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.....

The Sweet Smell of Apple Pie

As I sit here in my apartment smelling my roommates lovely apple pie she is baking I realize how blessed I am! It's the little things that may go unnoticed or forgotten when a bigger thing takes over. I just want to sit back, relax and enjoy the little things.....

I'm blessed by:

• Mikey's unconditional love for me
• my future
  
• my 7 roommates; Katie, Becca, Tiffana, Bethany, Alison, Coco and Jessica
  
• being able to go to college, let alone a private college
• being loved by my family and friends
• my new job and everything I'm learning
• coffee and hot tea
  
• t.v. shows you can get lost in
• my future family
• Eli and Tennley
  
• Jesus dying on the cross for ME!
  
• snow
• children and students
  
• the hearts of others
  
• happiness
  
• being able to put my feet up and rest after a long day
• naps :)
• my roommate, Tiffana, who tutors me in math just because she wants to
  
• going window shopping
• the zoo
• painting my nails
• my bridal party
• Mikey's groomsman
  
• flowers blooming
• cold days
• my car still running
• being able to go home on weekends
• laughter
• coffee dates with friends
• sushi dates with friends
• coffee mugs
  
• the internet
  
• board game nights
• holidays
  
• toe socks
• straightening my hair
• taking long hot showers
• roasting out my apartment mates when I turn on the heater ;)
• sharing
  
• chocolate
  
• eating out
  

These are only a few of the things I am blessed by, but of course I could go on and on and on .... :) I love life.

Wedding Planning Blessings

I just wanted to take a moment and brag about all of the people who are blessing Mikey and I take our new journey together...

• Amber Gillespie is blessing us with an amazing wedding cake for FREE!
• Pastor Marisa is blessing us with purchasing and putting together all our centerpieces.
• Bill Wickham is doing our pre-marital counseling at no cost.
• We're getting a great deal on our DJ, photography and food.
• People have already been offering to help set up/tear down and help with anything.
• Our venue is free, as well as our officiant ;)
• My wonderful aunt paid for my wedding dress, veil and tiara!
• My older brother, Matt, is being our videographer.
• My longtime friend and beautician, Alex Hansen, will be doing my hair and make-up for only $40!
  

I have amazing family (present and future) graciously helping us with anything and everything having to do with planning. They are fantastic! This wedding planning is so fun! I just can't wait to see everything put together...284 days!

Tanning Expert

I will be a tanning expert starting March 15th. I start my NEW job at California Sun Centers! :) So thankful for a job closer to school, better hours, better pay and the ability to transfer when I graduate college. This job is unlike any of the jobs I've had before because it's a sales job and it's not in a restaurant so I'm a little nervous and don't really know what to expect. A little background....Cal Sun has 24 locations in the greater Sacramento Area and Reno. They are very successful and have a ton of room to grow (even in this economy). I have to dress professionally everyday and can't have any piercings or tattoos(not a problem) showing. You always have room to grow in this company too! I know of someone who's worked there 3 years and is already a district manager running the top 2 stores in the area and she's only 20!

I would also like to add how 'wow'ed I am that I even got the job. First off I kinda sent in the application spur of the moment not really expecting to hear anything back but did a week later. I was scheduled for what I thought would be a one on one interview which turned out to be a 20 person group interview! I seriously contemplated leaving I was SO nervous. I decided to tough it out. Half way into the interview they gave us 2 minutes to look over one of their products in front of us and get up in front of EVERYONE and try to sell it. Now of course you didn't have to get up and sell a product but you basically ruined your chances of a second interview if you didn't. So after starring at my bottle, I decided to volunteer. This is HUGE for me, I hate presentations and don't ever volunteer in my classes at school! EVER!

I had a bottle of tanning lotion named Queen. I got up in front of everyone and said something stupid like "Everyone deserves to be a Queen! Blah Blah Blah read some stuff from the bottle, this lovely dark tanning lotion smells so great, see? smell it! (took off the cap and let a few people smell it), said something about tanning being your zen time so why not do it perfect, blah blah blah this lotion is suitable for all skin types so EVERYONE can be a queen!

I seriously felt SO cheesy. I was blushing, shaking and all around a nervous wreck! No one's presentations sounded like mine so I thought I had done it wrong and got the wrong idea of 'selling my product' since I thought it sounded more like a commercial than a sale.

After the 2 hour group interview, I went home and waited. In the mean time I had another interview with Peet's Coffee. The following week, Cal Sun called me back for a 2nd interview...I was shocked! I went in did that and thought it went MUCH better than the group interview. Totally prefer one on ones better! After the interview was over she said she would call my references and let me know by the following week what her decision was.

The next day Peet's Coffee called me back for a 2nd interview. I had mixed feelings because now I liked both jobs and didn't know what to do. This whole time I had been praying that God would only line 1 job up for me so I knew what His will was. In the past I've gotten multiple job offers and didn't know which one to take so this time I prayed for 1 or none. I wanted what God wanted. So the 2nd interview with Peet's threw me off. But I interviewed again with Peet's, just in case, and thought it actually went pretty well. That was on Tuesday and she said I would hear by Friday (today) and I never heard anything. Cal Sun called me today at 2:30pm to offer me the job, I accepted feeling confident, happy and nervous. I'm thankful and know that everything will work out. God's plans are always bigger than mine. I pray I will connect well with my co-workers and will absolutely love my job!!


