Today as Dawn was leaving her last home for work she saw an awesome reminder that God is still with us. It was a very difficult visit with a family and she had just shared with them that the Patient has less than a week or so to live. On the way out the door the family gave Dawn a hug and said, "you are our little angel sent from God and you remind us that he will take care of us and my mom." When she walked outside, sure enough, there God was. She grabbed the family and took a moment to be still and enjoy the beauty of God and his faithfulness. What a great moment!
Hope you are able to be still for just a second as well and enjoy this beautiful rainbow remembering that God is faithful and will take care of us.

Our Apartment is almost Finished

We spent some time this weekend choosing pictures to put up on our walls from our trip out to California. Another wall is done and we wait for a few weeks for our last picture to be framed. Here is a picture of our wall in the living room. These pictures are from Arches National Park during our hikes. So beautiful.

We are Thankful!

The Warnes' came to California for Thanksgiving this year. It was such a blessing to have them in town. It really made us feel like we were home with our family for the holiday. There is something about being around people who know you that brings comfort and peace.



We had a great feast and ate well the whole weekend. Lots of wonderful food, conversation, laughter, and tears.



We also had a fun time practicing our Spanish with Linds and Nathan. It was difficult saying goodbye because we are not sure when the next time will be when we are all together again.



Saturday was a hard day when we learned that Uncle Kirk had a massive heart attack on Friday night and was in the hospital. We have known for a long time that his heart is not good but we never expected to hear what had happened. Thankfully his defibrillator shocked his heart back into life and the Doctors claim there is no further permanent damage. Another reason to be Thankful this year. Please pray for him as he takes each day at a time. It is so hard for us to be away from family when things like this happen but we feel some peace and comfort in knowing that God is in charge. We love you Uncle Kirk!

Quick Update

A lot has been going on the past couple weeks that we would love to share with you. Justin shared about his schooling earlier this week so we will update you on other parts of our life. Dawn started her job and is now on her own doing hospice care with patients who are in our area. She doesn't have to drive far and is loving the diversity of patients and staff she is encountering. She is one of the only white staff on her team and most of her patients are of different color and background. This has been exciting and somewhat challenging for her as she learns more about different cultures. Working in West Michigan doesn't offer a wide variety of people and backgrounds and this has been something Dawn has been looking forward to for awhile. She also decided that in the upcoming months she needs to look into taking a Spanish class to refresh her abilities. Many of her patients speak only Spanish so this would be a valuable asset for her profession.



We were able to watch our friend, Caleb finish his first marathon last week Sunday. What a joy it was to see him at different spots and running so well. Justin was able to finish the last 3 miles with him. We have enjoyed working out and running around here. Between our gym at the park and running around the Rose Bowl, it has been fun running in such nice weather.



A couple of weeks ago we went up north to Ventura. We drove up the coast on the on highway 1 and it was beautiful. Justin's mom did remind us that one time his dad took her around Lake Superior on highway 2, which I am sure was just as beautiful and warm! We walked around quite a bit, saw the ocean, had a nice dinner, and went to an outlet mall the next day. It was just nice to be away. Here are a few pictures from our weekend away (just in case you forgot what we look like!)




Lastly, we have developed a new hobby. For Dawn's bday she took some of her gift money and bought a bread maker! We have been trying to eat more foods from scratch and being more aware of what we are eating. We have tried some new recipes and have made some excellent breads. It has been fun experimenting. Here is a picture of our first bread (it always looks better with wine).

Orange Sky

"My Salvation Lies in your Love"

Seminary

Over the past six weeks, I have been engaging in the study of Medieval through Reformation History, Pentateuch, and Film and Theology. The whole process of becoming a student again has been quite overwhelming. I am relearning how to study and write papers, it is funny how fast you loose those traits when you do not practice them for awhile. While the process of becoming a student again has been a little challenging, the reward of learning what I am learning is well worth the challenge. I have learned so much over the past six weeks that I am still trying to process much of what I have been taught. As I process what I have been learning I wanted to share a few of the highlights of my seminary experience thus far. First, the joy of being in class and learning from experts on the specific topics being taught. I am finally learning about things that make my heart beat faster. Church History has been a bit mundane and boring at times, but I still appreciate learning about the story of the Church. The many battles people fought and the faith it took to prevail in turbulent times. Also, experiencing a completely different culture than what I have been used to all of my life. I went from being a part of the majority to being a minority in our community. This has been a very humbling experience and giving me a new appreciation for those who are actually in the minority. One last highlight from the first six weeks has been my Film and Theology course. The professor has taught me much about what it means to engage the culture that surrounds us through film. He strongly believes film is the form of media that speaks to the masses and churches must be able to engage in conversations about film in order to engage the culture. I have developed a new appreciation for film and how it can speak to the hearts of people. The end of the first quarter is quickly approaching and I am so thankful for being able to be out in California at Seminary. Thanks to all of you who encouraged this next step and who continue to support us through this transition time.

