the one with {london calling}

Today was one of those overcast, misty, nearly-spring days that make you want to sip something warm and stay in a cozy house all day. But the weather also served as a perfect reminder of our trip to England a few weeks ago....and also the perfect motivation to actually share about our experience abroad! One of our best friends, Steve, recently moved to the United Kingdom to serve as a missionary and he invited us to speak at two spiritual retreats - one for teenagers and another for university students. We were there for the fastest 5 days of our lives. Our visit was a joyful blur of lush English countryside, deep conversations with students and ministers alike, LOTS of tea, sermons, jet-lag, laughter, and even some London sightseeing. Meeting Christians from the UK was such an honor and even though we went to bring encouragement to our family in England - we ended up receiving far more than we gave. But isn't that the way it goes? I'm reminded of Proverbs 11:25, "those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." Per usual, the Bible says it waaay better than I can!

Seven years ago, I had the chance to study abroad for a summer in London and be apart of the church there. It was an interesting time for me in my faith. I was wrestling with desperately wanting approval from the world but also wanting to honor God. I'll never forget the conversations I had with British disciples that summer. Hearing their deep convictions about holiness challenged me and I returned to the States much stronger than when I left. During my study abroad, I also remember being struck by the hospitality of the disciples in England. They were so generous, so welcoming and so warm to the annoying American with a whiny accent and a terrible sense of direction. But they opened up their homes and their hearts to me in such a memorable way. I felt that same spirit of hospitality this visit but I was also struck by the fervent faith of the students we met. It was amazing to see the ways God has moved in the UK over the last few years. To see 75 teenagers come to the winter retreat and over 100 students be apart of the university retreat - we were so inspired! 

Jesse and I did our best to bring some of their zeal and faith back to Boston -- and I also did my best to bring back proper tea etiquette.

Here's to a faith-filled, tea-riffic weekend. 

Cheers 

A+J

Teenager Retreat

Student Retreat GIANT/blurry selfie

Reunited with Steve in Trafalgar Square

Officially a big fan of prayer walks in the countryside

Westminster Abbey

Making Friends Part I

Making Friends Part II

Staying Friends Part III

Friends Forever Part IV

{retreat//revisit}

So basically - J and I have pretty amazing jobs. One of the best parts is that we get to build relationships with some of the most inspiring people on the planet. And these young people aren't just talented - they have a love for God that challenges my heart and keeps me growing. Last week, we got to take some of our people out for a pre-semester retreat. Over the course of the retreat, we prayed together, discussed our dreams and fears, and ate an untold number of s'mores. As I sat around the campfire with these students that are allowing us to borrow their zeal and enthusiasm for approximately four years - I couldn't help but be thankful. Camping is not exactly my forte, but two nights and 250 bug bites later - I felt spiritually focused and excited to watch God work through these student leaders in our city. 

On the way home, we realized that we were near the apple orchard where we got married - Smolak Farms in North Andover, MA. We hadn't visisted since our wedding day and so we decided to take a detour with everybody to snap some pictures, visit the petting zoo, and of course - eat their famous apple cider donuts. It was so special to revisit the site where we said, "I do"  -- still just as beautiful as I remember!

The perfect ending to a wonderful mini-retreat:)

Still so in love with this guy.

It's still August - here's to savoring every last minute of summer sunshine!

A+J

{the one with the evolving vacation}

Gone are the days of family vacations with lazy mornings, afternoons spent reading, and late-night movies. Instead, Laing family vacations now operate on a different time-table: toddler-time. Our schedule revolves around eight adorable munchkins and their nap times, play times, meal times, rest times, bath times, pool times, and of course...tackle-Uncle Jesse-times. As the only child (adult? original Laing?) in my family without a kid - you would think this could be a little overwhelming. And well, you would be right. It is overwhelming to be around sooo many children when you are used to...zero. But, it is also the best kind of overwhelming. I love how my eight nieces and nephews have reshaped my family. They have turned 10 would-be boring adults into big kids who will do anything (and I mean anything) to make one of them laugh. They keep us on our toes with their questions and keep us laughing with their malapropisms. They remind us to find joy in the little things and to be totally and completely silly when at all possible. But I also love that they help us to savor the moments when it's just us. We didn't turn on a movie one time when they were sleeping (a family vacation first). Instead, we caught up on the many stories we missed while apart,  laughed at the same stories we'd all heard a thousand times, and just enjoyed being together. And by the time they woke up and things were out of control once more - I really didn't mind. 

I still love my memories of peace and quiet on vacation - but I wouldn't trade the noise and chaos of those crazy kids for anything. Quiet will just have to wait:) 

You might be wondering if I was the rebellious one who did the dress code backwards...I was. Rebel without a cause. 

Happy Friday from our crazy family!

xoxo

A+J

photos by AG Pixs and Portraits

the one where we all made decisions

Ever experience something that just inspires you? This weekend, I had one of those times.  The annual New York/New England campus retreat, "Decision 2012" was this weekend and it was incredible. 550 college students came together to worship God and learn about his purposes for them. At this point in my life, my role as a retreat-attendee has shifted drastically. I'm no longer the target-audience retreats like these - and yet, I still gain so much from going. I still hear the word of God preached powerfully, I still see men and women who inspire me with their faith, I still hear songs that move me to tears, I still reconnect with old friends, I still leave wanting to pursue God like never before. 

Sam and Cynthia Powell were the key-note speakers for the event and did an incredible job preaching the word. As I listened to Cynthia Saturday morning, I was blown away (as I always am) by her wisdom and insight. Cynthia is a woman of one-liners - she knows how to speak the truth in one sentence. Here are a few of my absolute favorites:

"You take care of God's business, and he'll take care of your business."

"God has a perfect will and he also has a permissible will." (too deep to explain haha)

"Your perspective on your problems is in direct correlation to your perception of how big God is."

"After you get what you wanted; are you gonna want what you got?"

She gave me (and the hundreds of other women) in attendance much to think about as she spoke about God's campaign for us as his daughters. It's easy for me to leave weekends of convicting sermons feeling overwhelmed by all I have to grow in and all I have to change - but as I consider one of the main Psalms that Cynthia read - I feel encouraged by my God. 

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him; 
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:8-12

I'm very far from perfect. I have so much to grow in. I don't want to stay where I'm at or be content with the status quo. I also don't want to forget the heights of God's grace or the depths of his love. 

I've made my decision. What's yours?