Packing and Moving

Man, it is exhausting packing up all of your possessions and moving them to another location! Jarrod and I spent 2 and a half days packing our apartment so that we would be all ready to go when our "movers" arrived (aka - Dad Cole, Dad Puff, Jarrod's brother Joe, my friend Mika, and our neighbor). While it was hard work, it was definitely a feeling of accomplishment to get everything packed up well.Then yesterday our family and friends volunteered their time to drive to Charlottesville and help us pack down our Uhaul. The most notable adventure was getting our very large (and comfortable!) couch out of the 2nd story apartment. Because of the design of the building, it was impossible to get this couch out using the stairs, so with a total of 5 guys (2 in our apartment, 2 standing on the truck bed - and Jarrod running between the two as needed) - they lowered the couch over our porch rail and down to the truck bed below. This just about gave me a heart attack - as I had visions of the couch falling and crushing the truck - or a person! - or crashing to the ground. But my little faith was unfounded, and the guys succeeded in transferring the couch out of the apartment and into our u-haul. :) Way to go!
After packing down the u-haul, we caravaned to New Market to unload our possessions into a storage unit while we wait for our townhouse to become available. We were met by two of our good friends, Nathan and Melodie, to help unload the truck - and it was such a blessing to have fresh arms lift all those heavy boxes! We are so grateful for all the help we received while moving! Thanks, guys!
After the big moving day, Jarrod and I returned to Charlottesville to CLEAN like we've never cleaned before - and are so pleased to leave the apartment looking perhaps even better than when we moved in. We were able to get it all done in a day and then locked our door for the last time and drove away, not knowing when we would return again. It has been a good home and a good place to begin our marriage. We have seen the Lord's hand working in our lives in this past month, and are amazed at how smoothly everything has been coming together for this next stage in our lives. Thank-you all for your continued prayers and support. We continue to place our trust in the Lord, knowing that He will supply all our needs according to His riches and glory (Philippians 4:19).

Transitions

Jarrod and I are in a stage of transition right now - packing up our apartment and getting ready to move back to the Shenandoah Valley by this weekend. There have been many changes in our lives recently.

Right after I graduated from nursing school, Jarrod interviewed and accepted a job to work for Community Christian School in Woodstock, VA. He will be teaching 6-8th grade English and 7-8th grade Civics, as well as coaching boys basketball (which he is very excited about!). This set into motion preparations to move by the start of the school year, beginning with Jarrod's last week of work at the post office. He has been working at the USPS as a Rural Carrier Associate for many months now, and really caught on to doing the job well. He will definitely be missed - and has an open invitation to return if he so desires.
Here's a picture of Jarrod coming home after a long day of work. :)After Jarrod accepted the position at CCS, I began seriously looking for a nursing job in the Vally - and had to turn down a position at UVA's hospital. After spending time at Rockingham Memorial Hospital and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital (a critical access hospital in Woodstock), and with much prayer and consideration, I have accepted a job at RMH working on their cardiac floor.
Jarrod and I both begin on September 2nd! We have spent several days "house-hunting" and are continuing to look for a place to rent for this next year that is in-between our job locations. In the meantime will be living at my parent's house in Edinburg so that Jarrod will be close to the school to get his classroom and lesson plans ready for the 2nd.
For some, we are moving closer to you - and we are delighted! But we are also leaving behind sweet friends in Charlottesville, and hope that we will still see each other... we'll just be over the mountain and through the woods? ;) Through it all, we ask for your prayers as you think of us, to pray for this time of transitions, that we would continue to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit and give glory to our Father in Heaven. We are excited about these next steps and trust in the Lord for guidance and provision of all our needs.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Camping at Big Meadows

For 2 nights, Jarrod and I - along with our friends Nathan and Melodie - gave up the comforts of our beds and met up on Skyline Drive to go camping. We had a great time "roughing it" - cooking over the camp fire, playing lots of ladder golf (or blongoball - which ever you call it) and cards, and enjoying good conversations. In the afternoon, we went on a hike to a nearby waterfall and enjoyed more of God's creation. In one day alone, we saw over 50 deer! They would walk right by our campsite, we would spot them as we were going to the bath house, and we walked through the Big Meadows field - and saw at least 35 deer in the span of an hour!As we were leaving, we couldn't help but stop at one of the many overlooks and admire the incredible view."The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

Party time!

On Sunday afternoon, Jarrod and I arrived to my parents house - to find it completely decorated and ready for a party! Jarrod and our family planned a combined graduation and birthday celebration for me. :) Denise made a cake showing off how old I now am :) and I'm ever amazed at her creativity! It was a relaxing afternoon - a good time catching up with family and enjoying the beautiful outside.We played the washer lawn game... until Jarrod finished the game (TWICE!) by scoring a "ringer" - where the washer lands on a small nail on the top of the board. Good job, sweetheart! When you win, I win! ;)We also went down to the river in my parent's backyard and had a good time throwing rocks, exploring and swinging on a rope swing. For my birthday, Jarrod gave me a new camera that has a really fun function: smile. When on this setting, it will automatically detect and capture pictures of smiles :) Here are some samples taken as we were trying out this feature:The night ended with s'mores and sparklers... the perfect ending to a fun day! I feel so blessed by all the love that has been showered on me in this time - not only by this fun day, but by all the congratulations, encouraging notes, and generosity that has been poured out from family and friends. I feel truly rich to have such relationships - and I am thankful for YOU!

Graduation in UVa's Rotunda

The time has finally come... drum roll please......Stephanie is GRADUATING from Nursing School!!! Woo-hoos!My class threw ourselves a graduation ceremony, as - in the Thomas Jefferson tradition - we will wait until May 2009 to "walk the lawn" and go through UVa's formal graduation process. Our ceremony was in the famous Rotunda, marking the culmination of an incredibly intense 2 year program. I was honored to have my husband, my parents, and my in-laws all in attendance, cheering me on. :) They have been some of my biggest supporters these past 2 years, and it was so special to share this day with them. I am grateful to all who have helped me get through this program - with encouraging words, prayers, and even financial assistance... I am so thankful for the blessings you have been in my life to help me achieve this goal! I think back to the decision to start school and seeing how the Lord, in His provision, was opening doors for me to come to UVa. Now, I am able to look back and see His hand at work in my life - through all the ups and downs, trials and joys - and I praise Him for His faithfulness.

I want to say a SPECIAL thank-you to my husband, Jarrod, who has provided unending support in my graduate schooling.... for all those early mornings driving me to the hospital, preparing many evening meals as I wrote papers or came home late, proof-reading my papers, massaging my back, and all the other ways he has loved and cared for me in this time.

I thank my God every time I remember you... and I am confident of this, that He who began a good work will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6