I came across these verses today and found it very encouraging and a good reminder of past situations I have been in where I did not exercise some of these values. Oh how wonderful the word of God is that offers such great wisdom to us so plainly - the tough part is learning to take His advice. lol Especially when it's something we don't want to hear.
Colossians 3:12-17 ESV
"12Put on then , as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do , in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
I am so not good at keeping this up...
So obviously it has been a while since I posted here. Let's just say it's been a crazy 7 months since I moved to LA. There are so many amazing things about this place - the weather definitely being one of them but even after being here for a while I still have no real idea of what I want to do with my career. You would think I would be headed in the right direction but I still honestly have no idea. I mean okay I think it would be great to be a director or producer but am I really cut out for that? Is that really where my talents lie? If I only go for the other levels of production such as production coordinator or AD, won't that get a little boring? And after all, will all these things really matter in the end? I mean I don't want to be chasing after a career so much that I miss the bigger picture and what's really important in life.
I don't know...I definitely still think that I am out here for a reason. I really DO like it here. It's definitely a good sign that I haven't really considered going home every time something did not work out right. I still really want to be here even with the traffic and the fact that I live in The Valley (which I actually really like so I still don't understand why it gets such a bad wrap - Ohio people you might not get this reference but I can explain it to you sometime.) Anyway, I have had a lot of time to think lately since I have been practically unemployed for about a month and a half. It's sad but I definitely feel like my life has more purpose when I have a job to go to every day. It is definitely nice not having all the distractions of work and having more time to work out and do some things that get pushed to the side but I am definitely getting to the point of frustration. It is so hard to be patient! I know that God has some sort of plan in all this but it's hard not to get a little restless while waiting. Some people I know have gone without work for five months so I am definitely feeling blessed with the few days worth of work I have gotten since my last full time PA job.
On the bright side, there have been more job postings on the Internet the last month that are entry-level so that's good. At least there has been more I can apply for. Most importantly, it has been a good time to refocus and at least try to discern where God might be leading me career-wise. As I said before, I am really no closer to figuring out what that looks like but at least I have the time to think about it and listen to whatever He wants to tell me. I have finally come to accept that even though I am so scared of failing and having to move home for financial reasons - not there yet - I have decided that I don't regret one minute of taking the leap of faith to move here. I have grown so much in my walk with Christ. I have been praying for years that God would help me take our relationship to the next level (not to sound cliche). For so long I have wanted to see how far my faith would go when really put to the test. Granted this test is pretty mild compared to being a martyr but I know that if I would have stayed in Ohio - in my comfort zone - that I would definitely not be as in love with God as I am now. It's hard trusting Him with my finances, my family, and trying to build a new life out here but He has shown himself to be so faithful and I am continually learning what it means to really put my faith in Him every day.
Enough about the job woes though. I have so many things to be thankful for and one of them is the fact that I will be going home soon to see my family for the first time since I left Ohio. I am soo excited to see them! I will be home Thurs, July 30-Thurs, August 6 so if anyone wants to hang out - let me know. I would love to see as many people as I can. I am also very excited to go home since I will be able to celebrate the marriage of my former roommate, Kelly, and see the other 804 girls. I can't wait! As always, I have to put in a good word about my A-mazing roommates here in Cali - without whom I would have gone running back to Ohio a long time ago and the great new friends I have made out here. One of the best things about LA is the fact that so many people here have a similar story to mine. They moved out here to start a new career and don't have family nearby so everyone becomes each others family. Many of us are a bunch of misfits but it's great to feel the love from people you just met and can instantly connect with them because they often truly know how you are feeling about your own transition and vice versa. The church I have finally settled on is great as well and really challenges me to move closer to Christ. It has also provided some great fellowship. Even though I have only been going to the church for about 6 weeks on a regular basis and a small group about the same time, I already feel so close to the people there. My small group has very mature and incredibly loving and unselfish people. I haven't experience such great community with Christians in a very long time and in such a short time too. So praise the Lord for that!
Well that's about it for now. I still have so much to be thankful for and I hope that you are encouraged today knowing that God will truly take care of us when we seek Him with an open heart. A God that has the power to create the earth out of nothing can certainly take care of us especially when he knows what we need even when we don't. I hope He allows me to stay longer and continue this adventure with Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV (one of my top 5 favorite verses)
"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."
