Prayer...

I learned something cool about prayer today. Libby has been interviewing for jobs lately and it seemed so hopeful that she would get the job in Alexandria, they were very misleading with her. But for some reason, God closed that door for her. I kept trying to be positive reassuring her that we will look back and be thankful that this didn't work out. There is a position waiting for her that God specifically put in place just for her. Well, I'll let Libby tell all the job story, here's the God story. She had her interview today at 5 and I came home and began to pray for her. I opened my bible to James 4 where it says, "You do not have because you do not ask". I felt so real with God in that moment and I even said that I know you are a sovereign God and you know my heart, but God, give her this job (it wasn't really a question). I'm not asking for the sake of her paycheck or for some shallow reason, I'm asking for Libby to have her dreams come true to be a teacher, a teacher in an incredible school. Throughout the time I was asking God to make this the place, give her the job, give this to her....I felt an incredible peace. The day Libby found out that it wasn't going to work in Alexandria, my chiropractor said that Daleville would be an awesome school for her, it's a 4 star school and there are not many at all in Indiana!! This was all before we knew Alexandria didn't work out. So as I look back, I see God just took us on a journey. Not getting Alexandria brought us closer together, brought me closer in my prayer with God. The whole thing just shows God's hands in our lives!! Pretty cool, huh?

Well, folks, she found out tonight at 9:30 that Daleville wants her to be one of their fifth grade teachers this year! She took the job with confidence and such excitement! Thank you, God, for hearing our prayers!

Read James 4 and know that God wants to bless you, but what are your motives for asking? Libby is going to be such a blessing to that school and impact so many lives. I'm excited and so blessed.

-Gabe

Saying Goodbye...

It's interesting to me that God refers to his people as His body...His family. I look around and see families that are broken and relationships within that are like enemies. I realized even more tonight how blessed I am to have a family like I do. My parents did such an incredible job raising us and as much as I hate to say it, my mother was always right. She told me one day I would grow up to be close to my brothers and actually love them. I definitely did not believe her back in the day...but now, I do. A family is the closest type of relationship we can have with people, next to a marriage and I've seen how close my family has gotten over the years. Tonight was really hard, believe it or not, to say goodbye...or seeya later as I'd rather put it. For so long, I've wanted a little niece or nephew to mess with and finally God has blessed me with one of each. As I rolled on the floor tickling Ezra and totally messin that kid up, it hit me...next time this happens, I might have to reintroduce myself to him. All this time of developing a relationship with this guy, will soon be gone and we'll have to start over. I'm praying this doesn't happen and I know I'll get to see him at the end of the year, but it still was hard to say goodbye. I know my brother and his family are doing what is right and what God has called their lives too. But sometimes God's calling isn't the easiest thing...typically it isn't. Being a youth pastor was not an easy calling...still isn't, but you accept it and trust God. So now, I have to trust God, that He will protect my family and keep them safe as they are over there and He will bless their ministry to the African people.

Hugging Ezra one last time as he says "Bye Uncle Gabe", then hugging my brother - probably that hardest things to do today. I make it sound as if I will never see them again, I will. But for some reason, this is all different...they're not just a phone call away, they're not just an hour drive away. I got in my car to leave, and you know the feeling like you need to cry, but you're fighting it? Yah, I had that going on and it was hurting. I know I'm an emotional guy so that is all normal. But when you have a 3 year old look at you grinning and wanting to play with you, running up to you and sitting on your lap and to hear him say your name...you don't want to let it go.

I'm not sure why I'm writing all of this on this blog...maybe so my brother can know what him and his family mean to me, maybe so my parents can see that they were right (once again), I'm not really sure. Just know Joe, you will be missed (not just for Ezra!) but now mom and dad will come see me all the time instead of you :-) Just kidding mom and dad, I love you guys! I think I need more time alone, more time to really say "Seeya later" and know that this is all part of God's orchestrated plan for our lives and that He knows what He is doing and that all of this creates a beautiful masterpiece which He has designed for our lives. You guys are loved, showered in prayers and truly missed....I love you guys

Friday Night in Anderson!!

