[christmas photo shoot]

Thanks to the wonderfully, talented Courtney Styers, 

we have our first set of family Christmas pictures! So much fun; thanks Court! 

[movember]

 The month of November has been renamed in an effort to help raise money and increase awareness for men's health related illnesses including prostate and testicular cancer. 

As a way to contribute to the cause, DOW Electronics has offered to pay $300 for each male employee that grows a mustache during the month of November. 

The money raised is donated directly to Movember, 

which will be distributed between the Prostate Cancer Foundation 

and the LIVESTRONG organization. 

Todd decided to participate in the fundraiser in honor of Grandpa Sloan. 

These are his before and after shots! 

[thanksgiving away from home]

This year was the first Thanksgiving both Todd and I had to celebrate away from home. 

It kind of throws you off when you don't have the same traditions and way of doing things because then, it doesn't really feel like Thanksgiving at all...that and the warm weather! We missed out on gathering with both of our families, 

Black Friday shopping with Todd's sisters 

and eating our traditional Thanksgiving dishes. 

But, we couldn't be more thankful. 

We were able to Skype with both of our families for a few minutes, 

and when we were finished and would normally have been disappointed to not be there with them, we had Thanksgiving with our new family in Tampa. 

We are so blessed to have support during the hard and lonely times. We honestly could not make it here without them, and for that we will always be thankful! 

Skyping with my family

And I was even able to make a few family specialties

[meet gus]

Since moving to the area, we noticed quickly that we live in a dog friendly community. Our neighbors are seen outside walking their dogs constantly, and the fresh market is full of "doggie strollers" (such a weird concept)! So with some convincing on Todd's part, we decided to be puppy owners! We looked around for the perfect little guy and found Gus! He is the sweetest puppy ever, and we were so happy to make him part of our little family. Between us, the Overflow staff, and our neighbors he is already completely spoiled. 

 We love him!

[fall...florida style]

 

 I for one, am completely unbothered by the fact that Florida does not have a "real" fall as Todd would call it. However, my husband has been feeling a little home sick seeing all the pictures of leaves changing and cooler weather back home, so I wanted to cheer him up. This week's date night theme...FALL IN FLORIDA! Other than the 90 degree weather and palm trees, it surprisingly wasn't that much different than Indiana. I guess I figured there were pumpkins here, but not entire pumpkin patches with corn mazes and everything! Bonus...the place we went to also has u-pick blueberries and strawberries starting in November! We picked and carved pumpkins, baked the seeds, and ate apple pie while watching a scary movie. And in the end, my guy was happy, making the night a success in my book!

[our lives in florida]

 It's been two weeks since we moved into our new apartment in Tampa, FL. Time has flown by as we have decorated, met new people, scouted the area, and applied for jobs. 

Here is my list of top five favorite things about our new lives (in no particular order):

1. We live within walking distance of the Hillsborough County Library! We have our library cards and go there almost every other day.

2. There is a Fresh Market every other Saturday.

3. It is warm and sunny every day!

4. We have so many great friends to share life with!

5. It is easy to learn the area, and hard to get lost.

Here is a list of the top least favorite things about Tampa:

1. We found two cockroaches in our bathroom...yuck!

2. There is construction and traffic everywhere.

3. We miss our families!

4. We have only seen one alligator, and it was in our dumpster, dead. Lame!

5. Our third floor apartment...we sweat every time we walk up those stairs!!

In many ways, time has flown by so fast that it seems surreal like we are still on vacation. On the other hand, we have had a lot of down time too for reality to sink in, like "wow we are really doing this--planting a church and living in Florida." Not only that, but it's given us time to wait and sometimes be discouraged by the slow process of finding jobs. I'm a planner, so the whole unemployment concept has been a struggle. I like routine, I like consistency, I like security. But, I guess that's what stepping out in faith really means...accepting that there are no guarantees of those things. It is much easier to trust God from the comfort of our home in Marion, but here is where the true test lies. I need reminded daily to "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer" Romans 12:12 and to give thanks in all circumstances. So, that's our goal...to be all those things instead of anxious and afraid. Just as I believed in Marion that God would fulfill His purpose for our lives, so too I believe it now. 

