We're going to a 'land' He showed us!

Abraham set out to the land that God would show him. He was told to go, not knowing where he was going, and he went. 

That has been such a cool story for Drew and I lately. God calls us to different things throughout life. Some good things and some hard things - but all things to make us become more like Him. Our goal as the Hunsley family is to make much of Him. To love God and share that with others - no matter whether it is easy or difficult. We pray we will be faithful each day with how we should live that out - even when we don't understand it. 

That being said, God told us to go to a land He would show us... and we were willing. We thought for sure it would be far away. Arizona, Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida, Michigan. Instead God has placed us, through circumstances only He could orchestrate, back home in Roanoke. Drew has accepted a position as Associate Pastor of Family Ministries at Green Ridge Baptist Church. 

It has been a whirlwind of a couple weeks. 

It has been hard. Hard knowing we are leaving so many people we love. We've seen our kids grow to love God on a deeper level. We've seen people help and care for us when we were in need. They love our kids well and we will miss them a lot. 

It has also been so good. It's been good because we have seen God work in so many of the details. He is in this decision and we are reminded of that daily. It is also good because the GRBC family has already been wonderful. We've had people praying for us both in the process of gaining one job, and having to leave the other. 

We are excited to follow Him back home and see what God has next for us! 

Starting Life in Mt Airy

 I haven't really updated on our new home yet. We are getting settled and I will post some house pictures soon. (I'm hoping that the fact there is a birthday party here Saturday will give me motivation to take pictures while it is clean... almost one year olds makes messes FAST!) We love our little home, it's spacious and yet doesn't have unused space which is huge in my opinion. We tried to find another home for Hiro because there isn't a fenced in backyard which he is used too. It hasn't worked out yet, and since our baby just LOVES Hiro we are going to try to keep him. We are going to try to get him to a park or walk him more often, along with working on the side yard to allow him to run a little. Anytime we think to get rid of him, Peyton power crawls to him, grabs him tight, and kisses his face. How can we deprive our baby of his best friend??

Peyton and I are getting a lot of quality time together while Drew is at work. We occasionally go to see the cousins/aunt or the NayNay but all a lot of time it's just us. It's so fun seeing the different little things that my baby accomplishes every day! Oh, but more on that in his update. ;) I am looking for a MOPs group to get involved in, and have found one in King, but timing hasn't worked out to get to a meeting.

Did I mention our house is super close to the church? Yeah, we walk to church. Which means... that Drew gets to come home for lunch every day! YAY! :) Peyton and I sure do enjoy that time, as do our budgets. Not spending gas money or lunch money sure is handy!

In other news, our Peyton got a hair cut. I wanted to wait as long as possible, because baby hair is, well, precious. I drew the line when a waitress called him a girl a few weeks back. So we headed to great clips and they did a great job! There were 4 of us keeping his attention, and he just looked around and smiled. They even gave him a certificate with a lock clump of his hair. I was pleased with the experience.

 Highland Park (our new church) is a part of a basketball league that Drew is a part of. I just love seeing him out on that court again! I joke with him that he needs to settle down because he plays and dives and takes charges like he is 17 again. Let's just say we come home after the games and lay around and tend to the bruises. He definitely still has it, and has even gotten better at free throws despite the lack of practice! :) Peyton LOVES watching his daddy, although tries many times to crawl on the floor to play with him. Last week he kept yelling 'da da' while they were warming up. THAT was precious!

Drew is loving his new job ministry and has dove right in to planing a missions trip, filling in for leaders, preaching last Sunday morning, and getting to know the kids/teenagers. He has already been on a teen retreat over New Years and we are both planning on going on the youth ski trip in February.

Starr came to visit last weekend and we went exploring on Saturday. We loved walking down main street and finding new shops! We were a little taken aback by how friendly every shop owner was, we felt like long lost friends in almost every shop we stopped into. Oh, the cute clothes that some of those places have! We have to start saving now so we can actually purchase some things next time she comes! She also came to church with us the next morning and it was so nice worshipping God with my friend. :)

Drew and I have been trying to have date night every week, which consists of going into 'the big city' of Winston. That's been really good for us. While it stinks to have to drive 45 minutes to get to the Olive Garden, Kohl's or the mall, we are blessed to have pretty much everything within that 45 minutes! 

