That's really the only news: that I accepted a job with the Americorps program that tutors middle-schoolers. This will mean bright and early mornings, a long bus ride, and, hopefully, a chance to be a good role model and teacher to some kids who need it. I don't make much money, but it sure beats being home all day!
Kayle and I also decided to become members of Mars Hill. We have friends there, the preaching is challenging and Scriptural, the worship is diverse, and they try really hard to get everyone plugged into community groups and service. We found out that a community group meets right in our neighborhood, but it temporarily meeting one town over. It's for young singles and marrieds, so we hope to visit and fit right in. Angie is also applying to work in the youth ministry (about 6 nights/month) and children's ministry (every other Sunday morning). The membership process is long (13 hour long sermons to listen to!) but I think it will be beneficial. There's hardly been a sermon yet where I didn't learn something new or think about something in a new way. The first sermon was on the Trinity- very good. I recommend listening to the Mars Hill sermons online.
Finally, we have internet at home now, so we'll be able to reply to e-mails much quicker. We're all signed up for our medical, dental, life insurance, and 401 (K) through Microsoft. Now, we just need to find a doctor, dentist, and car insurance. Phew....moving is hard work!
We really miss you all...I was already looking for plane tickets today for Christmas. Can't wait to see you!
Angie and Kayle
Monday, August 25, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Lots of Interviews!
So, Kayle is now finishing up his 3rd week at Microsoft. He's now fully contributing to his group's work of de-bugging a bunch of code. That's about all I understand about his job, so you'll have to ask him if you want more details. So far, he likes his boss, his office mate, and the few other guys that he goes to lunch with. It sounds like he's settling in well there...
Meanwhile, I have been searching hard for a job. I applied but didn't get the positions at the Gates Foundation and have subsequently been looking at Americorps (think: domestic Peace Corps). I have attended 5 interviews this week alone (phew!), 3 of which were broad program interviews while 2 were at the actual site I would be working. The two programs I am most interested in are the Hopelink and Solid Ground. Hopelink is a broad non-profit conveniently located in Bellevue. I would be teaching ESL and GED classes there to mostly adults. Solid Ground has a tutoring program for kids at their respective schools in Seattle during the school day. The school sites are all about 10 miles away with one being an elementary school, one a middle school, and one both. All the Americorps programs offer extensive training during the 10-11 month commitment with "team meeting days" 2-4 times/month (depending on the program). It sounds like I would be challenged and learn a lot! However, I'm still looking at other programs/sites... Pray for the decision I'll have to make in the next few weeks!
Kayle and I have been enjoying the people we've met along the way too. On Tuesday, after my second interview that day, I visited a friend up in Marysville that we met at bible study. It was a nice visit and a long 2 hour chat. This Wednesday, Kayle and I joined Brenda and Joe to go see the new Batman movie on IMAX in Seattle (Microsoft's discount makes IMAX tickets only $3 each...cool!). On Thursdays, we've been going to 20 CF (Christian Fellowship) which is a 20-something bible study through Microsoft. On Sundays, we still enjoy weekly lunches with some friends after chuch. Tomorrow, we hope to meet a new married couple also from Michigan. We're going out for lunch or dinner with them and maybe to a church youth group event. Kayle knows Steve from classes at U of M, and they both now work for Microsoft. Overall, it's been a nice place to meet people. Seattle is such a growing area that it seems most of the people our age have been here for 4 years or less. So, basically, everyone is eager for new friends.
We love hearing from you all! We just got a new cell phone number that we're sharing between the two of us: 425-999-2229 (how easy!). I'm still carrying my old cell too for a while. Feel free to call anytime!
Angie and Kayle
P.S. We MISS you!
Meanwhile, I have been searching hard for a job. I applied but didn't get the positions at the Gates Foundation and have subsequently been looking at Americorps (think: domestic Peace Corps). I have attended 5 interviews this week alone (phew!), 3 of which were broad program interviews while 2 were at the actual site I would be working. The two programs I am most interested in are the Hopelink and Solid Ground. Hopelink is a broad non-profit conveniently located in Bellevue. I would be teaching ESL and GED classes there to mostly adults. Solid Ground has a tutoring program for kids at their respective schools in Seattle during the school day. The school sites are all about 10 miles away with one being an elementary school, one a middle school, and one both. All the Americorps programs offer extensive training during the 10-11 month commitment with "team meeting days" 2-4 times/month (depending on the program). It sounds like I would be challenged and learn a lot! However, I'm still looking at other programs/sites... Pray for the decision I'll have to make in the next few weeks!
Kayle and I have been enjoying the people we've met along the way too. On Tuesday, after my second interview that day, I visited a friend up in Marysville that we met at bible study. It was a nice visit and a long 2 hour chat. This Wednesday, Kayle and I joined Brenda and Joe to go see the new Batman movie on IMAX in Seattle (Microsoft's discount makes IMAX tickets only $3 each...cool!). On Thursdays, we've been going to 20 CF (Christian Fellowship) which is a 20-something bible study through Microsoft. On Sundays, we still enjoy weekly lunches with some friends after chuch. Tomorrow, we hope to meet a new married couple also from Michigan. We're going out for lunch or dinner with them and maybe to a church youth group event. Kayle knows Steve from classes at U of M, and they both now work for Microsoft. Overall, it's been a nice place to meet people. Seattle is such a growing area that it seems most of the people our age have been here for 4 years or less. So, basically, everyone is eager for new friends.
