Moving. Part 2: July 2013~Almost in San Diego...

Warning: This post has LOTS of pictures so don't be overwhelmed if it seems long.  Everyone likes pictures right? If you have been highly anticipating the story of where I'm going to live in San Diego it's at the end of this post.

I can't believe how fast this summer has gone.  I start school in just over a week and am leaving for San Diego in just a few days.  The car(s) are packed.  Since moving from IL to AZ cost me so much money I decided I would take what would fit in our cars the first trip out to San Diego from Arizona and will take the rest whenever I come back to AZ or my Mom comes out to San Diego.  My Mom and I are driving one car out on Tuesday and my Dad will come on Friday with another car full of my stuff.  These last few days it's really hitting me that I'll soon to be living in California and back in school (weird since I've been out of school for 6 1/2 years).  I'm excited but I have no idea how busy things will be.  Now that August is almost over I need to catch you up on July as it was a busy and exciting month!

Ok first things first....more about my niece :)  June 30th to July 3rd my parents and I drove down to Carbondale, IL to visit my niece and Greg and Melissa.  My parents had not seen their granddaughter, Ava yet and I had seen her but it was the day she was born and was very brief.  She was almost 3 weeks old when we were down there.  I could go on and on about how cute she is but I'll just show you in pictures.  I LOVE MY NIECE more than I could have ever imagined.  I love looking at pictures of her, watching videos of her and our weekly Skype calls!  It's crazy to look back at these pics and compare them to today and see how much she has already grown now that she's almost 10 weeks old.  

July 3-7 we were back in Wheaton, IL for the 4th of July.  Wheaton is our favorite place to be for the 4th because the town is so patriotic.  We had fun watching the parade and fireworks from out front of the house we were staying at.  During this time I also had my car picked up and the movers came to pick up my stuff from my uncle's house where I had been storing it.  My car arrived in Tucson a few days after we did and my stuff a few weeks later.  Many have asked why we did not drive out to Arizona and time was one of the factors but financially it was actually cheaper for me to hire a car shipping company and movers than to drive the stuff ourselves.  It worked out well.  I'll include pictures of the pick up and drop of for both just so you can see.

July 7th my parents and I flew out of Chicago and into Tucson with 3 checked bags and 6 carry on  bags.  This saved us some money bringing some stuff on the plane.  Another way I saved money was by shipping all my books via USPS media mail.  The movers go by weight and books are heavy so if  you are ever moving I recommend this as a way to save money on your move.  It was weird to leave Chicago and say goodbye to my family and friends.  Wheaton will always feel like home to me.  

July 8-24 I was in Arizona mostly relaxing by the pool.  It's hot here in the summer but there is nothing I love more than being in the pool and out in the sun.  I loved having a few weeks off to do nothing after the chaos of moving.  I also got to catch up with a few friends here.  One actually works just down the street from our house so I've seen her quite a few times. 

July 25-30: SAN DIEGO!!!!

After some down time to relax in Arizona the next task was to find a place to live in San Diego.  My Mom came with me and we drove the 6 hours to San Diego knowing we had to find a place for me to live.  Thankfully my parent's massage therapist had a friend in San Diego who we'd never met but graciously agreed to let us stay at her house for the week for free.  That saved us a lot of money and was so kind of her.  We probably looked at about 12 places in just a few days and pretty much drove all over San Diego.  It was stressful and definitely not a vacation.  The roads there were so confusing to me.  Even with my GPS on my iPhone we still got lost.  I'm not used to getting on the highway every time you go somewhere so that was new to me.  But by the time we left I had a place to live and here is the story...

Before leaving for San Diego I had emailed a ministry that was connected with the Rock Church, the church that I am planning to attend in San Diego.  The ministry is called Hidden Treasures and this is what they are about..."Hidden Treasures exists in order to rescue and restore women and children victimized by sex slavery and the human trafficking industry."  I saw that they had a new program they are hoping to start next year where they will have trained mentors partnered up with one of these girls.  The mentor training is 12 weeks for 2 hours on a Saturday and starts September 7th.  I knew I wanted to get involved so after emailing the ministry I got a reply back from a lady named Teri.  She was not actually the main person who ran the ministry as that person was out of town.  So normally she wouldn't even have been answering emails.  We exchanged a few emails and she offered me a place to stay in San Diego if needed while I was in town.  I let her know we already had a place to stay and thanked her.  But then I thought, "I wonder if they rent out their studio or do they just use it for family or guests?"  I emailed Teri and figured it didn't hurt to ask.  She said they just had family that was moving out but would be happy to meet me and show me the place.  She said they are very picky about who they rent to.  Sunday night we went to see the place and it was almost exactly what I was looking for at a price I could afford (for San Diego).  It was a studio attached to their house that was very updated and was already furnished.  There was even a door to the backyard with a pool, deck, spa and workout area.  The house is on top of a hill and the views from their backyard of the city lights are amazing.  We talked for a while and then Teri prayed for me before I left.  I didn't want to be this far east in San Diego county but I knew I had to strongly consider this place.  I really wanted my own space and this place even had storage above for the stuff I wouldn't need.  Teri emailed me the next day and said her and her husband really felt strongly that I was to be their next renter.  I prayed about it for a few days and agreed!  They are a wonderful couple about my parent's age that seem like they will watch out for me and help me get adjusted to life in San Diego.  For you locals, the studio is in Lemon Grove at the end of a street on a culdesac at the top of a hill.  It even has a trundle bed so I have an extra bed for all my friends to come visit!!!!!!!!  You all are welcome anytime.   My graduate school budget won't allow me to make many trips to visit you all so I think San Diego is a great place to come :)

A highlight of the week in San Diego was seeing Nick Vujicic speak in person for the first time. Inspiring!

