Wow!!!! So much has happened in what some would call 10-short-years. They aren't so short to me, although, September 13th 1999 seems like...well maybe not quite yesterday, but maybe more like last month.
Sometime in August of 1999, Salli and Aaron got married. I was living in Kansas City at this time and had already decided not to return to college for my senior year. However, I had planned to remain in Kansas City. Little did I know, God had other plans.
So, the day after I returned to Kansas City from having been in Des Moines for the Armour's wedding, my dad called to "lure" me into moving back "home" with a job opportunity. However, the interviews were the end of the week, and I no intention of making the drive from KC to Des Moines twice in one week. Although it was only 3 1/2 hours, I hated it. So, I told him "Sorry, but no." I hung up from him only to have my phone ring RIGHT BACK. This time, it was my mom. She wasn't trying to lure me into anything. She flat old told me "Get up here for this job interview." Looking back, I feel bad because I know I disappointed my dad terribly. He wanted me home. But he wasn't going to tell me what to do. My mom, however, is not afraid to boss me around. Ten years later, you'll still find her bossing me around. Anyway, I obeyed my mom and made the trek back to Des Moines a couple of days later. I interviewed and "tried-out" for the job at US West and got the job. I was given the choice to begin on August 23rd or September 13th. Well, I was being drug from KC to my hometown kicking and screaming. So, I put it off as long as possible. Now, I wish I wouldn't have done that, but I did and survived. So, I returned to my home in KC and began packing up what I had aquired over the last 3 years. My dad drove down one day with his pick-up and loaded up most of my stuff. Anyone that knows me would be surprised to find out that I don't remember the exact dates, but I'm surprised myself :)
Anyway, so my best friend, Charrayle, was to turn 21 on September 7th. So, my plan was to celebrate with her and then make my final move home the next day. And, that's exactly what we did. So, on September 8th, I packed up the rest of my stuff and said good-bye to the life I thought I had begun building in Kansas City.
On September 13th, I began my new job at US West. WOW! I had no idea the significance this would have in my life. My hours were 7am-3:30pm, so my mom dropped me off to take a little bit of pressure off of me. This way, I didn't have to worry about parking downtown when I was unfamiliar with everything. She doesn't believe in being less than an hour early for everything, so she dropped me off that morning at 6:15am. Needless to say, I sat in the lobby for quite awhile alone. That wasn't quite so fun. But, I made a friend right away who helped me through my weeks of training. I also found out that she went to Grace Church, and I was having trouble with church attendance at the time. So, we often went to church together. I really don't remember much about the church at the time. My attendance only lasted but a very short couple of months if even that. I only remember attending a few times, but I know it was more than that because my mom refused to let me live in her house if I was not going to church. Anyway, I was grateful that I had a friend in Michelle. That friendship only lasted a couple of months because she got herself into trouble with her husband, and she ended up quitting in January (or getting fired for not showing up. I can't remember).
So, in January of 2000 my parents and I decided it was time for me to get out of their house. One cold January day, my dad, cousin and I went apartment searching. I found the perfect place and put my deposit down to move in about 2 weeks later if I remember correctly. So, I called Mom to let her know the good news (that was back when I splurged for a cell phone even though I had nobody to talk to) and then Dad, Kacie and I went to lunch at Long John Silvers. Then, we took Kacie home and headed to Toon Town. When we arrived back home, EVERYTHING I owned that had been in boxes in the basement for 5 months was on the patio. Apparently, Mom was ready for me to go. I hated to tell her she still had 2 weeks to go. She wanted to be prepared when the time came.
So, two weeks went by, and it was moving day. I have to say, I don't remember carrying a single box up to my 3rd floor apartment (no elevator). I was working a split shift, and I believe Mom and Dad did all of the hard work while I was working. Mom was so concerned that I didn't have a T.V. I told her I'd get one eventually. But, she couldn't stand the thought of me not having one. So, when I got home from work on my moving day, there was a brand new T.V. all set up and ready to go. Nothing fancy, but I still have it. Dad left after I got home (it must've been 9:30pm or maybe even 10:30pm), but Mom stayed. Then, we went shopping at Wal-Mart I think at 1am to get some odds and ends and some things that Mom insisted I have. She bought most everything for me. Even though she was ready to get rid of me, it was time for me to go and she was excited for this new chapter in my life: my 1st apartment. Anyway, it was fun setting the place up with my mom. I have the best parents.
So, I began developing a relationship with a guy from work. Let's call him...Hmmm....well, Madd. We had a weird relationship that I won't try to explain for 2 reasons. One of them, it'll make your brain do flip flops and the other is that frankly, I don't even understand it. So, he is a computer geek and spent MUCH MUCH MUCH time online talking to "online friends". I was also super close with my sister in law, and she also spent much time online finding cool (not naughty) websites that just made having a computer appealing. So, that summer I sent my brother to buy me a computer.
