A lot has been taking place in our lives the past few months. We are loving every minute of our busy lives. There is just something so great about being busy with things that matter.
Our involvement with youth group has increased. We have been leading the youth hand-in-hand with our friend Aaron as interim until our new youth pastor takes the helm. We are really enjoying our time with the youth and know that it is exactly where the Lord wants us to minister right now. We have weekly youth group meetings on Sunday night, youth Lead team on Thursday nights where we meet with 6 of the youth who have a desire to lead their peers. We try and spend some quality one-on-one time with at least one person from the youth group at least once a week to build some strong relationships. On top of this Johnathon is leads the worship team on Sunday morning and our youth group worship. Very fun times doing something that matters in the Kingdom of God!
Work is growing us (I know I can speak for Johnathon on this). I love being challenged by work. Although, I don't always embrace it as I should - the challenge is good. It seems like nothing grows my character more than working with my family, friends and co-workers. I know that could be taken in a negative way, but that is not at all how I mean it. There are just so many opportunities to choose integrity, honesty and patience or the contrast, and it is in those moments where I either allow my character to grow or my flesh to celebrate in it's selfishness.
So I am grateful that the Lord is still perfecting and teaching me...what better way to know that your relationship with God is alive!
While in the midst of all this Johnathon and I are taking a leap of faith. After 2 years of trying to have biological children we have decided to pursue adoption. I cannot begin to tell you how very, very, very excited we are! We have talked about it for almost a year and researched it quite a bit but never really decided to go for it -now we are! Our plan is to adopt domestically for our first adoption. We are hoping to adopt a bi-racial baby for several reasons, but mostly because they are the least wanted...which breaks our hearts more than we can express. We our in the process of completing a very lengthy application with an agency called Bethany Christian Services. So far so good. Please be praying for us as we walk down this road. Hopefully I will be able to keep any readers that I might have up to date!
I will leave you with some fun pictures from the Bahamas.
Dear Gustav,
