M*ch*g@n

So here we are, living in the belly of the beast, blue and maze everywhere we look.  As much as it's weired being in Ann Arbor and feeling that I should loathe everything in sight, I really like the city so far.  It feels good to be back in Michigan, nostalgic in a way...even though I've never actually lived in Ann Arbor, it still feels like coming home.  I've been able to reconnect with my long time friend, Meghan, and it's been great to have someone to call and hang out with.  We've been house hunting and we're pretty confident that we'll find something to call our own.  We're going out again the next two days to check out neighborhoods and some other homes.  We're praying for guidance and patience with the whole process. After our first time out we both felt overwhelmed coming home, neither of us talked for about 30 minutes, we just sat in silence, ha! But, now that we've had a few days to recover we're glad to hit the trail again.  I'll keep you updated on the hunt.
The other part of moving is that you realize that no matter where you go, you'll always miss parts of where you've been. I already miss Market Square and all the food and dessert it had to offer. I'm sure we'll find places here in A2, but I miss all the southern comfort that came from those Knoxville favorites.  In the office, too, you notice changes and wonder what type of person you would rather work with.  For instance, would you rather have a very competent worker who can handle a lot of work and you feel confident in, BUT they can be bossy and do not necessarily listen to what management asks of them -OR- have someone who is good at their position, but only to a certain extent, however, they ALWAYS listen to management, and NEVER question any decisions they make? Clearly you could debate back and forth all day, but it's just one example of changing offices and realizing that no matter where you end up you will have to work with different types of people in different ways.  I do miss Knoxville, but I am more excited about what Ann Arbor has for us.  Hopefully, my time here in A2 will be just as great as our time in Knoxville - maybe even better.  So I will hold my head high, wear scarlet and gray whenever I get the chance, deal with the mocking block M's around the city, and learn to be a Michigander.  Here's to you A2, my new adventure!

Oops...

So we were visiting the family in Cincy this week and my mom says, "You haven't updated your blog lately, I thought for sure you would be updating with the move!" and she was right, I haven't written since November which is quite unacceptable. Therefore, I am going to attempt to write more while in Ann Arbor and keep a better digital record of our lives up north.
Speaking of moving, I can't believe we're all packed up from Knoxville and on our way to our new home in Ann Arbor. It's weird. I feel like we'll be going back to Knoxville to our little apartment on Gallaher and back to the mountains and the southern heat.  But, instead we're driving North to Ann Arbor to look for a new home and I will be starting in a new office. I'm not nervous or scared, I feel like this is exactly what the Lord wants for our lives right now and that we're just following his plan.  I'm not overly excited, either, I think just because it's so much change and I just don't know how it's all going to turn out.
The biggest news is that we're looking to buy our first place in Ann Arbor! THAT I am excited about.  We're looking at condos and some single family homes, but I'm quite sure we'll be able to find something to call our own. I can't wait to find it and get settled, I hate living out of suitcases and not feeling settled. So hopefully there will be more blog posts about the home buying process and home ownership there after.
So in honor of mother's day, here is my post for my mama who always keeps me honest and reminds me to keep doing the things that I love...LOVE YOU MOM!

Reflections On The First Year

Bryan and I have been married for just over one year (one year and three weeks to be exact) and I can't believe it's already been that long.  Bryan and I have been talking about how quickly the year has passed and how much we have done since being married.  Between getting married, me moving to Providence, then the two of us moving to Tennessee, this year has been a whirlwind.  My dad told me once that as you get older time seems to move faster because you have more and more of your life to compare it to.  I think this is definitely the case. Suddenly we're no longer newly weds, we've been living in TN for almost 8 months, and in January I will have been at my job for one year.  Funny how time flies and how your whole life just seems to be on fast forward when you look back on it.  But when I look back on our first year of marriage I don't think about the lessons I've learned or the kinds of advice I could give other people. I really think about the things that surprised me the most, the things I never thought I would learn or grow to understand. I never thought I would love Bryan more than I did on our wedding day; it's amazing how our love has deepened and changed even in the year that we've been together. I never thought I would be able to know what Bryan's reaction to almost any given situation would be.  I never thought we would have to work on having meaningful conversations instead of just telling each other what our day was like.  I never thought that marriage would come as easily as it has, that I would feel completed and know that this was the way my life was supposed to work out.  I never thought we would end up in Knoxville and be exploring the nooks and crannies of the tiny city. All these "nevers" have come together to make a great reality.  Our reality is amazing and I'm so excited to see what else the Lord has planned for us. Who knows what the future holds, but I hope the "nevers" continue to create a new reality that keeps us on our toes. :) God is good and I'm so thankful for my hubby and the many, many blessings in our lives. 

