More Goodbye-ing

Melissa, Todd & Donovan had us over for dinner a few nights ago.  They were so gracious to host us - just a few days after moving into their new house!  We so enjoyed being with them and seeing this sweet boy getting bigger.  It's been a so fun to watch them become parents during this stent in CA!  

And, our final goodbye event was a church goodbye on Saturday evening.  The church threw us a big play date at our favorite park!  It was humbling to be loved on by this precious group of brothers and sisters.  We ate, played, ate cake, they gifted us with bags of car toys/snacks, and prayed for us and blessed us.  At church the following morning, we were able to say a little something to this congregation that has given us so much through the years.  One of the sweet parts of leaving a community is that they throw you a party and tell you how great you are, and we expressed to our church how much we wish we could throw a party for the stay-ers - those who have been faithfully serving in this place for years, with no plans of leaving.  The University Church is full of men and women who love the Lord and work hard to minister to the unique needs of college students and the local community ... in Malibu... without a church building... in an ever-changing population.  We have learned so much from this church from our freshman years until now about faithful service, giftedness, endurance, generosity, humility, and love.  We spent our first 18 years at great churches in CO, but this is the place where we grew unto adult "church people" and our vision of Christ's work in and through the church has matured.  Although we are very sad to leave this church, we know that, by God's grace, He will continue to water the seeds planted in us here and we are confident that we will have ready hearts and spirits to jump into ministry in a new church family in TX.

Becca took a lot more - and better! - pics than what I got, but this gives you an idea of our little party.  Very sweet.