We love hearing from you all! We just got a new cell phone number that we're sharing between the two of us: 425-999-2229 (how easy!). I'm still carrying my old cell too for a while. Feel free to call anytime!
Angie and Kayle
P.S. We MISS you!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
I'm Singing in the Rain!
Wow! It's been a while since my last post. Kayle has now been at Microsoft for 1.5 weeks and seems to be enjoying it immensely. We took a bike ride to Kayle's work on Sunday, and I was surprised to see that they have a pool table (to let off some steam during the work day) and free beverages all day (pretty much anything you could ever want!). Since then, Kayle has been riding his bike to work everyday and I have been able to have the car and run errands. It's only about 3 miles to his building, and there's sidewalks and bike trails the whole way. In fact, I think you can get almost ANYWHERE in Redmond on a bike trail or sidewalk. Apparently they live up to their title: "Bicycle Capital of the World." Kayle really likes his co-workers and now has his work computer all set up. The whole team is de-bugging before an upcoming deadline, and Kayle says he feels like he understands the overall project a lot better now. I can see why Kayle likes work so much: so many perks! Sometimes I wonder how much work he gets done at work. Yesterday, Coldstone came in and gave all the guys free ice cream. Today, half the day is cancelled for a development division BBQ and tomorrow we have an open house (also during work) to sign up for our medical/dental/etc benefits. Hmm...I think this week is unusual, but still!
Meanwhile, Angie has been running all over town. On Tuesday, I went to Kohl's, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Great Clips (got a shoulder-length haircut), the mechanic, Kinko's, the post office, and the grocery store. Yesterday, I spent 2.5 hours at the mechanic. He's so nice, though. Since I had to bring it back for the same problem (the check-engine light came back on), he repaired everything and re-checked it several times without charging me for labor at all. I only had to pay $36 (for the part he special-ordered), and they worked on it for about 2 hours! He was apologetic for my "inconvenience" but I am very grateful to have such an honest mechanic. (And he explains in detail exactly what is wrong with your car every time...drawing pictures and everything!) :)
Yesterday was also fun because Brenda (a new friend) came over in the morning to hang out with me. We grabbed smoothies and headed to Kirkland's beach on Lake Washington. To our surprise, Wednesday is concert day in that park, and they had a singing cowboy (who sort of sounded like Elvis) and tons of moms with their young kids (and their free popsicles). It was a happy crowd, to say the least. Then, we walked around downtown Kirkland, browsing the boutiques and chatting. It was a great morning! Brenda told me they had a movie in the park right near our house at night, so Kayle and I went to an outdoor set-up with our pillows and blankets to see "Singing in the Rain". What a wonderful event! They had the local dance troop tap-dancing while we waited for it to get dark enough and an ice cream truck was there. We had fun and went to bed tired. The parks here are so central to community life and so fun!
Well, I think that's all for this past week. I've been working on a scrapbook of our trip out West and Em J showed me a really easy and cool program to take digital photos and make a book on your computer: http://mypublisher.com/. Check it out! She's going to use it to make my wedding photo album too.
We miss you all!
Angie and Kayle
Meanwhile, Angie has been running all over town. On Tuesday, I went to Kohl's, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Great Clips (got a shoulder-length haircut), the mechanic, Kinko's, the post office, and the grocery store. Yesterday, I spent 2.5 hours at the mechanic. He's so nice, though. Since I had to bring it back for the same problem (the check-engine light came back on), he repaired everything and re-checked it several times without charging me for labor at all. I only had to pay $36 (for the part he special-ordered), and they worked on it for about 2 hours! He was apologetic for my "inconvenience" but I am very grateful to have such an honest mechanic. (And he explains in detail exactly what is wrong with your car every time...drawing pictures and everything!) :)
Yesterday was also fun because Brenda (a new friend) came over in the morning to hang out with me. We grabbed smoothies and headed to Kirkland's beach on Lake Washington. To our surprise, Wednesday is concert day in that park, and they had a singing cowboy (who sort of sounded like Elvis) and tons of moms with their young kids (and their free popsicles). It was a happy crowd, to say the least. Then, we walked around downtown Kirkland, browsing the boutiques and chatting. It was a great morning! Brenda told me they had a movie in the park right near our house at night, so Kayle and I went to an outdoor set-up with our pillows and blankets to see "Singing in the Rain". What a wonderful event! They had the local dance troop tap-dancing while we waited for it to get dark enough and an ice cream truck was there. We had fun and went to bed tired. The parks here are so central to community life and so fun!
Well, I think that's all for this past week. I've been working on a scrapbook of our trip out West and Em J showed me a really easy and cool program to take digital photos and make a book on your computer: http://mypublisher.com/. Check it out! She's going to use it to make my wedding photo album too.
We miss you all!
Angie and Kayle
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