Insta-Date

Dear Readers,

Allow me to share my heart with you today.

Since we've arrived here in Florida, I have not shared much of what we have been doing. So that is going to change.

Praise the Lord, my husband got a job at a Starbuck literally ONE BLOCK from our new apartment!
{Yes, our beautiful, little, second-story apartment! I love it!}
I took this photo walking home from his work...in the sun...in late October!

We are finally settling in, searching thrift stores for more furniture, and starting to develop some good normalcy in life, for which I am so thankful!

And I finally got a chance to recreate a piece of furniture.

{Post coming soon!}

I'm loving this piece in our bedroom right now.

Our apartment is blessing from God. Honestly, it was the only one we looked at. An upstairs apartment 1 block from downtown and about 8 blocks from the beach...seriously? And the number one selling point? The price. God is so good!

The only downside to our dreamy little place...is the teensy, tiny kitchen. And I LOVE to cook. It took me about a week to get over my fear of baking in such a tiny space. But I finally pulled out my Kitchen Aid mixer and have been in cooking heaven.

And yes, it has to sit on a bar stool. Haha!

The results have been scrumptious!

My work...well, no luck yet in terms of finding a "real" job. But God has provided for me to start tutoring. So far I have 2 students! =) I really, really love working with my students and helping them to learn, grow, and succeed. God is good.

Additionally I am working on launching my Etsy Shop on November 1st!
{I'm down to less than a week...yikes!}
So in my long hours at home, I have been crocheting and designing like crazy. Stay tuned to see more!

However, as life forms some version of a "new normal", the loneliness and homesickness has started to set in.

Today, I video chatted with my sister so that I could watch my other sister's districts cross country race! I am constantly amazed at how modern technology allows me to be present for important moments like this from literally the other side of the country!



She ran so hard and so well. I was so proud! My little sophomore sister took 4th! She came back from a bad sprain just 3 months ago, and is looking to be a strong contender at State again this year!

And yet when it was all over, I could only cry. I was so proud of her, and yet all I wanted was to be there to hug her and tell her how much I love her. But right now she is over 3,000 miles away...
However, everytime I get very homesick, I look at this...

Another one of my sisters is visiting me over her Christmas break! I think my heart starts pumping faster every time I think about it. I truly am SO excited!

We are going to soak in as much of this...

And this...

As we possibly can! And we're taking a heavily discounted cruise to the Bahamas! =) I couldn't be more excited!

To be totally honest with you all - places can replace people, but every time I go down to the beach, it makes me a bit less homesick.

Some days this past week, I've almost been able to trick myself into thinking I'm back in Washington. Hurricane Sandy brought us two days of of gray skies, rain, and wind, all very familiar to me in the realm of weather. However, we're back to sun and blue skies, minus the humidity and plus a bunch of wind. The effects of Hurricane Sandy, although very minimal, are still seen everywhere here. The main effects are the wind, lack of humidity, mild flooding, and crazy waves at the beach.

I am definitely praying for everyone who is going to have to evacuate or already has. My heart goes out to them all!

Yet in spite of all the loneliness and homesickness, God is good. I am thoroughly enjoying every moment I have with my husband down here...and there are many of them. He is so supportive and loving. When I first started dating him, I knew that if it continued on to marriage, my life would never be the same. And it's not! =)

My husband has been playing music every Wednesday night at a local coffee shop that has an open mic. He's been doing so well and I love hearing him practice so much.

And the church? Thursday nights are a wonderful and encouraging time to serve and to be refreshed in God's Word. Although it is small, I believe that faithfulness in these moments is so important. So we are praying, praying, praying for our city, and trying our best to build relationships and to be faithful with what God has given us for now.

So it's been a lengthy and up and down update. In the end, all I have to say is...

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

yet in my flesh I shall see God,

and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

Job 19:25-26

God is good. My purpose here in Delray Beach is to bring glory to Him, but then again, that is my mission in life no matter where I live.
God is good.

Be blessed
<3

Best Days {with Nicoladee}

Last week one of my favorite bloggers posted this beautiful post of thankfulness.




