[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.