this morning, while i was on the elliptical, i decided to listen to a podcast from MSU's RUF.

i didn't look at the date or topic, just picked one.

it happened to be brian sorgenfrei's talk on genesis 29.

it also happened to be the night he announced that Dane and I were engaged. 

wow. i started laughing in the gym. i looked kinda weird. but i was so taken a-back!

i spent the next 40 minutes listening to his sermon, and praising God for the time i have had with Dane since then. i thought back on how we were back then, things we struggled with, how we loved each other, etc. we have changed so much, and it is only by the grace of God that we are where we are. i was tickled to think about our growth and the things we have experienced and been through since then. i think it's so good that i can look back on the hard moments or the down days and laugh at them.

i have to praise God for not only giving me Dane, but for opening up the doors for me at RUF. God used it to changed my life. on wayyy too many levels to discuss here.

PS-- what made me laugh so hard? Brian said "if you wondered why Dane was at the Halloween party in a tux cowered in the corner and nervous, it's because he was about to propose". i laughed so hard! i remember that so vividly. everyone was like "what's up with Dane?". cracks.me.up. love you Dane!

one year

A year ago, Dane officially started his job as fertilizer supervisor at Jimmy Sanders. A year ago, we moved to a 600 square foot house without cell phone service, cable, or internet in Benton, MS. A year ago, we knew one thing: Dane had a job and we were grateful! We didn’t have much but each other.

But in a year, the Lord’s provision for us has come hurling through our door and has blessed us incredibly. We have created a life here. We have friends. We have community. We have a church. We have lived in 3 different places. I have had random jobs. We have been loved on by our church. We have become a part of a church that began as our only source of social interaction and is now a family, job, and blessing.  We have made so many friends.  Rolling into Yazoo City for the first time scared the you-know-what out of me.  “Um, there’s no way we’re going to have friends here. It’s gonna be pretty lonely here”.  But we have friends! We have wonderful, incredible, fun friends that have graciously welcomed us to this town and have loved on us. They have opened their arms to us. They have gotten us a rent-free home. They have invited us over for dinner. They have given us guidance and prayer.  They have given me a job! (I am the youth intern at the church now J).

I can go on and on and on and on about this year in Yazoo City. I mean seriously, I could write a book! But I won’t do that here. You all just need to come see for yourself the life we have built here. I never, ever, ever, ever thought God would have used this town to strengthen our faith, our marriage, and us as individuals. But He has! Thank you God for this—for all of this!  

 

house #1

 

(messy/undecorated) house #2

 

Dane enjoying himself with the land around house #3!

 

our wonderful church!

the place that brought us here

A little monday morning encouragement...

as i sit here with my morning coffee, i'm trying to get geared up for my full week of school! thinking about some of my favorite songs and the encouragement, love, and conviction that they bring. good to think about over a cup of coffee mixed with a little anxiety. but, what comforts me is remembering and thanking God for the most incredible plan that He has laid out for us. He has shown us this incredible plan thru the most beautiful and full blessings that He has given us since we've been married. He has used Yazoo City as a source of constant blessing for us. Thank You!

if you're the type, read over some of these favorite verses of mine. reflect on them. i pray you find encouragement!

Laden with guilt and full of fears,

I fly to thee, my Lord,

And not a glimpse of hope appears,

But in Thy written Word.

The volumes of my Father's grace

Does all my griefs assuage

Here I behold my Savior's face

in every page.

All that feeds my busy pride

Cast it ever more aside.

Bid my will to Thine submit,

Lay me humbly at Thy feet.

Thy mercy my God is the theme of my song

The joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongue

Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,

Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.

a few thoughts...

• school starts today! i'm a little nervous, but excited nonetheless. i've got to get better at being organized. Dane thinks i'm the least organized person in the world, which is somewhat true. i'm gonna show him!

• i can't WAIT for fall! i love sweater weather and chili/soup weather and bonfire weather! ahh!

• guess what i'm doing on saturday? yes, that's right. being the best/coolest wife ever. i will be sitting in a hunter's education class from 9:00am to 7:00pm. this better be worth it. this is my goal:

• here are some random pictures i wanted to share with y'all! look at my Bea. she has grown so much! and is even bigger now than when i took this picture!

•  i love this picture of Dane. caught him in a moment of happiness! he loves driving that tractor.

•  some creatures down by our pond

• last thing: i wanted to share with y'all two slideshows from events i took pictures at this summer.  the first is for our VBS at first pres, and the second is from our st. louis mission trip! both videos are long (8-9 minutes), but they're so sweet and wonderful. our church has been such a blessing for Dane and I, more than we ever could've imagined. God's plan for us has abounded with grace and mercy. 

 thanks for continuing to read. i'm going to try and get better at this, but i just don't see it in the cards anytime soon due to school. but ya never know! love you all.

st. louis mission trip

this is sadly delayed! i'm finally going to put pictures up from the mission trip i went on with our church youth group in june! 

we went to st. louis and worked with new city fellowship in reaching out to those that live in the inner city.  i learned so much about loving "the orphan and the widow".  many people that we loved on (unprivileged children, muslim women learning to speak english, those in a government-funded retirement/nursing home, the dangerous neighborhoods, etc.) do not experience much care/security/love/protection besides that of this church and their mission.  it was such an eye-opening trip. here are some pictures of our youth and of the kids we loved on all week!

 our nightly group time. one of my favorite times of the week

 our fearless, yet slightly odd leader!

 this was the girl i tutored all week, Danielle!

 quiet coyote!

some of the greatest kids i know!