In her own words, Nichole shared...
"It's really easy for me to live in the future.
To live in a dream world of how our life will be just right when. . ."
And she went on to list all the "when's" in her life. That hit me. What are my "when's"?
What are the things that I am holding my breath for?
That until they happen I won't let myself enjoy life?
Why am I doing that?
Then it hit me...these are our best days.
Amen and amen, sister!
I read this post right when I needed it, just when I needed a perspective shift.
So to join her in celebrating God's infinite goodness I am...
Celebrating God working in mysterious ways to get my hubby a job.
Excitedly pursuing (not one) TWO different ways for me to be self employed!




Planning all the fun things we will do with our new little apartment.




Enjoying the sunshine every.single.day.




Digging my toes into soft, warm sand and marveling that I get to LIVE HERE!




Reveling in the simple pleasure of a Starbucks latte.
Thanking God for the most wonderful and caring husband any girl could ask for.




Be blessed...I sure am.
<3

I Don't Want to Forget... {Part 2}

{Part 2 - Home}

That for the first 21 years of my life, Washington State was my home.

Source

What mountains look like...particularly this one.

Source

The smell of the earth when you know that rain is coming, and the freshness of the air after it rains.

How no one ever slows down for rain or uses umbrellas

How there truly, truly is no more beautiful place on earth than Western Washington State on a sunny day.

How Capitol Lake was filled with runners every morning and how I loved to join them.

{taken by my sister}

That there were so many odd and unrealistic for the "mima mounds" that my parents lived on.

{Taken by my sister}

The beauty of the Camus Lilies every spring.

The joys (and cold and wet and mud) of going to a pumpkin patch in the fall.

The beauty of snow!

How we were amazed when the snow was a 1/2 inch and lasted more than 4 hours! Haha!

What it's like to stroll down the pier (boardwalk) on a sunny afternoon.

The beauty of the Puget Sound.

How the most comforting feeling in the world is curling up on a cold, rainy afternoon with a coffee and a good book

How there  (LITERALLY) is a Starbucks on every corner. <3

The incredible beauty of cherry blossoms in the spring.

How the tress go from bare dead skeletons to trees bursting with life and color in just a few weeks in the spring.

But no matter what, the one thing I will never forget is my family! Aren't they beautiful/handsome? I miss them so much, but am incredibly blessed with modern technology. I talk to my beautiful mother on the phone everyday often get to Skype and FaceTime with them as well.

God is good. Even if Travis and I never move back, our separation is still only as temporary as this life. I am blessed beyond to have such a loving and godly family supporting and loving Travis and I.

Be blessed.

<3

Promises to Heal Your Heart

Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:43-45 ESV)

During one of my four+ hour driving shifts during our trip, I was listening to this passage from the book of Joshua. (Listening to the bible being read aloud? I know!!! How cool, huh?)

The words seemed to jump out of the air and grab my attention.
"Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass."
NOT ONE WORD..."
Wow! This is the God that we serve. And this is hope. He gives hope, because He is faithful and true.

Reading and meditating on these words, I was filled with hope. I began to think of specific words God had spoken over our lives and that others had prayed over us. How wonderful to have the assurance that not one word of these promises would fail.

But these blessings did not just come to the Israelites. Connected to these promises of blessings were promises of trouble and punishment if the Israelites did not stay faithful to God.

"But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you." (Joshua 23:15, 16 ESV)

I began to think of the many promises that are scattered throughout the Bible. They are almost always conditional. Why? Because God is a just God and He cannot do anything that is contrary to His nature. To leave sin unpunished would be contrary to His nature of perfect justice.

But I cannot always perfectly obey God.
I cannot be righteous.
I cannot love perfectly.
I cannot be unendingly faithful.

So that is why Jesus came.

HE is always perfectly obedient to the Father.
HE is righteous.
HE always loves perfectly.
HE is unendingly faithful.

And because He gave me His righteousness, if I choose to accept and live in His righteousness, all the promises and blessing that He has promised are mine.
"Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord..." has made to me, His child, will fail.

Praise the Lord!