Look Me in the Eye

Recently, I've noticed that no one looks me in the eye anymore. When I am walking, jogging, getting groceries, etc. I look at the people around me. I observe what they are doing, enjoy my surroundings, and I also look at people's faces. Apparently, though, I am one of few who still continue to try and make eye contact with those around me. I've noticed it everywhere, in the park, at the mall, downtown... No one wants to look me in the eye! Well, not "no one", SOME people do, but really very few in comparison with the number of people I encounter everyday. The first time I noticed this was on campus, I noticed that you just kind of stare at the sidewalk or straight ahead when you're walking to class and you NEVER smile or say Hi to someone walking in the opposite direction. At the time I kind of just assumed it was part of college and that as people grew up, moved on, and lived in the real world they would begin to take their eyes off the ground and look at others around them. Sadly, this is not the case. It seems that we are now expected to mind our own business everywhere we go and it is assumed that you will have no interaction with those around you. Well too bad world, I am going to interact with you! So when I'm running at the park and someone is deliberately staring at their shoes instead of giving me a fake smile, I'm still going to say hi to you. And when I'm waiting in line at the grocery store, I WILL make a joke about People magazine to the person standing behind me. I will continue to awkwardly make eye contact with people I am passing on a walk or in the mall and I will smile and say hi even if they want to be left alone. I understand not wanting a stranger to talk to you for 15 minutes while you're trying to get your errands done, but is a little common courtesy too much to ask? In a word of instant communication, I think a smile and a "hello" can go a long way. So if you see me out and about, look me in the eye, say hello, and give a fake smile. It's definitely better than looking at your feet all day.

Why Wheat Free is the Way to Be

It's a rainy day down here in Knoxville, just the way Autumn is supposed to begin. Last night I had to wear a sweatshirt to dinner...and I was still cold! I love the change of seasons and the change from summer to fall is my favorite.
Change is all around in Knoxville, we recently got connected with the Young Life group here and I think it's going to change our lives in major ways. I'm so SO excited to get involved, find a team to support, maybe lead a small group, and just serve the Lord. I think that ministry and service has been a missing piece in my life for some time and I am so thankful that the Lord has lead us to a ministry we believe and trust in. Even better news...UT Young Life has a Capernaum group!! I hope that if nothing else I can support the leaders in their outreach to a forgotten group, the mentally and physically disabled. We went to leadership last night and it was wonderful to see a group of college students dedicated to their high school friends and bringing the word of the Lord into high schools around Knoxville. It was also great to meet parents that support Young Life's mission. I think God wants us here, in Young Life, doing something. We'll see where he takes us from here!
Another major change that has happened in my life is that I was diagnosed w/a wheat allergy about 3 weeks ago. When I got the call from the doctor, I broke down. I was really pissed at my body. I was like, "Really? ANOTHER thing I have to deal with?? Not only can I not have dairy but now I can't have wheat?? No more cookies, cakes, muffins, donuts, and anything else floury and delicious?!" *sigh* I kind of reached a breaking point, between my back issues, food allergies, and every other weird thing my body has gone through, I just wanted to be normal and eat what I wanted and not deal w/aches and pains on a regular basis. But, I soon realized that would not be my hand in life and I should just accept the allergy and learn more about it. Since being diagnosed I've done a pretty good job of not eating any wheat AT ALL, and (lo and behold) I FEEL GREAT!! It's amazing the difference I feel physically. I have so much more energy and awake; before I would be so sleepy after lunch, it would be hard to keep my eyes open! But now I am awake and energetic all day long. It's simply amazing. And that is what makes not eating delicious things like muffins and donuts worth while. If I didn't feel a difference, I probably would keep eating the things that my body rejects, but NOT eating wheat and flour products makes me feel AWESOME! And I don't think I'll ever go back! There are plenty of gluten free products in the Natural foods section of the grocery store (Thank you Kroger!) so I do get gluten free bread so I can have toast with my eggs :) One thing I do have to be aware of is the calorie content in gluten free breads (2 tablespoons of GF flour = 100 calories; 1/4 cup of regular flour = 100 calories), but besides that I think they're great!
Yep, lots of change happening down here in Knoxville, I'm excited to see what the Lord has for us and the adventures we can begin down here!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes...

