Joy in the Journey: September 2015

Hello friends and family!

It's been a while since my last post so this post has great potential to be filled with random thoughts :) Let's start with a recap of recent events.

Life is so good. I have SO much to be thankful for! First of all, being married to Alex is such a dream come true! We're learning a lot about each other, about how to combine two lives, about how to be in full time ministry together, and about this whole thing called "adulthood" :) I'm so absolutely, totally, thankful and amazed that I get to learn all of this with Alex...THE Alex! He's such a sweet hubby and takes such good care of me. I'm so thankful I get to help make his dreams come true and he wants to make my dreams come true.

Ministry life has been a huge part of our lives in this new season of marriage. Today marks 3 months of being in ministry here in WA and Wednesday marks 4 months of being married. God has done so many fantastic things in the youth and worship ministry during our time here and we know He will continue to do His work! We've been busy with youth services, Bible studies, boat parties, paint days (for the youth rooms), guys and girls nights, bowling fun, outreaches, foot ball game, and hangouts with our youth students. It's been so neat to build relationships with the students and see the enthusiasm they have for the youth ministry. Ministry definitely keeps us busy but it is totally what God has created us for! We are passionate about it and love getting to be in ministry together!

In addition to ministry life, I've been loving being a homemaker! :) I so enjoy cooking, baking, keeping out home tidy, decorating our home, and making it feel cozy and welcoming. It's such a blessing to hear Alex say how much he loves coming home and being home. We've really enjoyed having lots of company between friends and family from out of town and also hosting get togethers for our church family. My heart is so happy to be a homemaker and wife :)

I've been told by multiple people that I'm an over-thinker lol. This personality trait totally has both strengths and weaknesses. Anyhow, here's a conglomeration of some thoughts I've been processing lately:

1. I'm an imperfect perfectionist. Perhaps some of you can relate. Alex has certainly helped me in overcoming this (I still have a lot to learn). We had a conversation the other day about how I'm constantly trying to make myself better, my relationships better, my home better, etc. He gently but honestly said "You're going to drive yourself crazy and burn yourself out eventually". Wow. True. Aiming to be perfect is a ridiculous goal since it's absolutely impossible. 2 Cor. 12:9 is a great reminder for those who are perfectionists "But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Lord help me to aim to honor you, all the while resting in Your grace, and not aim to be perfect. Lord help me to aim to love others, not aim to please them.

2. As I begin forming new relationships, maintain old ones, and re-unite with previous ones, I'm learning more about how messy relationships are. People are each designed SO uniquely and differently. I was raised one way; they were raised another. Their norm is far different from my own. I say and mean one thing; they interpret a completely different thing. I'm thankful for differences because when we learn from each other's differences, we become stronger/more rounded individuals. My "clock ticks" by pleasing others. But there's a major problem with that: pleasing everyone is completely impossible! However, that's not an excuse to give up on aiming to love others and bring them happiness. I've come to several conclusions: 1. If my conscience is clear that my intentions in how I'm interacting with others is out of love and with a good heart, then God is honored. 2. Try to see things from other's perspective - no matter how "off" it may seem to me. 3. I will hurt people; people will hurt me - Jesus, forgiveness and grace are the answers to healing and reconciliation. If forgiveness is something you are struggling with (as I have at times) I encourage you to be honest with Jesus about the hurt in your heart. Sometimes, we'll never get the apology we long for, but give that to Jesus too. It's not someone else's apology that will heal hurt, it's Jesus who heals. I also encourage you to listen to "Losing" by Tenth Avenue North and "Forgiveness" by Matthew West. I love this line of "Forgiveness": "So, let it go and be amazed By what you see through eyes of grace, The prisoner that it really frees is you

Well there's the latest update and some thoughts that hopefully will encourage you. Here are some pictures of recent happenings! God bless!