i got a job!

I got a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I applied for a job as a Case Manager at Hopelink in Bellevue, Washington and was called for a pre-screening interview, then later a phone interview and then today I was officially offered the job! It's a one year grant but there is a good chance I can get a different position at Hopelink when my year ends or even that the grant could be renewed. I'm so excited! This takes so much pressure off the next six weeks, the job search is over and we can start moving forward with our plans, knowing exactly what we're working with! I'm stoked it's in Bellevue too. Nathan works in downtown Bellevue and our new house is in South Bellevue/Renton area so no long commute for me! I was getting really nervous about making a 45 minute-hour long drive into Seattle and back every day. YUCK.

I have wanted to work at Hopelink since I found them nearly two years ago. I literally checked the website daily for job openings and was so happy to find this one. I have applied for over 25 jobs so I wasn't really counting on hearing anything back...but apparently this was the perfect fit! It is a community action agency just like SNAP that I work at now so that will be an easy transition, plus I am already certified as a Family Development Specialist which is a requirement within a few months of starting the job. My past supervisors gave me awesome references which I am so grateful for.

They want me to start ASAP so I need to get a start date picked and get moving. I will still have to drive back for class on Wednesdays for about 3 weeks after I start so it'll be a little bit of a juggling game with some creative scheduling but they said they want me and they like me and are willing to work with my schedule! I am extremely sad to leave SNAP and am trying to figure out the best way to do it. If I have to come back for class anyway, I may just work at SNAP a day and a half a week still to tie up the loose ends until someone new is hired. And it makes letting go easier...

I am super excited to move into the new place though. We are moving Nathan in May 9th so I plan to stuff my car with as much of my stuff as possible so I can feel at home there too. I think on May 16 when he drives back through Spokane after his sister's graduation I will have him fill the truck up with more of my stuff too. Then I'll just get the last of it after graduation. I can't wait! I'm thinking my start date will by May 18 but I need to talk to my supervisor tomorrow and see. My main supervisor is on vacation so I have to hit her with the news when she gets back...ooops.

money matters

I recently upgraded my gym membership so I could use it any day anywhere. Before I was on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday membership at just the downtown location. My schedule with school changed so I decided to just upgrade so I could go any day. I don't really care about the added locations but I guess they all come with that now. So...the price went up $15 a month and it cost me $45 to upgrade. I also had to pay first and last month's dues.

I am totally not a gym rat and would much rather take classes like pilates and aerobics. Unfortunately my gym only offers one or two clasess a day at inconvenient times, and they're always full. So I just do the treadmill, eliptical or weights. I keep saying I can't wait to get to Seattle so I can finally take classes but I am so sick of waiting. I did some research and found some new pilates studios have opened since I got my gym membership. One of them is reasonably priced at $144 for 12 weeks. That's $48/week which is only $3 more than what I'm paying now. And I LOVE pilates, would probably see much better results and would probably even go more often than I go to the gym. So I'm considering just dropping my overly-priced gym membership and joining this pilates place. The only problem is I don't know if I'm going to get any money back from the gym. I already spent it so it's gone from my budget but I didn't budget for an upcoming $144 payment. I guess really it's only $100 more as I do have $45 slated in my budget for the gym on the 1st of the month. I really think I should get my money back because I've essentially overpaid...but I wonder if the gym will do that. I want to call tomorrow and find out but I'm a little embarrassed as I just upgraded after making like 5 appointments to try and get in to do it. Meh. I don't care, it's about my happiness.

Some of the classes would require me to leave work but I think I could take a 9am-10am class and call it my lunch and then just not take a lunch over the noon hour. I may have to ask about that. The 12 week session started last week so I'll be a little behind but even then I can still justify it...and I've done pilates so I'm comfortable catching up. Hmm.

I drove all the way to class today to find out it was canceled. It's about a 20 minute drive so I wasn't too happy. This professor usually always communicates by e-mail so I'm a little frustrated she didn't this time. I heard she's sick. I love days off I just don't love the extra gas money (all I can think about is money lately). Oh well. I went and deep cleaned my car, went to the bank, called about a home loan, played with the dog and came home early. I actually have been working ever since though because we are re-writing the Money Management class we teach and I need to have it ready by tomorrow afternoon. It's all paid hours so I'll take it. It's not like I'm doing anything productive sitting at home!

Nathan and I decided we're going to cancel the data packages on our phones in January when our contract ends. We pay $180 right now for our phones so it should be a good savings. I'm excited except I am not eligible for a new phone until July so I'll have a fancy Blackberry with no data capabilities...oh well. Pennies in the bank!

I applied for a job paying the best of all the ones I've applied for which is really exciting. The only downside is that it's Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-6:30pm. Kind of cuts into the weekend...We'll see though, at this point I just need to take what I can get, especially if it offers more money. I hope I start getting called for some interviews soon. The one job I reallyreally want closes this Friday. Please call me.

