My new buddy

Many of you know that I have long sought after a canine companion. It has been a long process mostly due to the fact that I haven't lived in a place where I couldn't have one. But with my new place this is no longer an issue.

On Thursday Nicki sent me a link from a local rescue that had a dog named Phoenix available 3yrs old, house trained and good with other dogs and kids. He seemed pretty ideal, but I wasn't wild about the name. However, after Saturday church clean-up Nicki and I went to the shelter to go take a look, and he was just a bundle of cuteness. He was dropped off at the shelter and his fur was in a matted mess, so they had to shave him, and he's not that wild about men right now, but with a little more training and a suitable name he'll be the perfect pet.

I had decided to name him Bo after Boaz in the book of Ruth. But then I realized that the name "Bo" rhymes with "No" and he may get confused if I have to scold him, and I don't want him to get a complex. So if you have any name ideas you want to contribute feel free to do so. I'll let you all know what I come up with/decide on.

Purging & Packing

This weekend has been a whirlwind of packing activity, not just me, but my roommate as well. Seeing as I have another couple weeks here I thought it advantageous to not make it more hectic around here than necessary. So tonight starts the first efforts to officially purge my stuff. You know all that little petty clutter that eventually ads up to a lot of petty clutter. The trechery of idle papers or receipts that just accumulate out of "know where". You know what I'm talking about. Especially us ladies, our purses are full of them, but I digress.

At first I thought that getting rid of stuff would be hard. Don't get me wrong, it's no picnic as far as time invested is concerned, however, with each decision I make in what goes or stays I find myself leaning more to the going, rather than the staying. You know like all those projects I was gonna start, but only got half way with...GONE. Those clothes that I just know I'm going to fit into again...GONE.

Some decisions have been given a little more thought. Like my sewing machine. Once upon a time when I was a younger me I was actually learning this skill. But then the lady that was teaching me up and left her husband and that was the end of the lessons. I bought my sewing machine a few years ago, with the honest intention of re-learning, but the business of school and Bible Institute and that little thing called time has kept it at bay. So I had decided to get rid of it, until my friend Kim said that she would teach me. So it stays. Which is good because I've had a long designed project in my mind to take my old Navy uniforms and turn them into a quilt. It can be very cathartic to turn something that was a source of stress and angst into something that is useful and hopefully beautiful too. Yeah that's just dripping with irony because as anyone associated with the military knows that to beautify a uniform is pretty difficult. Stay tuned.

Another dificult decision, and one that I'm still up in the air on is my hope chest. Really people before I get an onslaught of advice on this one I REALLY don't have the room. My place is small and so I must decorate vertically, and a hope chest can take up a lot of room. I'm going to hang onto it at least until I get there just to see (Nicki's mom's advice). If it works maybe I can turn it into something that will have a dual purpose, like a window seat, but if not it's gonna have to go. It's nice for storage, but it's not like anyone built it for me so there's no sentimental value to it, and if I think about it for too long a single 31 year old woman with a hope chest just seems kinda sad. Even though it mostly olds memories from my childhood and not things that I would use when I get married.

Surprisingly easy to decide what goes was some other of my furniture items. My Kitchen table, my coffee & end tables, my desk & large bookshelf to start with. The other night I was on Craigslist and I found a woman who is trying to make a fresh start with her and her sons (no I don't know the whole story there) but she posted a listing asking for some of the items that I had available and so I contacted her and am hoping that I can find a friend with a truck that is willing to help with that. Paying it forward I guess you could say since I was given a free W&D last week. But it felt satisfying to make that decision and to know that those items will be appreciated.

Purging and packing. Because I can't take it with me when I go. Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Hook Ups

One of the benefits of my new abode is the fact that it has washer & dryer hook-ups. If you're the average renter you know how rare this benefit can be. I have a washer & dryer in my current appartment and it has been such a treat over the past year. I was devastated at the prospect of giving that up. And I never really thought that I'd be able to find another place with that benefit that I could afford, at least not without huge sacrifices in other areas of my everyday life, except that when I saw my new place and that it did have the W&D hook-ups I was pleased, but it would be a while before I could afford a set (even a used one) right?

