Not Your Average Trip To New York

Where do I begin? It was my first trip to the Big Apple.

The city is beautiful and full of life. A tough people; to the point. Cool outside, hot inside. Beautiful old buildings. Basements with kitchens. An underground life through the subway - 2.50 per ride. Close districts. Cultured. Inflated cost of living. Style. Theater. Museums. A different life. Not better not worse, just different.

I have many highlights but the one I must mention first was the group who went. Nona, Barb, mom, Auntie Ruth, Helen, and Aimee. I learned the funny quirks and the different roles that each person assumed. Mom, the fun one. Helen, mom's long lost sister. Nona, the gentle people pleaser, Auntie Ruth, the controlled and quiet excitement. Barb, the deeper meaning. Aimee, my subway seat partner. But all women who love Jesus and are seeking to let Him mold and shape their lives. Always giving glory to God in the everyday and seeking to be more Christ-like. I admire each one and am thankful they allowed me to tag along.

The second highlight was Billy Elliott. Mom, Helen, and I saw the musical "Billy Elliott" on Saturday night and I was so moved by the main actor. I will never forget his red dance. Man, I know he'll go many places in his career. It was a privilege to be able to see such an amazing dancer, singer, and actor at such a young age.

The third highlight... ayai, there are so many. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

What a great trip. Oh wait, I forgot one itsy bitsy teeny weeny bit of info,

AIMEE GOT ENGAGED!

 She had no idea we were walking to her engagement. :)

Helen said it was such a beautiful day that we were going to take a slight detour through Central Park. 

Blane called while we were walking down the Literary Lane. Asking if she saw this and that...

 and then she walked to the famous fountain and he asked her on the phone,

"Do you see the fountain?"

"yes"

"Look to the right, do you see me?"

"What are you doing here!?"

And she ran down the steps to him and he took her to a private place in the park and proposed.

Sorry I have no pics of the actual event. He wanted privacy. :)

 Tada!

We ran into them at Dean and Deluca and Auntie bought them flowers. :)

On the red steps in Times Square later that night. 

The announcement splashed across a jumbotron and the way facebook found out.

To my favorite girl in the whole world. I am up to my ears in pride and excitement for this new journey in life. Finally, all the magazines will be put to use. 

Big News

Something I have been praying for was answered. Josh was offered a job. The catch, it's up north. It's too good to pass up so he's moving up there next month. It is a great opportunity for him.

People keep asking me how I'm taking it. They know that Josh and I do life together - workout, cook, errands, do nothing together, and everything in between. I'm not going to lie and say it's going to be a piece of cake because it won't be.

My grandpa once told me that we need to have confidence that the Lord will have His way. Without such confidence we betray our own confidence that Christ is the head.

The FAQs
Yes, we are staying together.
No, we don't have plans for the future. He's just trying to figure out the best city to live in right now. One step at a time.
Yes, I will miss him immensely.
Yes, the unknown scares me.
Yes, he will try and be home on weekends during the NAU season. :)

Habakkuk 3

2 Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
God came from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.

His glory covered the heavens
and his praise filled the earth.
His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden.
Plague went before him;
pestilence followed his steps.
He stood, and shook the earth;
he looked, and made the nations tremble.
The ancient mountains crumbled
and the age-old hills collapsed.
His ways are eternal.

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.

I'm not focusing on the destruction and wrath. I'm seeing the vast and all-encompassing scope of the Lord and his mighty power. Habakkuk so accurately speaks of this. And the response in 18 and 19 it says that knowing all this, "yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful, the Sovereign Lord is my strength".

Sharon asked me the other week how I was doing with all these changes. I told her the honest truth, "I'm trusting in the Lord".

29

Man, you wake up one morning and you're 29. I woke up today with these videos waiting for me. :)

Yes, we're such nerds. :) But I appreciated it nonetheless.

Btw, today I've officially began THE list. The "what I need to accomplish before I turn 30" list. I'm having a hard time figuring out what to put on there. Any suggestions?

My Pint Sized House Guest

VJCC Golf Tourney