Doors

We went and spoke with the apartment managers today.

After negotiations, we will only have a $200 increase.

$200.00!!!

Yeah, No... I don't even know what to say. She told us that "it's just the market in Austin right now..." I wanted to turn around and say "No, thats price gouging and it's illegal." Their costs didn't go up. We aren't getting any 'new' services or community features. And just because all the other apartment communities are raising their prices to take advantage of the spike in demand, doesn't mean that you can't choose to be a company who serves people not your bottom line. I don't understand what leads someone to believe that raising someone's rent by $200 is "reasonable." We just can't afford that.

On the flip side, we also can't really afford to move out. That process involves new deposits, application fees, bill deposits, moving expenses, etc.

This is not exactly an ideal situation to be in.

I had my second interview today. I'm not 100% sure but it sounded like perfect job for me. I would be doing event coordinating for middle and high school age students. I would work with a lot of people that I already know. AND be in an environment that has huge spiritual benefits. Best job ever, right?

But, (there's always a but), I would be making a lot less than what I was hoping for. If I took the job there'd be a very tight strain on our finances each month. We'd probably have to sell our car and take a wash on the loss. We might end up having to move, especially with the nonsense our complex is trying to pull.

I feel like this is God opening a fantastic door but asking us to close others. Maybe. We are going to spend the next few days praying over it.

It will be a few days before I blog again. My Mother-In-Law is gettin' hitched this weekend!

Think Myself to Death

Look what my sweet husband brought home for me last night! He said the lady at the checkout asked him what he'd done wrong! Haha! I love it!

I spent most of my day prepping for things later in the week. I had coffee with a sweet friend of mine and had a carmel macchiato for the first time. It tasted like the McCafe Vanilla Iced Coffee from Mickey D's.

Then I snagged some great deals on some Halloween garb at Goodwill followed by Target. I'm excited to see how everything turns out! 

Any guesses on my costume??

{Insert apology for any ranting,  poor grammar, negativity, etc contained below.}

Well after dinner with Aaron, I came home to finally find our apartment renewal notice slipped inside our door. We are required to give 60 days notice if we intend to move out. That is a bogus amount of time in my opinion. Thirty days should be more than sufficient because a lot can change in two months! Because our lease ends the first week in January, we have until the first week in November to let them know if we are staying. Uhmm hello? Thats less than two weeks away!

I called our apartment managers almost a month ago to ask them about our renewal notice and was informed we would receive it around October 16th. Well after hours on October 26th is certainly NOT the 16th or even close! That's ten whole days shorter to decide if we can afford to stay.

And then there's this evil little asterisk next to the rates that reads "The above rates include additional fees for items such as pet rent, garage, carport, and storage rentals, etc." We don't even rent any of these extra luxuries! I have no idea what to make of the.. get this.. $240.00 increase on our rental rate! Even if they, for some odd reason, included all these add-ons within the renewal rate and were only going to charge us what our apartment is going for now, according to their website, we would still have an increase of $170.00! 

With only one shaky source of income and no indication if that income will continue in the future or that it will be supplemented by my employment, I don't know what we are going to do. 

And now we have 7, S-E-V-E-N, days to make a decision! 

I know I'm probably overreacting a little. I know that all of this craziness can be clarified through my bright-and-early phone call to our manager. I know that God is going to provide. I know that the worst that could happen is we have to bunk with family or friends for a couple of months to save up money to move into another apartment. We'd still have Jesus and each other. 

I think myself into problematic situations. I'm a worst-case-scenario kinda gal. My heart is heavy. 

Bitter Grins

I had my first of two interviews scheduled for this week today. I actually quite enjoyed myself. I love it when an interview feels natural and you get to laugh a little with your potential future coworkers. The company that I met with specializes in translation services for corporations who want to become more internationally minded. In that arena I have no experience! :) BUT! The job I applied for involves a lot of project management which would be a nice transition from exclusively event management. I think I could like the job. Plus, again, the people were really nice and clearly enjoyed working there. Always a positive sign...

Then I went for coffee at Scooters with a girlfriend followed closely by frozen yogurt with another girlfriend.

 I'm a.. how do you say.. playa?

 - Cheeky grin -

Then dinner with my hubby at work.
Wow. It sounds like I spent most of my day eating. Hmm I guess I did!

I've written a lot about our situation with Aaron's job and realized that it might be helpful for you to know what exactly he does. While he would explain it in other ways that I continually have to translate, I will speak 'normal' so that you understand.

Aaron is in a leadership program that typically lasts two years, give or take a few months. At the end of the program, he will be qualified to be an Asst. Store Director. He spends four months training in one department and then another four months in a rotation period where he puts what he's learned into effect. 

So, Aaron spent his first training in the Perishables Dept., that is all the things on the exterior of the store (produce, seafood, bakery, meat market, etc.). His first rotation was spent in the Perishables Dept. implementing his training by increasing sales, cutting shrink (waste), and developing relationships with the dept. managers. In a typical situation, Aaron would be evaluated and move on to a new facet of training like Center Store operations (ie. all the aisles of product) and then into another four month rotation.

