A new story for a new city

Gabe’s Post: So here I am in Panera, punching in my first entry into the blog and finally realizing we aren’t in Misery…er…Missouri anymore. What touched off this revelation? The fact that when we asked for sweet tea we received blank stares and pointed toward a packet of Sweet’N Low. So on to my first post. While Kalene will post the more emotional and insightful things in our lives, I will post the stories. Anyone who knows me already recognizes my fondness for a good yarn. Also, I seem to attract the most unique situations. Needless to say we have many stories to tell already. One of my favorites will be first.

Apartment hunting was a challenge. We made enough laps around this city that Kalene and I, as directionally challenged as we are, know downtown like the back of our hand. Many landlords were nice, many were not, but only one offered me the secret to eternal life.  After being led into a decrypted apartment with wallpaper that watched the Carter presidency come and go, the landlord turned to us and said, “What do you think?” Trying to be nice, I looked for anything to compliment and made the mistake of opening the fridge. The whole thing was full of non-descript boxes. To my surprise he pulled out four-pound blocks of almond cheese. “I am 88 and this is why,” he said in broken English as he proceeded to show me the amazing properties of almond cheese. The man knew his dairy. We passed on that apartment and spent two more nerve-racking days searching for the perfect place in a city we had never even seen before.

God provided for us, and I am so thankful he did. I feel like maybe God let me have this opportunity in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles to prove that he can do anything, even give a boy from the Midwest the chance to touch lives through film.  Thank you for your support and keep us in your thoughts when you pray, that God will continue to provide for us in this great new place. Stay tuned for many more stories and pictures as we go coast to coast.

P.S. Thanks to Dustin, Levi, Nathan, Sam, and Josh for helping us pack. Also, both Kalene and I would like to thank our parents for being with us for our first week in Pittsburgh. Could not have done it without all of you.