Branning Family Newsletter November 2022

October was a month of acceleration. All around us leaves were falling and so were blessings. We started the month off with a fun visit from our family friend, Shannon Ham. Alex and her surprised me as a belated birthday gift and it was so rejuvenating and fun to have her here with us in NYC for the weekend. We had bagels and pizza, went apple picking in Connecticut, went to a worship night and did some other fun things.

 

We had so many more encouraging confirmations from the Lord, we got to team up in some outreach and ministry opportunities here in the city. I think Alex mentioned in our last update that Ali was serving in Kids ministry at our church and has found a youth group she loves in the City near Central Park, she just got back from a youth retreat with them and had a great time. Alex served as a greeter and I served on the worship team a few times. We look forward to Life Center NYC midweek prayer sets every week. We are finding so many opportunities to get plugged in a serve the body of Christ and the city of New York.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex has taken Snow to Tiffany’s multiple times for a midday treat of a milk bone out of the tiffany’s dog food bowl they set out in front of their store. Having a Tiffany’s down the street might be Snow’s favorite thing about the city. My favorite might be taking her on our morning strolls down to the pier, just a few blocks from our apartment. To say I walk anywhere from 5-8 miles a day is not an exaggeration.

 

 

Alex has been doing some of his best thinking, especially when we visited Governors Island to visit the pumpkin patch – Blue loaned him his thinking chair and boy did it work. Alex got an office share space membership at WeWork and the Branning Group is thriving. He also joined a mens bibles study at our church and is making some new friends.

 

Ali and I went to Connecticut, again! This time for her headshots – which turned out so good! She is ready and excitedly anticipating her acting career taking off. She also had about the best Halloween a teenager could have, entered a costume contest, attended off Broadway production of Stranger Sings, got sang to by Steve Harrington and did her Spider Gwen pose with the Rock.

But before Halloween we got to spend a little quality time with our new church family at a retreat in New Jersey. The moment we heard God invite us to move to NYC, we knew we were going to attend Life Center. The more we get to know this family the more we are just so grateful that God set us up to have a place, a people, a sanctuary to provide a soft landing. We are truly grateful for these wonderful people and look forward to building with them.

Last but not least, Alex and I had the most magical 16^th wedding anniversary. We celebrated all week; I’m still floating from all of it. We started with seeing Funny Girl on Broadway and it’s was phenomenal. We had so much fun getting all dressed up making the night memorable. The next day was our actual anniversary, and we went to The View restaurant and had a dining “experience” and let me tell you, it was an experience. Eating a gourmet meal overlooking the Chrysler building, we were constantly pinching ourselves to make sure it was real. Then my Choir had a concert in one of the most beautiful old church buildings I’ve ever been in. It was such a fun and busy week; we are tired but feel so blessed and grateful. One of our core beliefs is that God is good, but sometimes His goodness just absolutely wrecks me, and that is the current state that I’m in as I share our family update with you all. We would love for continued prayers for our health to stay steady and to be ready and able when God presents our next opportunity to love on and serve someone. 

 

 

 

Much love,

The Brannings XOXOXO