Thursday, August 30, 2012

Home Sweet Home

Alrighty, I finally have some pictures for you!!! We are feeling settled in, we only have 6 boxes still packed (although I think we have 10 more coming in the mail :)) Our new apartment has a fitness "center", it's more like a room with squeaky machines and two nice treadmills, a beautiful pool, and it's gated. We are on the North West side of Tucson. Technically we are within the city limits of Marana. It is a newer part of town, newer development. We have a lot of great stores so close! It is a great location! I am very happy with the apartment, ward, and location. Enjoy the pictures (they were the best I could do) :D

Our Beautiful new bedset



My Baby!! Yay!

Giant Bathroom, this does not do justice of how big it really is. 

Extra Storage, I don't know what to do with it all!

New Dining Room Table/Nathan's Desk

More than two people can fit at a time!! Not even all my cupboards are full!!

Nathan's Baby + Unpacked boxes :) 

Couch looks so small in here!

Hope you can get a taste of how big it is. Below are a few pictures of our last apartment just so you can compare the upgrade :) 
Yes Dirty, but so cramped :) 



Way too small!!


Saturday, August 25, 2012

Arizona

Nathan and I are now finally starting to feel settled into our new home. Three weeks ago we made the big move and drove from Salt Lake City, to Tucson. It was a long and sometimes boring ride, but we made it. Once we arrived we drove to the Seegmiller's a wonderful family that had a room for us to stay. Because of the wonderful connections in the church my Mom, who resides in North Carolina, has a friend from her ward from Tucson. Through their connection we were able to stay at the parents house of my mom's friend. We arrived close to midnight, yet they were still up waiting for us to drive in. They were so kind inviting us into their family, and their home.

For our first week and a half we were able to stay at the Seegmiller's. While we were there I set out looking for an apartment everyday while Nathan was in orientation for grad school. It was a very frustrating and a very long process. Fortunately Nathan had a day off Orientation and we were able to go together to find an apartment. We did find a great apartment, however it was going to be another week until it was fully ready for us. After finally getting housing figured out I set out looking for a job.

Thursday was my day to find a job, I went around to a lot of places with my resume in hand and dressed up nice. Every place I went in to apply all told me to "Go online and apply there." Honestly the most frustrating phrase ever. I went back to where we were staying at sat at home everyday after that just applying online and doing nothing. It was a very rough place to be for me. Even the running store had told me NO. What was I to do?

These past few weeks there have been many tears shed. All of which have been sad. I miss my family, I miss my home of Utah (never thought I'd say that). I miss working. I miss the many wonderful friends we have left behind. Moving out of state has been quite the roller coaster. Things take a lot of time to work out for us, and I know they will eventually, but boy am I learning patience!

So far, I have had 6 interviews with one more to go. Two job offers and one no. I have turned down on job offer, but not the other because I want to wait till Monday to hear from another job. It's so complicated, and stresses me out to the max! I am hoping that my Heavenly Father helps me on this, makes things a little easier for me with finding the right job for me. I am very, very grateful to have offers, to know that someone wants me to work for them.

There has been so much up and down, not only with trying to find a job, and apartment but with finding furniture as well. We were promised a beautiful couch from the missionaries, but as things would have it that couch unfortunately belonged to someone else. So I don't know. I can't explain how disappointed I was. Also finding that Ikea charged $200 for shipping stuff to our zip code, man I was very frustrated. Fortunately we were able to get some very nice furniture on sale at Sam Levitz (similar to RC Willey). We now have a beautiful bedroom set, kitchen table, entertainment center and a couch. Everything but the couch is beautiful wood. We found them all on clearance for damage, but the damage was hardly anything. Our apartment is starting to feel a little more like home.

After I get a job, I will be able to decorate a little more with rugs and throw pillows and such. I am so looking forward to doing a little more TLC to this place. Our apartment is huge! I love it. I am very excited to have more space to work with, and beautiful furniture in it as well. I am working on taking good pictures to post. For now you will just have my long post of our first few weeks here. Arizona is great, it's hot but not killer hot. I am adjusting, and enjoying it.