[one year]

Everyone said before we got married, that the first year is the hardest.

I guess we were lucky because the first year was a truly wonderful time in my life.

It helps that I married a man with incredible patience, love, and support for me.

Still we learned more about the “ugly” parts of one another and loved each other despite them.

For example: Todd learned I am not a morning person, 

and I learned the boy can’t close the washer door to save his life.

Todd learned that I do not cook everything just like his mom, 

and I learned he punches in his sleep.

Our biggest “disagreements” were about cleaning 

and our aggravations were petty and forgotten quickly.

All in all, I’d say we had a relatively easy transition.

However, I think the harder part was intentionally making every day count in our marriage.

It is easy to get in the routine of waking up, going to work, 

making dinner, and getting ready for the next day.

And it is just as easy to forget to make the other person feel special on an ordinary day.

Therefore, we started a tradition of making each Sunday night a time to focus on just this.

We have a list of questions we ask each other that include “How can I pray for you this week”

 and “What could I do to make you feel loved in the upcoming week” etc.

I believe what made our first year so easy were these questions,

the daily texts just to say “I was thinking about you,”

the dance parties while washing dishes to make the mundane tasks fun,

and the prayers we said together each night.

What made it so easy was reminding ourselves and each other how much we are in love.

[for mother's day]

Being a “Proverbs 31 woman”

has been something I have strived for, and hope to one day become.

This type of woman is rare,

“A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth more than rubies.”

Not only has this chapter given me a standard to follow,

it has shown me that there will be many times in my effort to

achieve this status, where I will need grace.

Despite the great cook and friend that she is, my mother is not perfect.

As a daughter, this was hard to come to grips with when faced with the reality.

Yet, I understand more now that being a Proverbs 31 woman

is hard, or else it wouldn’t be rare.

I am learning what exactly it means to become a noble wife,

and one day mother, and I thank my mother for

all she did to work towards the same goal, sometimes without grace.

So instead, I will forever “honor her for all the great

things she has done.”

Proverbs 31: 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for the household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity;
and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her fall that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. 

[we're moving to florida]

Since my freshman year of college, I knew I would leave Marion someday.

For how long or where to, I didn’t know.

All I did know was I wanted to see and experience more.

To my luck, Todd felt the same!

Since the moment we became engaged, we started looking for what would be after college.

We quickly came to realize that our options were endless,

a freeing yet overwhelming feeling.

We started praying that God would prepare our future ministry, and our future home. 

Since Todd finished classes in December, our search has been full force.

We looked at and interviewed for ministries all over the country.

One night, we made a list of qualities we both wanted and needed

in our first real ministry position.

The list included opportunities to form friendships with people our age,

an older married couple willing to mentor and invest in us,

and among other things warmer weather!

The next day Patrick, the DS of Florida, called.

An answer to prayer.

He wanted us to seriously consider serving somewhere in Florida.

So we met with Gabe about joining his team

to plant a church called Overflow in New Tampa, FL.

This ministry opportunity had everything on our list.

Another answer to prayer.

A month later, we made the decision.

We are going to move to Florida and help start a church in August.

We are overwhelmed with questions like

Where are we going to live?

Are we going to find jobs right away?

How are we going to afford moving there?

What exactly does a church plant entail?

In a lot of ways, this will be the first time Todd and I

will have to truly rely on God.

Our faith is being tested.

But instead of being scared by the “what ifs,”

we will be excited for the new adventures,

appreciative of the new ways to grow together,

and blessed by the new opportunities for God to provide.

[graduation]

Well....HE DID IT! My handsome, intelligent husband graduated

Cum Laude from Indiana Wesleyan University with a

major in Christian Ministries and minor in Business.

 I couldn't be more proud.

He really did make the most of the past four years,

and took every opportunity he could to

gain experience and better himself for the future.

So much has changed since we started college 4-5 years ago, most of all us.

I can't help but smile at how much he has grown and learned.

He has worked so hard for our future, for us, and all I can do is say thanks.