I'm happy to give a resounding NO to that question.

Some time ago, in the throws of my bereavement in having to look for a new place, I was sharing my angst with Sarah, a friend & co-worker, and she asked me if I had any "absolutes" only list of desires on places to look at. Now her question was completely reasonable, and asked in a genuine way because she just wanted to try and help me look at the good possibilities, rather than the horrid dilemma of what awaited me in apartment hunting. However, I have long given up holding out for "absolutes" within the prospect of anything regarding something that isn't mine, which includes renting a property. It's a reality that I came to accept a long time ago when I first started living in apartments. Unless the property is your own you really can't hold out for much demanding, and in depending on where you live even hoping, for a whole lot. That may sound sad to some of you, but being the pragmatic person that I am it just seems best to find the best that you can for what you can afford and make the best out of it. Setting "absolute" standards on that account just don't work well and only serve to be a disappointment when you think about what you would rather have, instead of what God has blessed you with, Philippians 4:11 - Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. Now one day if I'm able to settle down into a home purchase, there will be things that I would like to have (2 words: IKEA kitchen), but until that day comes I believe my outlook is the sanest one for me at this point.

But I did indulge in a private thought or two of things that would be nice: possibly a pet and possibly a W&D were on there, but I dared not linger to long there.

Well, if you read my last post you already know that I am able to get a pet & there were W&D hook-ups, but now to get a washer & dryer. How long that would take only time would tell depending on cost and what was available on Craigslist. Well today I got to find out how long that wait would be.

A few weeks ago Sarah told me that she was using her W&D set as a bonus for people to come & look at the apartment that she no longer was renting, but that if they didn't need it then she wanted me to have it, free! Well last night she got the call that her old apt had been rented. And since they weren't needing the W&D she told me today that I could have it.

Now...no lie...in a 500ft2 space that W&D is gonna be in close quarters, however I HATE washing my clothes at the laundry mat; and while I know that friends would probably let me use theirs, but they need to wash clothes too and I always feel like I'm imposing, unless it's at my friend Kali's. What I'm sayin' is that it's just nice to have hook-ups in life, with friends and appliances. A humble thank you goes to the Lord for paying attention to the "little things", and a special thanks to Sarah for her generosity.

And for any of you that may be interested here is my dream IKEA kitchen: brushed nickle appliances, white cabinetry, a sky blue paint job, and black marble couter tops that SPARKLE!!! Literally, they really do.

New Diggs

So as I mentioned in my last post I've found a new place to call home. And below are just a few pics. It's small, a whopping 500ft2. It's the smallest space that I've lived in since being out of the Navy, and usually that space was shared with another person. But this one will be all mine.

It's also a period that I'm using to get rid of my STUFF (I'm gonna come up with a mnemonic device for that word...standby). But if I can't use it, I gotta loose it. And then there's this one that I like, because it's a play on Johnny Cochran's closing argument from the OJ trial..."If it doesn't fit, it's got to git". HAHAHA

At first the thought of it freaked me out a little, but now that I've accepted it I'm looking forward to the challenge and have plans for it, but more on that later. Pros for the new place...1) A yard, because it's a duplex, 2) I have the opportunity to get a DOG!!!, 3) Pergo flooring, so no creepy formerly used rug to deal with, 3) A smaller space to clean, 4) Washer & Dryer hook-ups and 5) Close to work again (this time I may even walk since I won't have any hills to climb). Now trust me the pics make it look bigger than it is, but here are a few below for your voyeur pleasure.

