New blog

Hello all! I just wanted to let you all know that I have created a new blog that will be my primary blog. Since Rob and I are now married and learning the ropes of a new city and a new state.

The new blog is www.wigginsbeginnins.blogspot.com. So mosey on over to the new blog and become a follower! Thanks guys. Love you all!!!

New City, New Adventure

Rob and I have officially moved in to Jackson. Or more technically, Ridgeland. And I technically haven't moved in yet, but I've been here just about as much as he has. So far everything is going very well. However, it will definitely be a new adventure.

While I really like the area we are living and of course I love Rob, being here not knowing much of anyone is going to be a bit of a challenge. It hit me the day we moved in how alone I really felt. Rob was at the apartment unpacking a few boxes so I went down the road (like .4 miles away...AWESOME!) to Newks to get some lunch for us. I was sitting at a table waiting for my to-go order to be ready and I realized, I don't know anyone in this room and I won't know anyone that will walk through the door.

No matter how lonely I may feel at times, I know that I am very blessed to have Rob to walk with through this journey. I have also been blessed that one of the friends I met last summer in Romania has just started Grad school here.

I know there are going to be difficulties and I know there will still be times when I feel very alone. But the truth of the matter is that I don't have to do it alone. Not only will I have Rob and Kaylea to walk through this journey, I will always have my Jesus.

We're going to Jackson!!

Cue the Johnny Cash impersonators because WE'RE GOING TO JACKSON!!

About 3 weeks ago Rob had an interview with Eaton Aerospace in Jackson, MS. He came home thinking that he was not qualified for the job because it is something he has never had to do before. He said that in his interview he was completely honest with the guys and just told them that either he had a little experience with program X but wasn't a pro at it or didn't have a clue what they were talking about.

Well...

Rob got a call from Eaton today offering him a job. He is planning to accept the job on Monday. He starts 2 weeks after graduation and we get married 3 weeks after he starts. He will receive full benefits and 2 weeks vacation time right off the bat (with one of those weeks already spoken for...JAMAICAN ME CRAZY!!)! We are so excited and know 100% that this is from God. We've been praying for a job offer since last fall. God has been so faithful to not only give us a job and a destination to go to after the honeymoon, but He has of course used this time for a great teaching opportunity (as He always does as long as we are willing to learn). The company wants Rob to start 2 weeks after graduation. 3 weeks after he starts we get married and I join him in the apartment for which we will be hunting in the next two weeks.

It is so amazing to me how with just one phone call our lives have changed so much. It also never ceases to amaze me how perfect God's timing is. If it were up to us we would've had a job offer and an apartment all lined up last November. But God knew that if that were the case, Rob would not do well in his classes and I would probably stop hanging out with people and would have already moved to MS in my mind. His timing is ALWAYS better than ours. Why is that so hard for us to remember?

I don't know the answer but I do know one thing: I'm glad He continues to remind us!!

Soon to be Auntie

MY BEST FRIEND/BRIDESMAID IS PREGNANT!!!

CONGRATS TO THE LOVELY ERIN SMITH POOLE!!! I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU AND SCOTT!! You're going to be the best parents ever!!

I love you dearly

Coveted Memories

As you all know, I'm getting married in 8 months. I am so excited and can hardly wait. It's going to be the adventure of a lifetime with all kinds of crazy turns.

The issue with being as excited as I am at times, is that I'm at risk for missing out on little things of my current life that will soon be the comfort of my future life.

A wise friend of mine once told me to focus on living the life I have now, rather than wishing for the life I am soon to have. Because once it's over, it's over. You can't move back everytime you start to miss home.

I have found myself recently wishing away my last two semesters of college, more than ever. Longing to be married, to learn the ropes of a new city, a new state, to feel the crisp wind of another winters breath. And even, at times, to learn the deep secrets of a new friend's soul.

Today, I went to Barnes and Noble with a dear friend of mine. A friend who has been by my side since freshman year. She was the first person I met at UA and my first college neighbor. It was so refreshing to be with a familiar face, sitting in the big chairs and reading without any obligation to entertain one another.

It reminded me that I need to take these precious occasions one by one with an open heart and a mental camera because it won't be long until all these little moments will become coveted memories.

Romania Run Down

It's been quite awhile since I last posted about Romania and I never did give you guys a sum up of my experience there. So here it is. It's pretty impossible to use less words or space or whatever to explain everything so this is going to be a very long post.

