We've moved...

No, not because of the fires. We've actually just changed blog addresses. Visit us at bryceandlisa.wordpress.com from here on out.

See you there,

Bryce and Lisa

San Diego Fires

Hello all,

Here's a photo taken just minutes from our apartment yesterday morning during the recent wildfires that have swept through San Diego county. We evacuated our apartment early Monday and headed to a friend's house about 30 minutes to the north where we spent last night.

We returned this morning to our apartment and found a light dusting of ash all the way up our staircase to our front door. The sky is still a bit hazy and it smells like campfire, but things appear to be improving in our area.

Just to give you an idea how close this hit to home, the route Lisa drives to work each day is lined with houses that have completely burned to the ground. School has been canceled for both of us until Monday and many we know and love are still evacuated from their homes.

Thank you to those who have been praying for us and the situation in San Diego county for the past couple days. If you would like more info on the fires, go to: www.nbcsandiego.com .

how 'bout them apples...

let me first say that i stopped dieting in france. the french really know how to live: eat what you want, when you want, and get plenty of exercise. this seems to suit our lifestyle(for the most part) so the word "diet" never enters the waller household.

for instance, tonight at 10:30pm while bryce studies and i prepare for my parent conferences tomorrow at school(blast!), we are enjoying granny smith apples baked in butter and brown sugar. yum. who says you can't have sugar right before you go to bed? besides, it's fall(or at least about to be) and we might head north to julian this weekend to pick apples...

i am ready for cold weather to come so that we can cuddle up on the couch with blankets, books and hot apple cider. i think this will come sooner than later. for those that don't know yet, we are moving to montana in june! yup, that's right...montana! now, before you start thinking back to diane keaton making homemade applesauce in vermont in the movie baby boom, let me explain...

bryce was recommended by one of his professors awhile back for a one-year internship at rocky mountain community church in billings, montana. this is an awesome opportunity because he will have the opportunity to preach (consecutively for the first time), teach and gain more experience and training in pastoral counseling. though we are not incredibly jazzed about the frigid weather we'll be welcoming, we are thrilled for the opportunity to gain more ministry experience before heading...????

praise God for apples, cold weather, spouses and friends to share it with, and His perfect plan.

And Now It's October...

How time flies. In the midst of our busy schedules this year I don't know how we are keeping our heads above water, but by the grace of God, we do. And yes, the GRACE of GOD becomes more evident to me every day-so much sometimes that I want to cry.

I did cry tonight while listening to one of B's professors teach on paganism vs. Christianity and how our culture is being revolutionized by neo-paganism. It sounds like something out of a science-fiction novel, I know, but the effects that seep throughout our society are very real, and I could not help but weep for those who do not know the Lord. How I want them to know how wide and long and high and deep His love is....

This love has been revealed to me all the more through the actions of my husband this semester. The Lord is my sustenance, and Bryce is my everything else. What a team we are being molded into! Despite our crazy, busy schedules the Lord has drawn us closer to not only Him, but each other-praise God!

The other night we attended a dessert at one of B's professor's homes for his prayer group. All of us(after eating countless desserts!) shared how the Lord was working in our lives. After 2 hours of sharing, Dr. Johnson(B's prof) suggested we sing "Great is Thy Faithfulness." I sang it through tears, for in the midst of life's trials(busyness for us!), is our wonderful God not so faithful all of the time? Even when we think we're in the thick of hardship, God's faithfulness abounds. Dr. Johnson also highlighted the verse, "Summer and winter, springtime and harvest", alluding to the fact that whether the sun is shining or rain is falling, God is in the midst of it, molding us into His image. I pray He is meeting you where you are, summer or winter, experiencing His faithfulness.

I have seen His faithfulness in so many ways already this semester. The fact that my 7th and 8th graders are learning pronoun agreement by the end of the day is a faithful act on His part! Last week we spent time at Oakbridge YL camp for a 7th grade retreat. What an amazing treat!
I was able to spend time with all of my students outside of the classroom, engaging in deep conversation, having a blast, and sharing Christ with them. Here are a few pics from crud wars(see me on the left!) and my dearest 7th grade friend, Katy. She and I have grown very close over the past 2 years, and were able to talk through some tough stuff on the retreat...

And with all that said, this is what our mornings have started to look like:
As my mom(when are you coming to visit???) always says, "If the devil can't make you bad, he'll make you busy!" We've found that despite our lack of sleep, the only thing that will bring us through each day is spending time with the God who created each day. What a rich time this has been for us. It is so tempting for me to want to start lesson plans or play catch up in the morning, but the busier we get the more we realize that without our awesome God, we are nothing. This sounds so cheezy but it makes me think of that James Taylor song, "How Sweet it is to be Loved by You". It is, indeed, so sweet to be loved by our awesome King.