U2 came to Pasadena!

Sunday Pasadena was rocking! U2 came to the Rose Bowl. Tickets for this show sold out in an hour (100,000 tickets). Crazy. People here love U2. We were unable to get tickets of course (and they would have been hundreds of dollars a piece) but we did got down to the Rose Bowl during the day to experience the craziness. It was great watching everyone "tailgate" for the big show. It was completely packed with people around 1pm. The golf course was packed with cars, booths were all around playing U2 music, everyone had U2 gear on, just incredible.



Earlier in the weekend we were able to hang out with a friend from Michigan, Megan Rose. What a joy it was to see her, have dinner, and catch up. Justin, Caleb, Megan, and our friend Bryan Veenstra (not in the picture) started having community dinners in college and since have become great friends. Dawn was lucky enough to marry into this exclusive community! We were so glad Megan was in town and she has a great heart and love for other people. We miss you already, Megan! There is nothing like having a nice meal with an old friend.



We also learned this morning (Monday) that Nathan was approved for his green card! What a blessing. He can now work on getting a social security number and drivers license. From there he can start looking for a job. He has been so patient with this whole process but we are truly excited to share in this celebration with them! Just like we did when you first arrived, we raise our glasses in love and celebration with you! Love you guys! Felicitaciones!

Dawn got a job!

Great news came today when Dawn accepted a full-time position with Companion Hospice. it is a local organization so she won't be driving too far and it will allow her to do what she so passionately set out to do. It has been a long wait but we are excited to have this stress out of our minds. God is providing and we are excited!



Justin is super busy right now with mid-terms and papers. He had his first exam today and it went well. This weekend he plans to read, watch 2 movies for his class, study for another mid-term, and write 2 papers. It should be a busy one!

Thanks to everyone for all your prayers for Dawn's job hunt and Justin's schooling. We are looking forward to developing a routine.

Journey Back Home

We had the privilege of going back to Michigan for the Kevin & Susan Rozema Wedding. Justin was able to officiate the wedding and it was an honor to be a part of this day. We got home Wednesday evening and couldn't believe how cold it was. We forgot what it is like to live in Michigan and wished we had brought our winter coats home. We had a great time catching up with family and friends.

The wedding day was fun even though a bit stressful for Justin. Everything went smoothly. The bride was beautiful and Kevin & Susan were so happy. What a joy to celebrate in the covenant of marriage. Rehearsal didn't go as smoothly but there were a lot of laughs!



Between the wedding and reception we met with some friends at the Hudsonville Winery for a few tastes. What fun! We really miss these guys!


Another thing we miss is the colors changing. It was beautiful to drive from Eaton Rapids to Holland and see all the beautiful colors. Even though it was cold, we still enjoyed a few walks outside in the beauty of Michigan.


It was hard to get back on the plane but we were reminded of how much we are loved and supported by our family and friends. This journey would be impossible without all of your prayers and support. It was wonderful spending little moments with you and we look forward to the next gathering. Until then.....

Erin came to visit us in California!

Erin flew into LA on Thursday and stayed until Monday night. We had a great time catching up and touring the city. We went to Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pasadena's favorites, and of course some shopping. We also had some amazing meals from homemade pizzas, Korean BBQ, chocolate strawberries, and some Chipotle.



These pictures were taken in Hollywood. We got our picture taken with Elvis and Marilyn Monroe and even saw Michael Jackson twice. We saw both a black and white Michael Jackson. You just never know what you are going to find in Hollywood.



Saturday we went to Santa Monica beach and walked on the pier. We also walked down the main street and watched many street performers. It felt like it was Halloween already! Again, you never know what you are going to find or see in Santa Monica. We also went to Beverly Hills and rode down Rodeo Drive. Lots of expensive shops!



Sunday we went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market where there are hundreds of vendors selling antiques, clothing, jewelry, and more. After the market we ran around the Rose Bowl. It was the first time I made it all the way around without walking!



It was great having Erin here. It felt a bit more like home. Can't wait for our next visitors! Feel free to buy your ticket to LA! We'd love to have you!

Back To School

Well, Justin is back to school and things are getting busy for him. He has a class on Monday nights about Film & Theology and then two on Tues & Thursdays focusing on the Pentateuch and Church History. He has hundreds of pages to read and movies to watch each week between classes but he is loving it.

Dawn continues to look for a job while waiting for her license to come in. It is a frustrating process but we are both trying to be positive and hope that something will come up in the upcoming weeks.

The weather is cooler, which makes walking around more enjoyable. We have been exploring the city a bit more and getting more settled. The time is flying by and before we know it, we will be back in town for the Rozema wedding Justin is officiating mid-October. Until then we look forward to more studying, job hunting, and Erin coming next weekend.

