Tuesday

These are photos from the other day when we were hiking up Mt. Tabor.

Today Eric and I took a LONG bus ride+train ride out to an engineering firm that was hiring. Eric just ran in and dropped off his resume, and then we hiked it back home.

I think we walk at LEAST 6 miles a day. I can really feel it in my legs and since we are on the go everyday I feel kind of like there is no time for them to bounce back.
Oh well. I am hoping the whole 'walk 2 miles to your destination' thing gets easier. Or at least I get more used to it.
The bus system is so much nicer but there is always some walking that has to be done.

Eric also applied to Nike, and is in the process of applying to another company looking for an engineer. We are praying one of these jobs pans through.

I have an interview on Thursday for a food intern at this new restaurant.
Unfortunately it's a unpaid internship, but
I am going to go to the interview anyways and just see exactly what the job is about.

It's 6:45 at night and I'm ready for bed. haha.
We are off to try and find me some black dress pants.
You would think with all the clothes I have, that I would have lots of dress pants. Yeah, not so.

Here we go..

Monday.

The meeting with the Culinary School went pretty well.
Bad news, I can't get enough in loans to cover the entire balance for this year.
I guess Eric and I made to much money last year?
Someone want to tell me where that money is??

So I have to take out a private loan through SallieMae or something.
Not really excited about that.
Higher interest rates, have to get a co-signer, and more, more, more debt.
I really want to go to school though so I guess it's a trade I'm ok taking?

We toured the school and I am SO intimidated by everything.
They had three professional kitchens.
One for first year, second and third.
All the students looked very hardcore and knowledgeable, but the teachers/chefs seemed really nice.
They said you have two hours of class everyday followed up by three hours in the kitchen. You can come early or stay late to practice things you learned that day or need to know better.

THEN we had lunch at their restaurant which was superb.
Salad, bread, entrée, desert.
All free and all delicious.

So pending my decision with this private loan, it looks like I will begin in October.
Yikes.

Oh, I *hope* they are going to help me get a job.
I talked to the admission counselor and told her that I was looking for a job in a restaurant and she asked me to send over my resume and she would pass it onto career services.
I'm praying they can put me somewhere.
I just want to learn everything, so I will take a job as a dishwasher if I have to!

Speaking of jobs-Eric is starting to apply everywhere like crazy so please, please keep him/us in your prayers. We need work!

I will leave you with a photo of yummy Fro Yo!
What is fro yo? It's frozen yogurt of course. We went to this awesome store where you self serve your fro yo and ad as many toppings as you want, (the have 30 options!) and then you pay by the ounce. YUM and so dangerous.

I had original tart, pomegranate and raspberry yogurt topped with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, gummy bears and granola. AH YUM!
Eric had tart and chocolate yogurt topped with coconut, peanuts, almonds and peanut butter cups.

That is all. Goodnight.

I live in Portland

I am having to remind myself that everyday.
It still feels very much like a vacation but hopefully that will change once we find work.

James left yesterday and both Eric and I were talking about how it felt like our security blanket was leaving. Now we are really on our own. It's pretty scary.

One thing I am constantly having to tell myself is that things are going to be awkward. See, I'm not one to jump at the chance to be put into an awkward situation. But as I am learning, and I knew it would be this way...almost everything is going to be awkward at first. It's just how it goes. First time at a new store, figuring out the bus system, meeting people, job interviews...awkward, awkward, awkward. Surprisingly, I'm ok with that. I really dont mind feeling out of place. I know the feeling will go away with time.

Speaking of out of place. I need a makeover. I look like I'm from the midwest.
Oh wait. I am from the midwest.
Help me.

So yesterday after James left, Eric and I tried to clean up our apartment. ha.
Then we left to go to this biketobeerfest. It's basically a beer/music/bike festival.
It was really nice out, and the music was surprisingly good.
We had signed up to volunteer a couple days before so we were working the 9-11pm shift. Basically just packing everything up. I took a couple photos but my computer is dumb and won't let me upload them properly. Here is the only good one.

We also visited Mt. Tabor which is not a mountain as much as a big, big hill. A hill that we lovingly climbed up.
Ummm..yeah about that. I'm out of shape. fyi.