Saturday, January 3, 2009
November: The Month of Networking and Waiting
This month was pretty much spent getting adjusted to LA. Since I moved out here with no job I decided that the best way to get work would be to register with some temp agencies and start there. The first week I registered with two agencies, AppleOne and Spherion. My roommate Daphne was so helpful with my whole job search. She started out as a temp and eventually, got here job a Warner Bros. Interactive as an assistant. I was so excited because I ended up getting a one-day assignment right away from Spherion on the Warner Bros. lot. I can't really tell you too mcuh about it but I filled in for the receptionist at Lengendary Pictures (the company who produced movies such as Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, 300, Superman Returns, etc.) so that was cool. I ate lunch at the cafeteria and saw a few people I recognized from TV shows. It was definitely a good first experience. As I sat there during the day, it was weird to realize that I had been in LA less than 3 weeks and already I was sitting on a studio lot. Pretty exciting!
Well, unfortunately, the rest of the month was spent waiting for a job. Neither temp agency seemed to have any work to offer me when I called. I met with a Miami alumni, who works over at Fox Studios and that was a great experience. He directed me to the manager in charge of hiring for productions and they did not have anything to offer me but asked me to check in with them periodically so I was thrilled with the contacts there. I also met with a director I knew from the Oxford International Film Festival last year and he said he would pass my name along to a few people. But since the industry shuts down most production around Thanksgiving and through the first of the year, there was not much to do but wait for the temp agencies. One day, I actually decided to go register with a casting agency so I could possibly get on a set as an extra. It was probably one of the best days I had that month because I was able to finally get out and meet people who had worked in the industry. I got a chance to have some interesting conversations with people while I waited in line to get my paperwork approved and have my picture taken. It was not very expensive to do and I was able to get a little understanding of what it is like for actors trying to make it in the industry. I really give those people credit - it is NOT easy that's for sure!
Overall the month was a good experience because I was continually reminded to have faith that God would provide something and that we often need to wait faithfully on the Lord's timing and not our own. I was able to reflect and realize that God really had provided so much for me already. My roommates and my apartment are one of the most important manifestations of that. I could not have asked for three more wonderful women to live with in such a big city and our apartment is such a nice size for the price we pay. This city can be SO lonely without some good, friendly, trustworthy people to go to when things get tough and it is wonderful to have roommates that are so inclusive and welcoming. The first week I was in LA, I was immediately invited to do so many things with them. I met a bunch of their friends and I even met my roommate, Rosalie's family the second weekend I was here. God provided and continues to provide so faithfully.
Finally, the week of Thanksgiving, I finally decided that I needed to get a steady job of some sort - even if it meant working at Starbucks - which don't get me wrong, I am not dissing that job but that was my go-to last option job and I had desperately hoped not to have to go there. Anyway, I decided to touch base with Spherion one more time before the holidays and see if there were any jobs that would require more work over the holidays since I knew I would not be going back to Ohio and would have more time to dedicate to a position than other people might. Anyway, I emailed back and forth with a lady at the agency and did not get a call until the day before Thanksgiving but it was so worth the wait! She offered me one of their best paying positions as an executive assistant to two producers at Fremantle Media (a reality TV show company). Not only would it pay well, but it would last through the holidays and into February 2009. Of course, I accepted the position and started working there December 1st. I will update you later on work though since this post is pretty long already but the Lord definitely provided at just the right time and it is so fun to look back and see how faithful He was and is. :)
Thanksgiving was a fun experience. Not only, did I now have a job but I was able to spend it with friends and not be alone. My roommates friend, Angela, hosted a Thanksgiving Extravaganza at her apartment and we had a delicious meal with about 15 other "LA orphans" complete with all the usual Thanksgiving trimmings. I got a chance to meet some really great people and discovered that being friends with a bunch of aspiring writers is pretty cool, especially when they are in the Writer's Guild because they get screeners for Academy Award nominated films and we ended up watching one that day. P.S. so glad I did not pay money to see it in the theaters though. haha But fun to see it anyway.
Looking back it is hard to believe all of this stuff happened in one month. It seemed like it lasted FOREVER. I can't say truthfully that I did not get nervous, upset, or have moments of doubt about moving out here but God showed up just when I needed Him and I can't wait to see where He takes me in this New Year!
