New Years Eve!

We're highlighting 2014 with a grainy video, full of love. It sure was a good one!

We lived through one of the coldest winters in Chicago's history.

Welcomed so many friends into our home.

Had a dream photo shoot with fabianephotography.

Fought for our marriage like never before, and grew so much because of it.

Both graduated from Moody Bible Institute.

Traveled more than ever before;VA, CA, and Rio being our highlights!

and moved to Southern California.

These are only a few blessings from our year. We are so thankful!

a SoCal Christmas

This. Our first Christmas away from our families. It was strange and new and lovely all at the same time. Strange, not being with our loved ones in Jersey for the Christmas Eve service at church and dinner afterwards. Plus, opening gifts at my parents home then going back to Tia Ana's for lunch together again Christmas day. New, celebrating over three days. First, with the kids on the 23rd, then with my Tia and Tio on the 24th, and finally with a fabulous couple on the 25th whose lifestyle is traveling the world. Pretty fabulous right? Lovely, because we had breakfast outside all week and celebrated the incarnation of Christ together. May this be the first of many warm Christmases, and to next year - when we have our families near by. Oh I'm hopeful!

Christmas Eve sunset

 Tia made us an amazing dinner! Afterwards, we got ready to go to a candlelight service at a church g and I ended up disliking a lot. Let's just say, it was a church where you don't have to believe in Jesus or the Bible or anything really. We made the most out of the situation and by playing with our candles. Opps. :)

 Christmas morning!

just taking it all in.

We love Bob & Mary! They've traveled to over 100 countries in their lifetime and are still going strong. #rolemodels

nap time.

a special one

A little post celebrating nothing short of a miraculous day.

Romans 8:28-39 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He is faithful! May we never forget God's tangible love towards us.

daily-dating by the sea

Now that I think about it, the term "daily-date" came to me during our second summer in Chicago. We really cherished summer time! Nothing compared to time off from school and busy schedules, plus warm days for three and a half months because winter in Chicago meant hibernation for 4-5 months which becomes pretty tiring really fast. When it gets to the point where you'd rather not have food at home then go walking a few blocks in the cold to get it - you are beyond ready for the temps to rise. So summers meant freedom on multiple levels. 

Fittingly, our favorite thing to do in the summertime was walk, for hours sometimes, up and down the city. It became a daily activity we grew to love so much because it was on those walks that there was space to talk out our feelings of excitement, fear, frustration, tenderness - everything! There were tears shed, so many laughs laughed, and pure vulnerable love given to each other because there were no rooms to hide in or papers to focus on, or classes to attend. It was just us in the middle of a big city, and being together was enough. It became enough. So soon, our evenings began to feel like simple dates turned "daily-dates" and it is still one of our favorite things to do together.

Being water lovers, we would often stop by the lake before coming home. Now, transitioning to a new west coast lifestyle we've been spoiled to be able to continue our daily dates by the sea, one of our favorite places to be. Here is one of our daily dates by the ocean, accompanied by some Brazilian goodies we found right in downtown Huntington. Honestly, the coxinhas weren't great, but let me tell you, my company sure was.

joyeux

I LOVE our Christmas card this year because it is so fitting of the past 365 days. We choose this card for many reasons. For one, we've traveled more than ever this year so finding something in French reflected that highlight for us. Two, in the stresses and trails God has continued to guide us back to more and more joy. In many ways this was our hardest, but best year. In the studying, traveling, landing new jobs, leaving old jobs, struggling to find a church to call home, working out our marriage and faith - in it all, God gave joy and hope. So we love this card! It's a testimony to God's great goodness and love. And for the first time, the front doesn't read "Merry Christmas" like the last three do. Sweet victory! (see our 2011, 2012, and 2013 Christmas cards HERE)

Hey Myra! She loves getting in on the holiday action.

Since I probably won't be getting back to the blog until then, Merry Christmas everyone! Our hearts desire is for the love of Christ to always bring you joy, in the struggling and the prospering. We thank you Jesus for hope, for joy, and for salvation in You. For becoming a man and relating to us in the most personal way possible. Emmanuel, God with us; we love you.

west is best: our first week

Unbelievably...it's three days till Christmas, we've been in Cali. for almost one week and my birthday has already come and gone. OH MY GOODNESS! Time, you are one slick creature of God. Thinking of time as a creature is so much fun btw! Think about it, God created time! Anywaysssssss we have been loving the Cali. life so far, although it still feels like we're on vacation and that we should be on a plane back to 30 degree weather in Chi any day now. But there's no ticket back and we're here in the 60's! Really, it feels like a dream. We love being in the LA area because there is so much to do and see. From dreamy sunsets at the beach to celebrity sightings - a lot has happened the past six days. On the constant, I have been snapping pictures on my iPhone of everything because I never want to forget our first week in the west coast; these pictures symbolize God's faithfulness to us once more and bits & pieces of our first few days.

* Huntington Beach *

I was VERY excited to be driving around Huntington! The beachy vibes in December throw me off in the best way.

 One afternoon we didn't have the car, we wandered through California State nearby Tia Ro's.

We found a cute Japanese garden on campus that had such charm

pre-birthday boat ride around Naples, then dinner the next night at Tia's favorite Mexican place which was amazing! Not pictured: having my first drink in years & getting pretty dizzy afterwards. :)

the sunset that night, to die for.

* 24th in Laguna Beach *

24  24  24  24  24  24  24  24  24  24  24

With quick pics before hitting the road. 

<3

My one birthday request was going to the beach, so G had the idea to spend the day in Laguna. Yep, he's so wise! Cold weather babies will relate (who grew up in true four seasons states) that being able to not not shiver on your day is a gift within itself! Adding the beach, to me, makes it perfection.

Accidental picture turned favorite,

Lunch at my favorite restaurant in Laguna, with a view.

After driving down the PCH during sunset we stopped at Huntington to get our toes in the sand.

* Sunday funday in Hollywood *

 One Church International in the a.m. As we were walking toward the entrance G sees Common outside talking casually to people walking out of the first service! Talk about being star-struck! When in Hollywood... :)

The Grove in the p.m.

^  This store. So expensive, and the clothes so gorgeous! ^

reallyyyyy wanted to take this pink hat home with me. But in best anthro fashion, we wait for a sale.

Trying on glasses in the Toms booth! Loved these.

Of course we found amazing Brazilian BBQ in the middle of the Grove with a long line out the door. Oh, we waited!

Week one, we liked you a lot. 

Andddd it's almost Christmas! Jingle bells, jingle bells...