What’s not to love about a New England fall? We’ve been mesmerized by the most incredible parade of exquisite, show-stopping color over the past four weeks and I have about 500 photos to prove it. :) Leaves crunching underfoot have provided the soundtrack for an ever-changing treescape donned in reds, oranges, salmon, and yellows. It’s been spectacular.

Beyond exhilarating.

Autumn is heavily weighted with some of the most delightful activities, events, tastes, and sights of the year. Apple picking. Apple cider. Apple cider doughnuts. Apple pies. Cranberry harvest. Pumpkins. Pumpkins. And more pumpkins. Football. Visits from friends who are lured by leaf peeping promises. Crisp air. Falling temps. Harvest fairs.

We love every minute of it and truly hate to see the last leaves fall to the ground. Though admittedly, the hope of snow mitigates the painful passing of fall.

We’ve happily spent most of these prized days in Bedford and have taken it all in.

Our fall kick-off was launched by a brief but sweet visit from Derek and Julie and their littles (which almost aren’t) the weekend of Sept. 23–26. We continued our tradition of apple picking with their family and our outing to the apple orchard did not disappoint. We picked lots of apples, played hide and seek in the maze, fed the animals, and indulged in fresh-from-the-fryer apple cider doughnuts. A hard-to-improve-upon day.

*Paul and son-in-law Derek enjoy the fruit of their labors.*

Admittedly, though, our trip to Gillette Stadium a day later to watch the Patriots play was a close second. Perfect football weather and fun interaction with some of our football friends while eating yummy post-game food in the tunnel made for a very memorable Sunday afternoon. A win is the only thing that could’ve improved it. :)

Our first trip to Fenway Park in 2022 happened just after the Johnsons left when a friend offered us tickets to a game in the waning days of a very disappointing season. But there’s nothing disappointing about going to Fenway and we had so much fun. Not much can compete with singing “Sweet Caroline” with thousands of other Red Sox fans, especially on one of the few nights the Boys of Summer actually notched a win.

A speaking trip to New Jersey the weekend of Sept. 30 provided a perfect opportunity to include meeting up with my sister Laura and her husband David in Lancaster, PA, to view “David,” performed by the Sight and Sound Theater. We love this theater and have been so impressed by each production we’ve seen there, this being no exception. It was a joy to be with Laura and David in one of our most beloved parts of the country (Lancaster), seeing one of most important Biblical characters come to life on stage.

*Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA, with my sister Laura and her husband, David. Great dates.*

While in Lancaster, a completely unexpected bonus was meeting up with Badvelli Raffi Messerlian, our friend who hosted us during our time in Lebanon in 2018. A Facebook post tipped us off that he was in town for some meetings which prompted a text which was used to set up breakfast the next morning. We had a very happy reunion.

*Badvelli Raffi Messerlian from Beirut, Lebanon, happened to be in Lancaster at the same time we were! Happy reunion!!*

The weekend was anchored by speaking for the Evangelical Armenian Church’s Date Night in Paramus, New Jersey. This most lovely evening featured a delicious Maggiano’s dinner followed by us speaking on marriage. Badvelli Joseph Garabedian, who had heard us speak at an Armenian event in Boston years earlier, put the evening together and it was a joy to partner with him and his wife.

*The Garabedians are at the far left, standing with a small group of those who attended Date Night.*

We took advantage of the driving trip to visit the Wroclawskis in Nutley, NJ, and the Solders in Hoboken. Both visits were so encouraging. And we retuned home to a dear friend who was hanging out at our house for a few days.

*Dan, Sarah, and Mason Wroclawski extended warm hospitality to us in their home in Nutley, NJ.*

*We went to church with Lexi Solder and her crew in Hoboken as we drove back from speaking in Paramus.*

Quite a few counseling days populated the calendar in between our travels, as well as the every Wednesday Patriots women’s study I’m leading. The couples study has been taken over by the team’s chaplain and though we miss our interaction with many dear friends, we’re thankful that it’s continuing and is in good hands.

