Christmas Spirit and a new puppy

Seeing how it's already February, I've got quite a bit of catching up to do. 

We spent our Thanksgiving here in Connecticut but we were determined to go see family for Christmas. Kyle was able to get off earlier than expected and we drove down to Virginia to see my family. 

Enjoying some candy from Paw Paw's stash! 

Caleb

Cameron

Kyle 

Nate an Georgia

Our little niece Georgia 

We also brought the newest addition to the Aiello family, Molly, our perfect little shelter doggie. She did such a great job on the trip. We just love her! 

Molly on the ride there

Just hangin out 

Being goofy 

Another nice little treat about this past Christmas was that we finally were able to get some family photos. Thanks to our friend and photographer, Heather Corona. ;-)

We had such a great visit with family! We had gingerbread house decorating contests, in-home christmas programs, and lots of togetherness and fun! 

Family is such a wonderful blessing! 

A few little changes......

So here we are in October already. Hard to believe it's even been 2 months since I've posted last. We've been very, very busy. We can't even keep up with all that is going on. Here's just a little about what we've been up to.

From Rhode Island to Connecticut. 

Taking a walk through the park in Westerly, RI.

Yes, I know, we moved again.  Only this time it wasn't 500 miles just about 17 miles. We moved into the church "intern"house which is the only thing I can think of to call it. Our assistant pastor and his family lived there for 4 years until their family grew too large and they decided to buy a house! It is literally 15 seconds away from the church which makes is so easy for me to teach piano lessons there!
It's also quite a bit larger than the small apartment in RI that we were temporarily residing. I do miss the beautiful park down the road I used to go jogging in and the cute little coffee shop around the corner in Westerly . But most of our things were in storage  while we were there so it's been like Christmas being able to unpack our things. It has been a huge sigh of relief for me just to be able to throw all the cardboard boxes away. I feel like I have my life back now. : o )

Junk n' Java in Westerly, RI. 

Moving 3 times in three months was not what I had envisioned for our move to New England to be like but obviously it's what the Lord had for us and we got through it. We're so very thankful for friends and  our church family here who have supported us and helped us a long the way. I'm not sure what we would've done without them.












A New Purchase

Nellie the Nissan

We also have an unexpected blessing. No, we are not in the family way but something almost as exciting! We bought a car! Well, an SUV actually. I posted before how I sold my car in TN so
we only had one car but I was borrowing Daniel's, Kyle's good buddy, car for the last 4 months. We were very thankful I had a way to get around especially with Kyle working so far away but we knew we would need to invest in something our own soon. We starting looking for an SUV because I had always wanted a SUV-crossover type vehicle but we could not find anything within our budget. We picked through craigslist and visited a couple dealerships for over a month and nothing really seemed right. I was really beginning to think we should just get an old beater car again and just made do! I was so tired of looking! BUT. Then. I found this nice SUV for sale on Craigslist from the original owner who had just updated his wife's car and needed to sell this one. It had everything we were looking for even the sunroof! (and the keyless entry which I've never owned a car new enough to have one of these!)

Kyle likes the sunroof too!

Making a little victory stop after hours at the DMV!

We bought the thing and are really enjoying it! The Lord truly provided as it was quite a bit below our estimated budget as well! I remember during the process of looking I would think "Why am I being so picky?" because there were some cars that would have been fine but either they didn't have what I wanted or they were way too expensive. I am glad now that God gave us wisdom to know that we don't have to settle for 2nd best but can be patient for God to give us what we need AND what we would LIKE to have. God always knows best.

Next, I will post an update on some ministry opportunities and the house after we get unpacked! We also had my (Kristy) family come into town so we'll show some pictures of that too!

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

New Address. New Home. New Adventure

It’s hard to believe we have been in New England for over a month now. Forty days to be exact.  It’s been a wild 40 days for sure! Much has happened.

We left our home in Tennessee on June 19^th. Several friends came out to help us pack the Penske truck and boy was it a tight fit! We were beginning to start giving things away if it didn’t all fit. (I’m so glad now that we sold our other couch!) God truly kept us safe on the 16 hour drive up to Connecticut. We made it there in one piece (and our stuff too!).