On August 25th I met a man online that became my boyfriend. Let's just touch on that. He was a creep. He told me that we reminded him of the story line in "Guys and Dolls". Uh - sure. Whatever. I wish I would never have met him, but I did and the Lord used it in my life in a few different ways. Shortly after I met him, I met another guy online. We were just chat buddies. I thought he was SUPER nice. He was living in Florida getting ready to move to Ohio. I remember the last time I talked to him before he moved thinking I would never hear from him again. Well, I guess I was wrong.
So, we chatted often over the year or year and a half. I had lived in my apartment for about 18 months when I decided that it was a waste of money to continue paying rent and getting nothing out of it. Apartment life was also becoming annoying. So, I began house hunting. I got pre-approved (which means absolutely NOTHING for you non-homeowners) for a VERY small amount and the realtor was showing me the dumpiest of houses in the dumpiest of areas. I finally said, "Would you let your daughter live here?" I never heard from him again. Apparently, I wasn't going to make him enough money, so he decided I wasn't worth his time. Thanks! (It was Steve Wolvers. He's a creep)
Anyway, I found a house that I LOVED, but I was slightly discouraged that I didn't have quite enough money for it. So, I quit looking for a few months. One Sunday after Christmas, I was at my parents' looking through the paper when I found this house that I HAD to see. So, I called the realtor and scheduled an appointment to see the house. So, off Dad and I went on New Year's Day 2002. I immediately loved this house. So, I went right home and called the realtor (he had his home number listed on the flyer, but I found he didn't really want to be bothered at home) and told him I was prepared to make an offer. He was SO irritated with me for having bothered him at home on a holiday when he was with his family. I made no apologies (I'm sure that surprises you, right?). He asked if I'd been pre-approved. I advised him that I had not been. Then he found out I was single and only 24 years old, so I couldn't have been worth his time, either. So, to get me off his back he had his loan officer give me a call to see if I'd be approved. I was approved immediately. Do you know how quickly the realtor called me back after that. IMMEDIATELY!!! Suddenly, he was interested. He wanted to meet with me right away. So, off I went to his office to sign the offer letter. My offer was accepted (of course, the seller had no choice since I offered exactly what he was asking which now I know was stupid), and on January 31st 2002, I moved into my new house. I still remember my excitement.
I should also say that this house was right across the street from the last house I had looked at that I couldn't afford 5 months earlier. Apparently, I had been a good saver over that time.
Well, remember this guy I had met online that had moved from Florida to Ohio? Well, we were still chatting. One day, he asked me to marry him. So, I decided "Why the heck not? I have nothing else going on." So, I accepted his proposal via instant message. Yes, totally messed up, I know. My parents? FREAKED! Anyway, then we decided we should probably meet in person. So, he came out for a week long visit on April 27th. The first thing I thought when I saw him was, "Uh-oh. I've already committed to marrying him. What do I do now?" HaHa. Anyway, needless to say he moved here 2 months later and then we were married on November 22, 2002. Still married :)
So, then we decided we wanted a different house. So, we built a new one and moved in on September 7, 2006. Then started the countdown. When would I get to quit this horrific job? God knew the exact date and time. Last September a new job opened up that I wanted so bad I could taste it. I applied, interviewed for and received the job offer. I accepted the job offer, but before I could transfer Qwest put out a requisite freeze prohibiting me from transfering. I was absolultely devastated. However, I was not really discouraged because I just knew God had something in mind for me. I just had peace because He gave it to me.
October 17th was a Friday. It was also my dad's birthday. Now, normally I didn't check my work email from home, but on this day I did. I don't know why. There was an odd email from the manager of the Phoenix center responding to an email from one of the executives that we had received. So, I immediately read the email from the executive that I normally would've deleted without having read it. This email was announcing mandatory and voluntary lay offs. Anytime there is a mandatory lay off, volunteers are requested before they have to force starting with the bottom of the seniority list. So, I called Dave and started making plans. Of course, I didn't know if my department was included in this, but I was planning anyway. So, then I went to deliver my dad his birthday card and told them all about it. I got to work, and my dream come true was revealed to me. I WAS BEING DELIVERED!!! Now, I must also say had I received the job transfer I would've been stuck. Although it was a job that would've made life easier, it still wasn't ideal because I would still have been working nights. So, God used that disappointment to test me and to grow my faith.
So, November 14th came. A day I thought would NEVER get here. But, it did. I logged off my computer for the last time at 7:30pm and walked out the door to never look back. Tomorrow, it'll have been 10 months. They have gone SO fast! I have the perfect life. Ok - not perfect but I have no complaints. I am so grateful that the Lord heard my prayer and gave me the desire of my heart.
I can't complain about my painful time at Qwest. It provided for me to buy my first house which provided for us to buy our 2nd house. It also introduced me to Madd who introduced me to "on-line" life that led me to my husband. (Although this worked out great for me, I would never recommend online dating)
It is so fun to look back and see how that one phone call from my dad...and then my mom led me to be right where I am. Gee, I wonder if Someone is in control. Also I should say that my sister in law had been invited to attend a Sunday evening class at Grace Church. I started going with her in January of 2001 and have been going ever since. I love it there.
