observations.

today i ventured out of the apartment and on to target. i had been unpacking so much that i didn't have the time to get out... but today was the day. i couldn't go any longer without a broom.. and we were running low on cereal.

durring my trip.. and my now 4th day here..i noticed a few things that were different here in LA compared to san diego.

1) the law outlawing cell phone use while driving must have been for everywhere else but los angeles.

2) the local news is actually diverse.. without having the token african american or latin side kick.. its kinda nice..

3) the people paying for t.v are suckers. with our antenna we get about 40 channels. sure a lot of them are in spanish, korean, chinese, or arabic. but i get all the networks super clear. even a canadian channel.. i thought something was a miss.. and then figured out it was canadian... and then it all made sense.

4) there are about 6 different areas that the local weather reports on. i have yet to figure out which one to listen for.

5) women love to wear work out gear. (i can't tell if its work out gear or pjs.{i wanna be like them})

im sure there will be plenty more... but that should be about it for now. i mean.. i've only been here for 4 days... so give it time. give it time.

ps. naz and i were super bummed about how lame our shower was. the shower head was so low i had to bend so far to try and get my hair wet.. and the pressure was so low it took forever to get the shampoo rinsed... ahhhh but now. thanks to our friend tom (gave us a gift certificate to bed bath and beyond) we got a new shower head that solves all our problems. now... it is the best. thanks tom!

our new life...

well here we are... studio city california.

saturday morning we were moved out of our apartment in about 2 hours. it went by so fast it was incredible. we were at denny's for lunch at 11:30! we took our time at lunch and hit the road at about 1:30-ish.

did i ever mention that my dad came out for a surprise visit to help us?! it was amazing having him here. he drove the truck up to LA and was just amazing. by the time we got here and had some dinner... the boys wanted to unload the truck the same night! we called naz's dad to tell him what we were up to and he was here in about an hour.. so we were all moved in.. and got the fridge from another apartment! i can't even describe how fast we all fell asleep that night.

the next morning dad and rob took the truck back.. did a few things here around the house and then had to leave. it was so sad to say good-bye. especially my dad.. who we won't see till christmas. it was also just the culmination of everything going on. saying good bye to my sister too was rough. i can't wait till thanksgiving! hahaha. its not so much that i won't see them.. cuz i will. we only live 2 hours away.. its just that it changes our daily life.

well the unpacking is underway. most of the stuff is unpacked.. but im having to re-clean everything. it was not up to "joy.joy standards" i spent about 3 hours on sunday cleaning the fridge. nasty! and taking apart the bathroom sink faucets to get all the parts clean. our good friend tom came by to say hi on sunday morning. he used to live in the same complex as us in la mesa and since then moved up here.. about an hour from us. it was nice to have some company.. and he brought us cinnamon raisin bread. delicious.

as soon as i find my camera cord.. i'll get some pictures up.

the day is here... well in a few more hours..

i can't believe that the time has come to actually move! i think it will all hit me when we start the drive up.

packing up the house by myself was a lot harder then i thought it was going to be. i know that the more prepared the easier the move.. so of corse i was putting a lot of pressure on myself to get everything done.

thankfully carly and jamie came over today and helped me out so much. all that is left to do now is load up the truck.. (and do the floors)

because of my "clean freakness" i have found myself in a competition with myself. thinking that our apartment manager will somehow look in every crack and cranny looking for something to deduct off the deposit. (i have self-righteous issues clearly hahaha) so im sure i've made things harder on myself. just like self righteousness... its so much harder to earn salvation on our own because it is impossible.. but we try. instead of just admitting our short comings and allowing Jesus to do it for us. ugh.. and thats what exactly what i've been needing to do with this move. if it is Him who has called us to LA... then He will be the one to take care of all the details. what sweet relief and peace.. when we realize we aren't in control.

on that note.. having the peace of God.. im going to sleep. at 9pm. but there is a big day ahead... a big exciting day.

there goes my man.

well heres some pictures of our new house.. i know they aren't very good.. but i took em kinda fast just so that i could remember the apartment. (we looked at so many) when we get our stuff moved in it will look a lot better im sure.

today was pretty emotional. at church pastor rob brought us up to pray for us. when he said we were moving to LA every one booed. haha then we all went to lunch and naz left straight from there up to our new house. we packed his car full of stuff. his amps and guitars, computer, and everything he is going to need for the week that he will be living there alone. without a fridge too! its going to be like camping. haha.

we are so sad to be leaving our church family. they have really shown us so much love.. and when you feel like your just getting to know people it gets really lame to leave.

well off to more packing for me. theres still so much to do, but i am determined to get it done.

we have a new house!

after hours and hours of driving around... we found a place.

its pretty big which is going to be nice.. and has a really nice kitchen and bathroom.. next to the pool..and did i mention it was big?

i'll have to upload pics of it when we get home. we are staying the night up here.. cuz we are beat!

but the area is the best.. the whole time naz and i were drooling over all the houses in the neighborhood. we look forward to walking the little tree lined streets. naz and i kept saying "Lord.. we will take any of these" ha. we'll see... they are pretty great... but im sure they are crazy expensive.

ugh... i wish someone could move everything for me. i can't wait till new years.. when everything is done. that will be the tops.

tomorrow we search.

after days of looking up apartments on every possible website we are driving up to LA tomorrow to find a place. nazareth is optimistic of corse that we will find the best place early in the day to be able to come home early. my response is... we'll see.

his over optimistic enthusiasm leads him to believe that im always a debbie downer. oh well.. someone has to be one.

naz will start his new job on the 9th! so his first week on the job will be him living up there all alone. how sad! but while he is up there.. i'll be here packing up the house. then on the 14th we pack the truck and drive up. then on the 15th we unpack.

please pray for us... for God to lead us to the best apartment, for safety while driving, and for my health. we have a lot going on right now. its been intense. and its only just begun.