Settling In

We are finally settled into our new apartment in our new state. It is starting to feel like home but of course home is still in New York. We can successfully find the Wal-Mart, Target, Grocery Store, Mall, Gas Station, and our new church without using our GPS. We have enjoyed dinner with our best friends now that they are home from their honeymoon.

Yesterday, we visited a church that we really enjoyed. South Bridge Fellowship in Brier Creek. The odd thing is that it is in a movie theater. They are not building a church, they simply believe that this is the best way to reach their community. People were very friendly and they welcomed us with open arms. The message was great. The pastor is very like-able and down to earth, really reminds me of our home pastors. Roger says he talks fast and louder when he is passionate about something like  Pastor Jim but then knows how to throw in a family story like Pastor Brian. He is a good mix of both. The message was very convicting and really spoke to my heart. We cannot wait to go back.

Roger and I are desperate to find community and find a place where we really belong. I am very excited to say that I am attending a conference that I found through our new church. It is put on by Pure Religion. The conference ranges for all sorts of people who are interested in adoption. Roger and I are not adopting (yet) but I want things in my mind to stay fresh. I am really excited to attend a session about the growing need in Africa. I am thankful for this opportunity and cannot wait to go.

Other than that not much is happening. Roger and I both need jobs by mid-August before we run out of money but we are trusting God. I am also trusting that God will provide us with jobs with enjoy. I personally have my heart set on this Aquatics Director job but only God knows.

So there you have it folks, an update on our life. I am hoping to fall back in a a regular blogging pattern once we have internet at our apartment.

Enjoy your day!

Job Interview

Well since the last time that I wrote, I have moved states away from my home town. My husband and I went from Cortland, NY to Raleigh, NC and let me tell you, we love it down here!

We are still getting into a rhythm and trying to figure out where everything is. Although, I do know where some places are. I would love to blog about everything but there is still so much to do in our apartment.

The reason I am blogging is because I need prayer. I have two interviews scheduled for tomorrow...

The first is at a car dealership in their business department which is great because my degree will be put to good use. That interview is at 10:00AM on Thursday.

The second is the one that I am really excited about and terrified all at the same time. I am interviewing at a YMCA in Raleigh as their Aquatics Director. That interview is at 4:00PM.  This job is what I was doing just a few weeks ago so I am confident in my skills but I am young and I think that the lady interviewing knows that. I pray that she sees that I am able to do this job well.

I would love to get either job but I would really love the Y job since that is where my comfort is. I know He has a plan but I figure there is no reason why everyone else can't pray either?

I will update as soon as I have internet that I am not stealing from my neighbors!

Dear Shannon

Today you are getting married and I could not be more excited for you. Today your sister and brother will stand up and give their toasts to you and I wanted to do the same here. I am so happy that both of your siblings are there to share in your special day and the fact that they are doing your toasts is just perfect. I wouldn't want it any other way.

I cannot believe how fast these years have gone by. Do you remember all the crazy things that we use to do? Mismatch day? Getting lost for hours in your woods? Those hour long phone conversations where we begged our parents to let us stay over? How about the bubbles in Nana's tub? We couldn't get them to stop bubbling, we were so scared she would be upset; but she wasn't. How about going school clothes shopping? You would get a green shirt and I would get a blue shirt, we always matched.  6th Grade Play? How about your first boyfriend Mark? (It doesn't count John, she was like 10 haha) And don't forget all of those camp memories and TLC. Toothpaste on the walls? What was wrong with us?! Here's a picture to help you remember those times.

Not that I really need to remind you but remember those painful times we went through? How stupid I was to ever let those years slip away from us. And remember all of those times where we tried to patch things up but nothing seemed to work? Until finally years later, we started intentionally meeting for coffee and getting to know each other again. 

Can I tell you, what a blessing those times were. How thankful I am that we worked through our problems, put them behind us, and became friends again. You have blessed me in so many ways. Remember all those coffee dates where all we talked about was our weddings? Even if we had gone over chair covers for the thousandth time, we still revisited the subject. Remember when you found your wedding dress and you texted me with multiple smiley faces and before you even told me what it looked like, I knew because we had spent hours dreaming about the perfect dress. Remember the bridal show that we went to? We were each months away from our wedding and found it to be rather boring because we are master planners. 

And let's not forget about all of those texts that we would send. We could text for hours and feel completely refreshed. What about Applebee's? We never did need a menu and we never had problems filling up two hours with conversation. And we can't forget my wedding. We spent hours talking to each other. I had to have one more lunch date with just you so I could let you know everything that was going on. I needed you by my side and you were always there. As soon as I had a thought, you took care of it and I never had to think twice about it again. You were amazing. 

But today starts a new chapter in our friendship. Today, you walk down the aisle to the man of your dreams. The man you have been waiting to marry for 6 years. The man God designed for you. John is a lucky man to spend the rest of his life with you. Today, I get the joy of standing up there with you to watch you marry John. I could not be happier for you both. You have a love that not many people find. You both have had to carry this relationship while being hundreds of miles apart. You two adore each other and have the same love that I found in Roger. But today will change our friendship. From this point on we will both have a husband to tend to before each other, we will have daily tasks to do that will keep us apart and at the end of the night we will each come home to our husbands.

However, I am not worried. Although our friendship will change and it will look different than it did yesterday, I am confident that our friendship is here to stay. (We did move states to be closer to you :) ) Our husbands will go out for baseball games and we will spend more time shopping and chatting about our houses instead of weddings. We will have many dates (and double dates). We will find a new friendship together as married women. I cannot thank you enough for your friendship, Shannon. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us. I know He has blessed our friendship and will continue to bless us. 

You will always be my best friend.

I love you.

~ Bethany

-Last Moments-

We are winding down on our time here in New York. I cannot believe after 22 years of being in this state that I am actually moving away. Then again, I can believe it... I hate winter. (Now that isn't the reason that we are moving but it sure does help). 

This weekend my husband (man I love saying that...) and I spent the weekend in Norwich. There is just something about moving that makes me cherish every moment that we have. I know we will be back for many visits but these "last" visits are just so special in my mind. 

Jaxon was able to spend one more night at our house before we move. We ate pizza, watched a movie, and took him to the park. It's such a blessing to be able to have this darling little boy in our lives. And from the picture to the right, I think the feelings are mutual.

We were also able to support Jaxon's parents in their Adoption Walk-A-Thon. They are following God's plan for them by adopting right here in the US and I honestly couldn't be more excited for them. I am glad we were able to help and Roger and I enjoyed walking together with Jaxon. While at the Walk-A-Thon, Roger and I were able to visit some dear friends from Norwich and their children. It's so fun just sitting in the grass, eating BBQ while enjoying conversation. 

Later that day I had the privileged of cooking dinner for Roger's family. Everyone was there and that made it even more special. However, my favorite part was sitting outside and watching Roger and his brothers interact around the basketball hoop. There is just something so wonderful about a barefoot, summer night outside. 

And if the Lord hasn't blessed us enough, Sunday, we visited with an old Camp friend of mine and her sweet boyfriend while we ate Ethiopian food at the Darlings. Just being able to soak up some great conversation was just what we needed. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ethiopian food and their precious children as we spent the afternoon together.

Even today as I write this, Roger and I have plans with our dearest friends, baseball and Starbucks will be filling the evening. I just can't believe how blessed Roger and I are here in New York. Sometimes, I wonder why we are leaving but when those thoughts flood my mind, I just remember that Roger and I believe this is what God wants for us. He has a great opportunity for school and honestly, we have a great opportunity to really build our marriage together, apart from our comfortable world. Who knows, we may return in a few years...but I would rather if everyone moved down South! ;)