[home]

Going home was the perfect Christmas gift! I had a wonderful, relaxing time with family, went to our home church, laughed with college friends, and witnessed my roommate marry her long-time boyfriend. I love our new life in Florida, but going home is bitter-sweet. I realize all that I am missing out on, and it's so hard to not want to live in both places at once. We really are so blessed to have great friends and family in both places, 

but I'm thankful to have spent Christmas at home.

[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.