Last day at A Bryan Photo

So, today is my last day at my place of employment... the one and only A Bryan Photo. It's definitely bitter sweet to leave this job because it really has been the most incredible job I've ever had. I love the guys I work with and enjoy the position I have (client relations), but I still feel like I need to make the move to LA. Gotta chase the dream! You can preview a bit of the ridiculousness that I contributed to while working here by checking out the videos posted below and those on the ABP Vimeo site:


A Bryan Zombie from A Bryan Photo on Vimeo.


The SW IT LIST Scooter Tricks from A Bryan Photo on Vimeo.


Josh is Engaged!!! from A Bryan Photo on Vimeo.

See what I mean. I promise we got real work done... occasionally.

Hopefully my move to LA will result in an even larger number of videos like this. However, it'll be hard to find a cast quite like the one I had at ABP. Bryan, Josh, Branden, Jeremy, Rob, Caleb, Jeremiah, Chase (and even intern Patrick)... you're all incredible. Come see me out in Cali. I'll miss you all.

Robby

Just One Week

A week. I only have a week left before I move to Los Angeles, CA. I'm not sure I can really process that.

I imagine the reality that I'm moving to California will eventually hit, but right now I'm mostly excited. Not that saying bye to my sisters and mom this morning was easy at all. My sister Rebecca, her son Luke, and my mom drove over from Atlanta, GA last night to see me sing with the praise team at Brook Hills and spend some time with me before I head off. My incredible dad would have come if he could, but I don't think First Baptist Church Jonesboro would have had a very good time of worship at their Sunday night service if their Minister of Music hadn't been there! We all met up this morning with my other sister Rachel and her daughter Faith to eat breakfast before saying our goodbyes.

I hate goodbyes. They always make me wonder why I'm leaving the people I love most and going off somewhere that they won't be. But I have to remember that the Lord takes us to the places that will bring Him the most glory, not the places where we're always most comfortable. How can I be challenged to truly have faith in Christ and rely on Him when I'm constantly surrounded by things that make my life easy and comfortable. This experience has already opened my eyes to the sovereignty of the Lord and His power and desire to take care of us, and I'm sure I'm just seeing the beginning of what He's going to teach me. That's why I'm going. There's so much for Him to show me and so much knowledge to gain that I might never learn from the comfort of where I am right now. Will it be hard? Of course. Will I get lonely? Definitely. But, will Christ become more real to me than He's ever been before? I have no doubt that He will!

I don't know how this move to LA will pan out, but I know that I can make the move in confidence that the Lord is leading the way. His hand is COMPLETELY in this, and I just have to trust His leading. I'm excited about the road ahead. The long, long road. Haha! Keep me in your prayers!

Robby

The Journey Will Be Long

Dwight and I went over the route we're planning to take on our now 4 day drive out to Los Angeles, and we're really excited! We were gonna try and make it to LA in 3 days, but decided that if you're gonna be driving literally right by the Grand Canyon you're pretty much required to go a bit out of the way and see it. The planning has, however, made me realize how expensive traveling can be. The Lord will provide as He always has. Already He's placed an incredible friend (Danielle Greenwade, aka "Danewad") in Dallas for us to stay with, but the two other stops on the way are looking like hotel stays. I'm also praying that gas continues to stay low since we'll be using quite a bit of it.

It looks like our three stops will be Dallas, TX, Albuquerque, NM (home of the East High Wildcats. Yeah... High School Musical. I'm a complete loser), and Grand Canyon Village, AZ. If anyone knows somewhere we could crash for the night in the 2nd two locations, that would be amazing. You can also help to fund my move to the big city by sending any amount of money (nothings too small and nothings too big) to my house here in Birmingham:

Robby Stone
1108 Iredell Circle
Birmingham, AL 35209

Shameless begging. How did that happen?

Seriously, though, the main thing we'll need are your prayers. They're much more valuable to me than money. I can't wait to see what this trip out there has in store! I'll definitely keep you updated with photos and descriptions of everything we come across! I need to settle down. I still have 3 weeks before I leave.

Robby

God is so incredible.

