I have been home sick the past few days. Not really dramatically sick, but just generally yucky and run down physically, spiritually and emotionally. It is good to take a "recuperation" when you really need it!
I am loving that Fall has finally arrived and I hope it is here to stay until Winter - no more of these sunny, shiny days for me, please. Don't get me wrong; I love Summer. But I love each of the seasons in their uninterrupted, glorious passages and prefer not to revert back to the one on which the page was just turned. But I digress...
So far, Fall has been a whirlwind of activity! I am busier than I'd like to be with school, debate team, Life Group, the community garden, Church, and whatever else gets cooked up in all my "free time"! I do love the ministry and outreach opportunities God has put in our lives like the garden and a variety of other church projects. I am also extremely blessed by our Life Group - a Bible study-esque group of about 8 of us who meet weekly, if not more often, for fellowship, prayer, food, and community. We are really becoming a new little family and I absolutely love it!
Gabe continues to work on his website venture idea from home. It is sparking some interest, which is good, and we are praying that God will truly bless the project. Please keep praying that God will give him strength and guidance career-wise.
We would also covet your prayers for our direction as a team. I have been feeling God leading me away from the school I currently teach at, but I do not yet know where the new landing place will be. I am not worried or nervous - kind of excited actually, but this school year has been quite difficult for me in a few areas, and I need God's strength just to make it through. Please pray for endurance and contentment!
God has been putting missions on Gabe's heart recently, but at this point that is all we have to go on. We have been praying for God to guide and direct, and soon we will start "knocking on doors" to see where God will lead us. Its funny - normally I would hastily jump at the idea of going back onto the mission field, but at this point I'd be just as content to stay here in Long Beach. I'm plenty content to follow God if He leads us somewhere else as well, I just haven't been this content with my present placement in quite some years. We do have a pretty awesome community here!
My little cousin, Katie, is getting married this Saturday and we are SO excited for her and Ryan! They have an awesome story and are an incredible example of God's faithfulness to His children's prayers. We couldn't be more happy or blessed to have Ryan become a part of our family.
We will be spending Thanksgiving at my parent's house with the usual and growing variety of attendees. I love how our Thanksgiving celebration seems to grow each year and I love that my parents are open and willing to host for whomever needs a warm place and people to celebrate with. My mom and I (and Gabe, if I can get him up!) plan on shopping bright and early - 5 a.m. - to hit all the great Black Friday Sales...I am such an adrenaline junkie when it comes to this, its ridiculous! I just have to get THE deal!
Other than this, we are just taking life one day at a time - learning how to live with and love each other better, as Christ would have us do. Marriage is certainly not a stroll in the park! It is a strenuous hike up a mountainside. But the view from the top is most certainly amazing and more rewarding than any view you'd get on an old park stroll. So, I think I'll keep on hiking.
Beth and her ladies before the ceremony