Came home LATE last night (130am! ah! waaay past my bedtime) and promptly crashed until about 945 this morning. We really, really wanted to go visit one of the churches here, but I think we needed the sleep. Kind of a recharge before this week begins. Can't wait to check out the church next Sunday. I'm ready to belong to a congregation again.

After a slow morning, we headed out to the local farmers market. BTW, there happens to be a market everyday of the week.
Portland is awesome.
I'm just saying..

Again I took a couple photos but dumb computer mixed with dumb iphone...here is what you get..

This evening was filled with a long trip to Walmart to get a sauce pot (which they didn't have. I hate Walmart.) and we went down to the bookstore and WHOLEFOODS. (I LOVE wholefoods)

Whoa long post. Sorry about that.
Tomorrow-meeting with the Culinary School. I am so excited.
Night!

Quick Quick

We are about to pick Eric up from the airport.
I am so, so, so excited.
He got the sign off this morning and took a 1:25 flight.
We are going to explore the city tonight with James.

Tomorrow night we are volunteering at a bike-fest here in Portland from 9-11pm.
Yikes.

I told a man in the airport yesterday that I was going home to Portland.
Home to Portland.
Portland is officially my home now.

James and I went to Ikea yesterday and bought a bed and a mattress and a comforter and a pillow. It took a huge chunk out of our remaining savings. I think that is all the furniture we will be able to afford for a while.
I'm ok with that because Eric is here.

Pictures to come...Bye!

Waiting...Waiting...

I am starting to feel like that is all I do these days.

We are downtown waiting for the clock to strike noon.
Eric's in with his teammates finishing up last minute things and I am sitting out in the lobby repeating the same prayer..." Please God, please God, please God..."

I have not touched or worked on this project but nonetheless I feel like it's my baby to. I'm so anxious for this to be the day, that I can hardly sit still.
Kind of wishing I would have brought my running shoes back with me. Anything to take the stress off.

45 more minutes and we will know either way. I'm trying to remind myself that it's ok if they don't get signed off today. We can handle it. But I feel like I am trying to trick myself into believing that.

*********************************************************************************

Kind of. They have an ok from the professor but they have to meet again with him and the sponsor tomorrow or Friday.
I guess when I am taking away from today is that they have a conditional sign off. As long as it looks good for when the sponsor comes in.

Problem is James will be in Portland tomorrow and I can pretty much guarantee neither of us wants to do much without Eric. AND I have that appointment on Friday with the school.
There can't ever be one good thing without another bad thing happening can there?

I don't know if I should be excited or sad. Blah.

Update

It's been a while since I have updated.
Let's see...still waiting for sign off on the project.
Tomorrow is the day hopefully. But I am trying not to be to hopeful. I really hate being let down.

IF all goes well tomorrow then Eric and I will fly back on Thursday.
IF all does NOT go well tomorrow then I alone will fly back on Thursday.

I have an appointment to meet with my *hopeful* future culinary school on Friday.
If Eric flies back with me on Thursday then he will get to come and visit the school with me, talk financial aid stuff and have a free lunch at their restaurant.
I think he is most excited about the free lunch.

James (brother in law) left on a (fright) train today and he will arrive in Portland on Thursday.
Just kidding about the freight train. It's a song ya know.

Basically it all comes down to tomorrow and we have been in this situation before and I did not like it then and I do not like it now. I am praying and praying and praying this all goes well and the guys can get their much needed sign off.

I'll let you know how it goes. Ciao.

Granola Recipe

I made this recipe tonight and its amazing.

Double Coconut Granola

6 C. rolled oats
1 2/3 C. unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 C. clover honey
1/3 C. virgin coconut oil
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. kosher salt

1. Heat oven to 300F.

2. In a large bowl, combine oats and shredded coconut.

3. In a small saucepan, cook honey, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt over medium heat until the mixture just begins to simmer.

4. Pour honey/oil mixture over oats and coconut flakes, and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.

5. Spread out granola on a baking sheet. Place in oven, bake for 10 minutes, then stir granola. Repeat until granola is well-toasted — this took me four stirs, or 40 minutes total cooking time.

6. Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. When cooled, store in airtight containers for up to 2 weeks. Can refrigerate or freeze for longer shelf life.

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It's not my recipe. I found it here.