So that's the story.  As of now I will be in four classes at Azusa Pacific University on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 4-9:30 and will have mentor training at church Saturday mornings.  After moving and getting settled, my next task will be to find a part time job.  I am trusting that God will provide this as well :)  

Moving. Part 1: June 2013

Let me bring you all up to speed on exactly where I'm going and the story behind the place I am moving to in 2 weeks in San Diego.  Along with this I also want to fill you in on my summer and all the logistics that have gone into moving across the country.  It's been a CRAZY summer but God has worked out so many things I didn't think he could.  I'm grateful for all the details that have been arranged so far and the last final step to come as I move from Arizona to San Diego.

PART 1 OF 2

June 2013

Most Important thing that happened in June was I became an aunt!  On June 12, 2013 at 4:06am Ava Faith Steinsdoerfer was born weighing 7lbs 13 oz and measuring 19 inches long.  I made the 6 hour drive down to Carbondale, IL after I heard that Melissa had gone into labor the day before.  I hadn't planned to go but I couldn't miss out on the chance to be one of the first to meet my first niece!  I met Ava a few hours after she was born and WOW what a miracle a baby is.  I was waiting outside the room and my brother wheeled her around the corner.  I saw my brother first with a big smile on his face then looked down and couldn't believe this precious baby was my niece!  I fell in love at first sight and was amazed at this amazing baby God had created.  So glad I drove down to be there!

Work:  June 28th was my last day.  My last week of work was bittersweet.  On Monday the day program staff threw me a surprise potluck and all went around and shared encouraging words and memories of my 3 years working at Meier Clinics.  Even our day program psychiatrist/medical director came in to say a few words.  On Thursday during our weekly staff lunch, Brad, my supervisor got up in front of everyone and shared how much he appreciated me and opened the floor for others to share.  Then he prayed for me and I was given a few cards signed by many of the staff.  They had given me a $100 gift card (they were going to buy me the new DSM but figured it'd be too hard to move it, good idea so they gave me the gift card instead :).  Jordan, who has been one of the people I had worked closely with for 2 years had gotten some balloons to decorate and gave them to me.  It was nice to know that I would be missed.  Finally it was Friday (my last day of work).  Once I arrived, the girls I worked with closely downstairs had decorated my desk with streamers and balloons.  They had brought in some sweets for breakfast.  At our staff meeting at 11am, again they prayed for me.  After the meeting I came back downstairs to a bunch of the staff in our office area and they had ordered pizza for lunch.  After the pizza, Nina (my cousin's wife) had brought in gelato that her family makes.  It was a great lunch and a wonderful time socializing with my staff team that had become like family to me.  The whole day was just full of surprises and I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with everyone that day!  While everything they did really touched me, the most significant thing I took away from the goodbyes were the words of affirmation that the staff shared with me.  To hear clinicians (therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists) say that you are going to make a great clinician and are excited for the path I'm taking was priceless.  The words will stick with me always and I'm sure I'll come back to many times in the midst of my graduate school studies.  I love these guys with all my heart and was so blessed by the experience of working at Meier Clinics.  What I learned will help me tremendously in my field and future career and the people made it a joy to come to work every day.  THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!!!!

  

Moving: What an adventure this was to put it lightly.  I had been living in this house that had been on the market for awhile.  It was a very large house and I was basically keeping it clean and keeping an eye on it for the owner until it sold.  It was a short sale so once it sold it'd be at least 3 months til I would have to move out.  I knew it was a risk but it was a great deal, the price was right and the space was amazing!  I had planned to move out on July 6th and then fly to Arizona on July 7th.  My car was going to be picked up on July 5th.  Friday, June 21st everything changed...only 2 weeks prior to my move date.  At 3:30pm I got a strange email from my landlord saying they moved the closing date up on her and I had to be out by Monday.  I emailed back to get clarification on which Monday and then it got changed to having to be out by Sunday which was in 2 days.  I hadn't packed anything.  My Mom was flying in on Saturday (the next day) to Chicago from Tucson and my Dad the following weekend.  The plan was for them to help me pack and stay in the house with me.  After a few moments of panic, I quickly rented a moving truck and told some people what was going on.  They agreed to be available to help if I had to move on Sunday...which I did!  My Mom had a friend who agreed to help out and pick her up from the airport Saturday night so I could stay home packing.  She arrived at 7pm to the house.  She quickly kicked things into high gear and we started packing.  With only one trip to Home Depot for a few more boxes I had everything else on hand.  We pretty much stayed up all night.  We picked up the moving truck Sunday morning and 2 of my cousins, my uncle and Nina came to help load the truck (on one of the hottest days of the summer in Chicago).  My uncle stepped up and said I could store my stuff in his living room for 2 weeks.  My grandma helped out by letting us store our food in her fridge and letting us borrow her car.  The Austins (family friends) let us stay at their house at the last minute for almost 2 weeks.  By the end of the day we were beyond exhausted but somehow together we got it done.  I was convinced there was no way this was possible but through a miracle that only God could have orchestrated people came together and I got moved out 2 weeks early and with less than 48 hours notice.  Again, THANK YOU ALL!!!!