Be Still.

Since November, a lot of changes have happened in my life. I got married to the man of my dreams (it was such a perfect day!) and I somehow managed to be a newlywed, work, take 15 units and GRADUATE from college 4 months later with a B.A. in Liberal Studies.

Back in February, I started skimming the local job boards, applying for jobs here and there and it wasn't until May hit that I started to 'freak out.' In my ideal world I would have loved to start my "career" right out of college (like the next week!) But as God would have it....that hasn't happened. I've been aggressively applying for jobs now, but haven't had any luck. I have a good feeling though. I have so many applications out there, one or two have got to catch a bite.

I have felt a tug on my heart lately to just let go and let God. I've found that often when there is nothing else to do, I just pray. Being patient has NEVER been an easy task for me and whenever I start to feel antsy I am reminded of a couple verses. Romans 8:25 "But if look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently." (NLT) Psalms 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in all the nations. I will be exalted in all the Earth." These are just some verses God uses to bring me peace and understanding that He is STILL in control. 

Through this season of being still, I am being reminded of God's faithfulness in my life. My husband is blessed with a great job that helps pay most if not all of our bills. We may struggle some months but we can always pay our bills on time. We have a happy marriage regardless of the stresses and let downs looking for a job brings. We still laugh (a lot!!) and go on dates. We don't want to let this bump in the road take over, we want to let God stay in control and continue to grow closer to Him and each other through the circumstances we are given.

-Marie

Almost Mrs. Higley!

So here we are 2 weeks, 4 days to go. I'm not feeling overwhelmed about the wedding at all. We actually finished most of the planning that we could back last Spring and over the summer :) I am just trying to stay afloat in my schoolwork. It's so overwhelming to think that I will be done with the semester next week (because I'm crazy and taking my finals early!) I have a ton of busy work to do and presentations to give, but I see the end... come next Thursday I will be home free and can really focus on the wedding and be so much more excited about it!!
I am SO excited though to be Mikey's wife. I think about it daily. I think about our home and the new memories we will make together. I think about our meals together. I think about our chores. I think about our future children. I think about how we will interact on a daily basis. I just cannot believe that we met 7 years ago in 2005, not knowing where it would take us (I thought no where..he didn't like me very much). I was stoked when we started dating in 2007 and engaged in 2010 and now married in 2011. Our lives are an adventure and I just cannot wait to embark!

My 'last' summer...

My summer has been all about work and school so far. I've been with Nugget now for 60 days and thankfully I still love it. I hardly get any time with Mikey anymore and it just makes me think about how this upcoming semester will be even more difficult since I'll be living on campus, working and going to school. I'm sad to think that if I'm lucky I might see him once a week. I'm just so eager for us to get married and spend our forever together. To think that in 147 days we will never have to say 'goodbye' to one another at the end of the night, we can just say goodnight and wake up the next day.... together forever.
This summer is bittersweet for me. It's my last summer living at home. My last summer of summer school. My last summer as a 'Petropoulos'. My life is about to change in a drastic yet exciting way. I'm eager to see how God will use us as a married couple, I know He has great things planned. I'm eager for so many things. In 147 days my life will have new meaning. It might be hard at times, but it'll be totally worth it. I'm so blessed.

