Three years ago today...

Brian and I got married!

Incredible how time flies.

The past 36 months have held four moves, new friends, new jobs, heartbreaking disappointments and overwhelming joys. Through it all, God has been so faithful. I am thankful every day for a husband who loves the Lord even more than he loves me. Brian has a true servant's heart and teaches me by example of what it looks like to put others before myself.

This next year will see even more changes and adjustments, but there is no one I would rather have holding my hand through this adventure. Love you B!

God with us

One of my favorite things to think about at Christmastime is the concept of Emmanuel, God with us. No matter what we are going through, whether it be extreme joy or severe heartache, our Lord empathizes. He empathizes because out of His unfathomable love for us, He chose to take on flesh and live as one of us for 33 years.

Wow.

Steven Curtis Chapman says it so well:

And in one glorious moment

All eternity was shaken

As God broke through the darkness that had kept us apart

With love that conquers loneliness

And hope that fills all emptiness

He came to earth to show our worth

Our God is with us, Emmanuel

And He's come to save us, Emmanuel

And we will never face life alone

Now that God has made Himself known

As Father and Friend, with us through the end

Emmanuel

We are inconceivably blessed. His children have truly received the greatest gift of all.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

99 Balloons

I have been meaning to post this video ever since I saw it several months ago. What an amazing testament to be able to truly say, in life or death, may the name of the Lord be praised.

Full of thanks

It may be a week past Thanksgiving, but we are absolutely overflowing with gratitude.

The Lord saw fit to allow Brian one of six spots in the orthodontic program in Indianapolis. It is the oldest ortho program in the country and has an excellent reputation. We were not at all expecting admittance there... a few weeks ago we had heard some unfavorable reports toward Brian's chances of getting in. But our God is mighty! And so faithful. 

We received the news yesterday morning and are still walking around with our heads in the clouds. Since beginning dental school six years ago, ortho acceptance has been a dark cloud hanging over Brian's head. Orthodontics is now ranked as the second most difficult medical specialty to be admitted into. It is an unbelievable feeling to know that he never has to apply again - that there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. We have learned so much about the Lord's sovereignty and are beyond thankful for His grace and lovingkindness shown in allowing Brian to work toward his dream.

The program starts on July 1 and lasts only 24 months, in which time Brian will also achieve his Masters of Science, something he didn't even dare to hope for. We don't know much about Indianapolis yet, but are excited to start familiarizing ourselves with a new part of the country.

Speaking of new homes, on Monday we moved into a duplex where we will stay until we leave for Indiana. The apartment we had booked fell through at the last minute, and God immediately dropped the duplex into our laps. Our heads know that He is always with us and always working His perfect will, but during the past two weeks we have FELT Him with us so closely.

We are also very grateful that God safely returned my dad and brother to us. They had an absolutely incredible journey and we're looking forward to hearing their stories for years to come. In light of the recent terrorist attacks on the hotel in Mumbai, India (the guys were there photographing the Taj Mahal about 4 weeks before it happened) and at the New Delhi airport (which the guys flew through twice), we are very relieved that they are back on US soil, safe and sound.

My mom and I decided to repaint the master bedroom and bathroom four days before Dad's return. With Brian's help, somehow we finished in time and are super pleased with the outcome. Dad loves it and it was a great surprise to welcome him home.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers, support and encouragement throughout this roller coaster ride. We could not be more amazed at the community that God has placed us in, and truly we thank Him every time we remember each of you (Phil. 1:3).

Lead Me On

I got to meet Amy Grant on Sunday night. It was one of the most exciting three minutes I have ever spent with anyone.

For those of you who don't know, or haven't just picked up on it, I am a huge fan. I have been for as long as I can remember! My parents have an audio recording of me singing "The Lord Has a Will," one of her earliest songs, when I could barely even talk. "Tennessee Christmas," her first song off her first Christmas album, is how I officially start my Christmas season every year. Her music has been the backdrop to many of my most precious memories. The Lord never fails to use her words, honest and true, to lift me up and remind me that I am not alone.

I realize she may be considered controversial by some in the Christian community, but there are very few artists I respect more. Throughout all of the multiple articles, books and interviews I have read concerning her, she has shone with graciousness and dignity, despite rumors and falsities swirling around her. She is nothing if not genuine. And she deeply loves the Lord and her family.

