In the last week or so, I have been through a roller coaster of emotions, ranging from happiness, to loneliness, to excitement, to intense sadness, and everything in between. I knew that this adventure would be difficult, so I can't say I'm surprised. But I wasn't looking forward to the sad times. My birthday was last Sunday--and I realized I didn't have any friends nearby to spend it with. That made me sad. Daniel and I wanted to meet some friends in Syracuse on Monday for a movie--but without a babysitter we couldn't do it. I have said out loud more than once this past week, "I want to go back home." But even as the words left my mouth, I knew I wouldn't, even if I had the chance. There is nowhere to go but forward, and so forward we will go.

And tomorrow is Thanksgiving. And I realize I have a lot to be thankful for. We have a church full of people in Watertown (not to mention elsewhere) praying for us and loving us. I got more birthday cards in the mail this year than I have ever gotten!! So far, God is providing each and every need (and then some). We have a beautiful family, an exciting calling in our lives, and a sense of mission to fulfill. We serve an awesome God who leads us with love, even through the tough times. No one said adventure was going to be easy--if it were easy, would it really be an adventure?

Please pray:

Have a safe, thankful, restful Thanksgiving leading into the Advent season.

P.S.--Here's a cool blog of daily Advent devotions to check out as we move into the Advent season. There is also a great article by Rob Bell on Advent in the latest issue of Relevant Magazine. Here's a link to the digital mag, the article starts on pages 80-81 of the digital copy. Enjoy!