Planting Roots

It's been a little over a month since have lived in our fixer upper home.  I'm still in awe that we have a house.  This home is our miracle home.

Three weeks before we left Florida we found out our housing fell through.  When I got the news of our housing had to change I honestly didn't know what to do.  My flesh wanted to panic, cry, and complain but instead I had peace about it.  I knew it was Holy Spirit giving me that peace.  So instead, I took a deep breath (maybe more), talked with Holy Spirit again to help stay calm and trust, and called Sean letting him know what happened.

Naturally, we started hunting for another rental property.  We looked for a few days and could not find a decent property that we liked or in the price range we wanted to stay in.  So our real estate friends suggested we look into buying a home and we decided to go down that route.  They were willing to go visit any home we wanted to "see" to make sure it was suitable for us and that nothing else was wrong with the house.  I don't think we even really "looked" at many houses.

We saw this house online and I immediately fell in love with the outside.  As we looked at the property details I knew this was going to be our house.  I told Sean that this home was going to be ours.  Our friends went to go look at this house and we put an offer on it within the next couple of days.  We never saw the house in person until after the contract was pending... That's God!

This home is a miracle.  The Lord orchestrated every part of this process.  I had moments of worry and doubt but I reminded myself to trust.  It's hard to trust when you are walking by faith and into the unknown territory.  By trusting and remaining faithful of God's promises to us we got this beautiful home.

This house has so much potential and we are excited to live here and make it come alive.  There are lots of updates that need to happen (every room) but we are so honored that we get to do it.  It's wonderful to know that the Lord has entrusted us with this home to make it our own and to know that His love will resonate here.  This home has been consecrated back to Him.  This home belongs to Him.

Transition

Transition seasons can be tough.  They can also be fun.

This transition has been an adventure for us.

When we lived in Florida, Sean and I could not do much.  We were always busy with work and working at the church.  I do not regret being so busy but we did not take vacation time or do much around town.  We also could not financially do much.  We know that our time in Florida was training for this next season for us.

Since we have left, Sean and I have done more together than we ever have.  It's been amazing.  It's been so nice to do things together and just spend leisure time together.  God has blessed us to do things.  We have gone to Waco, TX for Silobration and I've been able to go home (Alabama) 3 times to see family and friends.

It's been great to have the flexibility to do what we want to do but also to serve people throughout this time.

There were some hard parts during this time because we solely have to trust the Lord.  It's not always easy but in those hard moments I would just say, "I trust You, Lord."  It's been a great time of growing in my faith.

We know that the Lord is going to be doing some great things for us soon.  I can't wait to share the great things He does for us when that time comes!

In the mean time check out some of our photos from the Silos. :)

We saw Chip!

Birthday/Going Away Shindig

These people in these photos and some that are not in these photos are the ones I miss dearly.  These lovely people became our family.  These are not all of the photos from that night but we had a great time fellowshiping and loving on each other before Sean and I left.

I hope to share more about each of these families who have impacted our life and I can't wait to see them again.

I'm so thankful for Angela and her husband, Jim, for letting us always party at their home.  They have an amazing home and peace permeates it.

the best group photo we could get :)

My dear sister, Ana, & her little one, Micaela

We love this family! 

Global Esther's Ministries family. This group right here.. I will always be thankful for them.  They have helped mold me, they invested in our marriage, & I will never forget that.  God has brought this family to us forever.

New Season, New State

That's right!  The Sotomayors are off to Texas!

We will be leaving Florida at the end of September to make our way to the great state of Texas.

Back Story:

During the revival at our church last summer, in July (specifically), the Lord told me that Sean and I are being realigned/readjusted.  Naturally, that also means we are in transition.  We weren't exactly sure what God was doing or what He wanted us to do.  So we stayed where we were because it's not smart to just change or move out of the position you are in without any direction.  

That time has come for us to move!  We have been in a transitional position since November 2015, physically.  God shifted us out of our local church.  Then we went through some unexpected job changes where we had to solely rely on the Lord for our income.  It was not easy for me or Sean but it was a great test.  The Lord has provided for us during that time of income and it was wonderful to see what He was doing for us.