I am so in love with it though. It was really cheap to get the ingredients.
Coconut $2.00 (and you could easily double the recipe with the HUGE bag I got for that cheap)
Oats-my mom had already but come on those are cheap.
Coconut Oil-I didn't have any so I subbed veg. oil and it worked just fine.
Honey $2.50

You get SOO much with the recipe too. Seriously. Try it. Now.

Oh Boy

Things were not supposed to go this way.

Nothing is working in the cabinet now. We have absolutely no idea when it will be fixed and according to Eric, they don't even know really how to fix it.

Everything is up in the air and is a big fat mess. I'm so stressed out and I'm not even working on it.

We are trying to keep praying and thinking positive but we are really starting to wear thin.

How and when will we get back to Portland where everything we own is?
We have no idea.

Please-more prayers. That's all we have to go on right now.

Here is what is going on-

After a LOT of crying, praying, stressing, and yelling...we had two decisions we could make.

1. I stay here in Portland. Eric hopes to sign off his project next Monday and would HOPEFULLY fly back next Tuesday. Pro's-save more money. Con's-I am alone for another 4+days without furniture or anyone here with me. We won't know if Eric will get to sign off on Monday so if he doesn't, I could be here another week+ by myself.

2. I fly back to MI. Pro's- I get to be with my husband. I get to see my family. I don't have to be alone trying to find things to do for 4+days. Con's-It costs us MORE money.

I don't know if the right answer came to you but for me it was hard. I can't even begin to describe to you the feelings I have had here. Every day hoping today is the day Eric gets signed off and every day hearing the news that it didn't happen.

My head on this told me it was wiser for me to just stay it Portland, save the money and tough it out. My heart told me that I needed a support system and I needed to see my husband.

What would you do?

I booked the flight.
I would rather have no money and be with my husband than have plenty of money and be alone. Faith in God. That's what we have been saying back and forth to each other this entire time. I don't know if this is the best decision, but I do know that this is the decision that helps me get to my husband. I may not be as strong and brave as everyone thinks and that's ok.

We will be poor. But we will be together. I am so excited to see his face.

Please still keep praying that Monday they get signed off. Please.

My apartment.

Is very small.
But VERY wonderful.
I love it so much.
I am so excited to get furniture in here.

Speaking of which.
I went to Ikea today. I was so excited to go in. BUT, once I got inside...I got overwhelmed.
VERY overwhelmed. The plan was for my to go in, look at things, text Eric picture of sheets and bedding and cushions and shower curtains and all that fun stuff.
Well then I had ZERO service in the store. Yeah, wonderful. When I couldn't get a hold of Eric, I started to get freaked out at all the different choices. Realized I am NOT a decorator and I in fact usually have bad taste. Started to cry. (yup proud of that one) AND I promptly left Ikea.

Here's the deal.
People keep telling me I am a strong woman. They say that I can do things. Lots of things. ANYTHING.
But lately...ok for the past two days. I have gotten so overwelmed with things that I feel like I just can't take it.
Where is this strong woman people seem to think I am? I feel like one minute I have it under control. Then the next I snap and am a crying mess on the floor.

Like today. I met the guy for our apartment. Got the keys. Made 8,000 trips up the stairs. No, really I did. Do you know how much stuff we fit into our car??
Then since I was feeling all powerful, I decided I could handle Ikea alone-aaannnddd you know the rest of the story.
On top of things-> meltdown on the floor of Ikea.
(ok, I didn't fall to the floor but it was close)

Two more days. That's what I keep telling myself. Eric will be here on Saturday and everything will be fine. People of the world (all five of you that read my blog) please realize the important people in your lives. When they are not there, you might just fall apart.

Tomorrow. Ah tomorrow. Who know's what I will end up doing. Probably cry sometime.
But you know what. Tomorrow I will worry about tomorrow. For now, I am just glad I have a place to rest my boots.

I'm here

I'm in Oregon.
Gresham technically but just 20 min outside of Portland.
I have a meeting with our landlord tomorrow to get our keys.

Eric isn't here. He won't be here until Sat now.
I think I have cried 1,000 times today.
Basically Eric's professor is being a HUGE jerk and he is making all the guys stay until Friday because that's the next time he can look at their project.
Well that's the next time he is WILLING to look at their project.
It's so frustrating and annoying and I can't decide if I want to scream (done that) cry (oh yeah) or curl up in bed and not move (doing that right now).

