365 days ago we began a new chapter in our lives. We moved 609 miles away to a place completely unfamiliar. We knew things would change, but we were unsure how. We didn’t have an address to move to, but I was sure God still knew where we were.  It’s been an awesome year.  It’s been the toughest year.  I have had so much fun exploring, meeting new people and sharing about why we are here. But I have also faced feelings of loneliness, doubt, concern, and sadness.  You know I like lists, so here goes. Ignore the superficial parts of this list. I thought about not including them, but decided to keep them all because it’s me.  Positives: When shopping or enrolling online, I no longer have to scroll to the lowest part of the alphabetical states lists to find Virginia....Connecticut is so much closer to the top. I have saved a whopping total of 3 seconds over the course of the year this way.  I live in the brick house I never knew I wanted....

(In no particular order!) My kids get to play in a different nursery/children’s church each week. This is ideal while their toys are in storage.  We get to meet awesome people from all over the area.  I get to wear the same outfit each week, which is awesome since that includes my new brown boots.  I frequently get told I don’t look old enough to be married, have kids and have spent this much time in ministry. To this I kindly chuckle on the outside and smile huge on the inside.  A new group of people get to hear about what Chi Alpha is each week.  Eating. Lots of eating.  I get a chance to take a peak into the life of a local pastor, whom I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten to meet or learn about. Just as any individual would be so dramatically different than the next, so are these pastors. It’s fun learning about them, their family and their unique personalities.  Crossing back and forth, this way and that, both near and far across the state ...