Thanks for walking me back to my dorm on cold, snowy nights.

Thanks for buying me Peach Jet Teas when I had a bad day.

Thanks for spending hours on end in the Game Room during my shift. 

Thanks for sitting next to me every Chapel.

Thanks for putting sweet notes in my mailbox.

Thanks for procrastinating on homework to spend a couple more hours with me.

Thanks for spending time in the prayer chapel seeking

God's will for our marriage and ministry.

 Thanks for working so hard to graduate early so we could get married.

Thanks, most of all, for being a husband I can be proud of.

 



[grandma ailstock]

November 28, 1954- April 19, 2012

My Grandma Ailstock was a wonderful woman of God. 

She loved unconditionally and had a heart of gold; the world truly was a better place because of her. 

Throughout her lifetime, she was a foster parent to 87 children. But her love doesn't end there. God gave her a vision and told her he needed her in Heaven to take care of the babies.

It gives me peace knowing that's what she is doing right now. 

I will miss her laugh, her macaroni and cheese, and sharing our wedding anniversary with her. 

We went to Virginia for the funeral. My grandparents house is on a mountain. No cell phone signal and exactly one radio station.

Simple. 

From our time there, listening to others talk about my grandma's life, 

I was reminded of how simple being a Christian really is. 

Living in the world of a Christian college, we get wrapped up in the theological discussions and debates. We do inductive Bible studies to understand scripture better. We forget how simple it really is. 

My grandma never went to college. 

Yet she understood what I sometimes forget.

 We are called to love God and love others.

It really is that simple. 

So grandma, along with everything else, thanks for teaching me this.

[easter]

This Easter could not have been more perfect...

Breakfast with friends from IU.

Seeing family and meeting the newest additions to the Sloan clan (sooo cute)!

Hiding Easter Eggs for the little kids.

Playing volleyball until my arms bruise.

Planning and practicing a skit with the youth group.

Watching my husband as he leads the Sunrise Service...so proud.

Being forced to sit in the balcony because the church is so packed

full of people coming to celebrate that He is risen!

Being home with the Ailstock family, playing with the new puppy,

and laughing together.

Spending three straight days with Todd

and already missing him on my way to work Monday....

God is indeed good!

Hiding Eggs :)

The Youth Group after their wonderful performance!

[murder mystery dinner]

One of my faviorite things to do as a couple is get dressed up for events!

Todd doesn't like it quite as much as I do, but he is a good sport :)

 Halloween, parties, anything...I go all out!

So when the Luedtkes asked us to join them for a Murder Myster Night,

I was so excited!

I went to work finding the perfect outfits for "Molly and Eddie."

 I a flapper with bootlegging problems and

Todd a wealthy golfer who "likes to make deals".

We weren't sure what to expect exactly,

 but we had a great time acting like criminals with friends and enjoying yummy food!

Oh and Amanda aka Silky was the murder...

[the hunger games]

Todd and I began reading The Hunger Games over Christmas Break....we read the entire first book out loud together! After that, we were hooked! Needless to say, we were really excited for the midnight premier of the movie. Luckily, most of the youth at FUMC were, like us, big fans. So, we made an event out of it. Todd and I started out with a Starbucks run and arrived at the theater around 9:30 p.m. to stand in line outside. By 10:00, we had 25 seats saved for the youth group (many people were annoyed with us about that). Finally at midnight, the show began and we were not disappointed! The costumes were crazy, the characters were just like I imagined them, and the story line of the movie was incredibly close to the book. Well worth staying up till 3:30 am for! Oh yea...Go team Peeta :)

[skiing]

Being part of the Sloan family requires a certain amount of stamina . Over last week, Todd and I (along with 15 other members of his family) made a trip to Colorado for skiing.  Todd and the rest of the Sloans have been skiing pretty much since they could walk, so I attempted to catch up as best I could...in the process crashing multiple times and receiving multiple bruises. Good thing I had such a wonderful coach :) The trip was tiring, but the view was beautiful and the weather was perfect. I am so blessed to be part of two wonderful families and thankful for the memories and experiences that come along with both!