Well, there have been a few developments here in the Pietch household. No, I am not preggers (thank goodness) but Bryan DID get a job! He is now employed by Aflac as a sales associate. It's straight commission, which could be great...or really frustrating. But he is excited to give it a shot. He's been training for the past few weeks and has just started going to visit businesses. I'm happy for him, I'm glad he has something to put his energy toward, but it does make me anxious. Mostly it's because I'm not trusting God to provide for us and I feel like we should control the financial provision for our lives. But, alas, this is not so. God wants Bryan at Aflac and he wants me at Shmashmica. It's interesting how quickly my thoughts turn away from God and his plans for our lives and instead are focused on what I think SHOULD be happening. I realized this week that I have not been focused on what the Lord wants for my life at all. Instead I have been worrying about what the world will throw my way. I haven't been praying for direction or guidance, I've been trying to get through each day without hope that the Lord will show me the way. I was chatting with Bryan about this on our way to the Outlet Mall (he was kind enough to take me...and then promptly spent much more than me on clothing ha!) and I was just saying how all the changes in our lives have not lead to a closer relationship with the Lord, but instead I have forgotten him all together. Hopefully, now that we have some normalcy in our lives we can get back to focusing on what the Lord wants for our lives and the plans he has for us.
On another note...I still have not posted any pictures of Knoxville, those will be coming soon! Our apartment is in order and we have some great spots around the city where we like to spend our time.
Work is going well. I still like the job, although managing is a difficult position. Dealing with people (both employees and customers) is always a challenge. Thankfully the Lord has blessed me with control and so I haven't exploded at work. I have been able to remain professional even when I wanted to scream bloody murder. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I have only been doing this for about 6 months and I will make mistakes. The perfectionist in me writhes whenever I make a mistake, but usually I can fix it before anyone else finds out. Oh well, things are going to happen and I'm going to do something wrong once and awhile, I guess.
So, a promise goes out...I will post Knoxville pictures! But for now, it's time for more coffee and breakfast! Good Morning blogger nation! It's going to be a beautiful day!

Saturday Morning Coffee can't be beat.

Ahh, my full cup of steaming hot coffee with hazelnut creamer cannot be beat, especially on a Saturday morning. There's something relaxing about waking up when you want (which is still no later than 8:30am for me) making a cup of joe, and sitting down to write my blog. I hope to write more in the coming weeks. Unfortunately all our traveling makes me feel too busy and stressed to keep up with the blog. But, the most encouraging thing is when someone says "I read your blog, I love knowing what's going on in your life!" How great is that?! I always feel like no one reads this thing, but when people tell me that they read it to keep up with my life, I feel so loved and it makes me want to write more. So as I lazily sip my delicious coffee, I will give a short update on life here in Knoxville.
Work is going well, I am settling into office life. It's very different, sometimes it's hard to balance working and being professional with my personality. I can't joke around as much as I am used to and being sarcastic isn't always appropriate, but I'm adjusting. I do like the job, I still think I'm going to be good at it. I'm learning more about managing every day, it's not an easy job that's for sure. The flooding in Nashville made the whole office busy for a few weeks, and then everyone got backed up since we were dealing with flooding situations, so now everyone is trying to catch up. I just try to take it one day at a time, it's hard not to get stressed when everyone around you is tense and stressed. But, I know that some days will be stressful and other days will pass quickly without a hitch, so I still think this will be a good job for me.
Knoxville is a great city, we still haven't met many people or made many connections, but they're coming! We did meet up with an old friend from High school. He and his wife are living in Knoxville for the time being, in September they leave for a mission trip to Rome. Anyway, they know lots of people in Knoxville and were able to suggest a few churches and give us a few connections to the local Young Life group. We're excited to be in Knoxville this weekend so that we can visit the churches and try to find a place where we fit in. I'm still loving the area, the south is great. It's just a slower pace of life and everyone is pretty relaxed all the time. It's wonderful. And it's hot! It's already hitting close to 90 on a regular basis, this summer should be interesting!
Anyway, Bryan is making pancakes and they smell so good! Thank you for keeping up with my life! I'm honored that you love me enough to read this blog!! Happy Saturday!