Snow

It snows here.

It REALLY SNOWS here. 

6-10 inches on Saturday which did not melt before the 4-8 inches that is currently happening. 

Autumn is a dirty trick.

It's beautiful, enchanting, downright breathtaking; luring you into a false security that the world is a lovely place bursting with color and rapturous scenery. No. These leaves  are leaving before the bitter bully known as the northern wind can throw them down onto a hard icy ground. 

Of course many of you are wondering "what did you expect moving to the north?"  Let me assure you I love Massachusetts, but snow is just not my cup of tea. (Although a hot cup of tea has soothed my pain)  

I promise I am making an effort. I'm trying to stay positive and enjoy it since we likely won't live in a climate like this again. I tell myself it's pretty, and magical and sparkly. 

(These are of Trinity church in Copley square.)

But then I fall three times in one day and I find myself saying rather rude things about the snow. 

One good thing is that we don't have a car here so we don't have to dig it out of the mounds of snow. We also don't have to worry about it rusting from the salty slush that results from city driving. 

It's all in how you look at it, right? 

.....How many days until summer? 

On a positive note Mrs. Mallard and her  ducklings don't seem to mind the ice and snow. 

Thanksgiving

This thanksgiving we had much to be thankful for such as our smooth transition to Boston and life here, we had friends and family to celebrate with, we have a sweet puppy, each other and we have a God who loves us tremendously. 

Cody, Josh's younger brother came To spend the holiday with us and arrived on Wednesday from Annapolis. It was so nice to have family in town especially our first thanksgiving without mom and dad.

Cody, Josh and I spent Wednesday night preparing Steve, the turkey, for his big debut the next day. It was my first turkey to be in charge of! Thankfully Cody took out the insides... 

We used this recipe www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/8389  

And it turned out delicious! 

Thursday,  Holly and Eric, who is in his second year at Boston University's School of Theology, joined us for thanksgiving lunch! What a joy to have a full table of food and loved ones! 

Friday and Saturday Josh, Cody and I toured parts of Boston. We walked part of the freedom trail. We  climbed 298 steps to the top of the bunker hill monument, explored the USS Constitution and left the trail to see the light show "Blink" at Faneuil Hall. 

It was such a fun ending to the holiday and month! 

November

So this post is titled November but I'm going to start with the end of October when Ryan and Robert, from the United Methodist Northwest Texas Conference flew up here to check on how we are doing and how Josh's classes are going. It was a nice time and a treat to see some fellow Texans, talk about ministry, what to expect in the following years and to be reminded that there is a great support system in our home conference.

At the end of October, the Red Sox won the World Series! So Boston CELEBRATED! We got to go to the Championship parade and see the duck boats and the trophy!

Then my parents came to visit! It was a sweet treat! We went to the museum of fine arts. Here are just a couple of my favorite paintings...

We went to the New England Aquarium which had great penguins!

We took a train out to Salem to eat at the Lobster Shanty, famous for lobster martinis (gross!) and lobster Mac and cheese which was delicious!! As it was November much of the witch festivities were closed but I can't wait to go next October.

(The first "witch" hung in result of the unfair trials. )

It was so nice to show my parents around our new home and to have them here to share in the city!



As many of you already know I have taken a new job (Praise God!) as a nanny for a family that lives in downtown Boston! It such a fun job and so nice to be in the city. I adore the kids and we are always on the go! It's a sweet baby boy and preschool aged girl! I have been there three weeks and I can already tell we are going to go on lots of adventures!

I enjoyed the people I met at my previous job, and I was so thankful for God's provision in it, but now I have a job that speaks to my heart and my gifts and it's such a blessing.

Josh is really enjoying his classes and has written many papers. After this week is finals. I have no idea where the semester went.  I'm so proud of the hard work he is putting in to succeed  and pursue his calling.  His youth group is coming together and doing many things. He is preparing to teach confirmation classes in January at our church.

Lily has enjoyed the cooler weather that November brought and seems to be doing well! We need to find a dog park for her but that might have to wait until April...

So that's November up until thanksgiving (which I'll post about soon!) it was a fast month but one where we felt we were finally settled here!

Josh on B.U.

This post is to show off my (Josh) new school: Boston University School of Theology.

Established in 1839 as a Methodist Seminary called the Newbury Biblical Institute, Boston University has grown to become one of the largest private universities at nearly 30,000 students. This campus literally has everything. Downtown Boston and Fenway park are right in its backyard. However, I spend the majority of my time in central campus at the School of Theology.  

This is Marsh Chapel. It stands next door to my school and serves as the central point of campus. Beautiful inside. In front of the chapel is what's called Marsh Plaza which is a large space where everything from a weekly Farmer's Market to the filming of the Ellen Degeneres show takes place. In the center of Marsh Plaza is a memorial to Martin Luther King who walked the halls of the School of Theology. 

This is tough to read in this picture, but it is the MLK memorial. BU has several known alumni from MLK to Howard Thurman to Bill O'Reilly to Howard Stern to Bill Simmons.

This has been one of my favorite spots on campus so far this semester. We've been lucky enough to have gorgeous weather so far. This place has a great gym, a fantastic library, and some cool restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, but I'm trying to take advantage of the outdoors before the long winter ahead. This space has been inviting and it's right behind my school. 

