Beautiful weekend/back in the grind

This is the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. We spent Saturday walking around on a beautiful day.
The reason we went to Baltimore was because Bryan's friend from Young Life sailed in on this ship and we came to visit him.




















This is a picture of the Mitchell ladies at Mom's 50th surprise birthday party. Sarah and I actually pulled it off! We gave Mom a scrapbook from before we were all born up until that day. She LOVED it!



















This is a picture of a normal night in the Goad household. Haha. This was last night. I was sitting at the computer doing homework until late in the night and Bryan and Kona (our kitten) fell asleep waiting for me to come to bed.


We went to visit Bryan's parents this past weekend and this is his hometown: North Beach, MD
Bryan and I have been talking alot lately about what we want to do after I graduate. We have been SO busy with school, work, young life, etc. It has been really hard for us the first year of marriage because I am constantly studying or we are out of the house. It feels like we never have down-time. This weekend felt great to get away and not think about cleaning or upcoming tests, projects, and papers. Bryan has had a lot of time to do fun reading at work and at home while I study and he has learned that his love language is quality time. I haven't read the book but I am sure I am in-between physical touch and words of affirmation. His love language of quality time has posed a problem especially this semester because I am so bogged down with upper level course work (I want to do really well this semester). So, a good amount of quality time for us is few and far between. We went grocery shopping last night and Bryan said, " Do you realize that even grocery shopping will be different when we have kids?" We think we are busy now! Which brings up a question- Are we thinking about having kids? The answer is, not now! I feel like we have learned so much about marriage but we have so much farther to go until we are selfless enough to have babies!
Marriage has been wonderful- it has been a hard year full of growth and heartache. The Mitchell family has really gone through the fire but we are ready for the "times of refreshing" that is in Acts 3:19. Every day I try to read James 1:2-4 because our family is under such great attack. This is a trial that our family must face that we may allow our faith to be tested which develops perseverance that we may be mature and complete, allowing the Lord to shape and mold us in the fire. It has been a tough year- but when I look back I know the Lord carried us and when I look forward I have faith that the Lord will carry us all of the way. God is faithful.

the beginning

Here is an update on our lives since we haven't seen most of you since Josh's wedding or Lisa, I don't remember the last time I saw you...before Palmer! :(
Bryan is still working at Mr. Go-Glass in Ocean City and has moved to manager of the shop. He got a company truck that he can drive home every night so that was a blessing! He has been incredible with the Young Life guys-getting up early to have breakfast with them once a week.
I am still plugging along at school. I settled in my major of Business Management and will be graduating in MAY! I am so excited! I spent the summer taking a class and doing my internship. Which brings me to what I am doing now. I did my internship at AFLAC (supplementary health insurance) and am now a health insurance agent. Yes! I am going to school (15 credits- 5 classes) and pretty much running my own business of selling insurance. But God is good and has really provided for Bryan and I through AFLAC. We recently bought a car- 1998 Honda Accord- which is in great condition. Before we got married everyone always told us that God would provide all of your needs and He certainly does!
Bryan and I are volunteer Young Life leaders at Parkside High School here in Salisbury and have really enjoyed serving together in the ministry. Sometimes it has been tough to give up our alone time but it has been rewarding! This past June we took about 25 kids to camp in Saranac, New York. It was really a great way to become friends and learn about their personalities and how they interact with others. Just as we were about to get on the bus to head back home, Bryan got hit in the face with a flying ping pong paddle. Yes I said a paddle! He was playing with the guys in the game room when one of the guys accidently let go of his paddle and it hit Bryan right below his lip. I was not there--Thank goodness b/c I probably would have freaked out! I was staying with all of the bags and a guy says "Elise you have to come quick! Goad is bleeding all over the place!" He was right...the paddle hit his face and pushed his skin up against his teeth which punctured a hole below his lip. So, the bus took us to the hospital and 6 hours later with 8 stitches we headed home. It was a great week!
We are about to start up Young Life again for the year and I would really love for you to pray with us as the Gospel goes out.
I have to go now...but this is not the end of my blogging!