Just Smile
and
Have a Good Day

As I look back over the last week I realize that I was reminded by many people to always remember your why.  Why do you do what you do every day?  Why do you make the choice every day to get out of bed?  Let’s face it, there are a lot of things in our world today that can seem overwhelming. To be honest, there are days that I do not even want to get out of bed, because I know that the day will be hard, but then I remember my why,  “To live a life that has an impact on others, that will impact their day in a way that points to the love of Jesus.”  This is what gets me out of bed even when I don’t want to.  

This week saw many changes in our life here in Dallas with the students arriving and starting school for Kelly on Wednesday.  She had a full week of work and 3 days with students.  As any educator, parent, or child knows, the start of school brings on so many changes in life after a summer full of many different activities and usually less structured days.  These changes come with excitement, fear, anxiety, and all sorts of other emotions, but change, although sometimes hard, is good because change causes growth.  Kelly got to see students come in on day one to a new school and leave on Friday already more comfortable with a new environment.  Kelly is also starting to find her flow and gets a great “workout” on top of it.  The schedule and layout of her day keeps her bouncing between classes on all three floors and she logs many steps.  Most days her watch tracks anywhere from 4 to 5 miles just in her day of teaching.  She has found her new job very rewarding and she feels very blessed to have such a great school to work for.  The travel to and from school is becoming more familiar and traffic has not been too bad so we are thankful for that.

I took this last week before my classes start to continue building routines of study and getting a jump on the many books I get to read this semester.  The required reading books are 16 and the list of recommendations, I didn’t count, as it seemed too long to consider, but I have set a good schedule for completing daily tasks and requirements.  I’ve been taking walks in the early mornings when it is cool (anything under triple digits is cool now!) and I’m so humbled to walk around campus and see the names on the walls of buildings of the great men of God who have laid the foundation of studying here. I am so blessed to have this great opportunity.  I also attended a local basketball officiating association meeting and got signed up for some preseason workouts with other officials.  That felt very good to bring some of my normal habits and hobbies to my day and I’m looking forward to getting to connect with a whole new group of people.

The highlight of the week was yesterday (Friday) with the Convocation Chapel Service here at DTS.  I had the afternoon of new student orientation and then Kelly joined me for the evening. It was such an amazing opportunity to hear from many of the leaders here at DTS talk about how excited they are to see what God will do this year through the work of His people.  Dr. Yarbrough, the President of DTS, spoke about keeping the goal in front of you at all times…the goal of growing and knowing our God at a deeper level.  He referenced Phillipians 3:12-14.  I especially love Phillipians 3:13 “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it on my own.  But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”   

We are learning more and more each day that this journey in life cannot be done on our own. We need people who will come alongside us and support us, sometimes physically, sometimes financially, and always in prayer.  We need to do that for others as well.  Sometimes it is stepping out of our comfort zone to go meet the new neighbor, reaching out to someone to go grab a cup or coffee or calling that person that is on your heart.  Other times it is accepting the offer to go to supper with someone (even though you are exhausted at the end of the day) or taking time to accept the invitation to grab a cup of coffee, even though the deadline for the project is fast approaching.  Simple steps of connecting with those people in your circle every day are little ways that we can have an impact on others and allow others to impact us.  

So as we wrap up week number four in our journey of moving and settling in Dallas to start this next chapter in our journey, we want to take a moment to say Thank You to all of you who have in some way supported us throughout our journey.  We continue to look forward to what lies ahead in our desire to walk faithfully with Him.  I have always loved the verse Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” As we continue to faithfully follow Him we pray that you too will seek to strive toward what lies ahead and find your “why” for each day, that  your why will give you the joy and energy to get out of bed each morning with a renewed spirit of hope and joy, because today is the day the Lord has made.  

Below are a few prayer requests that we would ask for your continued prayers for:

• I start classes Monday at 8am.  Everyone I talk to that has been here for a year or two takes a step back when I tell them my class schedule.  Pray that I can stay dedicated to my studies and devote the time each day to them.
• The sale of our home back in WI.  We do have an accepted offer, so please pray that this one will go through smoothly and that we can close quickly.
• Travel logistics to fall in place for a quick trip back to WI for Labor Day weekend to see family as we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first grand baby. 
• Strength physically, emotionally and spiritually for us each day to complete the day the Lord has for us, through the ups and downs, in a way that brings glory to Him.

Thank you all and do not forget to Smile and Have a Good Day.

-Gabe and Kelly