I don't know what I am going to do for the next three days. I have no furniture, no bedding or shower stuff, nothing to sit on or eat with. We were supposed to go to Ikea tomorrow and I really don't want to do that alone. AND I can't lift all the furniture boxes up the stairs alone anyways.

Pity party commence. I'll update tomorrow.

Alone in the park

Wow so much changes in so little time.

To make a SO long story short. Eric had to fly back to MI tonight from Salt Lake City because his professor did a 180 on a decision that he had previously made and told Eric late last night that he needed to be back in MI ASAP. Since we were already 13 hours out of MI and had all of our hotels pre-paid and booked we made the decision to have Eric fly out of Utah when we got here and I would continue on with the drive.

The main reason this sucks is because we were planning on celebrating our anniversary tomorrow-since it is tomorrow-in Park City where our hotel is. We were going to do an amazing zipline, mountain sled, sightseeing and go to a really nice dinner. Instead, I am sitting alone in our hotel room trying not to cry. This is where I start to have a pity party so hold on to your hats.

I really, really feel alone right now. I know this is not Eric or my fault. We had no idea his professor would do this to us, we had no idea that the situation would go down like this. But because of how it all worked out..we are out $1,000 for a plane ticket that we really didn't have and I am having to drive by myself to Portland on Tuesday. That's 13 hours folks.

We have no idea when Eric will be able to meet me. We are hoping Tuesday night but it all depends on when the project he was working on gets done and the only reason it's not done is because we are waiting on ONE guy to finish it. There is nothing Eric can do but wait which means there is nothing I can do but wait. In the mean time we have an appointment with our apartment guy for Wed to sign the documents and get the keys and I don't know if he will let me get them or if Eric has to be there. And even if Eric doesn't, I will have nothing to sleep on while I wait for him to get back so we can go buy furniture.

Everything is a mess and I am just trying to pray and pray and pray. I don't know why this all happened and it would be so easy to blame God for this but He must have a plan? Maybe this is a test of faith or patience or something. I need to think there is some reason for all of this. I'm just so sad and I want Eric to come back and I want things to go like we planned. I don't want to be alone.

Pity party over. I'm going to try and sleep for 15 hours+. I havn't had more than 5 hours of sleep at a time in a really, really long time. Please pray for me, Eric and the guy working on the cabinet.

Quick Update

We are in York NE.

We left last night around 9ish? And drove until about 1230 when I could NOT keep my eyes open any longer-Eric was already asleep. We camped out at a rest stop along with 8+ other cars, and we slept until about 430. It was Eric's turn to drive then and he drove for about 2 hours before I took over and he went back to sleep. ha. Poor guy, so sleepy.

We stopped for a quick bagel at Panera and arrived in York by 1245. Back news is the hotel we are staying at doesn't have any clean rooms yet and the girl was pretty set on us not checking in until 3. So much for getting to a hotel early to sleep.

SO we are sitting in Starbucks in York because that is ALL there is here. ha. I even asked the girl at the hotel what there was to do and she said...'oh there's a walmart across the highway.' bahahah.

We are planning on leaving bright and early tomorrow so that we have time to stop in Wyoming if we so choose. Pray for more safe travels!

The countdown!

I have been absent because I have been wrapping things up here. We leave on Friday night and there is a lot to do! I'm getting so excited though, I can hardly stand it.

Eric signs off his project tomorrow and then we are going to be spending the ENTIRE day cleaning and packing the car.

Thursday will be filled with Eric cleaning the engineering building and me heading to Muskegon to see my grandmother one last time. Then we are meeting his family for dinner and trying to get a good nights sleep.

Friday's the day! Basically I will be finishing up last minute things around the apartment (taking shower curtain, dishes, towels to Goodwill) Eric will be downtown all day doing many multiple things. Then he graduates at 6 and we leave after that.

I'm getting nervous just thinking about it. Two days! AHH. There is so much to do...I'm trying not to think about it all-one thing at a time.

Here are a couple photos for you from the weekend!

I will be absent prob for a while seeing as how we don't have internet at the house anymore.

I'll try to update when I can!