action, lots of explosives, and a few shockers.

This week I've been applying to hundreds of jobs in the SoCal area. It's tough! I hate the time it takes out of the day and how you have to personalize each cover letter that you send out to make it appropriate for the job you're applying for. Another pain is all of the websites that use their own web programs for the hiring process. Each one has you fill out everything that is already on your resume...only in separate boxes! They also usually make you create accounts with their job board site. It's a little annoying, to say the least.

James and i finally received internet service today! But now we have to send back the modem thingy (I don't remember what its called). It kicks us off every 30 minutes. Everything is such a process when you move...you forget when everything was easy.

On a deeper note, I think it's like that with God sometimes too. We need to rejoice with Him in both our struggles and our blessings. Sometimes I think we take for granted the wars that are going on around and within ourselves. It helps me to remember that God's purpose for me is always perfect. Not solely in the end result, but in His timing and process as well. He knows the temptations we'll face, where we'll break,and where He'll mend us and make us stronger. Seems like a lot of us are learning this right now. Maybe we're always learning this....

We're Moving!

It's official! James and I are moving out to Burbank, CA in about 2 months!!! Yikes that is soon! It is a sad but happy and exciting time! We knew that moving to California was going to be a future goal for our family and for James to have a chance to work on movies. So we have been thinking, praying, and seeking God's guidance of this. When James got back from his LA preview trip we knew that now was the time to move to California.

I know these last few months I've felt God closing doors for me. In some ways I believe this was to prepare me for moving to California in a God kind of way. I have never experienced a time like this. I feel like God has been slowly showing me that my time is done here. It is so sad to think about.... This was our first home as a married couple. I have met amazing people and developed some wonderful relationships. I have had an amazing job at MBC, where I have poured my heart and soul like never before. James' family lives close by. My family is only a day's drive or an hour plane ride away. Life and God has been good to us here in Virginia. But like everything does, this too must change.

Though I feel God is guiding our family to move to California, it doesn't make this process any easier. I have a hard time with change, and new things. God is so wonderful for working on my heart in this process so early on....but I find myself not wanting to say good bye. Good bye is a hard word for me. Everyone has to say good bye sometime....good thing mine won't be for another 2 months!

James and I keep looking at the city every time we are driving through. DC is so beautiful and unique. Here we are living right in the midst of our great nation's capitol. All of the history and diversity that is offered here is priceless. Thank God we've had this opportunity to experience DC!

I'm truly excited for what the Lord has planned for James and I. James will finally get his chance to make movies and be in the business. I will finally live where it is warm 75% of the time. And we will truly be a sandal wearing family. I'm praying for God to just walk before us in this process of re-settling and also that He helps us to connect with other Christians in the area. Please pray with us through this process. Also please pray for us as we tie up loose ends and have to say a LOT of goodbyes to our friends, family, and co-workers.

Well that's it for now more to post later!

Hamburgers....

Today James and I made giant hamburgers.... I couldn't resist. I ate the whole thing. Now I am in slight discomfort. I can feel my stomach expanding as we speak. despite this minor loss in judgment, recently I've been eating really healthy and managing a somewhat regular workout. I think I'm starting to get in shape? But who knows after eating this massive hamburger ha!

Tonight James and I stayed in and watched "The Princess Bride" it was fabulous as usual! What a great movie, it always makes me smile. Have you ever had a movie that you can watch over and over again? I love those kinds of movies!

I have no idea what the rest of the evening will entail but probably some picture editing of some sort.... I'll post some when I'm done :)