Tampa for two years

Since March of 2008, I've been living and working as a full time designer at Generations Christian Church. Cheritt and I have been enduring a long distance relationship for almost two years since my move.

This past summer, we went on vacation with his family to the West Coast of Oregon (where his dad is originally from). It was on our 2 year anniversary that Cheritt got down on his knee, this time on a different beach, and proposed with a custom made ring he had created for me through a relative (thanks Darren and Janelle!). It fit perfectly and was a ring that I had seen online and loved, but didn't think he would go to the extent to have it hand made for me through his family connection. Oregon was a beautiful; met all of his father's side of the family, visited a mountain,

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Beach Bound

I worked at Cape Christian Fellowship for 3 months and was laid off due to the beginning fall of the economy. It wasn't easy to deal with, but I had support from the Gingerich's whom I fell at the mercy of completely. A relationship with Cheritt bloomed one month after I moved there. Our first date was on the beach of Fort Myers.. a nice dinner at a seafood restaurant and a walk along the Pier. Friday the 13th... of July. From that point on, all those months of me wondering what it would be like to be around him, came true. He became my best friend, and I wondered how we had gone through all this time, without really knowing one another, yet... somehow being so much alike.

I depended on him in many aspects during that time. I was forced to look for work again, but this time, had to move up the coast to Tampa 5 months later.

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And Life Changed for Sure

God answered my question. Pretty clearly. But it wasn't understood for a few months. Two weeks after I prayed for God's direction, I lost my job at my full time position. It wasn't an easy loss for me. It pressured me to rebuild my portfolio and resume and immediately get myself back out there. I still had my Resident Assistant job, but that wasn't going to pay my bills. I spent a few months going through unemployment hassles and weaved through job application after job application. Soon, an opportunity arose at a church for a full time graphic designer in Manhattan.

I worked there for about 4 months and soon there after, I received a call from Cape Christian Fellowship, asking if I'd be interested in a position down there at their church. It took me 4 weeks to get down there.

And the rest, well is history. I moved my entire life in New York, all 28 years of it to the coast of SW Florida. Talk about a cultural shock. But I was ready, so I thought.

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A Vacation That Changed My Life

I visited Sarah and had a blast. Got to meet her fiance (at the time) and go to Disney World. It seemed so small than when I had last been there. I flew down to Fort Myers and Linda picked me up at the airport. I spent a great deal of time with Charissa who was home for a few days on break from her grad school program. Cheritt lived 6 houses down the street with his friend Brett. The first time I saw Cheritt, I remember thinking... I am in trouble, and for many reasons. You see, I had this minor... so very minor crush on him after seeing his photo on his dad's church's website.

Meeting him in person, I played it cool, but inside I was like.. man this stinks - only because I realized this guy not only was good looking, but humorous and well balanced. It happened that he dubbed my sarcasm and sense of humor to a tee. I wouldn't have known this from an photo on the internet. Plus, I didn't have crushes on guys, I was in my late twenties - that was a thing for well, middle school, right?

I left Florida feeling a high of comfort. I was really sad to go back to NY. I remember feeling content with my life in NYC, but had remembered originally mentally giving myself a make believe 5-year plan - but wondered what God had in store for me next. I had met my degree goals. I had a couple decent jobs that kept me financially afloat.

So one night when I was walking home to my apartment along the East River, I remember telling God that if he had a different plan for me, other than NYC, to please let me know. To just give me some sort of sign. Because I wouldn't know any differently. I didn't plan on settling in NYC. But if I were to go or move or work somewhere else, I hadn't a clue what that would be. I asked God to just let me know.

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