Well, unfortunately, the rest of the month was spent waiting for a job. Neither temp agency seemed to have any work to offer me when I called. I met with a Miami alumni, who works over at Fox Studios and that was a great experience. He directed me to the manager in charge of hiring for productions and they did not have anything to offer me but asked me to check in with them periodically so I was thrilled with the contacts there. I also met with a director I knew from the Oxford International Film Festival last year and he said he would pass my name along to a few people. But since the industry shuts down most production around Thanksgiving and through the first of the year, there was not much to do but wait for the temp agencies. One day, I actually decided to go register with a casting agency so I could possibly get on a set as an extra. It was probably one of the best days I had that month because I was able to finally get out and meet people who had worked in the industry. I got a chance to have some interesting conversations with people while I waited in line to get my paperwork approved and have my picture taken. It was not very expensive to do and I was able to get a little understanding of what it is like for actors trying to make it in the industry. I really give those people credit - it is NOT easy that's for sure!
Overall the month was a good experience because I was continually reminded to have faith that God would provide something and that we often need to wait faithfully on the Lord's timing and not our own. I was able to reflect and realize that God really had provided so much for me already. My roommates and my apartment are one of the most important manifestations of that. I could not have asked for three more wonderful women to live with in such a big city and our apartment is such a nice size for the price we pay. This city can be SO lonely without some good, friendly, trustworthy people to go to when things get tough and it is wonderful to have roommates that are so inclusive and welcoming. The first week I was in LA, I was immediately invited to do so many things with them. I met a bunch of their friends and I even met my roommate, Rosalie's family the second weekend I was here. God provided and continues to provide so faithfully.
Finally, the week of Thanksgiving, I finally decided that I needed to get a steady job of some sort - even if it meant working at Starbucks - which don't get me wrong, I am not dissing that job but that was my go-to last option job and I had desperately hoped not to have to go there. Anyway, I decided to touch base with Spherion one more time before the holidays and see if there were any jobs that would require more work over the holidays since I knew I would not be going back to Ohio and would have more time to dedicate to a position than other people might. Anyway, I emailed back and forth with a lady at the agency and did not get a call until the day before Thanksgiving but it was so worth the wait! She offered me one of their best paying positions as an executive assistant to two producers at Fremantle Media (a reality TV show company). Not only would it pay well, but it would last through the holidays and into February 2009. Of course, I accepted the position and started working there December 1st. I will update you later on work though since this post is pretty long already but the Lord definitely provided at just the right time and it is so fun to look back and see how faithful He was and is. :)
Thanksgiving was a fun experience. Not only, did I now have a job but I was able to spend it with friends and not be alone. My roommates friend, Angela, hosted a Thanksgiving Extravaganza at her apartment and we had a delicious meal with about 15 other "LA orphans" complete with all the usual Thanksgiving trimmings. I got a chance to meet some really great people and discovered that being friends with a bunch of aspiring writers is pretty cool, especially when they are in the Writer's Guild because they get screeners for Academy Award nominated films and we ended up watching one that day. P.S. so glad I did not pay money to see it in the theaters though. haha But fun to see it anyway.
Looking back it is hard to believe all of this stuff happened in one month. It seemed like it lasted FOREVER. I can't say truthfully that I did not get nervous, upset, or have moments of doubt about moving out here but God showed up just when I needed Him and I can't wait to see where He takes me in this New Year!
An update - FINALLY
I am so sorry to all of you who have been waiting to hear from me. As I mentioned in my first post, I cannot promise to keep up with this but I will try. At least you can get some more info now that I am motivated to write but don't forget to let me know what is going on in YOUR life, I would love to hear about anything you want to share, even if it is sad. Don't be strangers!
My First Week Continued:
My dad and I spent the second day in LA trying to decide whether or not we were going to go to the beach or downtown LA and do all the touristy things. Since I did not know which beach we should go to or the best way to get there, we settled for the touristy stuff. It only takes about 30 minutes to get to downtown LA from my place - with traffic so that's nice. We stood outside Grauman's Chinese Theater - which is really small compared to most pictures and we also went to the Kodak Theater complex which sits right next to Grauman's. The Kodak Theater is actually surrounded by a big outdoor mall so you still have to get tickets to see inside of the actual theater, which we did not do. But you can see the big Hollywood sign from the north end of the complex. My dad and I ate at a California Pizza Kitchen and I am pretty sure I had my second celebrity sighting that day though I couldn't get a good look at her face. But I think I saw Busy Philipps from "Freaks and Geeks", "Dawson's Creek", and "ER". Anyway, after lunch my dad and I walked around downtown a little more then drove into Griffith Park and up to Griffith Observatory. It was such a neat place to go. From the mountain you can see the entire city spread out below and there is a great view of the Hollywood sign not far from the Observatory. That's pretty much it for the rest of the week. My dad and I spent the rest of it shopping and getting things set up in my apartment. (You can view photos on Facebook.)