Anyway, the concert was held Sunday night at the church where my dad is on staff. That morning, she surprised everyone by singing two different times during the service. It was incredible to see her that close. My mom and I had front and center tickets that evening with our lifelong friends, Diane and Christine (who equally love Amy). Christine and I have DREAMED of getting to talk with her face to face, so we were beyond excited when we got two backstage passes to meet her after the show. The concert was really amazing - she sang nothing released after 1988, so it was all of her old, really good stuff. Christine and I laughed and cried through the entire show. It's amazing how music can take you back.

When our turn to talk finally came, all of the things we wanted to say just flew out the window. It's so hard to know where to start when you are trying to convey to someone the incredible impact they have made on your life. But despite all of our un-eloquence, I think she knew.

Homecoming, the elections, and a great sale

My mom and I headed south last week to see my sister Lesley perform in her first Pigskin. For those of you who have no idea what Pigskin is... in a nutshell, every spring, all of the fraternities and sororities put together a 7 minute song and dance routine, complete with costumes, backdrops and props. The best eight acts are chosen to perform during Baylor's homecoming the following fall, and that performance is called Pigskin. Not really sure why.

Anyway, we stopped in Dallas first to spend a couple of days with our relatives there. Upon our arrival, we were very pleased to learn that our visit happened to coincide with a wonderful event called the partners card sale. Once a year, you can buy a card for $60 (all profits go toward a neat pro-family organization) that allows you to save 20%, in addition to any sale prices, at more than 750 shops/restaurants in the city. Pretty much every store in Dallas. 

So, my mom and I immediately got out a map and set a game plan including the Container Store, Pottery Barn, Anthropologie and Crate & Barrel. In less than 48 hours, we managed to FILL the jetta (like so I couldn't see out of the rearview mirror) with deeply discounted purchases. We are pretty proud of ourselves for saving so much and think we might have to start making this sale an annual tradition!

Homecoming was so fun - I'm embarrassed to admit that it was the first one I have attended as an alumna. My dear friend Carrie drove up from Austin to spend the weekend with us, and we had a great time reliving old memories. Our first stop in Waco was Common Grounds. Yummm! Has anyone else been there recently??? It's a completely different building, but thankfully, the coffee is just the same. We decided against the bonfire (it was waaaayyy too hot that night to be standing by a huge fire) but we did get up early the next morning for the parade. We also skipped the game (which turned out to be quite exciting, but how were we to know?) and instead spent the afternoon at Spice. Les did a fabulous job in Pigskin - Pi Phi's act was "Mischief in the Library." It was adorable. We also got to have lunch with my Waco grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Cunningham. I think I'm going to have to start making homecoming an annual tradition along with the Dallas sale.

We got back to Wichita just in time to gear up for election day. While I could post a lot of anxious thoughts, instead I'll opt for a verse which calms my spirit during this time:

"The king's heart is like channels of water in the hands of the Lord: He turns it wherever He wishes." - Proverbs 21:1

Presidents are not, and never will be, sovereign. Thank you Lord, for giving us such a promise.

I am now in the midst of a huge project - 400 20-page programs for a wedding next week. Since I just started on them today... I better get back to work. :)

Back to Ta Town

(For those of you who aren't Wichita natives, "Ta Town" is what the locals affectionately call our thriving metropolis.)

After about 24 hours on the road, we were very thankful to pull into my parents' driveway and see our beloved Stryder at the window, just as anxious to see us as we were to see him. It is SO good to all be together again! On our way back, we drove along the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which overlooks the Shenandoah Valley. So beautiful, especially with all of the changing trees.

Probably due to my recent addiction to Gilmore Girls, I have decided to take up drinking coffee (the main characters are coffee junkies), and Brian has decided to join me. I have always loved the smell of coffee, and the idea of coffee - like brewing a pot every morning - but it has always tasted like burnt water to me. I have been told that I just need to add cupfuls of cream and sugar, and sure enough, it really does help and the taste is beginning to grow on me. I think I have now consumed five whole cups! Below is a picture of our very first cup, which we bought in Shenandoah National Park.

