When I was 17, I made a rule for myself: I would not get married before I turned 30. I was fiercely dedicated to the idea that I would move to New York and have a booming acting career, and I wasn't going to let a man get in the way of that.
It's so funny, these plans and rules we make; I'm sure God just sits back, shakes his head and chuckles.
On September 6th, Nathan asked me to marry him at the Heceta Head lighthouse overlooking the Pacific ocean. It was the most perfect moment of my life. And now I'm having tons of fun planning my wedding. We have our venue booked and I'm currently going back and forth between two breathtaking Maggie Sottero dresses. We're getting married on August 8, 2010. We want to honeymoon in either Hawaii or Costa Rica. (Hawaii is winning right now.) I feel so much more complete, like part of me was missing before.
In August, I quit my job at Netflix. I remember writing about how I once promised myself I would never work in a call center. I realize now why that was true. It was so mundane. All those stupid statistics that determined how well I was doing...they had no meaning whatsoever. It was a difficult decision; I'm not a quitter. But I was stifled.
God had other plans. A week before my last day, I filled out an application online (one of many) for a job at a graphic design and print shop in downtown Portland. The same day I filled out the application, I had a phone call from the owner asking for an interview. That was Wednesday. Friday I had my interview, where she offered me the job on the spot. I started a week later.
It's a great job. I'm learning so much. I feel appreciated. We're working on really great projects for prominent businesses in Portland. Last week, I was in charge a marketing booklet that we shipped to the VP of Yahoo. It's awesome. Not to mention, I know where I'm getting my wedding invitations done. :)
I've been taking class with my dad at Tony Starlight's in the Hollywood District. We've been singing and performing together. It's one of the coolest things I've ever done. I love listening to my dad sing, and I love that I'm singing and performing again. If I had moved to New York, I wouldn't be able to do this with my dad. I'm really glad I stayed in Ohio and then moved home.
Nathan started classes last week at Portland State University. He's getting his degree in Mechanical Engineering, something he's wanted to do for a while. He's achieved perfect scores on all of his assignments so far. I'm so proud of him.
The summer was full of tough decisions and challenges; autumn has brought so many new and exciting changes. We couldn't get to autumn without going through summer. I am thankful to God for those trials, because ultimately they reaped so many blessings.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
~ Psalm 46:1-3
