Dear Still Freakin’ Relentless

Dear Still Freakin' Relentless,

This blog is for you, my precious family during one of the greatest seasons of my life.

Thank you for being the loving, wise, and insanely weird people that you are. You loved me so well and in turn taught me how to love others better. Thank you for challenging me and helping me become a better version of myself. And thank you for all the memories!

Brian: What a strange and wonderful man you are! Thank you for always humming a Disney tune and for pigging out on chocolate with me. It really warmed my heart. You have seriously grown so much over the past year, and it's been such an honor to do life (and animal ministry) with you. I know your heart and therefore I know how this next season could be a challenge for you, but I want you to rest in the fact that you are such a faithful and godly man. He has never forsaken you and He never will. Keep pursuing Him above all else and He will guide you every step of the way. I love you!

Cabe: Thank you for being the amazing song writer that you are. When I think of you, I automatically think, "yeah we…. are re…. lentless," and for that I'm eternally grateful. Please never lose your enthusiasm for accents, including your spot-on "shoot 'em up dontcha know" Michigander accent. Really, you should win an award. But for real, thank you for being an amazing brother to me over the past year. You taught me how to pray with boldness and you encouraged me to walk in my gifts. I'm so grateful for you and the way you are so quick to be generous and positive. You are a strong man of God, and I'm excited to see how The Lord will continue to use you. I love you!

Jen: My dear Auntie Jenny, how I love you so! Thank you for your deep and meaningful bedtime stories, and your ability to literally turn trash into treasure. I will never ever forget you. Thank you for your wisdom and your friendship. You taught me how to release expectations of people while maintaining big expectations of God. You are one of the most faithful people I've ever met, and you helped me to grow in my own faith as well. You increased my desires for relational ministry and you never ceased to encourage and inspire me. I'm truly grateful for you, and I can't wait to see where God leads you next! Oh, and thank you for teaching me to love marshmallows! Seriously, where have I been?!

Kara: Sweet, sweet Kara. I anxiously await the day that you release your album entitled "All Of My Life." I have a feeling Britney Spears will become your biggest fan, and what a turn of events that would be. 🙂 But in all seriousness, thank you for being one of the most kind and genuine people I've ever met. It was an honor to live and work alongside you this past year and to see you grow in your boldness. I loved watching your passions come alive and begin to take shape, and I'm excited to see how God will use you in the future. Thank you for teaching me how to delight in the small things and how to find beauty in everything. Your ability to remain joyful and positive in every situation is absolutely vital to this world, and you will undoubtedly inspire others to do the same. Thank you for being you. I love you so much!

Kari: Aka Sneezy :). Thank you for showing me what it looks like to passionately dive into scripture and fearlessly dive into the murky Mekong River. I don't think there is a child we met whom you didn't give a friendship bracelet, which goes to show you have such a huge heart for people. Thank you for being the tea loving, Doritos eating, Asian obsessing, sports fanatic that you are. You are a bold woman of God, and I know He will use you in mighty ways. I love you!

Adam: You will forever be a part of the Relentless family. From K-wang dancing to tarantula eating to Christmas in Malaysia…. I love you forever. Thanks for being the awesome man that you are.

Words cannot describe the love I have for each of you. I cherish our friendships and the memories that we created together. May God bless each of you immensely, and may our paths cross again. Cheers to a new season!

YEAH WE… ARE RE… LENTLESS!