So, if anyone has any recommendations on good coffees, or maybe more importantly, good creamers, let me know! Oh, and if anyone ever wants to borrow a season of Gilmore Girls, just ask. We found a great deal on amazon and got all seven seasons! We watched all of season 2 on our drive back!

Brian felt good about his interview at the Mayo clinic last week, but we won't know anything until match day, which is Dec. 3. They only take one resident, but they seem to truly desire a well-rounded resident, so we feel like Brian has a good shot. Although he was not number 1 or 2 in his class, in the past two years, Brian has accomplished soooo much, so we are praying that they will value his character and his experience. Thanks so much for all of your prayers - they have been getting us through this tough time and the Lord daily gives us peace that passes understanding. Brian started working for his dad today, so he is looking forward to settling into a routine there.

This weekend, my mom and I are heading down to Baylor for Homecoming so we can see my sister perform in Pigskin! Let me know if any of you will be there too!

Ortho update

Thanks to all who have been praying for us - we found out Thursday night that God has closed the door at Phoenix... we are disappointed, but thankful that Brian still has two more shots at a program this year. He interviews at Indianapolis today from 2-3 (Eastern) and then at the Mayo clinic in MN next Wednesday. On Saturday morning, we'll start the drive back to Kansas and should arrive there late Sunday night. Please keep lifting Brian up over this next week. Indiana and Mayo are part of a program that "matches" applicants and schools - we won't know the results of the match until around Thanksgiving. So while we have a while left to wait, we are thankful to finally just know about Phoenix. Waiting might be the hardest part of this whole process. :)

We're going to drive down through the Shenandoah Valley area tomorrow and are looking forward to seeing all of the beautiful fall colors on our drive! We're so excited to be coming home for a little while - can't wait to spend time with our family and friends in Wichita. Thanks again to all of you for your support during this time. We couldn't do it without you!

It worked!

Sometimes boycotts do change minds! I am very happy to report that McDonalds has announced they will not renew their sponsorship in 2009 of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Yay! Read the complete story here. To all of you who went without McNuggets for the past few months, your efforts have paid off! Now we just have to stay on top of Hallmark.

No word yet for us on the orthodontic front - we are expecting to hear something from Phoenix by Friday. In the meantime, Brian will fly to Indianapolis on Thursday for an interview on Friday, so please continue to keep him in your prayers. When he gets back, we'll start our trek back to the midwest. We'll keep you posted!

A time for prayer

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thess. 5:16-18

Lately, Brian and I have been constantly, at least in our hearts, on our knees. I told him tonight that I am at the point where I am not even formulating complete sentences, rather, my spirit seems to incessantly breathe "help." In the back of my mind, no matter what I have been doing over the past week, I have found myself in a place of surrender, in a place of complete helplessness. The stock market, the elections, the happenings in the middle east and our future (somewhat dependent on Brian's interviews) seem to be hanging in mid-air. And for the first time in my life, I may be catching a glimpse of what my life as a believer is supposed to look like. Shouldn't I always be this reliant on the Lord? Shouldn't I always throw aside the "securities" of this world and depend solely on His providence?

We spent a great weekend in Phoenix with our friends, Ann and Danny Seiden, and are now back in Lancaster awaiting the results of Brian's interview - we should know within a week and a half. He loves the program and felt pretty good about his interview, so we are trusting that if Phoenix is not the best place for Brian then the Lord will direct him to somewhere even better.

Yesterday I received some more news that certainly deserves our attention and prayers. The matters I am concerned about pale in comparison. The following was written on October 4 by two YWAM (Youth With a Mission) facilitators and is still currently happening in India (click here for news coverage). Please take time to read it and join me in prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters. Also, PLEASE continue to pray for my dad and brother. They are heading to India on Friday and will be in the country until October 22. Although they will not be in the exact area where the situation below is happening, I still ask God for their safety as there are obviously many in India who hate Christians.

We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile state in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage... and it seems to be totally under the radar of the Western media .... 

A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and "reconverting" people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend. Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up..."Kill the Christians!" And the horror began... In the past 4 days, we have firsthand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ. 

Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa... they are right in the middle of all this chaos. In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to come back and "finish the job." Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer. 

