Hard New York Days...

 

When I moved to New York City someone told me I would have a "Love/Hate" relationship with the city.  This week I really found that out!  As much as I am loving living in this city, I am definitely seeing the hard things about it!  Since living here I have had what I have called "hard New York days"  Well this week I felt like everyday was a "hard New York day".   I went back South last weekend for one of my best friends wedding and when I came back I really saw the differences between living in a big city or "suburia" in a new light.  This week all the things that come with living in a big city really frustrated me.  Things like:  public transportation that is ALWAYS crowded, being pushed by people trying to get somewhere in a hurry, trying to buy household supplies for an apartment and not having a normal store to go to(should it really be such a hard thing to buy all-purpose cleaner?), trying to figure out how to move all my belongings into my new apartment when I have no car, living in a tiny space where personal space seems non-existent, and so on.  Really this week the list could go on and on.  I don't want to complain and I know that all these things and more are part of living in the middle of the city, but I just wanted to be honest about some of the hard aspects.   I am still learning how to make do with all the adjustments that come with moving here.  This week was one of those weeks where I just wanted to scream, "are you serious???" I know I will get more and more use to it, although there will always be things that I will miss about not living in a smaller city.  

I also started my other job this week.  I am continuing to work at Redeemer, but I also started working part-time at Geneva School of Manhattan.   I think I am really going to enjoy both of my jobs, although it is going to take a little while for me to get in the groove of how my schedule will work.  On top of starting a new job, I am moving into my new apartment this weekend.  I know that I have not blogged in awhile, but we did get the apartment!  It was a very long process, but it is ours! I am really excited and ready to get moved in to my own place.  Thank you to all of you who prayed for me in this process!  I am so thankful for God's provision!  I will have to post some pictures sometime.  

God really is taking care of me in this crazy place!  I mean I don't know why I would ever doubt that, but I just see God's hand in my life so much right now.  I have to continually remind myself of how the Lord brought me here and has provided for me every step of the way.  I still have moments where I think, "Am I going to make it here."  God is continuing to provide and I know he will continue to do so.  I am learning more and more about God's love and care for me as his child.  It really is such a beautiful thing as a child of God how He  knows us so deeply and knows exactly what we need and what is best for us.  I know I don't really understand that all the time, but I pray that I will grow in understanding.  

Okay, so I wrote that I went to my friends wedding.  I posted some pictures above from it.  It was so fun to be with my friends from college!  It was a great little reunion!  We laughed a lot and just had a great time celebrating with Colette!  The three girls that are in these pictures (Samm, Colette, and Heather) are three of the most special people in my life!  They have influenced by life tremendously and I am so thankful that God placed them in my life at the time that He did! 

Until Next Time,

Bethany:-)

The Adventure Continues...

well the adventure in New York City continues.  I feel like a lot has happened since I last sat down to blog.  I can actually say that I am starting to really feel like I live in this city.  I think for awhile I just felt like I was here for a little while, but then I would be going home.  I am getting more into a routine and learning my way around.  I have to say that each day I am here I  fall in love with the city a little more.  Today was a day that I just felt so thankful to be here.  It was a beautiful day in  New York City.  The weather was perfect and everyone in the city was outside enjoying it!  I spent the afternoon in the park just walking around and watching all the entertainers!  In every area of the park there are people playing music or doing some kind of (sometimes unusual) act!  As we walked around I just felt so grateful that this city is my home.  This city has so much character and I love that.  Central Park is definitely my favorite place in the city.  I posted some pictures below of the park.  One of them is a picture of what I like to call "my rock".  This is a rock that looks out on the lake in the park.  I found it my 3rd day in the city and since that day I have visited it quite often.  Sometimes I do feel claustrophobic with all the people or just overwhelmed with life here and "the rock" is the place I want to go.  I run down there and  sit and listen to music or pray or just be still.  I know it may sound weird but I really love my rock.  It is a place of peace and quiet and rest in a city of constant movement and noise! I look forward to going there and I always know it will be there waiting for me:-)  

So one big thing that has happened since I last wrote is that I got an apartment!  This is so big!  so when I moved up here I moved in with two girls, one of which is my boss at Redeemer.  The plan has always been for me to just live here for the summer and then move in with a girl I know from South Carolina who is from up here.  She has a job in the city and we wanted to live together!  Well we did the big apartment hunt this past week and boy was it an adventure!  I can't even begin to describe to you what trying to find an apartment in this city is like!  For one thing you have to go into it with very low expectations about SPACE!  Well lets face it, there is no such thing as space in this city!  I mean one apartment we looked at did not even have a living room!  the apartment consisted of 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom.  The funny thing was the realtor acted like this was NORMAL!  Another apartment we looked at was right in Times Square!  I mean I could look out the window at the center of Times Square!  Meggie and I had to talk over the honking horns when we were looking in the apt!  Okay, so that is just two of the many apartments we saw.  We were starting to get really discouraged.  I have been praying for months that God would provide the perfect apartment for us!  I prayed for the perfect location and just the perfect place!  I don't know why I should be surprised:-)  but God provided the perfect apartment in the perfect location!  When we walked inside, we were both like WE LOVE IT!  It went on the market Wed morning and we snatched it up Wed afternoon! Crazy I know, but that is how apartments go here.  Most apartments are rented within days if not hours.  It is a tiny little apartment in the upper west side of Manhattan.  When I say tiny, I mean TINY!! But it is perfect  for us.  It has a cute little kitchen and living room and two small bedrooms (my bedroom will literally be big enough for my bed)  We are on a great street with tons of fun restaurants and stores.  We are only 5 blocks from the church we both attend and close to so many great things in the city!  We are 1 block from Central Park, which is amazing!  I am really excited to get into my own place with my own stuff!  I have a makeshift room right now, which is perfect for now, but it will be so fun for us to get settled in our own apartment in the City!  I think it will make my move here feel even more official!  Anyways, as you can tell I am really excited!  If you read this post in the next few days you can pray that all the paperwork goes through okay.  We are scheduled to sign the lease on Tuesday if everything goes okay!  Please pray that there are no glitches and that we are able to officially get this apartment! We have done most of the paper work, but I will feel better when my name is on that lease:-)

Once again I am so thankful in how the Lord has provided for me.  I just continue to be amazed at God's faithfulness in my life!  

I am actually going back down South on Wednesday.  One of my best friends from college is getting married on Saturday and I am going down to be a part of the wedding!  I am really excited to re-connect with my friends.  I know it has not been too long since I have been gone, but it will still be fun to see everybody.  I have to admit I am also excited about driving a car, getting a fountain drink(I love fountain drinks and everyone just sells bottles here), eating at a normal restaurant( I miss the my favorite chain restaurants), and seeing open land!  It will be nice to be out of the city for a few days, but I also know I will be excited to come back!  Once I get back my life will begin to get a little busier with my jobs, but i am excited about all that is ahead and the adventures that will continue on!  

bethany

MY ROCK

The Jazz musicians that play in the park on the weekends.  They are so good!

it felt like everyone in NYC was in the park this weekend!