Thanks for listening<3

Less than 10 months away..

With less than 10 months to go I thought I would update a little on some wedding plans... :)

We have:

• My dress (I absolutely LOVE it!)
• Cake- a wonderful lady, Amber, will be making our cake for FREE! (We still need to pick a flavor/design)
  
• DJ
  
• Reception food-Buca Di Peppo will be catering, super cheap and really good!
• Venue- We will be getting married at our home church
  
• Officiant- Mikey's dad is marrying us :)
• Videographer-my older brother is taking that duty
  
• Colors --black, white, silver and a deep purple
  

Still needed:

• Flowers
• Bridesmaid dresses/Groomsman tuxes
  
• Centerpiece ideas/decorations
• Glassware for food/drinks
• Register
• To ask our wedding party to be our wedding party
  

In Process:

• Photographer
• Engagement photos being taken 2/27 (Oh and this is FREE too! We won it:)
  

Early Morning Talk

It's 2am and I'm tired, but I don't know why I'm not in bed....well anyways here's a quick update on my life.
My semester ended 12/16 and I passed all my classes including math..huge blessing!
Mikey's 23rd birthday was 12/20 and we had a blast like always just being with family.
Christmas is always my fav so of course it was awesome!
On 12/30 Mikey and I flew out to Orlando to meet up with the rest of his family to spend 5 days at DISNEYWORLD! We had a blast....SO fun! On our flight home, we gave up our seats to get $800 in vouchers for next time we fly...pretty awesome.
This Saturday 1/15 I'm going shopping for my wedding dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm super excited for this! and then Tuesday 1/18 I start my 2nd semester at Jessup although I'm not too ready for break to be over yet. Overall, I would say I had a wonderful month long Christmas break! so so so so so so fun!

Just think next Christmas break I'll be MARRIED! Woohooo!!!!!

<3

Is it too early?

I'm already counting down the days until the end of the semester....42 more days.....I'm so much more excited for things to come than school, so let the countdown continue!
Right now, I'm putting off doing homework because writing a blog sounded better..so here I am.
School is going well, I'm doing good in all my class..well struggling a little in math but that was expected.
I'm excited for my first lunch with a prospective student this Friday, it's actually a whole youth group from OR!
I'm also hosting an over-nighter on Thursday, November 18th and then November 19th is preview day! I'm stoked! So that's what's going on in my life right now... :) life is good!
With love from apartment 201<3

Engaged!

In case anyone cares...I got engaged on October 16th, 2010!
I'm going to marry my best friend and it's going to be amazing!
Life is good<3

Loving Jessup

I'm loving school.
Loving my friends.....yes tons of new friends!
Loving my roommate and suite mates!
Loving my classes...
AND
I'm even loving my new side job. I babysit 2-3 days a week for some extra spending cash, it's so nice!
My apartment is even starting to feel a little more familiar to me each day.
I miss my family, friends and Mikey during the week but I get to see them all on the weekends so it's all good. Living on campus is nothing like I expected, I just feel closer to people and I can be apart of more campus activities!

Still need prayer though......MATH! I dread math and I NEED to pass.

That's all for now....with love from apartment 201! <3

A heavy heart.

Today a friend I knew from Capital Christian High School went to be with Jesus today. Although I am saddened for his family, girlfriend and friends who knew him and how wonderful he was I am also relieved that he no longer has to suffer. Mike Virgin was in a diving accident. He dove into the shallowest part of the river (unknowingly) on his 21st birthday, July 27th. He hit his forehead, broke his neck at the C6 vertebra and became paralyzed. Although I do not know all the exact details, I know he has in a drug induced coma and his lungs were not working so he was placed on a breathing tube. He wasn't really making any substantial progress from what I gathered from his parents blogs but he did have a whole lot of people praying for him. I'm heartbroken for his family and his girlfriend. Anyone who knew him knew that he was a wonderful guy. As sad as this whole situation is Mike is with Jesus and there is nothing better than that. We would be selfish to wish him back to this earth. If you would like please keep his family in prayer.

Roommate Pt. 2

So the roommate I mentioned in my previous post is now living off campus with one of her teammates. I have mixed feelings about this because it's 2 weeks before school starts and I don't know who will be living with me. When I talked to student life they had mentioned that they will be on the look out for any last minute students deciding to come to WJU and if any of those girls meet my roommate criteria then they will be placed with me but if not then I will be on my own until Spring semester because they are anticipating more students in the spring. I mean I'm totally fine with being alone in my room...I live that way now, but if I do have a new roommate I just hope she's someone I can live with for the school year : ) Praying for her whoever she is, even if I don't meet her until spring. Excited to meet new people though! Already met 1 girl from my apt today when I moved our FANTASTIC...FREE couch over there! The athletes moved in today so I had the oppurtunity to drive there and meet new faces and learned that just me and *possibly* one other girl in my apartment will be the only newbies to WJU this semester. Fun!
10 more days and I'll be officially moved on campus....loving this!!

