sundaygrams

this weekend, love looked like

a 2 hour car trip just to be together

taking a detour to visit one of our spots

making meatloaf for dinner

stopping at the bookstore to run an errand

butting heads, but resolving to work it out

lots of prayer

an early morning church service

spending the day apartment hunting and spending more time praying for our future

buying a latte

proofreading my thesis

pushing the grocery cart

standing in line at the theater for an hour

sneaking coffee into the movies

holding hands during the sermon

talking about the things God is doing in our life

registering

realizing our wedding day/night is less than 100 days away

grabbing mission slip letters from the church office

stealing kisses

2 years ago, i gave my first kiss to this man, a kiss i'd been saving for my whole life - i think at this moment i said, 'aren't you glad i'm a much better kisser now than i was then?' ;]

putting his hand on my knee while i drove and he read

and learning how to love more selflessly.

the greatest thing about love is that it chooses you, and you choose it in return - every day, every hour, no matter what.

standing at the spot where T asked me to be his girl over 2 years ago!

i hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

day 45

this weekend was absolutely wonderful, mostly thanks to you. 

remember that one time, we invited some friends over for dinner, but somehow they didn't get the message that they were actually going to eat dinner with us? and i made that pasta, you know, the one you love, and then we awkwardly ate in front of them while they watched us eat (because they had just eaten, you know). everything about that was awkward, and if it had just been me, i would have felt weird all night, but covered it up with the awkward things that come out of my mouth and my silly smiles. thank you for laughing so easily, for making situations better just by being there, for being funny, and just for being yourself. i really was super bummed that i put so much time and heart into making that dinner to share and then half of it got tossed into tupperware for leftovers. oh well. we now have a good story. 

on saturday, i attended Brandness (which was SO good), and which i will be sharing more about later. thank you for supporting me in things like that, and for giving up a saturday with me so i could go chase my dreams. and then, as if you weren't already wonderful enough, you answered the phone while i was stuck in LA traffic with a, "hi love, can i take you out to dinner tonight?" you slay me. 

remember that one time we talked for hours about life and our big God and the part He plays in our life? well, that time I talked and you listened, for a long time. bless your heart (no, but seriously). and thanks for not making me feel like a total weirdo when i asked you if i could get fries as a pre-appetizer. i was sohungry. 

sunday was the perfect sunday. also, you know what rocks? you asked me out on a sunday, then we got engaged on a sunday, and we're getting married on a sunday too. sundays are by far, my favorite days with you. 

and by the way, my arm feels like a limp rag. 2 hours of basketball and racquetball will do that to you. 

sundays // things are changing

happy monday, friends! i hope you all had a happy weekend, and for us southern californians, that you survived the heat (yet, again - seriously, we're ready for fall). 

yesterday was one of those special sundays - some of it good, some of it just different. about once a month, i get a chance to lead worship during our main service and i absolutely LOVE it - especially when i get to lead with my sweet friend Rachel! it is such a blessing to lead others in music, and it is my heart that God would be glorified through those times and that i would simply become an instrument He uses. we sang the most amazing song yesterday - have you heard David Crowder's new song "After All (Holy)"? oh man, go look it up and listen. i was humming it for the rest of the day. 

church had a sense of anticipation over it yesterday, because just this past week, we received a letter announcing our senior pastor's resignation. after serving as the senior pastor for 20 years and attending Bethany for 31 years, this is a huge change; but, i have a certain peace that God is in control. my heart just grieves along with them as they leave the family they love and know so well and step into new things. but God is good, and He has mighty things in store, i'm sure. my respect for our pastor and his family increased yesterday. he and his wife both showed so much grace and wisdom as they communicated with us and explained their situation. we are so lucky to have served under them for such a long time.

but for the next 6 weeks, we have a few last chances to hear from our pastor, and i am so looking forward to the wisdom and reminders he will impart on us in his last few sundays! yesterday, we continued walking through James and were challenged not to show favoritism - that was convicting. it is easy and feels so comfortable to spend time with people you know. but Jesus was all about loving the unloved. i pray we would all have eyes to see those He would love, and not only those that are easy to love.

i am also grateful to be a part of a church that is so sensitive to God's will and constantly seeks growth. we aren't afraid of change and are led by a team that never makes decisions selfishly, but always in accordance with God's heart. this year has been full of many blows, but we are stronger. if our goal is to love God more deeply and know Him more fully, we cannot be shaken. 

yesterday was not one of those restful sundays, but instead included a lot of church work - continuing to organize the women's retreat and plan this semester was the college leadership team as well. but still, it was so good. i am so thankful to be a part of such a vibrant community and for all of the opportunities God has given me to serve. i can't wait to see what He has in store.

God is good, and i feel good. but there are things in life that really aren't good right now. heavy, tough things. spiritual attack. strained friendships. honesty that needs to happen. i am praying firmly for wisdom and discernment, and for moments of rest in these next few weeks - quiet moments that i will wisely spend with my Jesus. 

xoxo,

deb