Again, we thank you for your continued prayers and support. They are felt each day.

Justin's Birthday Weekend!

What a joy it was to celebrate Justin's birthday in California this year! It isn't the same as being with family and all our friends but Justin still had a great day! In the morning we had a great breakfast and then went hiking at Eaton Canyon near our home. Unfortunately we couldn't make it to the waterfalls at the top because of the fires but we hiked up as far as they would let us. The streams were a bit dry too. It wasn't as beautiful as Bryce or Zion National Parks but hiking is still one of our favorite things to do lately.




We also went to see a movie in the afternoon and went out to dinner for Justin's favorite, Mexican food! It was delicious. One thing Pasadena does well is make good, authentic food.

Friday we went running in the morning, went to the park in the afternoon to play frisbee and catch with the softball. At night we went to the Dodgers game with some friends and had a great time. There is nothing like a baseball game, even if it isn't the Tigers.



Saturday we relaxed with Ben & Betsy Dykhouse and their little Jack. It was fun meeting Jack for the first time and to see him growing up so quickly. It was great catching up and spending time with another great couple. At night we made a fabulous dinner at home. The weekend has been fun. Again, it is different not being around everyone we love to celebrate birthdays but our friends her helped make this year's birthday fun. Thanks to everyone for your birthday cards, presents, and wishes!

Flea Market

Yesterday we went to a HUGE flea market at the Rose Bowl. It takes place the 2nd Sunday of every month and we highly recommend you come out to visit us over one of these days. We walked down there and spent half the day looking through antiques, clothing, jewelry, furniture, and more. It was fun to be surrounded by everyone's junk and yet see why other people treasure it. It was also very hazy, which made us feel like we were in Michigan during Fall. The morning was beautiful. We look forward to going there next month when Erin is in town. She can help us decorate our apartment!




We also bought a grill and have been eating very well here. The produce is so fresh. We visit a market and cannot believe the bursts of flavor that we are eating. Check out some of our fun meals so far. We had chicken fijitas with Caleb and some shrimp Ceasar salad all made from scratch. Amazing. Wish you were all here to enjoy it with us.

We continue to enjoy exploring the city and hunt for jobs. The weather has also been a bit cooler, which has been so wonderful. Nights are better for sleeping and mornings are perfect for a run around the Rose Bowl.

Our New Home in Pasadena

Here is our view from our front porch at our new home in Pasadena. We have a beautiful view and are glad that the fires have subsided.



The virtual tour of our apartment with commentary by Dawn. We love our new place and are becoming more comfortable with calling this place home. We still have some pictures to hang and other odds and ends to do, but most boxes are empty and everything has found a home some place in our apartment. We cannot wait to have visitors to show them around our new community.

Running in Pasadena

Over the past two days, I (Justin) have had a couple crazy experiences in Pasadena as I have been running. I thought it would be fun to take different routes to explore the area around our home. One night I decided to head south towards Fuller Seminary and I get no more than a mile down the road when a family of raccoons darts out in front of me. It looked like five baby raccoons and their mother. I stopped dead in my tracks as I locked eyes with the mother raccoon and at that moment I decided it would be in my best interest to turn around and run back home.

The second experience occurred as I was running down to the rose bowl. By the way it is really nice to only be a mile and a half away from the rose bowl. I was heading back from the rose bowl and I was in a residential area when all of the sudden I hear some rumbling coming from the bushes in front of the house that I am passing by. At that moment I turn my head to the left to see what all the commotion was about and here comes a rooster charing from the bushes right at me. I dart across the street without even looking. Lucky for me there were no cars coming. I look back and see the rooster standing at the edge of the yard, chest puffed out, as to say "don't come near my yard." After my heart slowed down a little, I stopped and reflected on my experience, where am I? I asked myself. I thought we were in Pasadena California, really close to Los Angeles, but I feel like I am back running in Hudsonville. Two days in a row and I see animals living in the city that don't belong in the city. It was a couple pretty crazy experiences.

Labor Day Weekend

What a great weekend! We spent all three days with our friend, Caleb. Friday night we met some people affiliated with a new church we are thinking about joining. We also celebrated Nick's birthday with a great steak dinner!

Saturday we went to Caleb's house and grilled out. Then we watched U of M play the best we have seen in awhile and then the Tigers come from behind. It was a nice, relaxing day. It was just what we needed.

Sunday we went for a run and hung out by the pool with Caleb for most of the day before heading to Old Pasadena for a nice dinner and to walk around. The weather is cooler and much more beautiful.



Today we ran some errands and explored the area a bit more. Tonight we are using our new grill and cooking up some chicken fajitas with Caleb. The weekend has been relaxing, fun, and full of life. We are really starting to feel like home here. Thanks for all your thoughts, calls, and prayers.