More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belonging. As they fled, the bloodthirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace. In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The local Hindu people, our neighbors, turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area. So they left. We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore.   

All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill. Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the road... even women and children. More than 500 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen. This will continue for another 10 days... supposedly the 14-day mourning period for the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down. The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the Hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. 

Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved... that is our heart's cry. If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will transform an entire region. It is a long-term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission. What can you do? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Second, get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations.... prayer works! 

NYC weekend

It's hard to believe, but our time here in Lancaster is drawing to a close - we can't believe we have less than 3 weeks left here! One of our last hurrahs on the east coast was a trip into the big city this past weekend. We found a great hotwire deal on a hotel, so we took the train in and had a wonderful time walking around, eating, watching people and shopping. A few memorable stops: Magnolia's for their incredible cupcakes, Sara Beth's for a delicious brunch, Villa Mosconi for the best manicotti in the world and our new favorite find, Supermac, a teeny tiny restaurant with a huge selection of macaroni and cheese dishes. My wonderful husband also surprised me with a trip to the flagship Louis Vuitton store on 5th Avenue, where he let me pick out my first LV bag. We were also extremely blessed to be able to help a couple of people in true need, immediately after we asked the Lord for such an opportunity. All in all, it was a weekend we'll never forget.

For those of you who don't know, my dad and brother leave today for a two month adventure around the world. A missions-minded organization has hired Austin to shoot pictures/video of orphanages and God's creation, and my dad gets to go along as his assistant. My dad is an amazing photographer and as he passed that gene down to Austin, this trip is not only going to provide incredible father/son time, it will also offer unparalleled photographic opportunities. They will be in 15 countries over the next 8 weeks... this is allowing me quite an opportunity to trust the Lord with two of the people who mean the most to me. PLEASE join us in prayers for safety, health and discernment during all of their travels. You can check out their really cool travel blog for daily updates.

We're leaving for Phoenix on Friday, so please keep Brian in your prayers as he prepares for his interview. We'll keep you posted!

Interviews!

We found out this morning that Brian got an interview to the ortho program in Phoenix, AZ! He was able to visit this program several months ago and it quickly became his number one choice, so we are absolutely THRILLED that they extended him an interview. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN has also offered him an interview and he may receive interviews from other schools over the coming weeks, but as we have been praying specifically for Phoenix, we are breathing much easier to have heard from them.

I flew back to Lancaster last week so I'm grateful I could be with Brian when he heard the exciting news. My parents have been with us for the past week and we've had a great time showing them around the area - our week included trips to Philadelphia, DC and Gettysburg. Brian's parents are flying out tomorrow so we can't wait to introduce them to all of our favorite spots! The Phoenix interview is on October 6, so please keep Brian (and the decision-makers) in your prayers over the next few weeks. We know ultimately the choice is in the Lord's hands, so we trust that His will be done. Thanks for celebrating with us and for all of your prayers along the way - we'll keep you updated!

Running the race

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about running.

When we got to Lancaster, Brian decided to start an exercise routine. A beautiful trail, a little more than 1 mile long, surrounds our apartment complex, and he has faithfully been running it twice 5 days a week. Let me say that I am SO proud of him for doing this - it is NOT easy. I've joined him for the entire run a few times, but usually I cut in only for his last lap. That's because I hate to run. I will gladly do the elliptical for 90 minutes, but ask me to run 2 miles and I can barely make it.

I watched both the men's and women's marathons in the Olympics this year, and when the runners entered the stadium and neared the finish line, I was brought to tears. Being able to relate (a very little) to the pain their bodies must be in, and the relief of being almost finished, and the encouragement they must draw from the crowd - it's helped me view running in a new light. It's also brought Hebrews 12:1 to mind:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

My dad often reminds his Sunday School class that the race we are running is NOW. We are not preparing for a race we are going to run someday - we are currently, this very minute, running the race that the Lord marked out for each of us before the beginning of time. And we have a great cloud of unseen witnesses, cheering us on as we make God-honoring decisions, even if no one is there to see with earthly eyes. I'm not going to try to predict the return of the Lord, but for the past year, with the help of my dad, I've been closely following world events. I truly believe we are living in the last days. The finish line is near. NOW is the time (and I'm saying this to myself) to throw off the sin that would hold me back from wholeheartedly following the agenda of my God. NOW is the time to forget myself - to discipline myself to HIS glory. I want to run like I have never run before. No matter if I'm tired or weary - NOW is the time to show perseverance, to push myself and to end the race running with all of my might.

