Lately

Things have been going well in our (new) world. Each week I feel we are getting more and more settled. We are really enjoying our new home. I can't drive anywhere without the GPS still and at least once a day my GPS tells me it is re-calculating. I still get lost even with it! Ha! I don't see me driving without the GPS any time soon. :) 

The North is for sure very different than the South. In the South they say there is a church on every corner, here there is either a liquor store or a funeral home on every corner. At first it made me depressed, but now I'm used to it! Ha! 

We are gearing up for Christmas this weekend. I am super sad that we won't be with my family, but also excited to start creating our own family traditions for just us three. I'll be sure to take lots of photos and post them! 

I have to share some pictures with you all that a sweet friend in Charlotte took of James before we moved! Such a little ham! Enjoy!

Yummiest Granola Ever!

I just made the yummiest and easiest granola ever. A friend introduced it to me on a women's retreat and was kind enough to share the recipe. So naturally I felt like it was my duty to pass it on to others as well.

Here it is:

4 cups rolled oats
1.5 cups chopped cashews (I just bought a normal can of cashew halves and kept them that way)
1 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup of honey
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbls. cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together and lay them all on a baking sheet. Bake at 300 for 10 min. Then remove and stir it all up a bit (I just used tossed them on the baking sheet), then put back in the oven and back for 10-12 more min. Pull out and let it sit to dry up a bit.

Makes a good amount and is delicious. SO easy to make. Even thought it would be a cute gift for someone this holiday season. Just pop some in a cute Christmas Tin or a Mason Jar and instant, yummy gift!

Enjoy...I know I am going to!

He met me...

This morning while I was doing my quiet time, the Lord met me right in it. I tend to switch things up with what each quiet times looks like. Sometime it depends on the amount of time I have to do it, or just the way the Lord leads me that morning. But this morning I curled up in a comfy chair and read in my "Jesus Calling" devotional book (which I LOVE and recommend if you don't already have it). I had to share what I read and just how sweet the Lord is to have shown this to me this morning.

      "Come to Me in all your neediness, with defenses down and with desire to be blessed. As you spend
        time in My Presence, your deepest longings are fulfilled. Rejoice in your neediness, which enables
        you to find intimate completion in me."

This time has been hard. It's been hard settling in, hard finding my place, hard being unknown. But God begs me to come to him with it. I love the way they phrased it to "come to Him in all my neediness". That's exactly what it is...neediness. Neediness that only God can fill. Not my husband or any new or old friend. Just Him! He knows RIGHT where I am at and right where I am longing and struggling.

In Philippians 4:19 He says:
       " And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus"

He will meet my needs, but only according to HIS will. I feel so thankful this morning that he is a God filled with grace and love for me. He never leaves and is always there.
That is what gets me through today. I might be longing to be in Charlotte and missing family and friends like crazy, but I KNOW that God will meet me here today and already has!

THANKFUL!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. It was our last holiday to celebrate together while still living in Charlotte. We had already had everything all packed up and moved so we truly were able to just enjoy the day with our family. We spent the whole day at my parents house. It was super laid back, and we were able to just soak it all in. Was so nice! Here are some fun pics from the day! Oh how I love my family. They are a place of comfort, safety, laughter and joy!

We made it!

We finally made it to Boston! Manny arrived the weekend before me and James got there. Tuesday the 29th we flew in with my parents and started this new journey. We got right to work when we got to the condo. Let me just say that my parents are machines! In 3 days we unpacked every box, hung up art on the walls (more than in our old house I might add), Organized and decorated. We now feel extremely settled and are enjoying our cozy new home.
First sad day took place when I had to say goodbye to my Dad on Friday. It has been so good having him here that I just wasn't ready to say goodbye. Then the second wave of sadness came yesterday when I said goodbye to my mom. Talk about heartbreaking. It was the hardest thing I've had to do in quite some time dropping her off at the airport.
On my drive back from the airport (I was by myself) I just kept feeling torn. Knowing that this is my "new home", but longing for my old home. Wanting nothing more than to hop on that plane with my mom and go back to Charlotte. Although my mind is telling me that I where I belong, my heart tells me that we are right where we belong. Right where God wants us. It doesn't make it easy though. This is harder than I ever thought it would be. It's weird to be in a city where you know no one and no one knows you, you don't know what grocery store to go to, where the bank is, good food places, etc. I know you are probably thinking...it hasn't even been a week. But unless you have had to do a move like this then you really don't understand.
My mom did remind me yesterday that through this whole process Manny and I have both continually said that we feel like we are following God's lead and that Boston is where he wants us. She reminded me to keep that faith and to keep trusting in Him. I know if nothing else that my relationship with the Lord with deepen. I didn't realize how little I called on him when we were living in Charlotte. I guess I just didn't think I needed Him all that much. I need Him now though. Like I never have. I'm looking forward to going on this journey with Him. I'm just gonna need a lot of hand holding! :)
We'll be sure to keep you up to date on our adventure. Hopefully future post will consist of fun times as a family and maybe with a new friend or two!

Here's a few pics of the new place!