Travels out to Pasadena

We stopped in Utah for many days and hiked many miles at some beautiful National Parks. Here are just a few of our favorite pictures so far. We haven't gotten through all our pictures yet so I am sure we will post more as we go forward. This rainbow was a wonderful reminder that we are in God's will.




Just an FYI. We made it to Pasadena (1401 N. Los Robles Ave # 20 in Pasadena, 91104) on Sunday evening and moved into our new place that day. Our truck came today and thankfully, everything we put on the truck came off. We felt blessed to only have a few broken items and look forward to the next few days of putting items away in their place until our home truly feels like home.

For those of you who are wondering, we can see the fires outside on our front porch but have been told that we have nothing to worry about at this time. We are not in danger of being evacuated at this time. We will update more once we have internet in our place. Thanks again for your prayers.

Day 4 of the Road Trip

It was a long drive through the cornfields of Iowa and Nebraska. On Saturday, we made it to Denver and were able to spend some time with friends we haven't seen in awhile. Sunday, we were hoping to go to a Colorado Rockies baseball game but it was sold out so unfortunately, we couldn't get tickets. We weren't too upset though because it was 95 degrees. Instead, we went to a restaurant with friends to watch part of the game.


Late afternoon we jumped in Malibu and headed to Rifle Ridge Campground in Colorado. Here we camped for the night. The campground had a few hiking trails that we enjoyed last night and this morning. It was beautiful to be surrounded by waterfalls and mountains. Other than the sounds of nature, things were very peaceful. It was refreshing.



This morning we hiked a bit more at the campground before driving to Utah. We decided to skip Glenwood Hot Springs because we heard so many wonderful things about the National Parks we have on our list to see. We went to Arches National Park today and spent 6 hours hiking. It was absolutely breathtaking. Words can't begin to explain the beauty we saw today. What we did learn is that hiking is hard work and we need each other (or at least Dawn needs Justin's help) to make it through each trail.





We took 600 pictures in the past 2 days because there were so many beautiful snapshots of God's creation. We can't wait to share some of those with you. Tonight we are staying in a hotel (because the campgrounds don't have showers and after 6 hours of hiking, we needed to clean up a bit) and plan to head to Bryce National Park in the morning. We hope to camp out tomorrow night and then head to Zion National Park. This should keep us occupied for the next few days.
Thank you for all your phone calls of support and prayers being offered on our behalf. We believe that we have been safe on the road and been blessed because of your prayers. Thanks again! We love you all!

The First Day of the Adventure

Last night was our final stay at 3059 Highland Dr. Apt. A. We needed to empty out our fridge and cook the remainder of the meat in our freezer, so we decided to host a party. The little apartment was packed with friends and family. We had a great time talking, eating, and sharing our last moments together in H-ville. The party lasted late into the night, but we were up early this morning and ready to start packing. Our good friend "The Todd" cooked us an amazing breakfast and once our bellies were full we were ready to start loading the truck.



We had a great turn out of friends and family willing to help us load the truck up. All of our stuff fit into a 7ft by 9ft area. We were glad that Brian was there to show off his mad packing skills. He saved us some money since we didn't have to use all the space we thought we were going to have to use. Then at 12:39 eastern standard time we departed from Highland Dr. We turned on Waiting for Iris and let the tears roll down our faces. It was a freeing moment. We have built this move up so much over the last two months and after many good bye parties, we were ready to get on the road. Today we drove 8 hours and made it to Des Moiner Iowa (By the way the "S" are silent in case you didn't know).

The Cavy is GONE!!

Parting with people has been difficult but parting with the Cavy after driving it for 9 years was also difficult. The Cavy found a good home today with a kind family. It will be driven by a 17 year old, which will be a perfect match. One less thing on our list to complete. God is good!

Last Weekend in Michigan

Dawn spent the past weekend with "the girls" on the East Side of the state. We went camping near Lake Pontiac to the state park and it was a beautiful campsite. The beach was also beautiful (minus the sand fleas that ate up my foot). We camped out two nights and enjoyed laughs, good food, conversation, and memories. We were able to catch up on the happenings in each of our lives and remember how blessed we are to have such wonderful friendships.



I was able to find some Fire wood from the surroundings and we took turns cutting pieces up. It brought me back to our college years in Traverse City.



Between the Hobo pies and good drinks, it was a perfect weekend by the fire.



We also went to the Tigers game on Sunday afternoon. It was 85 degrees as the first pitch took place and was in the 90's by the end. It was a bummer that my Tiger didn't play because Raburn had 3 errors that game. If Inge had played we all know the game would have had a different ending. I will miss going to that stadium, having peanuts, a Jungle Juice, and singing, "Eat em up Tigers, Eat em up!"



I've learned that many things are irreplaceable. Friends, Tiger games, and being yourself around those you love will be something to be missed greatly as we continue our adventure.