I need to go take the dog out to play again before it gets dark, he is clearly very bored and keeps jumping on my laptop. No good.

*Oh crap...one of the original places we wanted to rent has just dropped their price for a *limited time only. I really liked that place a lot...Bella Vista still hasn't called to tell us whether our applications have been approved but we already gave them $400 to take the place off the market. I don't know if we can get it back. I don't know if I like the other place any better...I just feel really drawn to it for some weird reason. We promised each other we'd stop looking at Craigslist once we found a place because things like this would happen.

family

I'm in Montana for Easter. I decided I'd just drive back Montana instead of try to rush after church today, plus driving in the morning seems to make it go by so much faster. Not that I need it to, the drive is always wonderful as I drive back into the mountains and open fields. I miss Montana everytime I come back. Someday we'll move back, right now I love Washington but I know my heart is and will forever be in the mountains.

I miss Nathan like crazy this weekend, I can't wait until we're not only in the same place but able to do and spend all of these holidays as us. It's kind of one of my favorite words, no matter how co-dependent that may sound. It's more of a just ilovehimamilliontimes than it is unhealthy. :)

It's been fun to be with my family, we had some good laughs and talk about the past at dinner last night. Old friends and stories...it's so funny that we're at the "remember when" stage. It seems like just yesterday we were angry teenagers slamming doors and hating the world. Now we're adults starting new lives and everything is changing. Poor Chad had to play DD for us last night as he isn't quite old enough yet (we didn't need a driver but knew it was a wise decision) but he, too is still changing so much and becoming an adult. Baby Chaddy.

Church was good this morning too. As much as I try to find other churches wherever I am, nothing feels like going home to my church. Everyone ooohed and ahhed at how old we all looked (and I mean all the kids who were home for Easter) and asked about the future, the usual, "now where are you now?" and "what's next?". I hope my excitement for the future shows as I get to tell my own story.

negotiated

I think we ended our search this weekend. We found a place called Bella Vista Lake Washington where the lake is literally across the street. It's a townhouse-style place, 3 levels with garage on the bottom. It was built in 2000 so it's not only good looking but much newer construction than many of the "updated" places we've seen. We even negotiated a lower rent! We got down to $1550. The place we reserved has a partial view of the lake. The ones with a view were around $2000 which is a bit out of our range. The garage means we can have the BOAT. With the lake across the street this is wonderful. Nathan's parents basically gave him their boat (which coincidentally is my parents' old boat) and has been sitting at someone's house 2 hours away because he had nowhere to store it or use it. This could make our summer amazing...Sunset boat rides on the lake, waterskiing, tubing, wakeboarding all day...ahhhh so fun! We don't even have to go anywhere it's all right there!

There are some gorgeous houses right on the lake too as we drive in to our's. I will never get tired of looking at them and dreaming of the day we can someday own one. There's public access and a big park across the street and who knows what else around the corner. Our floorplan has a deck each side we can sit on our balcony and watch the boats go by. As long as our applications are approved we're in! And that's not really a concern so basically...it's our's in May! It's between Bellevue and Renton which is a bit further south than we'd wanted...but for the lake we're willing to sacrifice.

I was actually getting really nervous today about it, starting to worry about the commute I'd have to make if I get a job in Seattle. I just don't want to get home with only hours to spare before bed. I know that's an exageration but I'm just not a commuting girl. I'm from Montana! It's still a possibility that I'll have to but Nathan reminded me I can't go into it thinking negatively or it really won't be good. So I'm just trusting that something will work out. However, my roommate did open up a whole new possibility: I could easily apply further south in Federal Way/Auburn/Tacoma and have about the same amount of time in a commute or even less. I'd be going the opposite direction of everyone driving into Seattle so I really wouldn't hit bad traffic. I am so excited she suggested this because it opens up a whole new window of opportunities. Working with homeless and at risk populations in Tacoma? Hi perfect place! I'd love to be in Seattle but I have no problem going the other direction. I've never worked in either place before anyway so it's all new to me no matter where I go. I'm excited because now I have a range spanning like 60 miles where I can search for jobs. This could be so good!

The weekend went by way too fast. The weather was absolutely gorgeous which made the lake even more appealing. I cannot wait until I don't have to drive anymore. With the nice weather though it only takes me 3 hours and 40 minutes which isn't terrible...but I just want to get there and stay there for good. Next time I go over it will be nearly May and we are going to order our first big furniture purchase: a new couch! We think we want a sectional but we'll see what fits our price range and new floorplan. I can't wait. We also HAVE to get kitchen chairs. Nathan has a gorgeous wood table but I have no idea where the chairs are. So those are our two big purchases up front. We've got dreams of big ottomans, fancy rugs and all things modern...but they will have to come with time as we take it slowly with our money.

I am now officially beyond excited. I wanted to lock into a place this weekend so we could stop worrying about finding a place and start getting truly excited dreaming about the next big step.