waiting DOES pay off!

We've seen 10 houses in person and countless houses online. Only one caught our attention. We put an offer on a house Monday night. Counter offers back and fourth, long story short, they accepted our offer last night at 7:10 p.m!

Our relator says we have 80% of the work done! Now we just have to have an inspection, actually get the loan (we've been pre-approved, just need the money!), and signing ALL the dotted lines! The sellers want to live in the house 30 days after closing so they can find another house. If everything goes as expected we will officially be Homeowners on March 26th and move in (aprox.) April 25th, which is 5 days before our apartment lease is up! Talk about perfect timing (if everything goes as planned)!!

I now understand why people don't move every year. This process has been a bit stressful for both of us. Tyler has done A LOT of the work so he deserves most of the credit. He is much better at this stuff than me, I really am blessed!

Thanks for reading this, I will keep everyone posted as we hear more news.

Waiting...

...and not so patiently. My stomach is in knots. We put an offer on our very first home today. I'm very excited but at the same time extremely nervous. I'm nervous because:

1) Huge financial responsibility
2) They could counter with something we're not willing to accept
3) If 2 happens then we are back at square one
4) CHANGE!
5) I feel old

Accomplishments, are good to talk about...

I haven't posted in a while. To be honest I really haven't done a lot of design work this semester so I don't feel compelled to post assignments, because...I don't have any. I have been keeping up with other blogs and websites, so I have tons of inspiration just nothing to prove all of my "research." I am still insecure with my daily journaling which I totally slacked this weekend. I forgot two nights in a row! This entry is taking me way out of my comfort zone and I will show you my progress so far. But before I do I want to thank a dear friend of mine. Ana :) She e-mailed me today and said "BTW You need to post something on your Blog...." She totally called me out! Which is why I think she is awesome! Definitely thankful to have her in my life :)

"Snowball J" this is when I started to do my own thing with my letters. The pressure was off and I could do whatever!



"If I don't get my dream job (whatever that is...) I'll eXplode!"



"Because the wind is high it blows my mind"-"Because" by the Beatles


I like this one because experience is spelled experienec. If you know me you know I'm a poor speller. But I learn from practice. Which is what this quote is all about. I sure make mistakes, but that's how I learn. That's how everyone learns. Experience and mistakes. They go hand in hand.


That is what my husband told me last night. He filled up my "love tank." He let me know he needed me and it made me feel 100% full of love from him. What a wonderful feeling to have :)

One last photo to post. This will explain my title. Today I went to the VA Hospital in Fort Wayne. I went to cover a News Conference for a photographer at IPFW (only the second event I've covered). A piece of art I created for this hospital was there. I didn't know it was going to be at that hospital so I was excited when I turned the corner to see my piece at the end of the hall. It was the first one on the left right before the door to the auditorium. Thinking about that moment is like a movie for me. Everything is in slow motion and I'm in "awe." I was really excited to photograph an event that had so many dignitaries there. The Chancellor, Dean and Chair from the VCD department at IPFW were there, and Congressman Mark Souder came to "unveil" the artwork. That was another "movie moment for me" being in a room full of important people. Those are my favorite memories. The ones that slow down and nothing else matters. I got the privilage to have my photo taken with the Chair from the VCD department Haig David-West by my art work. He heard me ask someone to photograph me next to my work and said let me stand with you. My experience today felt so surreal. This event was not for me at all. This event was to "dedicate" the student artwork to the Veterans who fought for our freedom.



A very proud moment in my life. I am not bragging, I'm simply sharing an experience that I will always remember.

Bathroom Dancing...what?

I managed to get myself worked up into a funk at work this afternoon. I do this about every month or every other month. It's rather annoying and totally goes against my New Years "Attitude Adjustment." When these "funks" happen it's usually because of something I'm not confident about. In this case it's school/work. I hate that I'm still in school at 24 years of age and I hate that I don't know where I may end up as far a job goes. I'm not planning on leaving my job anytime soon but some day I will have to leave.

I worry that I will end up in a job that most "adults" do where they just settle. They hate their job and complain about it but do nothing. I don't want to settle. I want my future job to be something "no one" else could do. I want it to be a job where I go in happy and leave happy. I want to make this world a better place. I want others to see beauty in even the "ugly" parts of this world. I want to continue to see beauty in every situation.*

I realize I am the only one who can get myself in and out of these funks. If I allow myself to get depressed about these things I am becoming the adult I fear. A settler. So I went to the bathroom and danced! I danced because I can! I danced because I am going to school and I do have a job! I danced because you can't be sad when you dance. Have you ever seen a sad person dance? I danced because I shouldn't worry about my future. (Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans for you declares the Lord.") I am doing exactly what Pastor Denny preached about us NOT doing-WORRYING. My worrying shows that I don't trust. My dancing worked. I came out of the bathroom feeling happy and ready to finish the day strong. (I also left feeling dizzy!)

This long (and possibly boring) journal entry is to encourage all of the "adults" out there who hate their jobs to do something about it! and to dance in the bathroom...because you can (and it works)!

*I believe there are things are a truly ugly and will never be beautiful. Murder, rape, child abuse/neglect, abortion, and cancer, just to name a few, are incredibly ugly things. Those will never be beautiful in my eyes. However, I do believe that the people who those things have affected can help others who are going through it. I lost my grandma to a long and painful death due to cancer, I can remember the beauty about her. I can help others who may be going through the same thing out.

"Om"

Besides finding other blogs that inspire me I've been rather busy! The semester has started again and I'm dreading what is in store for me. I know I can handle it, but it will take a toll on my relationships with friends and family and most importantly my relationship with my hubby. He is so supportive and awesome he makes this "easy" for me to do.

Last night I bought a yoga mat and a dvd. My goal is to use those things at least once a week. Another resolution this year was to stay as stress free as possible. My health and my relationships can't handle another semester like the last one. I had a professor tell me to go home and drink wine! Nothing wrong with that, but he's never said that to anyone before! Yikes! Just trying to take deep breaths and take this semester one day at a time!

Thanks for those of you who are checking up on me, I love the encouragement! Let me know how your resolutions are going and how I can help encourage you!

OPTIMISTIC!

That is my word (my initial letter is O) for the day! I had a vision of what I wanted my letter to be look like on the way to work today and I was actually able to implement it onto paper! I'm really loving this creative journal now. There isn't pressure but there is a structure, which I'm discovering...is exactly what I need. I'm feeling so in tune with myself lately and I love it! It's so scary to feel trapped in a body and not understand what "gets you going." I'm going to leave you with a woman who was feeling the same way until she finally stopped saying "I can't" and began saying "Why not?!" There is also another woman who truly does have a free, bright spirt that I've really enjoyed looking at her loves in life.

day 7

I realize I have yet to send this link to my family and friends. That is because I am afraid to make it public because I don't have much to show. I have been sketching daily though. I am not proud of any of the designs, (so don't look for those) but I've been attempting EVERY DAY! I'm really starting to get into looking at what other people are doing. I've found some really neat sites that I would like to share with you all. One is a girl that went to school with me. Another is someone I found through her, and the other is someone I found through the pervious girl. I realize that sounds stalkerish, but who doesn't click on links when they read other blogs?! SO really don't judge me k? :)

I'll leave you all with someone I discovered all by myself!