The problem we are facing with Aaron is he has been in his first rotation for almost six months and his evaluation did not give clear indications to his future progression in the program. 

And almost three weeks after that poor evaluation, we still haven't heard anything. Lame right? Well Aaron told me today that his store director, or UD, asked him to remind me, the wife, about Matthew 6:25-34.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. 

My first thought was 'Well do I have some verses for HIM too!' 

Nevertheless, our Father commands us not to worry. I need to trust His plan more faithfully because worry is sin. Sin is not going to get me where God wants me. But grrrr... does this biblical wisdom have to come from the lips of the man who is blatantly disregarding the weight of his judgment upon my family's future? This is me being bitter but smiling. Praying for God to help me be still and know. 

A Woman of Faith

This weekend I went to the Women of Faith conference. I left my wonderful hubby and headed out Thursday evening for the weekend event.  I have to say that even though there were a ton of speakers at the conference, these two were my favorite:

Andy Andrews was hilarious! With southern charm, Andy comically presents Godly perspectives on life. I only wished Aaron were there because he would have been rolling in his chair with laughter! Here's a tiny clip from a past speaking opportunity:

And then there was this little feisty thing...

[[Video from WOF 2008]]

This little lady, Patsy Clairmont, was fantastic! She's one of those women who you want to be when you grow up.  If you ever have a chance to hear either of these two speakers I highly recommend it!

The other ladies were great too. Speakers Lisa Welchel (aka Blair from Facts of Life), Brenda Werner (aka Kurt Warner's wife), Marilyn Meberg, and Katharine Everett as well as Singers Mandisa, Sandi Patty, and Amy Grant all graced the stage and shared their story.

Plus it was extra special because my aunt was able to come as well. Hopefully I can pic-nap her photos once she uploads them!  All in all, it was a great weekend! My mom sent me home with a ton of stuff that I can use to decorate for our Halloween party. I also got to spend some time with my 11 and 4 year old cousins, which was a treat. Still I was very glad to come home to my husband. 

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It's been a worrisome few days because Aaron is not on his store's work schedule as of this coming Thursday. This is without explanation so we really have no idea if he is moving stores or ...? To make things worse his store director hasn't been at work since the schedule came out. Thus, we are super in the dark on this one. 

Given that we have two weeks to determine if we can renew our lease, I am really praying that we get some direction soon. I have no job. Aaron doesn't know what they're going to do with him. We also have yet to receive our renewal notice letting us know how much our lease is going to increase at our apartment. We are on the verge of potentially being pushed off a cliff by a lot of life altering events occurring at once in our life. Maybe one of the two interviews I have this week will be profitable. Prayers please please please.

If this is God moving us to a new place or making a big change for us, then I truly do welcome it with an open heart. I just have difficulties with being patient and not knowing if that's what is happening. I struggle so much with not understanding the big picture. I know that there is one. I also am aware that I am not designed to understand the picture He has for me. I just don't do well with the actualization of that fact upon my life. I never struggle to believe that God has a plan for me, but wrestle in that I have nothing to do with it. I am a privileged piece in His strategy to reach the world with the life changing reality of Jesus Christ. In that I know there is hope. I don't mind being a pawn, I just don't like not being able to see the hand that moves.. or the rest of the board for that matter.

[Fal-lid-day]

Lot's of photo journaling happening this weekend..

Aaron had four days off in a row. This is only sometimes a good thing. Unfortunately, it means he will work the next ten days straight.  But to take advantage of the mini vacation we decided to visit the in-laws. Sunday we woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed for church. We teach 4 year olds in Pre-Kinder Sunday School. It's a lot of fun!

After church, we headed to meet up with our mothers to do some floral shopping for Aaron's mom's wedding in two weeks. But first, lunch at Freddy's!

After goofing off at Garden Ridge and getting all the needed supplies, we headed to the parents house to assemble the bouquets and boutonnieres! They came out looking great! Although, I think the brides bouquet might be a little big. What do you think?

I also was able to snag a bunch of decorations from my mom for the Fallidays!. I'm super excited with my fall themed decor! Not to mention my house smells of pumpkin and cinnamon! How about this Fall Themed Christmas Tree?

I even did a semi-take on the Pinterest idea I wrote about a few days ago. Aaron was worried that too much weight would be on our curtain rods (which finally got put back up after falling down during our flooding crisis in February).. so I added them to our door instead of the window like I'd originally planned.

The original.

My variation!

I still think it turned out great as an accent decoration instead of being a focal point. Here's what i did with the rest of the apartment..

Also an idea from Pinterest!

All in all it's been a good few days. Aaron has tomorrow off as well. It's been nice having a little reprieve from the job frustrations. I'm so glad I have such a great husband to lean on. We are blessed with great friends and a great church. Our God is faithful and He will carry us through whatever trials we face.

Praying for the right job, opportunities to bless others, and listening for His will.