Greetings from Florida: The Fitzy State

Wow!  It's been over a year filled with a flurry of change, activity, and emotions.  Many of you know our story:  in July 2012, we were presented with an opportunity to move to Florida.  Whoa!  Florida?!  Definitely not our first choice of where we would want to move to...not even in our top 10 list....BUT it did come with promises of a good job and working relationship for Paul in his area of practice and of the opportunity for Melissa to be a stay-at-home mom, a true desire of her heart.  After much prayer, lots of consideration, and a few weekend trips to Florida,  we chose to trust that God was opening a door of change for us and we started our long journey to a different life in Florida. 


August 2012: The packing of the POD.

 

 

We shipped our POD to Florida in August and kept it in storage until we finally closed on a house in St. Petersburg in February!  During that in-between time, we were blessed by friends and family with a place to live during our transitional phases of our move.  We moved in with our dear friends, the Fairs for September and October.  Paul started his new job in Clearwater, Florida in the middle of October and flew back and forth to Boston each weekend for 3 weeks; while Melissa finished up her time at League School after 12 years!  The first weekend of November 2012 marked the weekend of our 3 day journey to Florida. 



We had just enough room in the car for Raina.  She did GREAT during our 3 day journey.  What a trooper!
 

Over the next 3 months, we were able to spend some quality time with Uncle Neil and Auntie Laura while we stayed with them.  We were able to explore many parks, museums, aquariums, zoos, and eateries during the winter months of Florida. 



We did not have snow at Christmas time.  Which seems really really bizarre; however the soft sand of Clearwater Beach was a favorite hang out during the month of December.

 



 





In February 2013, we closed on a great house in a great neighborhood in St. Petersburg.  What a blessing to finally have a place to call home.  Raina loved playing hockey in our furniture-less home.

 

 

In February, we had amazing visits by Grandma and Auntie Za and Ali.  What a huge help they were with the move in process!  We also had some fun making play dough and visiting Tampa's Lowery Park zoo.

 

Just as we settled down a bit in our new home, God blessed us again with the excited news that we are going to be parents again!  What a gift to be able to give Raina a sibling! 

 Praise God for He is Good!!

 

In March, we had a great visit from Be-Bah and Grandma.  We had fun catching some spring training games.

 

In May, we enjoyed a week long trip to Washington DC for Paul's annual conference.  We enjoyed a cool, rainy day at the national zoo!

 

Mr. Dan and Abbie came for a visit in May too.  Dan installed an amazing fish tank for us. Thank you Dan, your handiwork continues to be a blessing to us!

 

 

 A visit back home to Boston: August 2013

We had an awesome vacation to Boston this August.  It started with a weekend at our most favorite place, Buffalo Hill Farm, in Oxford, MA.  We had another wonderful reunion with our Beacon Community Church friends and the weather was absolutely beautiful!!  It felt like Autumn!!

Our morning view from the sleeping porch.  I got the best sleep of my pregnancy that weekend with all the fresh cool air!  Total peace!!!!!!!

Sunday Worship service amongst our church family

The sweetest reunion!  I was able to see my dear friend, Trina, after 3 years!  She's the best of the best!  What an amazing blessing to be able to have this weekend to see her before she moved to New Zealand!  Thank you God for friends!!

We also spent a day in Vermont seeing our dear friends, the Simpsons.  Raina loves "Auntie Maggie"  She is SO much fun!

How fortunate that we were able to score a day on the farm apple picking!! 

We concluded our amazing vacation with a spectacular birthday party for Raina.  She turned 3 and everything was Cinderella and Turquoise (her favorite color).  A special thank you to Annelise & Melissa for their help with the party!
 

 Up to date!

Raina started preschool at Canterbury School of Florida, which is a short walk from our house.  She is so darn cute in her school uniform!  She is enjoying school and learning so much already!


 

 

Whoa!  That was the cliff notes to the past year of our life!  The transition for us has been huge and although some times have been tough, filled with doubts, loneliness, and uncertainties; we also are seeing God's amazing blessings through it all.  Thank you to all our friends and family for their loving support and prayers for us!  We love you and look forward to sharing our story and journey with you all!