The following Saturday, after sharing brunch with our latest set of houseguests, Gregg and Dina Anderson (longtime, dear friends from CA), we flew to Baltimore to attend the funeral of another dear, longtime New England family camper, Jim Mullen. He had staged a warrior-esque, two-year battle against colorectal cancer which ended with his homegoing on Oct. 3. Jim and his family had been a vital part of the H.I.M.’s New England family camp for many reasons, but most notably, Jim was rarely seen without his long-lensed camera, capturing photos all around camp, many of which were included in the end-of-the-week slideshow that was enjoyed by everyone. Obviously there is tremendous comfort in knowing that he is fully healed and with Jesus, but the pain of loss is real for all of us, and especially for his wife Holly and their four children and their spouses.

*Gregg and Dina flew in from CA to go leaf peeping in MA and ME. We had a great visit over brunch before we took off.*

*Here we stand with Holly Mullen, whose husband Jim’s life we honored at his memorial service in Maryland.*

“Making a proper fuss” is high on our list of priorities and that we did by flying from the funeral in MD to Oakland, CA, very early Sunday morning to celebrate with New City Church Oakland on their 1st birthday! It was truly a joyous occasion to acknowledge God’s faithfulness to Gabe and Kari and their family, who uprooted from all that was familiar and comfortable to follow His call to plant a church in Oakland in May 2020. Their first year has been full of evidence confirming their call. This multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-generational church is growing in discipleship and impact on the city of Oakland and we joined about 140 in celebrating all that God has done.

*We were all together a year ago for the launch of NCC Oakland, and we re-gathered to celebrate the one year anniversary. Far left are Gabe’s parents, Dan and Debbie Garcia.*

*It was a great celebration of God’s faithfulness and goodness in this first year of NCC’s existence.*

We were so thankful we could join the party.

Twenty-four hours later, we were on a return flight to Boston so I could lead the Patriots women’s study Wednesday am, and then Thursday we returned to Baltimore, MD, to speak at the 6th annual Eusebeia Conference for the fifth year rolling.

We love this conference.

The brainchild and vision of Dr Harold Arnold and his wife Dalia, Eusebeia was born from their passion for building Biblical values into the marriages of the African-American community. They had heard us speak at Tuscarora Conference Center in PA now six years ago and it was clear that we were in "sync” with each other’s hearts for this very important focus. We were honored to be invited to be Eusebeia plenary speakers in 2018 and the rest, as they say, is history. Our partnership has grown and Harold is now a workshop leader at our own H.I.M. Marriage Conference in Newport, RI. Last year we had 14 Eusesbeia couples join us in Newport!!

The conference was full of life. Great worship. Inspiring speakers. Uplifting take-aways.

How blessed we are!

*Paul and I are standing with Harold and Dalia Arnold, the founders and directors of Eusebeia.*

*This was the largest Eusebeia conference yet.*

We tagged two days on to the end of Eusebeia to spend with Derek and Julie and the kids and that was full of fall fun, including carving pumpkins, baking pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies, walking the dog in the fall leaves, and playing football in the side yard. The added bonus was having a few hours with Lisa, who happened to be in D.C. for a weekend speaking debut at a leadership conference. We heard she knocked it out of the park.

*Enjoying the fall colors while walking Nathan and Rachel to school.*

Back home we flew for counseling, Bible study, house guests, and a very special wedding celebration on Saturday, Oct. 22. Beshoy, an Egyptian immigrant and Coptic Christian, came into Paul’s life over 4 years ago and their relationship has included Paul discipling, mentoring, and counseling Beshoy through family and relationship issues. After a two-year long distance relationship, Beshoy married Hekmat in Egypt several weeks ago and they celebrated their marriage with a stateside reception, at which we were asked to give a talk on marriage.

What a privilege and an honor! It was a first for us to be in an Egyptian Coptic Church and we loved connecting with the pastors of the church. Truly a “proper fuss was made” and we are so thankful that Beshoy and Hekmat are committed to honoring Christ with their union.

*Celebrating the marriage of Beshoy and Hekmat.*

The following day, we bookended fall with another apple picking party with the Skip Jarvis family. We look forward to this annual event which reconnects us with this dear family we met at family camp in New Hampshire almost 20 years ago. Their once young children have grown up beautifully and it was such an encouragement to catch up with them. Our day together included church (loved hearing their son Patrick play keyboard in the worship band), a yummy picnic put together by Avonne, and gathering one more bag of apples as we wandered the orchard, focusing more on talking with our friends than anything else. Great. Day.

