Thankful

Yesterday may have been one of the best Thanksgivings of my life. And certainly one of the most special. Some of the guys got to go home for the day or a couple days, but for those that don't get to leave our addictions counselor Leslie makes a HUGE feast for everyone at one of the houses. We spent most of the day yesterday just chilling, and then went over about 4:30. Between boys, staff, and a couple families, there were around 30 people, and I can honestly say I did not think there would be leftovers. But holy dang were there ever leftovers!!! There was so much food! It was just amazing. Turkey, ham, lasagna, a gigantic green bean casserole(which, if it had been at a Gates or Kempton Thanksgiving, I can pretty much guarantee would have been finished), sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potato salad, macaroni salad...and then just as many desserts. Bree and I spent half of Tuesday baking (a highlight of my week for sure)...there were 2 apple pies, 2 pecan, 4 pumpkin, 3 cakes, and 6 batches of cookies. Let's just say our fridge is pretty full. I shouldn't really go on about the food though, because that wasn't even the best part. Just being there was one of the most amazing feelings. Whenever I told people I was going to be working the holidays this year the usual response was a sympathetic one, but I wasn't having it. I was excited. I have spent lots of holidays with my family. And they have all been great. But if you know me you know I am always up for new experiences. And this wasn't just an opportunity for a new experience. These boys, this staff, they are my family now. I feel so much love when I am at work. Love coming in from those around me, and also love going out; love that God is constantly pouring into my own heart so that I can share it with others. And that's what working the holidays is about for me this year. Some of these kids have never experienced a happy holiday. In the days and weeks leading up to yesterday I was slowly feeling myself filling up with excitement until I was almost ready to burst over the fact that I had the opportunity to show that to them. And I think we did. After we were done eating we all sat in a big circle in the living room and went around sharing things we were thankful for, and it was beautiful. Even now I am starting to become overcome with emotion. I can't believe I get paid to do this. God is so good.


In other news, I thought I would offer a little catch-up, since I've been AWOL for a minute or two. At the beginning of October Ryan, Bree and I went to LA for Bree's birthday. Hello, Disneyland!
As much as Ryan and Bree will try and disagree, it's definitely not as great as the World. I'm not hating, I'm just sayin' :) But it was tons of fun for sure. I also got to visit Azusa with them. It was awesome not only to see their campus, since I know it was a special place for each of them and it was cool to see this place that means to much to them, but it was also neat being back on a college campus again. It did make me miss Asbury though...


And God knew I would be feeling that way, because the next weekend Wes came to town!!!



He was in Monterey working at the Laguna Seca Raceway. However, our schedules made it so that the only time we both had free was from whenever he got done Saturday night until he had to be at the airport at 6am Sunday morning. Do you think that stopped us? :) Amazingly, the route from Monterey to San Fran took his van straight up the 101, which means he got dropped off less then a mile from my house, just before midnight. Poor Wes had been working like a dog all weekend, but he was able to muster up 3 more hours of energy, and boy did we make the most of i! We were able to cross 3 things off of his California list: In'N'Out, 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino (which is apparently the Apple headquarters- who knew?), and the GGB! It was an amazing 3 hours, and I definitely didn't want to let him go.

Then the weekend after that, I ran another half-marathon! Thanks to the connections of a good friend, I was given the chance to run in someone's place in the Nike Women's Half-Marathon in San Fran. And it was awesome! Not my best time, but I don't care about that. Plus it was much hillier than Louisville, so I'll give myself that. But it was such a beautiful course! Unfortunately the fog didn't completely burn off until later in the day, but while we were running it was slowly lifting, and so we saw the sun rise over a half-covered Golden Gate Bridge. It was amazing. And to top it off, Mom and Dad came up! It was the first time they'd seen me run since high school, and definitely my first marathon. It was a great weekend.

Overall, God has just been abundantly blessing me lately. Every morning I find myself waking up just busting at the seams with joy, and God is just telling me "Ok Becki, now go share it." And that's what I get to do! Every single day! And I get paid for it?! Dang.

Oh, also, I have found a church. It is amazing. I have never been so excited so consistently about going to church. But this post is getting kind of long, so I will save that for next time.

Be a Light, and remember that you are loved. :)