Gods Little Reminders!

For those who know my mom you know she has decorated her kitchen with chicken stuff for many years. Well she also has this almost exact door knocker that is a rooster on her front porch in Pendleton. But this is not her door knocker, its mine. The strange thing about this is that it was left on the porch of our new house in NC, coincidence? I don't think so. I hadn't really thought much about it at the time we moved in, but did say to Justin "look a door knocker like moms" and then went about my business. Then I had posted a picture on FB one day and my mom commented "you have a chicken door knocker like mine!" and then the comment next was from my aunt who put a whole new light on it. She stated something like this, "isn't it funny how God works, he placed an almost exact door knocker on your porch like your mama's to let you know that you are okay and to make you feel a little like home, what a special thing God did for you!" That comment stopped me in my tracks and made me realize that's exactly what God had done to help me feel at home in my new surroundings and that His hand has played a huge part in making our move smoothly. Isn't it amazing what little things God does for us to make us feel better and to remind us that he is working in our lives every single day. So now when I step onto my porch I think of my mom, and it really does feel a little like home.

Bringing It Back!

I'm bringing back my blog now that I'm 2,800 miles away from family and this will be a good way for me to share what is going on in the VanB's household.  First off I would like to share my experience up to this point....2 weeks now in Hope Mills, NC.

We had known for several months that we were destined for NC.  When I first found out Justin's job was stationing us in NC, lets say I was a bit in shock!  NC, that is FAR away!! Then I guess i just excepted our fate and went into survival mode, knowing that the day was going to come eventually....was I ready????  I'm not sure?  Still not sure what to think at this point....Having to leave behind family, friends, A Home, Tristin having to change Schools/Make New Friends, getting rid of my dog and lots  and lots of memories, I don't know if a person is ever really ready for this big of a change. I do know that everything happens for a reason, and I do pray a lot and just know that God has had his hand in orchestrating this move, do I know why he chose NC for us?? NO!!!! But I'm guessing there is a reason and a purpose, and so for me that is enough.  I'm not gonna lie, it's been a long and emotional journey for all of us, especially Tristin.  He took the move a lot harder than I had anticipated and that has been the hardest part, making sure he is okay.  I find myself wondering if we made the right choice and then again I just pray and know and feel at peace with out decision.  Nobody said change is easy, and that this was going to be easy, so I'm just trying to take it day by day.  It's frustrating when you don't have friends, and it makes you realize how important friends and family really are...I know we will all make friends, but when you realize you are in a town where you don't know ANYONE, it's very strange...even going to the grocery I think "oh I'm gonna run into somebody I know, or see a familiar face" but that doesn't happen.  So I know in time it will start to feel more like home, and we will adjust and I will look back at this experience and realize maybe what the purpose of this journey was.  

I'm also hoping that I will get some bites on the jobs I've applied for.  As of now, I've not gotten a single interview or phone call, and that has been frustrating since I started applying for jobs while I was still in Pendleton.  I know that will be a good way for me to make some friends.  I'm also looking into a few churches that I would like to attend and hoping I will find a church family while we are here.  

Tristin will be starting football next Monday, he goes to camp and then practices actually begin in a couple of weeks.  Justin and I are looking forward to that part as well.  We love watching him play sports and it will also give us something to look forward to.  His first game is August 17th, they are serious around here about football, and so are we so we should all be in good company!

So in all that has happened in the last couple of weeks, I can honestly say I like my house, I like where we live and I feel at peace with our journey thus far, am I homesick??? A little bit, mostly for my family and friends.  We are also trying to get used to the heat/humidity....there has been a heat wave over the south east and we are in the middle of it..the temperature with heat index has been around 115 degrees.  It's sticky, and just plain HOT!  I love the heat but not this kind of heat, it's been really exhausting actually, however; I sleep very well at night, which isn't common for me, so maybe all this heat and humidity is doing the trick!!!  

I'm going to try and blog at least once a week, maybe more if I do anything fun or exciting that is bloggable.  I know alot of you follow me on FB but I will try and be more descriptive and informative on my blog, so until next time TOOTLES Ya'll