18 DAYS!!!

I can not believe how fast time is flying by. I have never been so busy in my entire life, but have never been so excited either! In 18 days I will be in a room full of all of my friends and family and watching my bride come down the aisle! I have always wondered what my future family was going to look like – and now I know how it is starting! I START A FAMILY IN 18 DAYS! It is so surreal, but I have never been more excited and so blessed in my life in this season. Ashley is more than I could ever ask for, and God always knows better. Looking forward to the day as I countdown!!!!! Next time we post on our site we will be married and have pics up from our honey moon! Love you all!

James

BOTS!

What an amazing weekend! We have over 200 students come together as we addressed relationships, dating and sex. It is always powerful when we get away from our everyday life and take a weekend to focus on God. 47 students gave their lives to Christ! The presence of God was thick at this retreat – students learned what it was to hear God and many experienced His love in a deeper way than ever before.

James produced the retreat – this meant that he was the go-to person for any leader and he made sure everything ran smoothly. He is great with weekends like this and we always know that the details will be taken care of! In the midst of his tasks he was also able to have some key ministry opportunities with students.

I had a group of 10 freshmen girls and an amazing co-leader! It was a great weekend to love on these girls and I am believing for God to continue to show up in power. It is amazing to hear the different stories and experiences that these students have… but in the midst of it all, we know that God is bigger and that he can make all things work together for the good of those who love him! I was also able to share during our girls’ session. I love having opportunities to share with girls – encouraging and building them up! God has more than we could ask or imagine in store for these students!

The reality of the truth – HIS power is made perfect in our weakness – was evident this weekend! I am continually blown away when God chooses to work through us in our weakness! God being glorified and lives being changed is worth it!

Every time James and I get to spend time investing in students – our hearts are continually stirred and we love that God has given us the desire to invest in these amazing young men and women! We are honored to be a part of all that God is doing in and through them!

It's March Already?

We have 75 days until we get married, and time is flying by! We are having so much fun in this process and so many things are falling in to place. God has given us so much and we are blessed beyond imagine! Ashley and Meghan are all moved in to the house and we have painted rooms and and set up furniture. It now looks like a wonderful little home! I can not believe we own a house!!!! WHAT?!? Anyways, I wanted to share some exciting things that has happened in the past two weeks….

We have a small group of students that meet up with Ash and I on Thursday’s after School. We meet at a cupcake shop in Keller and the group consists of Juniors in High school! We have really grown with them and love every minute of it. Ashley is really good with the girls and I love seeing her flourish in ministry. Last week I gave them all three sheets of paper and they had to interpret there day with the paper. They had to be creative in your own way. So below you see their interpreted day from paper:)!

Also, C3 held an assembly at Medlin Middle School in Roanoke. Tyron talked on Cyber Bullying and we addressed parents and students. It was another success and we all had a part in investing in the students. I love getting these opportunities and allowing us to go on a campus and be apart!

I love OUR life together! Thankful for everything and everyone!

Love you guys!

House to Home

The weather has been crazy here is Texas… but I loved our ice/snow days. James and I have been hard at work to put things together in our house. From assembling and installing cabinets to painting walls and hanging artwork. We love our house and it’s coming to life as we add our personal touch and creativity!

My mom came in this past weekend. She is one of my closest friends – I’m so thankful for her. She loves people so well and I have learned so much from her! Our plans were changed due to the weather – but we made good use of our time painting the house. I can’t wait for her to visit in March when we will be focusing on the wedding!

I’ve been blown away by the love of God through this whole process. God loves us – His children – and he loves to give good gifts to us! It isn’t because of what we do for him or because we are good… it’s simply because he loves us that much! God knows us better than we know ourselves, and I love how this process has shown me that he sees everything that is in my heart. He is a good dad! We are so excited about our house – to start our life together here – and our prayer is that it is a safe, peaceful place where others will experience the love of God!

Our New House!

God is so good!
Ashley and her roomie Meghan have an apartment that ends up the first of February.  We had both decided that maybe if God works it out, then we should get a house to live in when we are first married and when a better time to get it then January!  So I called a great family friend, Realtor, and they found us a bunch of houses to look at in our range.  Well, a long story short, God opened up an opportunity to get a brand new house in our price range because we were closing it in January!  We are so excited!

First Christmas

This was our first Christmas to spend with both of our families!  We loved getting to see everyone – we know this won’t work out every year but we were so blessed to see everyone this year!  We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with James’ family.  I loved getting to know his extended family and experiencing their Christmas traditions.  On the 26th we headed out to spend a few days with my family at a Lake House outside of Tyler, TX.  We had fun playing pool, shuffleboard, and hanging out with the familyJ James went fishing with my dad and Cooper and caught a large mouth bass!  The guys had fun riding the four-wheeler and building a bonfire.   It was a great time to get away and be refreshed!

We are incredibly blessed!  James and I are blown away as we look back over this past year… so many things have happened.  We serve a BIG GOD and we are excited to see everything that He has in store for 2011!

‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us’
Ephesians 3:20

Chicago - First Post!

This week has been so much fun!  Of course now being newly engaged makes it so much better.  We flew in to Chicago on Sunday night and have enjoyed time with Ashley’s parents.  Everything from site seeing downtown…. riding in my first train and cab ride… enjoying Chicago deep dish pizza, going to the aquarium, Blue Man Group, strolling down Michigan Ave, and WEDDING PLANNING!  We had a huge Thanksgiving day with over 20 of Ashley’s parents’ friends from church!  So much food, but great loving group of people!

So much FUN!  I really like Chicago – just not use to the wind and cold:)  Loved spending time with the future in-laws and meeting their friends!
- James