We Have Arrived
I started this post approximately three months ago. Time flies when you are adjusting, learning, leaning, working, having fun, and acclimating.
Three months ago, we arrived in Florida!
The drive down, 1700 miles, was eventful to say the least!
Following a ginormous Penske truck pulling a car through horrible traffic at dusk without trailer lights is enough to send my heart racing in a speed I did not know existed.
Trying to turn around said truck and trailer is a nightmare!
But, alas, we made it!
The feeling of turning the corner to Gulf to Bay Blvd from Tampa to Clearwater is outstanding! When you are surrounded by water, a previous bridge phobia ridden woman, and you repeat to yourself, "this is my life," there is just nothing like it!
This place is beautiful!
Arriving at the apartment, the kids and Aaron (I had an interview in Tampa) had already started unloading; after they indulged in their first Chick-Fil-A. It was 97 degrees with 97% humidity and just the four of us! We unloaded about a quarter of the truck that afternoon and then my cousin, Lisa, helped unload the next two quarters. We were dripping in sweat, on the verge of heat exhaustion. Our bodies would quickly adjust and with the help of our new neighbor kids, we unloaded the remainder of the truck the next day.
We enjoyed our packers' sense of humor!
We were left with boxes stacked to the ceiling and paths to walk through. It took about a week to unpack. For those who helped pack in Minnesota, you know we rid ourselves of just about everything we owned! We threw an additional 10-15 boxes of stuff away upon unpacking.
That first weekend, we spotted approximately 25 cockroaches per day! I about lost it. Between the roaches, unorganization, new surroundings, and missing friends an family, none of us were in the best of moods. It was Saturday afternoon and Aaron threw up his hands and said, "let's go! Let's see why God sent us here."
We drove all of 10 blocks and there it was...the Gulf of Mexico! The beauty...oh my word. Clear blue skies, gorgeous! Another two miles and we saw Clearwater Aquarium...the home of Winter the dolphin! Another few blocks and there were the beaches. Beautiful white sand beaches.
This is our home!
Two days later, the kids started school and Aaron and I started searching for jobs. We spent hours on end at the library. After a month, I started my new job as a medical receptionist and a month after that, Aaron started his job as an interventionist in the schools. During that time, we found an amazing church too!
The first three months here have brought, joy, peace, anger, heart ache, beauty, pain, suffering, and so much more! Three weeks after we moved here, my grandpa passed away. The weeks to follow; my dad was in the hospital with an infection, my dad had a stent put in his heart, my cousin had a heart attack, my dear friend's husband had another stent put in his heart, and all I could do was pray. There have been times when we had zero dollars and God came through and paid every bill and more. Our daughter has seen the urgent care (possible broken arm) and the ER (four staples after a fight with a metal ceiling fan). We have been on boat rides, to the beach, seen gorgeous sunsets, spent time with family, developed amazing friendships, seen movies on the beach, seen Winter, visited the Science fair, volunteered at the kids' school, volunteered at a Trunk or Treat, drank delicious beer from local breweries, checked out the local mall, ate at Little Italy, enjoyed an art festival for kids, and have had the time of our lives!
We look forward to seeing visitors as MN winter sets in.
We look forward to what God has for us in the church plant.
We look forward as we have arrived.
Following a ginormous Penske truck pulling a car through horrible traffic at dusk without trailer lights is enough to send my heart racing in a speed I did not know existed.
Trying to turn around said truck and trailer is a nightmare!
But, alas, we made it!
The feeling of turning the corner to Gulf to Bay Blvd from Tampa to Clearwater is outstanding! When you are surrounded by water, a previous bridge phobia ridden woman, and you repeat to yourself, "this is my life," there is just nothing like it!
This place is beautiful!
Arriving at the apartment, the kids and Aaron (I had an interview in Tampa) had already started unloading; after they indulged in their first Chick-Fil-A. It was 97 degrees with 97% humidity and just the four of us! We unloaded about a quarter of the truck that afternoon and then my cousin, Lisa, helped unload the next two quarters. We were dripping in sweat, on the verge of heat exhaustion. Our bodies would quickly adjust and with the help of our new neighbor kids, we unloaded the remainder of the truck the next day.
We enjoyed our packers' sense of humor!
We were left with boxes stacked to the ceiling and paths to walk through. It took about a week to unpack. For those who helped pack in Minnesota, you know we rid ourselves of just about everything we owned! We threw an additional 10-15 boxes of stuff away upon unpacking.
That first weekend, we spotted approximately 25 cockroaches per day! I about lost it. Between the roaches, unorganization, new surroundings, and missing friends an family, none of us were in the best of moods. It was Saturday afternoon and Aaron threw up his hands and said, "let's go! Let's see why God sent us here."
This is our home!
Two days later, the kids started school and Aaron and I started searching for jobs. We spent hours on end at the library. After a month, I started my new job as a medical receptionist and a month after that, Aaron started his job as an interventionist in the schools. During that time, we found an amazing church too!
We look forward to seeing visitors as MN winter sets in.
We look forward to what God has for us in the church plant.
We look forward as we have arrived.
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