*Our sixth annual apple picking day with Skip and Avonne Jarvis and their crew (minus Isaac, who is playing basketball at Gordon College this year).*

The last hurrah of October has just concluded in Northern California. We’ve spent the past five days in Windsor partnering with the Windsor Christian Church and Academy in a variety of ways, literally covering the spectrum of marriage and family in all ages and stages. This conference kicked off with a parenting seminar Wednesday night, the 26th, and a large group of concerned parents gathered to gain insight into and hope for their children. We all agreed these are very challenging times and wisdom seems in short order much of the time. Many said it was both helpful and hope-giving. All praise is His.

*Beautifully done sign by the senior pastor’s daughter, Emma.*

*Randy and Joy Hitchcock made all the arrangements for this family conference at Windsor Christian Church and Academy.*

*Pastor Lance Wallace introduces us and launches the conference.*

Creatively, Lance Wallace (senior pastor), offered a follow-up Q and A the next morning and about a dozen parents showed up for that. It was good to process together with these committed parents.

Thursday night we met with their senior high and college group to talk about relationships. As culture increasingly embraces such counter Biblical beliefs about dating, marriage, and sexuality, we weren’t sure what to expect, but we were very encouraged by the interaction and engagement of those attending who seemed to be choosing to cooperate with God’s design. We loved being with them.

*The high school and college crew gathered to consider God’s design for relationships.*

Friday night was Date Night and about 100 came out for a fabulous pork taco dinner followed by a couple of marriage talks by us. The evening was full of energy and expectation, and conversations had afterwards affirmed that the Holy Spirit had spoken into many hearts. Especially fun for us was having catch up chats with a number of longtime friends who showed up.

*Lance and Jill Wallace were a delight to meet and work with.*

Saturday night the church staff gathered at the Hitchcock home for dinner and fellowship. In the few short days we were in Windsor, we grew to love this group of Christ-centered servants of the Lord. They are a great group.

Our time in Windsor ended with Paul preaching on Sunday morning, a privilege we never take lightly. We mutually look forward to partnering again in the future.

A highlight of the Sunday morning service was hearing from William and Rose, a Rwandan couple who work with orphans in Rwanda. Rose sang “How Great Thou Art” in her native tongue and it was a foretaste of heaven, when all tongues will together worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

*Sunday morning, after Paul preached on Daniel, we grabbed this photo with Jill and Lance and William and Rose.*

Between the events, we were hosted by longtime friends, Joy and Randy Hitchcock, at their lovely home on a vineyard. The early morning sunrises and early evening sunsets were awe-inspiring and I have the evidence in a couple hundred photos. We so enjoyed our time with them, their son Chad and his girlfriend Carolyn, and Joy’s mom, all who were at the house at various points.

*The Hitchcock crew and Joy’s mother, Betsy Irwin.*

We also managed to squeeze in an early morning breakfast with Carter and Tracey Welch, dear friends from New England who transplanted to Santa Rosa 12 years ago; a coffee date with another dear friend, Carla Trotter, whom we’ve known since the first years of our marriage through family camp; and an afternoon visit with the remarkable Rosemary Dougan, who at 98, defies everything related to her age. What sweetness to spend time with this wonderful woman of God who, along with her late husband Garth, spent summers with us for a couple of decades as mentors to our summer staff. We’re thankful for every opportunity we have to catch up with Rosie.

*Breakfast with Carter and Tracy Welch was a joy . . .*

*. . . as was meeting Carla Trotter for coffee.*

*And a sweet visit with Rosemary Dougan.*

We were thrilled to join New City Church Oakland for their four o’clock service after we left Windsor, but our plans to spend the night with the Garcias were jettisoned when the flu bug, which has been visiting their family, hit yet another victim.

Fall is now in our rearview mirror but our mourning will last only for the night, as we will be comforted by the beautiful beaches, warm water, and ocean breezes found in Hawaii. Our next three weeks will be spent partnering with Living Stones Church in Kailua-Kona and we are so thankful for this twice-a-year opportunity to serve.

No matter where we are, our heart’s desire is to be faithful to Him in handling accurately His Word as we teach on His great design for marriage and family. May that always be true!!