Mount Airy has definitely welcomed us with open arms, and while it's different than our home, we are quickly finding our place in this small town. 

an update of the crazy

We're here! We have actually been in North Carolina since last Wednesday but we have been shuffling through the boxes, emotions, school work, family, meeting new friends and getting to know the area. There was also some sleeping, although I am not sure I will ever feel that it is enough.

First off I want to say Oakland has been so kind and supportive through this process! We were overwhelmed with all of the hugs, prayers and gifts before we left. It was so encouraging to hear we will be missed but they wanted what was best for us. We will definitely miss our church family, and are grateful we are only a couple hours away. We also got several promises to come visit so I'm holding them to it!!

Moving is new to me. I've moved houses many times, but never my hometown (besides college of course). It is definitely going to be an adjustment, and sad at times, but we are so excited to see how God is going to use us here. We have seen Him working in so many ways through this transitional time that we can't wait to see what he has for us!

We have not met a stranger yet. Everyone at Highland Park Baptist is so friendly and wanting to help make this an easy transitional time for us. Even though we have only visited twice prior to moving here, we already felt like we were part of their family. Sunday night we had a Thanksgiving service where we had food and people shared what they were thankful for. I loved seeing this part of the church. They were praising God for all sorts of things but I kept seeing the common theme of being thankful for what God is doing - not what they are doing. Highland Park is growing. They are seeing many salvations, but they acknowledge it is nothing they are doing but what God is doing through them. THAT is exciting. Drew and I are excited to be apart of it.

We also got 'pounded' on Sunday night - where people brought us household goods to stock our pantry. Wow did they!! I think we could make it a year on all the corn and toilet paper we received. :)

A couple in the church is allowing us to stay in their basement apartment until we found our new home. It has been so kind of them and is a great cozy space. :) We are so grateful for this, although are looking for an apartment of our own. I think we will feel less in transition when we set up our house somewhere. We are actually looking at a couple places this evening and then will probably have a decision made by tomorrow.

Peyton is adjusting fairly well. It was a rough couple days but he has slept through the night the past two nights so we are hopeful. He is a huge reason we want to get our own place on the earlier end. Boxes and new places have been way too 'normal' for him lately and we want him settled at home. He of course has a smile through all the crazy... except when he doesn't. HA

So all in all things have gone well. We have been trying to get school done (we are in week 5 of 8) and spend some time together, just breathing. It sure has been a whirlwind of a month but God is right beside us so we can get through anything!

packing the important things...

I think we will take him with us!

leaping into a new adventure

It is official. We are moving to North Carolina. Soon. As in, we will be living in North Carolina by Thanksgiving. 

It has been whirlwind of a couple months, but it has been amazing to see our Jesus walking beside us saying "walk through that door" "I know you are comfortable where you are at, which is why it's time to leap into a new circumstance and trust me" and "I will give you ____ and ____ and ____ as confirmation that this decision is of Me. "

Loss is hard.

We will miss all of our family that is here. All of the places that we call home. The places where we dated, places we shared with our baby. The people we've known for a few days, and the ones we have known our whole lives.
We will miss the church we have called home for 4 years. It is the first 'job' that Drew has had and we can honestly call the people there our family. They love us. They love our baby. We have been blessed to have lived life with them these years. They have also reacted wonderfully to this new move. They know we are following God's leading for the next part of our lives and they say they will pray for us - I believe them. We will be praying for them as well.
We will miss friends, and being able to call them up at any time and go to their house.

But in her blog, Ann says it wonderfully,"Nothing is a given — everything’s a gift.
Who am I to complain in losses when what I lost wasn’t mine to begin with?"

I know we aren't really loosing those things. Not really. In reality we will still visit, and share with Peyton all the places that we love here. It's only 2 hours away from here...

We are gaining and that is good.

We are gaining more friends. Ones that will challenge us spiritually and ones we can laugh and grow with. We are gaining new experiences through a new church with new people and new challenges. Ones that I pray will bring us closer to our Jesus so we can be more like Him.

We are also gaining miles closer to my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. For that I am ever so thankful to God! :) 

Drew, Peyton and I want to live to bring God glory. We want our lives to be about seeking Him and loving Him. If moving away from all we know into a new adventure - will bring Him glory - who are we to argue with Him.

It will be tough but I am thrilled to be able to walk behind my Jesus and KNOW that He will lead me in the best possible path for our lives.

So with that said... yay for boxes and selling/or renting our house and messy houses and finding new housing and doctors and all the emotional roller coasters that changes include...

enter sarcasm here. :)