LOVE.<3

Roommate

I always pictured a roommate being someone I knew nothing about. A nobody that would turn into a somebody.
Today, I was proven wrong. I did indeed know my roommate, not very well I might add but I still knew her.
When you go to a small christian high school you tend to know everyone and Kaitlin is one of those everyone's.
At first I was nervous and felt uncomfortable. Since she was a grade younger than me in high school I didn't know how I treated her or if I had ever said a rude comment to her. I'm hoping no.....but I'm determined to ask just to make sure.
Already friends on facebook, we chatted about our room and what we were bringing. My nervousness has left me and I am relieved. I'm also excited to have found out that yet another fellow Capital Christian alumni is in my apartment unit this year. Her name is La Wanda, she's so fun! This year will be amazing, no doubt. Excited to see what God has in store and the reasoning for bringing us all back together. :)
I've also changed rooms. I'm now on the 2nd floor. Excited for this.
So excited for life.

LOVE. <3

Falling into Place

I never thought the day would come when I would actually be transferring to a University.
The thought of being stuck at a community college was becomming a reality. I felt I couldn't escape.
I had been at Sacramento Community College since Fall 2007 busting my butt off taking 16-17 units each semester, always enrolled in summer school and working a part time job. I blame my first year on being behind because I hadn't fully been pursuing my major and felt I needed to explore other options before I commited. Needless to say I was 'stuck' when I decided Fall 2008 that I was definitely going to pursue teaching.
I quickly met with school counselors until I found two I adored. They mapped out the next 4 semesters for me and helped me find the quickest route out of there. They gave me the Liberal Studies guideline and told me to take every class listed, as it would be my key to getting into Sac State. I wasn't set on Sac State but it seemed as if that was what I was settling with. There were a lot of schools that I thought about but William Jessup University was always the school I wanted to attend. It had everything I wanted. It was close to home. It had a christian enviroment. I had the option of making friends for life and it had the teacher/student interaction I had been craving since high school when I attended Capital Christian. In a lot of ways these schools were very similar and I wanted that again. There were 2 things stopping me from looking deeper into WJU.......the GPA requirement and money, but I thought I'd fill out an application anyways.
I knew I wanted to complete all my general ed before I made any transfer decisions so I just didn't think about it. Well 4 semester became 6 as I found myself re-taking two classes that needed better grades. I was getting anxious to be done.
Fall 2010 Sac State announced that they weren't going to accept anymore students in the Spring semesters due to economic issues. I was so angry! I was planning on being done with my general ed just in time to transfer into Sac State Spring 2011. This would put me back another semester. How annoying!
By Spring 2010 I was done with all my general ed...except for math.
Math was the reason I couldn't apply for Sac State back in the fall and it would continue to be the reason why I wouldn't ever transfer. I tried just about every math teacher at city and I just couldn't do it. My brain cannot handle math.
I finished out the semester in May and signed up for summer school, again.

I got a random email from 'my' admissions counselor at William Jessup in early May asking for my offical transcripts so that WJU could process my application. I kept putting it off. I assumed that this was not where I was supposed to go.
In middle May I got notice that some of my not-so good grades had been approved to be removed from my transcript raising my GPA high enough to be accepted into WJU. I took this as a sign and had my offical transcripts sent via mail to Jessup. Not even a week later, my admissions counselor called me and sent me an email telling me I had offically been accepted into William Jessup University and that I would be getting my official letter in the mail soon.
I was shocked. I didn't know how to act.
It even took me a few days to post it on my facebook, which is rare. I had so many things to think about. Should I pursue this new dream? What about money?
I decided to talk about this with my mom because I knew that if my mom wasn't okay with it then I wouldn't be going. To my surprise she was all for it and that was where my journey began.
It all happened so fast....

*End of May--Acceptance letter
*Beginning of June--multiple emails being sent back and forth finding out every detail
*" "--set on living at home, going to school twice a week and working the other days.
*Middle of June--meeting with my admissions counselor, realizing living at home wouldn't be that easy
*Middle of June--Found out I only needed 2 more math classes at Jessup vs. 5 at City!! PTL!
*Late June--Decided to live on campus
*6/25--Paid my deposit
*7/5--Got my apt #
*7/9--Registered for classes
*8/1--I find out my roommate
*8/2--$$$ for fall semester due
*8/21--Move in day
*8/21-8/24--New Student Orientation
*8/25--I start school!!!

Less than 6 weeks and I'll be living a new dream.
Closer to graduating.
Closer to my B.A.
According to Jessup I have 5 more semesters left.
I'm praying, hoping and wishing it will be less than that but I'm good with 5 if that's how it plays out.
I never thought this would happen, I'm doing it, I'm really doing it....FINALLY.


LOVE.<3