It was a little emotional for me (and for Kyle) to leave this place we had called home for 2 years. It probably didn’t make it better that we really had no idea where we were going to be living/staying once we got there. All we knew was Kyle had a job. A kind and amazing family in the church offered for us to stay in their guest bedroom while we figured out what to do with our housing situation. We figured we’d be there for two weeks. Those two weeks turned into three and then a month.

At times it was frustrating to say the least because God seemed to be opening doors. We would try to go through them…then the doors would close. Well, slam shut more like. God had his hand on it all but for a while, we really had doubts whether we had made the right decision to move up here. It was scary and really rather discouraging. We looked and looked for housing but everything was so expensive or just in terrible shape. We didn’t know what to do…..

Finally, we found this tiny little apartment in Westerly, RI.  It’s actually kind of amazing that we even heard about it. When Kyle called the owner they said they normally do not advertise to people outside of friends and family. They didn’t even know the person that gave us the listing! But they were willing to let us stay there with no contract and a very affordable rate. Not only that but another couple was looking at it and somehow we were able to move in within a week! It’s a very small apartment but it’s exactly what we needed for the time being. We’re moved in now after a month of being in limbo. God has been so good! 

I'm saying all this in retrospect as if it's been a long time since everything has transpired but really going through it has been tough. Each day has had its challenges and struggles. Still, every detail since we’ve been here has had the Lord’s hand on it all. He continues to show His faithfulness to us. It has really forced us to depend on the Lord. We truly believe it’s because He will get the glory when we rely on Him and can say “Yep. That was the Lord.” We are so blessed.

Doing God’s will is sometimes the hardest thing you’ll ever do in your life.  But there is peace and rest that can be found in following God that cannot be found anywhere else. I know I’ve had my doubts and fears about this move. I am not going to claim it’s been easy! But I’ve seen God come through in so many ways! The verse I’ve clung to is Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my hear faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.”

We know God knows what is best and what we need.  It’s not just like someone else’s story. It’s not all a bed of roses either. It’s not always instant provision. It’s a process of trusting God’s plan and being patient enough to watch His plan unfold.

And there’s still more yet to watch…..

Saying Goodbye to an old Friend....

Since our decision to move, we decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and sell my car. We went back and forth with the idea of getting rid of it or keeping it. We have another car that is newer and a little nicer than mine, but it has always been very convenient to have two cars. Well, sometimes convenience isn't the best choice.

I've had this 98' Saturn since March of 2009. I bought it from the original owner. It was not my first car. You see, I got in a wreck with my first car and was given quite a bit of money for it since it was totaled. Instead of using it all I tried to find a car under the amount I was given and found this one on Craigslist for $2200. The really nice guy came down to $1900 for me. It was his daughter's car and in good condition other than minor cosmetic paint chippings from a fender bender. All in all, in was a great buy. Other than maintenance, it never gave me problems. I put about 80,000 miles on it in 6 years which means it got ridiculously good gas mileage.

When we sold it, it really was like saying goodbye to an old, faithful friend. I'm really not an outwardly emotional person so I didn't cry, but since there were so many memories attached to this car, I wanted to. Kyle walked me to this car while we were dating. If it were not for this car, I probably wouldn't have made it through college. I've let several people borrow this car when I didn't need it and it helped them. One time a friend of mine was driving (I don't know why exactly) and somehow we ended up stuck in a ditch from doing a 3 point turn and backing up too far. We were stuck and a truck full of 20 Mexicans and another truck of rednecks pushed us out. It was absolutely hilarious. I was laughing as I called a friend to ask to help us and said, "Oh never mind (giggling as I speak) I think we got it taken care of."

It's pretty amazing how the Lord protected me in this car. It's like driving a go-cart since it is so light. It's been driven in heavy rain and snow, up and down mountains and highways. I know it seems silly but it really made me think of all the times I complained about it and I should have been more grateful. It sold to a single mom who really desperately needed a car. I'm glad someone will get some use out of it. Ultimately, I bought it for $1900 and we sold it for $1,000 so I paid $900 for it. Again, it lasted me 6 years. There were so many times I thought why in the world do I still have this purple mobile at 25 years old when everyone else I know is driving a nicer car! All I can say now is Praise the Lord for His goodness. He knew what was good for me then and He knows what is good for me now.

