The Bookends

God has called us to California. We want to share our experience, live, as it happens.

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Retreats

So I just got home from a 3 day retreat in Idyllwood CA and can I just say how awesome God is? It was such an awesome experience to bond with my new church community in such a peaceful place. It was also very informative with information on how to be closer to God. 

I'm so thankful to be part of a youth group where i can feel completely safe and secure in who I am, Like forreal, I'm super weird and they liked me. 

whoa 

anyways 

it was awesome, long story short! 

-Maggie

P.S school starts monday. help

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Plugging In.

I've been here for a month.

crazy. 

God has already been changing me, right here right now. I don't want that to stop. I don't want anything getting in the way of this momentum. God is just placing blessing after blessing into my lap. From intentional placement awesome new friends in my life, to being blessed by the students I GET to serve. What an honor. Seriously. To have a calling, greater than I could have planned for myself, all for God's glory and the advancement of His Kingdom. 

I feel it. 

This week has been massive emotionally. Lots of ups, lots of downs. & Yet, God is still good y'all. 

I am severely blessed. I feel it when hanging out with new friends, playing drums with the students in the youth group, worshiping till I get a raspy voice, getting a new job. The blessings of saying yes to God's plan for me is seeping into every aspect of my life, everything is being provided for. All my desires, because God cares.

He actually cares. 

He cares that I wanted and needed friends. That I needed and wanted a job to continue my studies. That my passion for music is a gift from him that he wants to use me in that way.

I'm blown away. Every time I feel the sweet southern california breeze blow on my face with the forecast being sunny with a high of 75. 

God is so good.

-Amber

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Mexico Trip summer 2013 with the Vineyard Anaheim Youth

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Mexico Missions

This past week I got the privilege to journey down to Baja California, Mexico to hang out with the Vineyard Anaheim Youth and serve the people in Mexico. God had made it clear he wanted me to go by clearing up my schedule, allowing me to commit to the week of travel and serving. We served at an orphanage in Rosarita, called Door of Faith. The shocker for me was just how crazy and sad it was that so many children could be orphans. Without parents. People in my life that I personally take for granted. Loving on these kids with the Students was awesome, they are beyond cute and have amazing sweet little hearts to serve. Nothing builds relationships better than getting dirty and loving on the lost. Came back to california valuing the luxury of flushing toilet paper and budding friendships with the students in the youth group here. 

Mexico always trips me up because seeing the poverty and how it relates to my family. My grandma grew up in similar conditions, she was fortunate to have parents, but still lived her life with a dirt floor house with no guarantee of eating every day. Feeding a neighborhood who has a life like the one my Grandma had was so humbling, I am so blessed and God is so good. 

My heart kind of hurts right now. but God is, and will always be, so so so so good. I have a good life, good friends, and again a good God! S

Prayer requests for me would be in my studies as I pretty much always have a test coming up it seems ha. And also just for my anxious heart. Anxiety is the worst. 

I'm continuing to push into God's plan for my life here in California, I see lots of light even when darkness tries to prevail. Mercy triumphs over judgement y'all.

-Amber

  ps stay tuned for pics from mexico

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our cousin David got married this past weekend, took advantage of dressing up

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ALSO

I don't write as much as Amber, so stay tuned for less ^.^

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Schools out for never

so it's the last day of july, signifying  a month in California (woop woop) but also, the end of my summer. it's been a crazy transition and I'm missing texas but also super excited about the future. I've very recently (today) started taking courses on learning how to write code. It's something I really enjoy doing. I'm excited to take this year head on! 

SCHOOL IS IN 12 DAYS AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING OR WHAT TO WEAR. whateva. praying for patience haha

FROM THE DEPTHS OF FIRST DAY JITTERS 

-Maggie

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1st baptism sunday at Vineyard Anaheim! 

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We said goodbye to one of our books today. She's movin back to the lone star state to finish up her senior year. We breathe in the fresh 75 degree california air and don't completely understand why, but God always has a plan and makes all things work together for our good. We'll miss ya Elise!

Y'all come back now ya hear?

-Amber&Maggie

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Onward to new adventures

We've been in Cali for almost a month now and I love it a lot. I've made a couple friends, though none as strong as my pals back in Texas. It's kinda lonely out here, with your friends far away and two hours ahead but i'm looking forward to the genuine friendships that are coming my way. 

I don't write as much as Amber obvs but stay tuned for more because I'm sick right now and my brain feels like lime jello :)

ttfn

-Maggie

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California, here we are

Within the recent weeks from our transition of Texas to California, theres an emphasis on our move of a calling. My family and myself, do indeed feel called by God to live in southern California. That statement is loaded with crazy depth. There were many hours poured into prayer and talks with God on whether leaving our lives in Texas, ones we have invested in for ten years, and moving to California and starting all over again was really part of God's plans for our lives not only as a family, but individually. And personally, it was a massive decision. Before I left for England, I felt a strong sense that God was going to reveal where He wanted me to go. And that couldn't have been more God, I was overwhelmed by the sureness and also just this new reliance of faith as I felt the calling to step out and move to California. I think both tears and excitement were shared as we prepared for the journey ahead. I am blessed beyond belief by the people I left behind in Sugar Land, Texas. They are and were a massive part of my life. However, I am also super stoked for this plan for my life that God is revealing little bits to me everyday. So far in California I have spent time with the youth guys, getting to know them. Talked more about what this year is going to look like, resulting in loads of youth involvement. And of course the National Conference held right here at Vineyard Anaheim. Thats a whole other blog post.

Basically, God is good. So incredibly good. And I can't wait to dive into this year and this plan He has in store for me, for us! I am thrilled to be doing this along side not only y'all but my sister who will be blogging right along side me. We will be doing frequent posting whether that be entries, pictures, videos, the works. But I just had God place it on my heart to open up the blog side of my life again, to have a community involved with not only what we're doing but what God's doing in our lives. This blog is to keep y'all updated, and also to keep us in your prayers because God does listen. He loves to listen to his children. 

so this is my story, and I'm sticking to it

-Amber