Sometimes I just can’t believe I wake up each morning on the other side of the country. Spending my entire life on the west coast makes living on the east very strange. I keep driving down these little country roads thinking to myself that I am just visiting and will be returning to the west soon. I then remind myself that I am a local now, a resident of Maryland! I even purchased a commuter car the first week of my arrival! I think it will not become reality to me until I start a full time job and move into our new home.

Speaking of our new home, we have not moved in yet! The movers gave me a tentative date of delivery drop off: 9th through 18th! Originally, I thought that was quite the range of dates, so I moved up my  pick up date 3-4 days expecting the drop off to be earlier. It was not! We’ve been camping out at the Howard’s for the past week now with our traveling bags and a week’s worth of summer clothes. The first few days the weather was very hot and sticky leaving behind lots of mosquitoes bites for us foreigners. The last few days have turned into very beautiful and cool days! I just hope I have a long sleeved shirt before Maryland’s fall season hits! Lord willing, we should be moving by Friday the 12th!

Joli and I are in the final stages of negotiating the lease agreement of our new place for the first six months. Everyone says it is a great time to buy a home, but I’m just not ready to buy when my job is still up in the air. I’m a very cautious person so renting seems like the best option until I can get used to the area and have a stable job. I am very pleased with the home we are getting. As a city slicker, it will be a whole new way of life and country living, but I am very excited about the new adventure.  The home boasts about 2700 sq. ft of living space on the main level (excluding the finished basement). It has approximately 3 acres of grass with woods bordering the property. We have a full deck in the back and a white front porch! We were just told that we were responsible for mowing the lawn two days ago, which completely threw me off guard, as it was never mentioned. So we have asked that the landlord maintain the majority of the property and we’ll cover the grass directly around the home. So far, they are agreeable to this arrangement. Now we need it in writing!

Joli is completely excited about our new home. She had a BIG smile on her face the entire time we looked at it together for the first time. That, of course, makes me happy! So, in a few days we should be completely moved in and will be true country folks! I can’t wait.

As for my job, I’m still praying that the Lord would direct me to the right company. I have a job offer for a company in Kensington, MD which is about 50 miles from my place. It seems to be a well established paint company that can offer me a good place to work. For the sales position, it will be 100% commission based, very different than working in my family business. They are very open to me marketing and running another division near where I will be living, but I do not think that is a wise idea for me to start out that way because I do not know the area. I would rather have a more stable income and good results by working in an area that this company is already established and known for the first 6 months or so. To start, I will be able to put some of my business development skills to work but most likely will go back into sales after the first few weeks or month as I can probably earn more money that way. To start, I will help them with their website and create more legible estimates, proposals and possible marketing material. I also have one more interview tomorrow with a painting contractor only about 30 miles away! So, we’ll see how things work out.

Our family is settling into Maryland quite well. The kids have been extra tired, especially Chalice but seem to be doing a lot better this week. I will write another update once we move into our new place and post pictures of our trip, family and our property.

I miss my dear friends and family back in California. It is SO hard to leave my family business but still feel that the Lord has directed me back to Maryland. I wish Dad and I could still work together! Maybe I can convince him to move east someday! I praise God that we were able to work together for over 8 years and get along!!! He was a wonderful boss, and I know I will NOT have it as good working for anyone else. For all my friends, please do keep in touch. Send us emails and notes anytime you think of us.