Hello! Another digital Christmas letter -- this time to recap 2015. I love updating folks and wish I could write on the blog more. Sadly, or not sadly, just matter-of-factly, letting go of my blog for awhile was something I decided to do as I continue to finish my M.Div. and serve in ministry at Southwestern. I am grateful and excited about the other platforms that have enabled me to write this year, as it's something I love doing. But, I am excited to recap the year here now as I am finished with school for the semester and as things are slowing down in my job for the holiday season. Recapping is sacramental for me and it's been a beautiful year! So without further ado, here's how 2015 panned out for the Justs...
I've had the opportunity to return to Wilmore a few times since we've moved and I love that! Last January, I took an intensive term on the Life of Prayer. It was an amazing class and being back in Wilmore felt like home. I also had the opportunity with another one of my colleagues at Southwestern to take four students considering seminary on a campus visit to Asbury in September. From there, we drove to Nashville and attended a Wesleyan conference. That trip in particular has made me reflect on how transformative seminary has been for me. Kyle and I have changed in so many ways because of our time at Asbury, It's widened our lens, and has invited us to view the world in different ways. I am aware of my constant talk of Asbury; but it's rocked mine and Kyle's world. While I look forward to being DONE with my M.Div. and graduating in May, a part of me is sad to let this part of my life go. Ya know?
However, as I (and we) let that part of life go, we continue on in our life here in Winfield, which Kyle and I relish and enjoy. We adore the house we're renting right now and have enjoyed settling into a rhythm of life. Kyle started working at Ark City Middle School as a math teacher this year, and is enjoying his time. He's found the work challenging, but in a good way. He's going through all the first year teacher stuff -- planning curriculum, grading tests, tweaking things, preparing for state testing, organizing math projects utilizing In-N-Out Burger scenarios (think, what would be the height of a 1 patty cheeseburger?; Now, a 3 patty cheeseburger?; Now, a 20 patty cheeseburger). He thinks it's hilarious. I say, "Who in their right mind wants to teach math?" He comes home and works and works on all of the things.
As for me, my job has enabled me to travel a lot, which I love! Last March, I attended a conference for independent colleges in St. Louis with some of my colleagues and learned about how other schools are engaging students in service-learning and vocational exploration. Then, in May, I took Discipleship students to Costa Rica for ten days for our annual mission trip. What an amazing time that was! We served with a ministry called the Abraham Project and thoroughly enjoyed our time learning about Costa Rican culture and observing how God is on the move there. It was the perfect trip! Then, this year we're headed to Dallas for another mission trip. I'm loving all the traveling, and I love working with students. Being a part of their formation in college is the highest privilege to me, and while it's not always easy, and while I definitely feel like a rookie 99% of the time, I find it to be some of the most meaningful work that I could do; it's work worth doing to me.
This summer, Kyle and I spent time working and taking class. Kyle worked for a landscaping company in town before he started his job in Ark City, and I beast-moded my way through a full seminary course-load. Both of us couldn't wait for summer to be over. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't all that fun either. We came out on a high note, though -- extra $$ to help us finish paying off Kyle's student loan (we're getting ready to make our last payments like now!!!!) and competency in Biblical Hebrew. Both journeys of diligence, but successful none-the-less.
This Fall, though, has been the most fun! Kyle and I were invited to be a part of a supper club in August and we've been enjoying the intentionality of that community. There are four couples and we take turns hosting meals at our homes! It's a blast. We also enjoy playing games with our friends on weeknights. We were Catan addicts for awhile there. We love our Sunday School community and enjoy the way that it's challenged us to "believe, belong and become," and to explore what it means to be generous, and engage in mission. And finally, we enjoyed going on a trip to practically tour the Northeast during Thanksgiving Break! We had been saving our money for awhile in hopes of visiting one of our good friends, Lucas, at Yale Divinity School. Yale is in New Haven, Connecticut, which is geographically in the middle of New York City and Boston. We've always wanted to go to NYC, and visit Lucas, so it was a great opportunity to do all of the things.
Lucas was beyond kind to us and made a whole tour of the Northeast out of our trip. He took us everywhere and was the best guide! We toured New Haven and Yale University. Then, we took the train to NYC for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (so FUN!). We had New York bagels, toured the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, all the shops on 5th Ave., the World Trade Center Memorial, rode the subway, hailed a taxi, ate NYC Cheesecake -- man, you name it and we did it. I always thought that I'd love to visit the city in either late spring, or early summer, when it's nice out. Or, during the holidays, when everything is decorated. I am SO glad we visited during the holidays. It was magical and made me want to move right to the city! We also enjoyed roadtripping through Newport, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod. Then, we ended our time in Boston, touring the city. We enjoyed amazing food, friendship and rich conversations along the way. That trip was the highlight of our year, by far, I think. So fun. The older I get, the more of a desire I have to travel and see the world. Not to get all poetic on you, but every time that I come back home after a good trip, I am changed. There's something really beautiful about that to me and so Kyle and I try to make travel a priority in our life together.
Well, if you made it to the end of the Christmas letter, good for you. I know this has been a long update, but like I said earlier, I relish this moment each year to recap and thank God for the ways that he has been with us, worked through us and opened our eyes. May you and yours experience God's great love in this season of Advent; this season of quietly and patiently waiting for Christmas. And may you experience the richness that comes with the remembrance of Jesus' birth -- truly a reason for the weary world to rejoice, for the soul to feel its worth.
-Kyle and Molly Just
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| A Kentucky Derby Party with some of our Winfield friends who also spent a considerable amount of time in the South. This was SO fun! Hats, Red Roses in honor of American Pharoah, and Custard with Berries because I'm all about the food. |
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| Discipleship Students and company in Costa Rica...this was the morning of our Rainforest Hike. Casual, right? |
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| SC Students at the New Room Conference in Nashville, pictured here with President Tennent of Asbury Theological Seminary. |
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| Supper Club. Woot woo! |
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| Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. |
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| Touring Boston! |
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| The most amazing cannoli in Boston's Little Italy. |
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| My favorite picture from our trip. We were standing under Lord and Taylor's holiday lights on 5th Ave., eating chestnuts that had been roasted over an open fire. I mean, seriously. Does it get more picturesque? |
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| Discipleship 2015! Adore these folks. |