What better encouragement could there be as we are driving across the country to serve the Lord in what He has called us to do? All His promises...the hard ones where He has promised to make us like Jesus, and the wonderful ones where He has promised to keep us in perfect peace....are going to be fulfilled in us...are BEING fulfilled in us.

And the best promise is yet to be fulfilled...the promise of heaven. What a beautiful day that will be!

Praise the Lord!

Be blessed.
<3

New

Unfamiliar

I don't know where

Excited

Lost

Expectant

New to me

Freedom

Temporary

Craving consistency

Goodbye

Hello

Home

Where am I

Draw close

Family

Jesus

More of Him

Less of me

Sun

Sky

Clouds and Rain

Unexpected

Ocean

Awestruck by beauty

 Settled

Not at home

Messy

Life

Here we are

God is good

Sometimes its hard to put all of the thoughts and emotions running through you into logical order.

So here they are.

The thoughts of my heart and mind.

Thoughts on moving, on Florida, on current life.

But in the end, no matter what my heart feels, God is good.

God is good!

Be blessed.

<3

Instagram: Our Trip {Washington to Florida - Part 2}

Ready for more photos from our trip?
The details:
- 12 days hauling our belongings in our car across the country
- 3 stops to see family
- This post is days 4-12
- (Note: Day 12 = last day of driving/arrival at our new home = *happy dance*)



{Friday, Sept. 7, 2012}
Day 4:
We entered the land of the living again when we finally found a Starbucks in Minnesota.



Day 4:
Crossing the Mississippi River!



Day 4:
In Chicago!



Day 4:
This was the best deep-dish stuffed pizza I have ever eaten! Sooo yummy! Chicago lived up to it's reputation. =)



Day 4:
Hot tub to unwind after four days of driving. =)



{Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012}
Day 5:
Driving to Cleveland, Ohio!
We ate lunch at a rest stop on the side of the road!



Day 5:
Next time we travel across the country, we're taking one of these. =)



Day 5:
In Cleveland, Ohio!



Day 5:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame



Day 5:
Lake Erie



Day 5:
Driving around Cleveland



Day 5:
Cleveland Skyline



Day 5:
Dinner time! And a friendly message from Wendy's!
=)



{Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012}
Day 6:
Our route for the day. Destination, my Aunt and Uncle's house!



Day 6:
Cruising around Short Hills and Milburn NJ with my Uncle...in his convertible!



{Monday, Sept. 10, 2012}
Day 7:
In New York City!



Day 7:
The hotel where John Lennon Died



Day 7:
The wrong Apple Store!



Day 7:
Resting our feet in Central Park!



Day 7:
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine - It was massive and beautiful!



Day 7:
Lunch at the Shake Shack...so good!



Day 7:
Times Square - I couldn't believe I was actually there!

See more from NYC



{Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012}
Day 8:
We spent this day with my Aunt and cousins (after school), just hanging around their little NJ town.
View of the Statue of Liberty from the New Jersey Shore.



Day 8:
New York Skyline



Day 8:
Flags at half mast - Remembering...



{Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012}
Day 9:
We spent this day in Washington D.C. - Dream come true!
The White House!



Day 9:
On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial!

See more from DC



{Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012}
Day 10:
We drove to North Carolina to spend time with Travis' sister and brother in law and our 2 sweet nieces!
This was our yummy, Starbucks breakfast!



Day 10:
Cuteness! My niece, Lydia.



Day 10:
More cuteness! My niece, Delany!



Day 10:
Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Milkshake with dinner. Yum!



{Friday, Sept. 14, 2012}
Day 11:
We spent this day in NC with our relatives
Starbucks in a house!



Day 11:
Adorable girls during a walk in the park!



Day 11:
I caught a smile on camera!



{Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012}
Day 12:
The route for our FINAL DAY OF DRIVING!



Day 12:
We are in Florida at last!



Day 12:
And it's raining...



Day 12:
Super excited to be almost there!

So yes, we are safely arrived in Delray Beach! Praise the Lord for safe travels and no car trouble.
He is good.
I'll post some pictures of our new home soon, but I'd you want the blow-by-blow, follow me on Twitter or Instagram: @alesha_blessed

Be blessed!
(We surely are!)
<3