Oh! But I did get a chance to go to the beach on my first Sunday in LA. My roommate, Rosalie, invited me to go to church with her. We went over to the Kodak Theater complex and had Red Robin, which was an interesting experience since we were mobbed by little girls in their moms because it was opening weekend for High School Musical 3 and Disney's El Capitan theater is across the street. But we finally escaped and ended up at the beach. It was so much fun! We stuck our feet in the water and ended up getting really wet since the tide was coming in. It was a great way to cap off the week of new experiences in a new town.
My First Week Continued:
My dad and I spent the second day in LA trying to decide whether or not we were going to go to the beach or downtown LA and do all the touristy things. Since I did not know which beach we should go to or the best way to get there, we settled for the touristy stuff. It only takes about 30 minutes to get to downtown LA from my place - with traffic so that's nice. We stood outside Grauman's Chinese Theater - which is really small compared to most pictures and we also went to the Kodak Theater complex which sits right next to Grauman's. The Kodak Theater is actually surrounded by a big outdoor mall so you still have to get tickets to see inside of the actual theater, which we did not do. But you can see the big Hollywood sign from the north end of the complex. My dad and I ate at a California Pizza Kitchen and I am pretty sure I had my second celebrity sighting that day though I couldn't get a good look at her face. But I think I saw Busy Philipps from "Freaks and Geeks", "Dawson's Creek", and "ER". Anyway, after lunch my dad and I walked around downtown a little more then drove into Griffith Park and up to Griffith Observatory. It was such a neat place to go. From the mountain you can see the entire city spread out below and there is a great view of the Hollywood sign not far from the Observatory. That's pretty much it for the rest of the week. My dad and I spent the rest of it shopping and getting things set up in my apartment. (You can view photos on Facebook.)
Oh! But I did get a chance to go to the beach on my first Sunday in LA. My roommate, Rosalie, invited me to go to church with her. We went over to the Kodak Theater complex and had Red Robin, which was an interesting experience since we were mobbed by little girls in their moms because it was opening weekend for High School Musical 3 and Disney's El Capitan theater is across the street. But we finally escaped and ended up at the beach. It was so much fun! We stuck our feet in the water and ended up getting really wet since the tide was coming in. It was a great way to cap off the week of new experiences in a new town.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
My First Week in Cali (Part 1)
The day after I arrived in California, my dad came over and we went shopping. The first thing we did though was eat at a little cafe near one of the many shopping centers. We sat outside in the 70 degree weather and I enjoyed looking around at the palm tree-lined road and the general hustle and bustle of my new home. After breakfast, we headed over to the AT & T store. Before I moved I was still on my parent's family plan so I had to get my own account and I decided to change my phone number while I was at it. The girl who helped us was named Whitney and when I gave her my new address she got really excited because she used to live in a house right across the street from my townhouse. How cool and random is that?! Anyway, she assured me that it was a quiet, safe neighborhood, that had a great landlord (he own the house she rented across from my townhouse), and I was getting an awesome deal on rent for living in one of the best places in the LA area. I told her I had just moved to LA the day before so she even gave me some great restaurant recommendations. It was so amazing to meet her because it just showed my dad and I that God really seems to be blessing this move and making sure I am taken care of.
I don't want to make this post too much longer and bore everyone with details so I will just finish it up with one last story.
Anyway, after the AT & T store, I needed to get a desk for my computer and a mattress since I had nothing to sleep on except an air mattress which led to my first Ikea experience. I had never been to an Ikea before but there is one a few blocks from my house. So my dad and I took a look around picked out a few things in the showroom area and then headed downstairs to pick it up. As I was walking through the accessories area I had my first celebrity sighting. I looked over to my right and saw Andy Dick pulling two carts full of stuff, he smiled at me but I quickly looked away since I was totally not prepared to be so caught off guard. LOL Not an amazing first encounter with a celebrity but a funny situation none the less since I had not expected to see anyone there much less someone so blatantly recognizable. No mistaking that it was him. So anyway it was a great first day in LA.
I don't want to make this post too much longer and bore everyone with details so I will just finish it up with one last story.
Anyway, after the AT & T store, I needed to get a desk for my computer and a mattress since I had nothing to sleep on except an air mattress which led to my first Ikea experience. I had never been to an Ikea before but there is one a few blocks from my house. So my dad and I took a look around picked out a few things in the showroom area and then headed downstairs to pick it up. As I was walking through the accessories area I had my first celebrity sighting. I looked over to my right and saw Andy Dick pulling two carts full of stuff, he smiled at me but I quickly looked away since I was totally not prepared to be so caught off guard. LOL Not an amazing first encounter with a celebrity but a funny situation none the less since I had not expected to see anyone there much less someone so blatantly recognizable. No mistaking that it was him. So anyway it was a great first day in LA.
