for remembering

my in-loves 30th wedding anniversary

going on less common walks on those "warmer" days - meaning it's above 20 degrees

the Solitude Retreat

sending these out with lots of love

finally discovering a way to make my curls come back in this winter!

going to see our first Bulls game & sitting in $100 seats for $20! shhhhh ;)

visiting churches to call home

reaching a total of 67.4 inches of snow this winter (almost double the norm)

& were officially titled the 3rd coldest winter Chicago has ever experienced (making us true Chicago-ins, I'd say!)

making plans in prayer for the next step in our lives

our last Founder's Week

tangibly seeing the love of God displayed in the lives of our friends

hard but good conversations

witnessing gorgeous sunsets of yellows & pinks

the start of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 

& getting emotional with Drew (my favorite moment so far!)

my first time making pancakes at home (whole wheat, banana, cinnamon, & pecans included!) & Saturday brunches

Sprinkles, after two months of staying away 

cheers to a life-changing month that can't really be portrayed these pictures, but our hearts know.

Love, t Olive

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

there have been lots of outings in the cold

another trip to the Lyric Opera

gift buying & wrapping for our kids at youth group

Firecakes, another well-known Doughnut shop in Chi-Town was crossed off my visit list!

& who knew they'd have the BEST hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows! (a personal favorite)

mistletoe 

lots of cuddling

& snow galore

I love this month

Love, t Olive

bells ringing & we will sing, noel.

This week I'm guilty, because this week I just couldn't resist listening Christmas music! I've always had the "after Thanksgiving only" rule about listening to holiday tunes because differentiating Thanksgiving from Christmas has always been the norm for me. I always felt I was able to enjoy both, separately - as two different celebrations.

But this year, with these last two weeks of November and the first two weeks of December being pretty busy with school, I wanted to start celebrating now. Because when I really think about it, I am so thankful for all that God has done for me and given me; the life I have is only new and free and beautiful through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. & that is what Christmas is all about! Celebrating Christ coming to earth for us - so he could die & we could live in communion with the risen, living God. It is a beautiful celebration and I feel so thankful for it this year especially.

So let the Christmas Music begin in light of a thankful heart before God for all that He is and what that means in my life, and yours! Here are three albums I've been listening to this week constantly. They are each pretty different from each other & I love them for that because I can listen to one album after the other without feeling tired of Christmas music, if there is such a thing! What Christmas albums do you enjoy listening to during the holiday season?

favorite tracks: A Light // Christmastide // Open Up // Hope

favs: The Christmas Waltz // Little Saint Nick

favorites: O Come O Come Emmanuel // Evermore

My prayer this year in light of these months is to delight in the good gifts God has given, through delighting in Him.

Will you dwell on Jesus and who He is this holiday season? He is the reason.

Love, t Olive