Hi sweet friend, it’s been a minute! It’s so great to see you!
Since mid-August, I’ve been in Gainesville, Georgia Squadleading for Gap E. It has been the busiest few months of my life, to say the least – and by far the greatest adventure. (whatta perk in living our life for Him, you know?)
I don’t want to let myself walk out of 2020 without looking back on the joy and hardship the Lord’s walked me through. Sure, it would be so easy to walk out of this year in complete disregard of the happenings. But gosh, whatta waste! I’m not going to sit here & say that this year was a walk in the park, I know each of us have walked some wild days. Yet, I never want to ignore hardship in fear of the pain hiding beneath. I want to celebrate the grace of our God for teaching us in the kind ways that He does. He is a God of Kindness. (Nehemiah 9:17 & many others) I wanted to share with you some of my favorite photos from this year that capture some of my favorite moments: some super sweet, some super challenging, all very fruitful, which was a word the Lord spoke over this past year. Let’s dive in!
January began hiking around Colorado with some of my team from the race! Here we’ve got from left to right, Kirsten, Christiana, Haley, and Kaitie. Love these women so dearly.
February was a bit on the quieter side, and how lovely it was to spend lots of time with my momma. This is from a day in Cincinnati!
March 6th! A night I never want to forget! One of my favorite bands, The Brook and The Bluff, came touring. Thankfully, I have friends willing to jump in last minute. Concerts are for sure something I miss. (left to right we have David, Emara, myself, Andrew, & Hannah)
April was a bit of a release for me. The first few months of 2020 I was struggling with depression and didn’t realize it. The photos above are for sure moments of rich joy, and I had to really push myself to get there & do things. This photo is from a night that Mum & I made some pesto pasta – we did a lot of cooking together back in springtime.
MAY IS FOR MOMMA! This is one of my favorite days. Mum + I got to go to one of my favorite coffee shops & sit INSIDE for the first time in ages. Gosh, it was sweet. AND… Mum has always wanted one of these chairs!
June was for sharing tables with people. Lexi + I had the opportunity to go to Aidyn’s house, where she made us a deLICIOUS soup, paired with some incredible dumplings. Simply sharing a room with them is one of my favorite memories.
July brought one of my MOST favorite weeks – I got to go see one of my sweetest friends Maggie! And not only that, but I got to see her home, her favorite places, the woods she ran around as a child, spend time with her family, it was all so sweet.
August was WILD. This entailed the move down to Georgia, tent n all, and finally being able to connect with my leadership team! From left to right in our self-timer photo, here’s Maggie, Justin, Maddie, Caroline, Regan, Katy, myself, Kate, and Lauren.)
September came, and so did our RACERRRRRRS! Gap E is absolutely incredible. Walking with them has to be one of the sweetest things in my life. Here are the two teams I have the gift of being with specifically – Team Abandon (Clara Jane, Reagan, their Alumni Team Leader Kate, myself, Bri, Kaitlyn, Abby, and Megan)! And Team CAYA (back row: Sarah, their Alumni Team Leader Maggie, Abby; bottom row: Sofia, Camille, Lacie, and myself)!
October brought the richest autumn colors as well as the beginning to some of the richest worship with Gap E. October was a month full of seeing the Lord in each moment: from the brightest orange leaves to the bright blue skies, and especially in the moments of praising His name and laying ourselves down.
November? Oh, you mean the month we all learned how to use a chainsaw? For two weeks in November, our squad had the crazy opportunity to partner with Samaritan’s Purse in Foley Alabama. The hardship of walking into someone’s home right after a hurricane has come is a feeling I can’t really describe. Lots of pain, lots of trying to understand, lots of asking the Lord ‘why?’ It was such an amazing two weeks – I can’t wait to partner with Samaritan’s Purse again. Pictured here is Mr. Tim & I! Mr. Tim and his wife as well as another incredible couple led our team in the day-to-day of how to use different tools, and more so challenged us closer to the Father. They are such incredible people that we all thank the Lord for on a daily basis.
December rounded out the year quite perfectly. The Walker family, or my Georgia family as I like to call them, opened their door to me to allow me to stay with them for a few weeks. Here you see Haley, one of my all-time best friends, right before we demolished that crème brûlée you see sittin on the table. Time with the Walker Family is always such a gift, their home is overflowing with worship + life.
Quite the year, I’d say. THANKS GOD!
I grew a lot this year in trusting His voice. There were many times I felt He was silent, but being able to look back, I see Him all over the place. This was a difficult year for each of us to a different extent. If you ever need to discuss anything on your heart, please reach out. To sit and hear your heart is truly an honor.
And now, January 2021, here I sit in Quito Ecuador with Gap E. The fact in itself that we are able to launch is SUCH a Godsend. We sit expectantly for the Lord to move. Ready to obey His heart for us. Willing to be quiet at His feet. Worshipping in every moment. Life with Gap E is once again, TRULY one of the sweetest gifts.
Please join us in praying as our squad is about to begin partnering with specific ministries around Quito! Today we are splitting in half: Team CAYA, Team Abandon, and Team Brosaic (our men’s team) are headed to a ministry called Dunamis, while the other two teams on our squad are headed to a ministry called El Refugio. Of course, we are sad to be splitting, but trusting the Lord in everything. We are so, so excited. And keep praying for a healthy squad! We are feelin good and want to keep it that way.
Stay tuned for more of what our Father is up to. He’s been moving mountains all over the place; I’m so very thankful.
– Is there anything I can be praying for you in? –
As always, here are some songs that have been close to my heart lately!
‘Rest on Us’ by Upperroom
‘All the Time in the World’ by Stephen Day
‘In the Garden’ by Josh Garrels
‘Closer’ by Ryan Ellis
‘This Old Car’ by Lighthearted
I LOVE YOU! <3
-Bern