We arrived in Romania on the 17th of June. For the first two or three days we did a ton of manual labor. From shoveling graveling to spreading it to putting up tents and cots. I've never seen or washed so many dishes in my life than I saw and washed when we first got in RO.

After those first two or three days we started camp. Our first week were the kids that Livada has taken into their own care. Their ages range from 8-17. There are about 30-40 Livada kids living in Casa Ana-Nadia and Casa Rebecca.

Side Note: Mondays are day camp days. Then from Tuesday-Friday we are at Camp Vetca with the kids.

This week was a very interesting week. These kids are very accustomed to Americans so we were nothing terribly special to them. On the easier side of things, because Americans are nothing unusual to them, the majority of the kids spoke great english. When we first met with the kids and had camp with them, the girls, specifically, did not act as though they wanted us around. Until Thursday nigh when we get in our Achipas (teams) and each leader prays over each child. We cried like little babies.

Of the kids there are three that I became super close with over the month that I was in Romania: Bella (a 14-year-old boy), Ana (14-year-old girl), and Kati (16-year-old girl).

The next three weeks were state care kids. The first week of kids in state care had a lot of special needs kids. This week was a totally different ball game than the first. Their English skills were much less that the Livada kids so our Translators were seriously our mouth pieces. It was a great week though.

The next week was my absolute favorite week. These kids were from ages 18-24 (crazy, I know). We were told during orientation that this would be the hardest but most rewarding week of the summer; and other than getting blatantly pushed down by a random kid for no reason, it wasn't that terribly hard. And don't worry one of the guys on my team Luci (18) went after him and probably cussed him out in Romanian, he then protected me the rest of the night haha!!

I got and have remained close to one of my guys Liviu (20). He is pretty fluent in English and we have gotten many opportunities to chat on facebook. He became a believer just a few weeks after we left RO and has told me all about his feelings about Jesus and what he knows to be true of Salvation. It has been incredible to have so many chances to talk to him even after being back in the States.

We had a wonderful time in RO and the Word of God was preached to every ear that would hear. And of course, whenever the Word of the Lord is preached Satan has to get in there and try to ruin everything. We had so many battles and continue to battle with Child Protective Services in RO. After week 2 we were no longer aloud to take pictures of or with any of the kids. After week 3 we signed a waiver saying we would not post anything about the kids and after week 5 camp was shut down.

Continue to be in prayer for these kids that we met this summer and for Livada to be able to continue to preach of God's Grace. Pray for Sarah Meszaros and Rebecca Rasmussen who are still in Romania. Sarah is there until next September and Rebecca has been there for the past 3 years. They are two wonderful ladies that I had the opportunity to get really close to this summer and I admire their hard work and love for every kid. Pray for Kelly she has been in Romania for the past 5 years and is coming back this year to work for Livada in the States.

While there were plenty of times that I really didn't know what the heck I was doing in Romania, there were plenty other times that I knew exactly what I was there for. And now, more than ever, I know that the Lord has called me to do His work. To Love the Unlovable and to Remember the Forgotten.

Livada is continuing the Intern program next summer, so please let me know if you are even slightly interested and I would love to meet with you and tell you more about it.

Thanks again guys. Also I applaud you for making it to the end. It's hard for me to sum up my experience so easily.

Wedding Info Update

So many new things have happened in the Wedding Planning area since the engagement. For starters, I found the dress of my dreams. I got it from David's Bridal, which was the first store I went into on the first day of wedding dress shopping. It was the first dress I tried on and I love it! We got to David's Bridal at 11:30 am and left at 1:15 pm. Pretty impressive if I do say so myself.

The second/third update is that we have found a place (and put down the deposit) which also means that we have a solid date. The wedding will be at 4 pm and help in the garden at the Cates House is Alabaster, AL.

I am in the process of getting a band nailed down, but I have a photographer (my step mom's sister, Colleen).

Next thing on the list is asking my wedding party and singers/musicians if they can be in the wedding.

Planning is coming right along. We are 302 days away; or 10 months from Wednesday. So weird how quickly time seems to be flying. But I am beyond ecstatic to be the future Mrs. Caitlin Wiggins. It has a nice ring to it doesn't it; kind of like my left hand.