People think Anderson is such a boring town...I beg to differ. Last night was pretty sweet. Libby and I went downtown Anderson with some friends to a free concert put on by Jon McLaughlin. Kinda funny story - back when I started at AU, I was down in the basement of Dunn doing my laundry and sitting there waiting. Then this dude comes in on roller blades to do laundry and he's just sitting there. He says since we're there, we might as well get to know each other. He says, "I'm Jon" - no big deal, we're just chillin waiting on our underwear to dry. Later that night, there is a concert for freshmen orientation - who's playing? This dude that was in the laundry room! I was laughing cuz I had no clue who he was. Then we kinda got to know each other through dativus and such...but I thought it was really cool to get to see him play again and now he's big time. Kinda weird, but also very cool.

Then we came home and the Pressley's and Joel came over to hang out during the horrible storms. It was a great time. We played Cranium (which is one of my favorites) and we laughed a whole lot. Mainly because Marisha says some fun stuff....I think when her and Libby are together, it makes for a good laugh. But I was excited to get to spend time with them, they are a great couple and a lot of fun to be around.

Right now Libby is watching a 94 year old lady take a nap - I bet she's having fun! But I need to be working on my message! Tomorrow is our last Aftershock (our youth service) for the summer...so I want to end on a really good one. Anyway, here are a few pictures from last night. I took a picture of a guy that truly represents Anderson in it's finest...enjoy.

My Birthday!!!

So my birthday is coming up soon (June 13 in case you cared) and I've been trying to figure out what I want for my birthday. It's kind of hard since we just had a wedding...I guess that was kind of a big deal and people got us gifts for that. Well here is what I'm thinking for those of you wanting to get me birthday presents....

1) world peace

2) to be president

3) For real now...TV shows on DVD (Everybody Loves Raymond - Libby and I have found that we love to watch an episode or 2 before we go to bed at night)

4) Subscription to Men's Health Magazine - but if you are going to do this, buy it through my website so I get customer credit for it...it's also cheaper :-) I can tell you how to do that if you'd like

5) Gift cards - always good because what I want today might not be the same, also, I could use restaurant ones to take my beautiful wife on dates....because that's all I really want to do is schmooze her a little bit.

6) Apparently I need new boxers, not sure if that is appropriate to put on here, but I'm typically a size medium...depending on what I eat for the week!

7) Cool bar-b-que tools

8) Lowe's Gift cards - have you seen our yard? yah, it needs help and it's expensive to get all that stuff

9) Macbook - so I can give my old computer to Libby and I can get up to date with the rest of the world. It will also help me stay in touch with my brother and his family while they live in Africa....don't deprive me of not getting to see them, this is almost a need :-)

10) A cold Mountain Dew

Well, obviously this is Gabe writing this post because it's not all sweet and cute! But I figured for the millions who read this, I might get elected president and actually get something I want for my birthday!! Ending blogs is hard, so bye.

the first one.

Hooray! We have finally made a blog this weekend! Gabe and I wanted to create this blog in order to keep our friends informed with our life and adventures together. I love reading other people's blogs because I feel like I get to know them better, and we hope to do the same thing here! So, to whoever reads this, we hope you enjoy it!

Well, we are three weeks and one day into our marriage, and it has been amazing. We love being married to one another, and I think it is one of the greatest gifts God has ever given us. I feel like I know Gabe in a totally different way, a way that is closer and better than I ever did dating. We thank God each day together for this gift of marriage!

We are settling in to our home in Anderson right now and trying to make our house a home. It is a process though and there are still SO many things I want to do to the house. I love how it is turning out, and my sweet Gabe has been such a help to me! When we got home from our amazing honeymoon to Mexico, he went full swing back into his job at The Bridge, loving every minute. I love that I get to be a part of that ministry now. I go with him to every outing, event, picnic, graduation party, you name it. And now, I get introduced to people as Gabe's wife, Libby Reed. Sweet! I recently found a summer job at Park Place Children's Center here in Anderson as an assistant teacher for the 4 and 5 year old summer class. It is a preschool located in a church that is right on the campus of Anderson University. I was so excited to get hired this week! Yipee for preschoolers!!

Enough words......here are some pictures from our awesome honeymoon to Riviera Maya, Mexico!