With and For

To say it has been a while is true. The last several months of our lives have provided lots of stories that cannot be categorized and retold here but here’s our effort to give a summary of our beautiful and life changing summer in San Francisco.

We were again doing a summer in a new community as part of our job at YouthWorks – a youth missions organization. Essentially we facilitated week long service projects for high schoolers in the city of San Francisco. We ran children’s programs, volunteered at various places such as St. Anthony’s, San Francisco Food Bank, Glide Memorial Church and Page Street Baptist Center to name a few. We were part of a team of 4 which eventually turned into 5. We were joined by three midwest woman – Maria, Martha and Emma. They were lots of fun, challenged us to see things differently and a huge of support to our marriage. 

In this new season of learning about the city we had to learn how to DO ministry and BE ministering to new faces around us. It was difficult at first to see what this was going to look like. We had a lot growing moments; living on the floor of a church building that was used almost constantly,  leading a team of people who were experiencing a brand new chapter in their lives, and well, just learning how to be husband and wife in the midst of it all.

It was a big learning curve for us, but one that we are both thankful for. 

In the beginning of this season we were also extremely surprised by something that neither of us expected (in the least bit-for sure), well, not at least for a few years. About 2 weeks into the summer, I (Theresa) started feeling a bit strange in my eatings habits. The biggest one being  that I started to be someone I never wanted to be-I started hating coffee. Which, we thought was just weird. Really, Tom nor I really understood why. Until we finally gave into our suspicions and bought a home pregnancy test. And sure enough, it was +! In the small staff bathroom of this church in San Fran, we were standing there shocked. Laughing a little and crying a little bit too, we couldn’t really believe it at first. 

Thankfully, the shock has since warn off and throughout our summer, we had a lot of support from each other and others. Which was a huge blessing. 

We finished off the summer well and had a lot of fun yet challenging moments. Both of us missing home quite a bit, it has been so great to come home to Minneapolis and be among friends, family, community, our neighborhood, etc. 

In this new, undetermined season of becoming parents, we are quite aware of the fact that we don’t know much about what is ahead. So, we take it day by day and live in the belief that most days are filled with small things, small beginnings, small moments of joy and a lived-out hope that rests in love that is freely given.

Here are a few pics of what we have been doin’:

 Road Trip to PA for a good friends’ wedding. It was in a barn, how could we miss out?

BEFORE

AFTER