BU runs along the Charles River which is the border between Boston and Cambridge. There is a jogging/biking trail that runs along the entire river along with several parks. Its peaceful to watch the sail boats after class. 

Everyone has been concerned about how I get around. Well, the public transportation system is very well organized and simple. However, many students bike as well. The city is very bike friendly. Its been fun biking to campus. I am not planning on facing the weather though.

It has been an interesting time thus far. I look forward to the rest of my time in seminary and experiencing New England.

Autumn Festivities

Last Saturday we went to the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Leominister (pronounced leminster) which was followed by apple picking with our good friends, Zach and Kendra. It was such a blast!

I had never seen apples on trees or so many apples on the ground! And the SMELL! Oh, that was the best part! It was so fresh, crisp, clean and sweet; it smelled just like fall.

He was getting down an apple for me! :)

We split half a bushel with Zach and Kendra, gave Kendra's mom some apples and we still had more than 30 to take home! I had fun baking and Josh had fun eating! 

Today we volunteered at our church's pumpkin patch. Our church is raising money to do some renovations, and they do this every year to help fund a scholarship for a graduating senior, to give money to a navajo reservation in New Mexico and much more. Apparently this is  what the church is known for in the town of Needham, Mass. 

We got to meet some sweet families from the community and enjoy some rainy weather!

So far I sure do love Boston in the fall!

It's only been three weeks?!

So we've been in Boston for three weeks now, I'm going to catch up to where we are now!

This is the Charles River and a picture of the Boston skyline

 from a running trail near Boston University. 

Our first week consisted of cleaning and unpacking! J started school Tues. Sept 3rd. We learned to ride the T ( thats what they call the train/subway here). As I looked for a job I explored the city! The first week I went to Boston Commons and the Boston Public Library!

Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack and Quack.

These are from the popular children's book Make Way For Ducklings. I highly recommend it.  

The famous swan boats in Boston Commons.

So if you didn't know the Boston Public Library is an historic library and it's beautiful. The above three pictures are from the library. 

That Saturday Josh had a field trip for school and That Sunday the 8th we went to Carter Memorial UMC and we were greeted by so many friendly people.

The second week was a little less hectic as we started getting a routine down.  That Tuesday I started a temporary receptionist job that I'm still doing! Because of it I'm being considered for another position within the company. Fingers crossed that something comes from it!

Last Saturday, J took a break from his studies and we spent the afternoon walking the Freedom Trail and seeing downtown Boston.

The Trail starts near Boston Commons and these were painters there. I plan to join them someday this fall to capture some of the foliage!

                 

The Trail is the path that Paul Revere took as he warned that the British were coming. 

This is his grave. There are three graveyards on this trail and it's remarkable how old the grave markers are and that they are still standing. 

This is the Old North Church Steeple where the two lanterns hung

 that told Revere that the British were coming by sea. 

This is the USS Constitution a.k.a "Old Ironsides" 

It's in the navy yard that Paul Revere rode to along his path.

We got to go on board and below deck!!! SO exciting!!!

 

The Bunker Hill Monument and end of the trail. 

It was so neat to see all these historical buildings and sites that you just read about in history books.  That Sunday we went to church at Community United Methodist church, where our good friend Zach is the pastor. It was wonderful to hear him preach and meet all the great people in the congregation. They are focused on bringing the Kingdom here and now.

This past week, fall was upon us as the weather got crisp and cool!

Today, we explored Coolidge corner seeking out a new grocery store. We went to a cute little creperie where we had frozen nutella hot chocolate. and we went to a lovely old and large bookstore called booksmiths!

           

Lily is enjoying Boston too!!! :)

Boston or Bust

I have decide to join the blogging world and what better time to start than when Josh and I start on a new life season! For those who don't know we have officially moved to Boston so Josh can go to Seminary at Boston University!

I wanted to document our trip up here (even though that was alomst a month ago! Whoops!) Because it was so much fun to see family and take a cross country road trip.

So as I said, we left Texas about a month ago and have been in Boston for three weeks now! Unbelievable.  What a Whirlwind three weeks it has been!

We drove up here in a Penske truck and left Tonya and GiGi (our cars) in Texas. : (
But we also left so much more, our family and friends and church family. It's been a change, but we are so thankful for technology and how it allows us to stay connected!


Our first stop was Iowa to see Travis and Melissa and our sweet goddaughter of a niece, Ms. Makenzie! we went through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri. All the way to Iowa in one day!

 

Lily was excited to be on the road with us!  Never was a 16 hour drive more worth it! We had a blast spending time Makenzie, Travis and Melissa.

    



Next we stopped in Michigan to see my grandparents and aunt, uncles and cousins! We had a nice dinner celebrating my grandfathers birthday!

Then we made the drive all the way to Massachusetts!

Unfortunately, it was too dark to take a picture of the massachusetts state sign.... 

But in Ohio we stopped at...

and it was delightful! This was the last one we saw on the way to Massachusetts. 

We moved in August 31st and couldn't have done it without our good friends Zach and Kendra!
It rained a little on our move-in day but not nearly as much as it did on Sunday. We were so blessed to have such a safe and "Uneventful" drive. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers and help as we moved up here!

Pictures of our apartment to come!

xo,
Marcy