I have always resided in the same small city. I have many old friends, am surrounded by my family, been faithful to the same church... So to say that my recent changes have had a strong presence would be quite the understatement.

In the past three weeks my status has changed, along with my name, my home and residence, my occupation, my school, my roommates and my responsibilities.

I am now a married woman, carrying the name "Jocelyn Nicolas," living in Salem, MA alongside my husband and intentional community and soon will be attending Boston University. My days are filled with buying groceries, pinching pennies and cleaning and cleaning and cleaning...

But the change is so good, and everyday I am reminded that I am blessed immeasurably.

So, here is my blank canvas. Here is my fresh start. This truly is the beginning of the rest of my life.

And things are going well! We both recently found jobs: Aaron at Forever 21 and I at a local coffee shop called "Jaho Coffee and Tea" and leading Turbo Kick at the local YMCA.

After our first week in Salem, we are finally starting to really feel moved and settled in. We have chosen to begin our life by living in Charisma House: an intentional community started last summer, when Aaron and his brother first began this whole adventure. Charisma House is composed of my brother-in-law, Cody Nicolas, Bryan Bull of Grant, MI, and Brian Lepire from around these parts. The company has been a great blessing- we can already see that there are going to be innumerable opportunities for good, growth, and betterment as a result.

This is the setting that our story will be staged to; this is where it all starts. Things are already moving quickly and we continue to eagerly anticipate all that is soon coming. And although we miss our friends and families immensely, we have never before been so confident that we truly are in the center of God's will.

Here we go!