One of my worries with moving to LA is that I don't have anywhere to live. I've been checking Craigslist everyday for various possibilities, and I can't tell you how discouraging that can be (look at "rooms and shares" on Craigslist in LA, and you'll see what I mean). I've also been looking through the listings on a site that Bel Air Presbyterian Church has for people looking for roommates. I had seen a couple potential possibilities that could work, but nothing really seemed right.

I was checking it out today, and a listing popped up for 2 guys who need a roommate in Studio City (the main area I was wanting to live). Rent looked good, location looked great, the place seemed nice. So, I emailed the guy and let him know I was interested right before I checked to see if he was on facebook. Of course, he was on facebook, and I noticed that we had a mutual friend. My friend Ian Smith had lived out in LA for a while and then moved to B'ham and worked with Booster Enterprises with me. He's an awesome guy, and I thought it was incredibly ironic (or just God being amazing) that out of everyone in LA this guy looking for a roommate knew Ian. I called Ian and he told me the guy renting out the room was awesome and he'd let him know we were friends. I then decided that I didn't want to miss this opportunity, so I called the number that was listed on the website, and ended up talking to the guy for about 20 minutes. Ends up he's an incredible Christian from Nashville, TN who's been out in LA for about 5 years. He leads a Bible study every Wednesday night. He's going to be a youth pastor out in LA. And the set up in the apartment he's living in is perfect for me. Unreal. I told him I'd take some time to pray about it and maybe have my friends come look at the place, but I had such a peace about living there that I immediately emailed him to let him know I wanted the spot if his roommate was ok with it. So... I have a place to live! And not just that, but a solid, Christian friend to live with!

I cannot express how unbelievably blessed I feel right now. Not only because God has placed this awesome living situation in my lap, but also because I really feel like He's confirming this decision to move to LA. I've been trying to keep my desire to pursue performance from clouding my views as to whether or not the Lord is leading me to move to LA, and this really has encouraged me that I'm moving in HIS direction. I'm just so humbled by how Christ is working through this situation and so excited about the faith that He's building in me!

God is so good. I don't deserve it, but He's so good.

Keep praying! I know there will be struggles ahead, but I'm confident that Christ is in control.
Robby

Life is funny...

I figured it was time to tell all of our faithful blog readers... yes, all none of you... that I will be moving to Los Angeles, CA in February. This decision has come after a lifelong struggle with my dreams of pursuing a career in the entertainment business. And I'm being serious when I say lifelong struggle. Since I can remember, I've always wanted to do something in performance, so I figured now is as good a time as any.

Though the idea of moving approximately 2,000 miles across the country, far from my incredible family, friends, and familiarity, terrifies me at times, I really do feel like the Lord is leading me to take this leap of faith. I just feel like He has so much to teach me and so many new ways to mold me into His image. I'm sure I can't even imagine how challenging this journey will be for me emotionally, physically (driving to LA will definitely have it's effects), and spiritually, but I trust that Christ will sustain and guide me... even if He guides me right back to B'ham in a few months.

I could definitely go into my list of fears and concerns, but I'm trying to remind myself of the power and sovereignty of Christ and not dwell on worries. However, I do think it's healthy to have a realistic view of what life will be like for me out there and the kinds of struggles I will face. There are many, but God is good. I just ask that anyone who reads this pray for a few things:

- That, by the grace of the Lord, I would be given strength to withstand the temptations to compromise or be weakened in my faith (Everyone, no matter how strong, is susceptible to sin. I realize that God alone can save me from that).
- That I would truly be a light in the lives of the people I meet in LA, and they would see something different in me.
- That I will find a solid church that will help me to grow in my relationship with Christ and allow me to have uplifting fellowship with other believers.
- That God will reveal His plan for my life and how He wants me to serve Him in order to bring Him glory.
- That I will have so much fun just getting out there and trying something new!
- That if I'm supposed to let go of my "dreams" and come back home, I would do it.

I'm hoping to provide updates on life in LA and the journey out there (Dwight Castle and I will start the drive to LA on Feb. 2, and then he'll take a one-way flight back to B'ham... yeah... it's gonna be hilarious). I'm sure there will be days of ridiculous and hilarious stories and days of loneliness and homesickness. I guess that's all part of life, though. I look forward to the journey ahead and what the Lord has in store. Your prayers and encouragement are sure to be an invaluable source of strength and comfort.

Robby