I haven't written in a while and honestly it's because I haven't been in school and needed a distraction by writing. I've been blessed this summer so far by my new car, my new job and relaxation.
I got a new job a couple weeks ago and I know I recently updated my blog a few months ago about the job I got at California Sun, and that was fun and all but I needed a change. I need stability and promise. I hunted around casually and found out Nugget markets was hiring.
I've always thought it would be fun to work there, but there were never hiring. So when I saw on there website that the one in Roseville was hiring, I jumped on the opportunity and filled out a resume, prayed and submitted it. This was on Saturday, May 21st. I quickly realized after submitting it that I had put my fall semester availability and totally neglected to tell them my availability for summer. I was frantic, because I for sure thought I lost this opportunity before even given the chance.
I ended up calling the Roseville store the next day (Monday) and asking to speak with a manager...of course there wasn't a manager in that day (always happens to me!) but instead the lady on the phone offered me corporates number and explained that a hiring manager looks over the applications before setting them up with interviews. I took the number and called right away. I probably left the cheesiest message for the hiring manager, which Mikey and I laughed about when I hung up.
Tuesday rolled around and I hadn't heard anything. Wednesday snuck up on me and I was up early because I was watching Eli that morning so I decided to call again and leave another message if I had to. I called right at 8 when they opened. To my surprise she picked up and I spoke with her about the status of my application. I also remembered to mention that the availability I put on there wasn't correct and that I had open availability all summer. She told me that she appreciated my call and would be doing call backs today (wed) and tomorrow (Thursday). I didn't get a call back from her that day. I assumed that she hadn't liked my application and resume when it came time to review.
Thursday rolled around and I happened to be in Roseville bridesmaid dress shopping for my friend Megan whose getting married. We decided to stop first at Starbucks because we had 30 min to kill. I got a phone call and it was a number I didn't recognize. I usually screen my calls but since I had been applying for jobs, I just picked up. It was Nuggets corporate office! I was so excited. We talked on the phone for a good 15 minutes. After my phone interview she offered me an interview tomorrow (Friday) at the Roseville store. She mentioned that the manager I would be meeting with was also doing other interviews that day too.
Well Friday happened and I went to my interview, I felt confident and right on target with the answers to the questions I had been given. I left that interview feeling great and he even told me I was in the running for that position. I wondered when they would call me and if they would still call me if I didn't get the job.
The next day (Saturday) I was hanging out at Mikey's house and I got a phone call from another number I didn't recognize. I picked up and it was the store director at Nugget. Without hesitation he offered me the job!
So all within a week this happened. I owe it all to God. He truly blessed me with an amazing company to work for. There are SO many perks working at Nugget and everyone I work with is wonderful. I'm even getting the hours I need! I'm so blessed by the job and the fun story behind getting this job. God always provides. <3


I also got my new car last weekend and it's beautiful and will be reliable for Mikey and I when we get married. Something my previous car lacked. I had been car hunting for a while but Craigslist wasn't providing and Mikey had heard recently on the radio that no one is wanting to sell their cars anymore because of this economy and if they were selling them they were for much more than their worth. We kind of gave up and were going to look into fixing my old car. My dad offered to help look and even pay for half of it as a birthday, graduation and wedding gift. That being shocking in itself, I agreed and he helped me find this amazing car!! It's a 1999 Honda Accord with only 70,000 miles on it! It seriously looks amazing. We bought it off this older lady whose husband had passed away. It was his car. He had taken such good care of it and everything was new, including the rims! This car is another blessing, and huge relief! Since I will be driving to Roseville just about everyday for work, I was getting worried that my Jetta might break down or the transmission would go out, but now I don't need to worry! I know cliche :)



Life is so good.

I.CAN.DO.THIS.

This year at Jessup has been fulfilling. I've loved my roommates, my classes, and living in the apartments. I'm sad to leave everyone and see some of my friends graduate...but happy to say the semester is OVER! I'm so thankful...this semester totally sucked. So overwhelming and impossible. With plenty of other things on my mind, I managed to take all my finals and still have fun. I'm still awaiting the results of some very important tests that could determine what classes I'm eligible to take next semester. Praying that I'll be able to stay on track. Needless to say, I have 3 semesters left...this is exciting to me. It still seems SO far away, but I know it will fly by.

So many exams, so little time!

So now that I have some exams out of the way I can start focusing on getting the rest done before the end of the semester. My most recent exam being, my work one. I made flash cards for it and everything...looks like it paid off because I passed. :) I am now officially a Sales Associate for the Granite Bay California Sun so if you want to tan come on over!
Although, I am happy about passing...I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel though. I'm in deep with a lot of lesson plans, my TPA, unit plans and my million page exegetical term paper due at the end of the semester. My goal: to finish my TPA by Monday -- it's due date, and get started on my exegetical term paper this week since I have a break.
My current mood : overwhelmed

Almost finished...

It's that time again.....the end of the semester is approaching and I am stressed!! I've been balancing a crazy schedule these past 4 months and I have no idea how I am still running. God has totally been taking care of me and I am so thankful for that. Although I am panicking because EVERYTHING is due in less than 3 weeks, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Spring break is also right around the corner....I've been DYING for this break....it's been taking forever. Come May 12th, I will be done with finals and will be all moved out of Jessup and moved back into my room at home for the whole summer! :-) the countdown is on.....