California, Here I Come!
On Saturday, October 25th, 2008 my Dad and I left to drive out to California. Unfortunately, we did not leave as early that day as we expected since my car was in the shop getting fixed so we did not get a chance to do a "practice pack". Oh well! We finally left at 3:30 or so.
We drove all the way past St. Louis to a place called Eureka, Missouri and stayed at a Days Inn. The next morning we woke up and checked out the breakfast situation but since it was not looking too good, we just decided to head over to MacDonald's. We drove through the rest of Missouri, through Oklahoma and Texas that day and finally, reached Santa Rosa, New Mexico. As we were heading to Phoenix the next day we had to drive across the desert but there were mountains and hills to climb so my car was having temperature issues. Thankfully, we made it to Phoenix that night safely without major issues. I got to see my Aunt Lisa and her family and my grandparents (which was great since I had not seen my grandma or my aunt's family in about 8 years or so) but our family picked up right where we left off as usual. I got to meet my grandparents Westie, named Teddy, who I had heard so much about - he is sooo cute! Anyway, the next day my dad ended up renting a car in Phoenix and put half my stuff in his car so that my car would not overheat on the way to LA since we had more desert to go through.
We pretty much drove through straight desert until we reached Palm Springs, CA. It was cool because there were a couple hundred windmills scattered all over the mountains there. (Those things are HUGE by the way!) Anyway, after that it was pretty much straight traffic all the way to LA. Driving into LA was definitely an experience but gave me a great adrenaline rush of excitement and anticipation. I was nervous and kind of amazed when we finally arrived at my apartment mostly because I could not believe we had finally made it and all the plans from the last year had finally reached reality. Anyway, one of my new roommates, Sarah was taking a nap when I arrived and Rosalie and Daphne were still at work when I reached the apartment so Rosalie's mom was visiting so she let me in and gave me my keys to the front gate and the door. My dad, Rosalie's mom, and I moved all of my stuff into the apartment. My dad soon left to find a hotel to stay in and I was left to get to know my new roommates Daphne and Sarah and their friend, Angela. (Rosalie and her mom went to dinner when she got home so I really only got a chance to say hello.) But the rest of us ordered a family sized Italian dinner from a local restaurant and watched 30Rock. It was definitely a great way to end the day since I was so tired from traveling and anticipation.
We drove all the way past St. Louis to a place called Eureka, Missouri and stayed at a Days Inn. The next morning we woke up and checked out the breakfast situation but since it was not looking too good, we just decided to head over to MacDonald's. We drove through the rest of Missouri, through Oklahoma and Texas that day and finally, reached Santa Rosa, New Mexico. As we were heading to Phoenix the next day we had to drive across the desert but there were mountains and hills to climb so my car was having temperature issues. Thankfully, we made it to Phoenix that night safely without major issues. I got to see my Aunt Lisa and her family and my grandparents (which was great since I had not seen my grandma or my aunt's family in about 8 years or so) but our family picked up right where we left off as usual. I got to meet my grandparents Westie, named Teddy, who I had heard so much about - he is sooo cute! Anyway, the next day my dad ended up renting a car in Phoenix and put half my stuff in his car so that my car would not overheat on the way to LA since we had more desert to go through.
We pretty much drove through straight desert until we reached Palm Springs, CA. It was cool because there were a couple hundred windmills scattered all over the mountains there. (Those things are HUGE by the way!) Anyway, after that it was pretty much straight traffic all the way to LA. Driving into LA was definitely an experience but gave me a great adrenaline rush of excitement and anticipation. I was nervous and kind of amazed when we finally arrived at my apartment mostly because I could not believe we had finally made it and all the plans from the last year had finally reached reality. Anyway, one of my new roommates, Sarah was taking a nap when I arrived and Rosalie and Daphne were still at work when I reached the apartment so Rosalie's mom was visiting so she let me in and gave me my keys to the front gate and the door. My dad, Rosalie's mom, and I moved all of my stuff into the apartment. My dad soon left to find a hotel to stay in and I was left to get to know my new roommates Daphne and Sarah and their friend, Angela. (Rosalie and her mom went to dinner when she got home so I really only got a chance to say hello.) But the rest of us ordered a family sized Italian dinner from a local restaurant and watched 30Rock. It was definitely a great way to end the day since I was so tired from traveling and anticipation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)