Why Texas?
Back in April I asked the Lord what our we to do next?  I was asking should we stay in Florida and if we are to stay, then what will we do here.  Nothing was happening here and we have no ties to stay in southwest Florida.  In May, we heard how God is doing some great things in Texas through some of our friends.  Our friends were telling us what God laid on their heart and that God is telling them to move to Texas.  As Sean and I were listening to this, we both were asking if this is what we are to do.  By the end of our time together on the day we met with them, all I could hear over and over, louder and louder, "YOU'RE GOING TO TEXAS."  I'm freaking out on the inside as I kept hearing this.  I was trying not to get excited or be moved by my emotions.  God continue to confirm this to Sean and I following the next few weeks.

We are not completely sure what our role or our purpose yet, ministry speaking.  We are not concerned by it either.  God told us to go and that's what we are doing.  We are not moving to be a part of ministry staff.  We are going to be a part of a community that move in the prophetic and apostolic.

We are so excited for this new season and new chapter of our journey together as one.  God has been confirming this journey for us everyday and He has been taking care of all of the logistics that need to be completed.

We are so thankful for our time in Florida (even the heat & humidity).  We have established an amazing kingdom family here and we will miss them terribly.  We know that our season in Florida is over but the family and community we made in Florida will be forever lasting.

Please be in prayer for us as we make our journey to Texas!!
God is going to be doing some great things!

Apologize to your body

I have you ever thought of apologizing to your body?  I haven't either until I watched this sermon.  I have watched this three times and I will probably watch it again from time to time.  This video reminds us to be loving to ourselves.  Whether you are a man or a woman, we all need to watch this to remind us to love ourself.  I hope you enjoy!

America's Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

It's a slow and relaxing day in the Sotomayor household today and this weekend.  We are preparing for a big transition in our lives (not a baby); more details on that at a later date.

I've had a longing in my heart lately to spend more time with the Lord.  It's been a little hard due to changing jobs and learning a new field.  It's been absolutely amazing but that desire and longing has always been present.

I didn't realize that I've been trying to put old wine in a new wine skin.  I've been listening to some amazing sermons lately and one topic was to stop trying to do things like you did into today's life. That means that my life back then cannot be fitted into my life today.  My life back then was great and my life now is great.  It looks much different but I'm learning that I have to let that old life go and be flexible with my time, even though it's not what I want.  I must be willing to change my routine to spend time with the Lord.  That is very hard for me because I love routines.

I woke up early this morning so I could do some work and spend time with the Lord.  I have done little work and just spent time with Him, praying, journaling, and reading a couple of scriptures.  I woke up with a thankful spirit.  God has been so good to me and Sean this year.  It's been a season, a year really, of transition for us.

Transition isn't always easy.  It's about a season of flexibility, humility, pruning, and discipline.  One thing I have been praying about during this time is to remain thankful and have a spirit of gratitude.  I don't want to lose that.  I don't want to become entitled with the things that our Father has given us.  He can easily take it all away.  I'm not one to be patriotic but I have learned over the last few years that America is great and we must support it as a whole, even when we disagree with the choices of our leaders.  America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.  We must pray for our country.  God's mercy is new every morning.  Every morning we get a new chance in this world.

I'm so thankful for His new mercies.  I'm thankful for His loving-kindness.

Well, this post is not where I wanted to go but I think it's meant to be.  I hope you enjoy the thoughts that were going through my head this morning.  I hope you enjoy your time with your loved ones on this 4th of July.  I truly appreciate all the men and women who serve daily to keep America free and great.  You are the heroes of this country.

We give praise and thanks to You, O God, we praise and give thanks, Your wondrous works declare that Your Name is near and they who invoke Your Name rehearse Your wonders.  - Psalm 75:1 [AMP]

[I apologize for my rambling. I feel like I am all over the place in this post and I have more to say but at this moment I can't articulate it into words]

Happy 4th Birthday!

Happy 4th Birthday to our furbaby!  He's adorable, cuddly, and so loving.