love, the olives: moments to remember so far in december

Like so many others, I love the month of December. It's a month of so much love, joy, celebration, snow, & of course - Christmas! Not to mention, a birthday 5 days before (yay!) Things over here in Chi-town have been busy with finishing up the semester & making lots of decisions that will impact 2014. Just this week so many changes & experiences have happened! I was a little apprehensive about what 2014 would hold with so many changes, but now I am so excited for what's to come & all that God has in store.

This past weekend I decided to apply to be in leadership for a Pre-Counseling student group at Moody called The Movement. I had been thinking about applying for a couple of semesters because I wanted to connect with other people in my major more but I did not feel ready to join. Being committed to our marriage, school, work, & ministry at Rogers Park Baptist church, I knew I simply did not have time. But in going into Senior year, I wanted my Moody experience to be better. I wanted to immerse myself more in the community & be more part of it! So, I applied. & guess what? I ran into the leader of the Movement 2 days later & she told me that I was in! Oh my goodness, I tried to not look too excited when she said that but I am so exited!

The downside to being a part of the Movement was having to leave the youth group we've been serving for the past 2 years. It was a hard and long decision G & I had to make, but we both felt it was time for us to go & connect to a church that was closer to us. I love those kids, & I hope they truly know that!

Naomi, Danae, Dafney, Tyrone, Brandon, BaeBae, & Nick - it was such an honor to hang out with you these past 2 years! We love you!

Change.

There are so many ways to look at changes in life, but we all face them. For us change will mean G working full-time next year & looking into schools to apply for, for his Masters Program. For me it'll mean starting Senior year working less hours & being more involved in school. Also, looking for an internship & eventually starting one to work on throughout the Summer. For us, it'll mean searching for a church to call home in Chicago & discovering new ways to love each other & spend time together with new schedules.

So many changes are to come, & I'm glad I can be hopeful about them because I know that God is with us - leading us & sustaining us & caring for us along the way. He is Emmanuel, God with us!

I wanted to have more posts to savor this beautiful transitional month, but since that did not happen (opps!) here are some photos of what we've been up to lately, according to our iPhone's , of course! lol