a new beach

Lately our weekends have been filled with going out and doing! Sometimes, it's easy to become lazy on your off days and want to stay home and binge watch your favorite shoes like House of Cards for example!! (it's getting crazy!) But for us, getting to know new places is always exciting and we've been embracing these on the go weekends like nothing else!

One of the the things on my to-do list while living in Cali. is to visit most of the beaches in So Cal. We've been to about 10 so far, and Ocean Beach has been the newest one added to our "been there" list. I just loved the sunset that day...

 OB Pier is the longest concrete pier on the West Coast! We weren't expecting it to be so windy so we didn't walk all the way down the pier that night (G was freezing without a sweater!) but we'll be making another trip during the day to see how it feels to be in so far into the ocean! Loved it!

day to day

Here's to life lately, and remembering the goodness God brings.

a downtown date

I remember the days when "daily-dating" was our thing. Almost every night g and I would go for walks in Chicago that sometimes meant going out to eat, or sitting by the lake, or just wandering around the city to explore. It would go on for hours sometimes, and we both loved our walks. To me, it always felt like we were on dates as we walked hand in hand, hence the term, daily-dating came to be.

Since moving to SD, working till 11p.m. halted our night time walks from happening, but every month we make sure to make our way down town to do some exploring and get to know our current city. These are some snippets from a night of walking around Seaport Village...

*Not pictured: a passion fruit margarita and free cheesecake. Thanks, Lord!

w i n t e r b e a c h d a z e

After turning on our heat most nights since December, and freezing in our chilly apartment, you could say we've been counting down till our first beach day for a while now. This winter actually felt like winter in Cali. which was nice for a few weeks. but the little Californian in me was craving the warm sun and breeze. Well, little did I know a beach day would come around in the first week of February! The sun was warm, and the waves were calm and steady. It's officially been summer weather these past few days and were soaking them all up in case they go away. :)

and a few selfies.... couldn't choose a favorite!

Thankful for the beach, a warm breeze and a marriage whose foundation brings us to our knees.

words from the wiser: 15 prayers

After reading through John Piper's 15 prayers for God's power, I was "mmming" and "yesing" through most! May we never forget that when we are in relationship with an Almighty, Powerful, and present God, He not only listens to our prayers but does miracles through them. 

Loving when you are constantly rejected is a miracle.
Having compassion when directly dealing with injustice is a miracle.
Returning good for evil is a miracle!

I pray for all these miracles to flourish in my life. These are the prayers that spoke to me most:

   * Lord, make me so mighty in war that I defeat every impulse in my soul that destroys peace (Hebrews 12:14; Romans 14:19; Matthew 5:9).

   * Lord, make me so mighty in my hardness against bitterness that tenderness of heart is not destroyed by wounds (Hosea 11:8; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8).

   * Lord, make my trunk and branches so mightily tough and impervious to wind and drought that I never cease to bear the fruit of gentleness (Galatians 5:23; James 3:17;1 Peter 3:4).

   * Lord, make me so mighty in serpentine discernment that I see every opening for dove-like love (Matthew 10:16).

   * Lord, make me so mightily unmoved by the sting and deceits of injustice against me that I may feel and show the miracle of undeserved compassion (Luke 10:23;15:20; Hebrews 10:34; 1 Peter 3:8).

   * Lord, make me so mighty in resisting the bait of frenzied productivity that I never cease to enjoy the still waters of prayer and your sweet presence (Psalm 23:2;Isaiah 46:10; Luke 10:42).

   * Lord, make me so mighty in seeing and mighty in savoring the promises of your sovereign grace that in all my sorrows I might never cease to sing your praise (Matthew 5:11-12; Acts 16:25; 2 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Peter 4:13).

To read the 15 prayers click HERE

I hope you're blessed and encouraged by God's grace in your life today. Even if you don't feel Him, rest in the assurance that He says He will never leave or forsake YOU. (Ps. 37:28; Rom. 8:31)