Goodbye old Saturn. Hope you enjoy your new home. :-)

Abigail Ruth Part II

Here's the other half of the post. Connor was so great with Abigail. I was really impressed! We got some good ones with Mom and Abby too. This family is so precious! Thankful for the chance to take their pictures! 

Finally, poor Abigail was wore out from the glamour shots. She did so well though!!

Moving

As many of you may know, Kyle and I are planning to move from our home in Tennessee to Groton, Connecticut. We have been praying a long time about this. We knew that Tennessee would be a temporary place for us. Right after we got married, we were well established with our college jobs and just felt the Lord wanted us to stay in Tennessee after I (Kristy) graduated from college. Kyle still had to finish up his Masters degree so it was the perfect place to stay. Through the last two years there have been some change in jobs and circumstances here and there, but it was good for us to lay a foundation for our marriage. It was a familiar place to get to know one another. We loved our church, our little home, our life.

But .....

we've known it would not last forever and we would probably not plant our roots here. The goal had always been to move to New England. Two years ago, we had no idea when or where it would be exactly. As God has moved and worked on our hearts, we believe he's leading us to Connecticut to work with a pastor there. After we've had a chance to get established, we are hoping in a few years to start a church close to that area.

After our first year of marriage, we really had no idea what to do. Do we stay here? If not, where do we go? It was really unsettling. So many questions and no answers. The only thing we knew to do was to pray and wait. In the meantime, we were very involved with our church's ministries. We are the 10th grade Sunday School teachers and a church sponsor at a Bible club at Austen East High School. Kyle is in the choir and I am in the orchestra. Kyle has worked as the Assistant Director of Admissions at Crown College and I have taught piano lessons at home and at the Crown Conservatory while working another part time job. We were set. We were comfortable. God has been working on our hearts in the meantime. 

After a long time praying and considering, we believe this is what God wants us to do, as hard as it may be to let go. This is the first move we'll be making as a young married couple. We've been preparing for it mentally since we've been married. It's hard to believe it's actually going to happen. All we've known is this peaceful, wonderful place called home. We are sad to leave it but looking forward to what's in store for the future. 

Many people ask me why we are going to New England where there are freezing winters and rude people. The first is true but the second not entirley. People are people no matter where you go. (There are rude people in the south too! Ha!) And there are a lot of great people up north. I love the south and I will probably always be a southerner at heart but there is a church on every corner down here. Not to say those churches are full, because they certainly are not. However, up north, churches are far and few between. Churches that are gospel believing and preaching are even more scarce. True, in every part of the world, there is a need for people to be reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ yet we have grown calloused to the spiritual darkness in this part of our country. A lot of our Christian heritage comes from the New England area but sadly cities are full of hundreds of thousands of people with no local gospel preaching church. Can you imagine? This is why we have a burden to go there. We're trusting the Lord will use us to bring more people to Christ and learn more about church ministry. 

Tennessee has been the most wonderful time of our lives. (so far) God has used it to prepare us and teach us many things. Our church, our jobs, our friends, our family, our home. We will miss it. Probably more later than now. Oh, how we will miss it. 

Please pray for us. We don't have any details of where exactly we will live. We don't even have a set job. We'll be making a trip there this weekend for Kyle to have some interviews. This is probably one of our biggest concerns right now. It is going to be quite a transition. We will just have to exercise our faith and trust the Lord will provide for us. We believe He is in this! So we trust He will take care of us!

Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. We love you all!

Abigail Ruth

A friend and co-worker of mine was telling me she really wanted some pictures of her 5 month old daughter. She didn't realize I've worked at a studio and done some stuff on the side before. Even though I have not done much photography lately. I've just been too busy with school, then getting married, then piano lessons and work and being a wife so it kind of went on the back burner. I also didn't have a battery to use for the longest time in my SLR. (my old one went bad) I finally purchased one after Christmas. So I was a little hesitant to offer but I am so glad I did! We got some great pictures of Abby and her 6 year old son Connor. I'm going to split these posts into two because there are just so many good ones! Abby was such a doll and sweet girl. I really enjoy shooting babies her age because they smile and laugh and coo and just makes it so easy to get a good photo. It was so great to get back into photography again!

 

 

There are more to come! Stay posted!!