My Yard

Small Living Room

Tiny Kitchen

Micro Closet
(no really it's only as big as it looks,
behind those doors there is no extra storage space)

Well anyway, all this change has inspired me to start a new blog. Now normally I'm not all into the whole "working multiple blogs angle" of blogging, but this new endeavor has me thinking that of the specific niche that this lifestyle offers and what kind of creative adventure there are to be had from it (who knows I may even write a whole post on the challenge that the closet offers). I don't have anything posted yet, but if small space living and my adventure of using space creatively sounds like an interesting topic to you cruise on over to A Cozy Place and become one of my first followers and then you can join in the adventure from the beginning.

I'm still keeping this blog going though for all my random thoughts and experience in this life I enjoy, Just As I Am.

Worry Not

Just in case any of you out there need encouragement, remember Matthew 10:29-31...

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?
and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Something I should have remembered when I wrote about my plight in having to find a new apartment, and something that I know I'll need to rememebr in the future. More to come on my new digs later.

Girls Night Out

In the past 3 yeafs that I've had this blog one thing I don't think that I've divulged about myself is that I TOTALLY enjoy going to the theatre. I love the whole thing about it. Dressing up. Going to dinner, and then hopefully enjoying a good performance. If I lived in Seattle, or any big city for that matter, I would probably be a season ticket holder.

Last month the SPG's went to go see Handles Messiah again! I wasn't feeling so hot that night, but it was still enjoyable and Messiah is now one of my favorite pieces of music.

Last night was a much over due girls night out. A celebration for Alyssa's Birthday. We had dinner at Bennihana's first and then we went to Bennaroya Hall to go see Lang Lang (pronounced Long Long). I had honestly never heard of him or seen him before, but I was not dissapointed! He was a great showman and his passion for playing the piano translated throught his whole body. My favorite piece that he played was from Iberia the final movement. The note that he ended on and the way that he played it was poetry and very moving.

I took a chance and scored some photos during the evening too.

The Piano

Taking a bow

After a rousing encore!

Here is the piece that I enjoyed. Look at his enjoyment and how his fingers seem to dance along the keys!

There's always a price to pay

Well, the apartment search continues. I thought that I had found one tonight, but every instinct in me is screaming NO!!! Why??? Becuause the price may just be to high. I'm not talking about the monatary price, no that's price is quite ideal. There's another price to be paid that may be just to much, and that price is the cost of my own peace.

I've work hard to let my armor down over the past few years, to not walk around with my defenses up all the time. And you know what? I like it. Scratch that, love it! It's very liberating to not have to be on guard all the time. To know that the people that encompass my life are trust worthy and that my friends are not just friends, but family. But if I choose this new place to call "home" all that could be in jeapordy. I REALLY don't want to have to move again until I get married.

Moving is a hassle, and I don't want to move again after this unless I know that there is a purpose to it. For example: 1) I get married. Now there's a purpose I can get behind. Moving is very necessary in order to estabish a family and home together; 2) My future husband is a missionary. Now I don't know that to be a fact because there is no one in my life at this point, but moving would definitely be necessary in order to GO to the people that the Lord has called him, and really us, to; 3) The Lord provides me with a job somewhere else in the world (this is also not in the cards at this point), but again neccessary because I would have to move to work. Right now I just feel like a vagabond, moving just to move, and I hate that feeling. If I wanted that feeling to persist I would still be in the Navy letting them drag me every which way they desired. I like the feeling of staying put, having a community to go to and knowing what to expect. I'm a person that likes rules, and knowing what the expectations are and rising to the occasion to meet them. I do well with a clearly defined purpose and moving from place to place randomly impedes upon that.

There's always a price to pay for that thing that you want, but at what cost? For me, for now, that's a cost that seems just to high.

New Year & a New Faith

No that title doesn't mean that I've found something new to put my faith in. My faith is firmly planted in Jesus Christ. However, it does not mean that the Lord cannot renew my faith as I've entered this new year.

Never satisfied in staying in one place, I always seek new growing opportunities today I received a fabulous one, for the Lord allowed me to show His saving grace to "T" and she chose to receive Christ as her saviour.

A new faith for a new year. What a fabulous start!