More Than I Ask Or Imagine

I love transitions in life. Though they are not always easy (and I definitely am a worrywart), I like transitions because I feel like it is so easy to see God move and work around me. Perfect example... the last few weeks. **Warning: this will be a LONG post, because God has been GOOD and I haven't posted in forever!**

Here is a little background info: I got engaged in January, I (barely) graduated in May, I am planning a wedding, I have been searching for a place to live in DC with Jonathan, and I was also searching for a full-time job. Needless to say I have been a little busy / slightly stressed, as I admittedly am a bit of a worrier. But the Lord has been blessing Jonathan and me abundantly recently.

A verse that has been on my mind recently is Ephesians 3:20-21: " Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." I feel that God has clearly been ahead of us and leading the way over the past few weeks and has definitely been doing more than either of us could have ever asked or imagined!

Three Sundays ago, Jonathan's mother and her friends threw me a gorgeous bridal shower. A group of amazing women who have been praying over Jonathan since birth and over me and our relationship for the last 5 years all came together to celebrate our upcoming marriage. I left that shower feeling more than blessed. So many people blessed us with gifts to help us get settled in together AND with heart-felt words of encouragement and advice during the entire afternoon. I definitely feel the power of those women's prayers in my life and I don't know that I could ever ask for anything more.

The night after the bridal shower, I received a phone call out of the blue from an administrator with a northern Virginia school system. That Wednesday I was up in NOVA interviewing for a 9th-grade Chemistry teaching position, and it went very well. I did not expect to hear from the school system for at least couple of weeks. The very next Tuesday, I shared how my interview went with my community group and asked for lots of prayers that God would definitively open or close a door. While I was driving home I prayed: "Lord please just let me hear from this school system, good or bad, through letter, phone, or email... haha email, yeah right no one gives offers via email... however they contact me, please let it be soon." I got home and opened my email for the first time that entire day, only to find an offer from the school system in my inbox that had been sent at 8am that morning. Talk about God doing more than we ask or imagine... He had answered my prayer, the part of my prayer that I thought impossible, even before I prayed for it!

This job offer also came right as Jonathan had received information on loans from Georgetown. We had been trying to figure out a potential budget so we knew exactly how much of the loan we would need. Praise God for the timing of this job, because we were able to make a more sound estimate.

Also at this point in time Jonathan and I had played with several options for housing situations for the couple of months before and the months after we get married. At first we were going to rent a place starting in August and Jonathan was going to live there so that he could have an easy commute to classes at Georgetown while I lived with my parents until the wedding. Then, we decided that we wouldn't rent a place until October to save money and we would both live with our parents until the wedding. Once I got the job, we decided, once again, that we would find and rent a place starting in August, but Jonathan insisted that I live there while he lives at home. That way I would have a short commute to school for the first, stressful month of my first year of teaching, which is also the last month before our wedding. Jonathan is now looking at an 1.5hr commute to the first month of classes rather than a 30min commute. I feel so incredibly blessed to have such an amazing, selfless fiance who is putting my commute and stress level before his own. I could not even imagine having a more incredible future husband.

Speaking of apartments.... Jonathan and I visited a few apartments this weekend in southern Arlington / northern Alexandria. After visiting three apartments, with a break to meet up with Magsy and some of her friends in between, we fell in love with Crystal Houses in Crystal City (Arlington). Starting August 4th, we will be renting a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment on the 10th floor of the high rise with lots of closet space, a good-sized balcony, and a great view. We will be within walking distance of a metro stop, shops, and restaurants. Jonathan and I both had dreamed of being in a great neighborhood with easy access to the city, but we weren't sure if we'd be able to have that for a couple of years. We feel so blessed that the door has opened with this apartment and we can't wait to start our married life there!

Summary: God is good. I am just in awe at how quickly everything came together. From the shower, to the job, to the apartment everything has just fallen into place way better than I could have planned it. Praise the Lord!

Ten to the Izz-Oh Eight to the Izz-Three

So... I'm a terrible blogger and I haven't posted in about 3 weeks or so. I thought I would give you all some background info on me. There is a group of us who have been friends since we were in grade school, and a few of us have known each other since preschool. These girls have been so special to me and I'm sure that those of you who I have gotten to know in the past few years have heard mention of them at least once. This is how we came to be (with pics below)...

Caroline, Laura, Jessica, and I along with a few other girls got to know each other through playgroup when we were in preschool. Once a week our moms would take turns hosting all of us preschool girls while the other moms got the afternoon off. During playgroups at Laura's house we also got to know Catherine who lived next door. In elementary school we started a girl scout troop - troop 1083! whoot! whoot! - with a few other girls from school, including Katie and Sam. As troop 1083 we enjoyed camping and trips to Lancaster, PA and Savannah, GA.

We hung out a lot outside of girl scouts and had countless sleepovers over the years. During high school and into college we all pursued our different interests and went our different ways. Our freshman year of high school Catherine moved to Georgia, all of us attended different colleges and universities, and more recently Jessica has moved to Spain, but to this day we have stayed in contact - thanks Facebook! - and meet up when we can. Laura is getting married next month and I this fall and I greatly look forward to celebrating with these wonderful ladies! These women have been such an important part of my life and have greatly influenced who I am today.

Caroline, Catherine, Jessica, Katie, Laura, and Sam - I love you and I don't know what my life we be like had you not been in it! I look forward to staying in touch for a long time to come! Love, Alison.

Laura, Me, Katie, and Catherine - to be honest I don't remember exactly when this picture was taken but I think it was summer before or after first year of college?

Caroline, Me, Jessica, Katie, and Laura celebrating Laura's 19th birthday.

Me, Katie, and Laura on our way to DC during Thanksgiving break 2nd year.

Laura, Sam, Jessica, Me, Caroline, and Katie May/June 2008.