I love all of you fellow runners - remember that we are in this race of life together - God has given us to each other to be a source of encouragement and strength when we grow faint. On that note, I want to share an incredibly powerful video with you. My brother, Austin, is working on a web site for a new book called The Bravehearted Gospel and the clip is posted on that site. Click on the link and then on "video" - I guarantee you'll be ready to hit the trail hard when it's over!

A hard decision

I was very disturbed to hear on AFR (American Family Radio) this morning that Hallmark cards has recently announced that it will soon begin selling same-sex wedding cards, in order to satisfy "consumer demand." Although gay marriages are only legal in TWO of our 50 states, Hallmark is trying to be relevant to as many people as possible. Here's an article with more details and a picture of one of the cards we will soon see in stores.

I wrestled for a while with what I should do, because I love Hallmark cards. They're all I ever buy. I can always find exactly what I'm looking for whenever I visit one of their stores. But I don't want my money, thought it may not amount to much, supporting an organization that is actively promoting homosexuality. So I just sent Hallmark an e-mail, through afa.net, to let them know that I will never again buy a Hallmark card. I'm not happy about this and I hope they'll reconsider their decision, but until they do, I don't feel that buying their products is a wise use of the money that the Lord has given me to steward.

On the same note, about a month ago, McDonald's helped sponsor the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade and also paid $20,000 to become an official "organizational ally and corporate partner" of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. When AFA asked McDonald's to remain neutral in this culture war (not support OR fight it), the company refused, stating that they will continue to proudly support the gay agenda. We don't eat at McDonald's often anyway, but I've had my last happy meal unless they change their stance. It's really very sad, but Brian and I are trying to honor the Lord and His precepts in ALL areas of our life, even if it means giving our dollars to Wendy's instead of McDonald's.

The past few weeks...

I have been too busy to blog, and I apologize. I'll try not to let it happen again!

I am currently in Wichita, working for the next three weeks on the collateral for a big wedding (I had to leave all of my supplies here since I couldn't fit them in our car during the move). Poor Brian is now stuck in Lancaster, all alone, so we are hoping the time goes by quickly until we can be together again. 

Before I left, we had the chance to visit the Betchers (Brian's aunt, uncle and cousins) who live in Leesburg, Virginia, which is a suburb of DC. The drive to Leesburg took us through Gettysburg, so we briefly stopped and walked around the huge exhibit they have at the site of the battleground. It is one of the most extensive, impressive displays I have ever seen. We are hoping to go back before we leave the area because we could have easily spent the entire day wandering around the museum and driving to all of the different sites on the battlegrounds.

Since the Betchers live so far from the midwest, Brian hadn't been out to see them for years, so we had a great time getting a glimpse into their world on the east coast. They took us into DC on Saturday, where we went to the International Spy Museum (SO fun!), a presidential exhibit at the Smithsonian, the White House, the Capitol and several other memorials. I had never been to DC before, so it was really fun for me to see in person all of the buildings I have only ever seen in history books. We also got to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics with the Betchers - I'm sure everyone has seen it by now, but if not, here's a link to the entire first hour. Absolutely amazing. 

After an overnight delay in Memphis where she had to spend the night all by herself, we picked my brave sister Lesley up at the Baltimore airport and brought her back to Lancaster. She spent a week with us before we both flew back to Wichita together. We had a really fun time together, but unfortunately don't have many pictures to show for it since we are both very bad at asking strangers to take pictures for us. :) We spent a good deal of time at the largest mall on the east coast, picked peaches and apples in an orchard, tried our best to spot Jon and Kate plus 8 (they live in Lancaster County), found the best pretzels in the world and ate more chocolate than we should have in Hershey, PA. I love having a sister.

Until I go back to Lancaster in September, we won't have anything too exciting going on, but I'll try to take a break from all of my work and post some random happenings or deep thoughts. :)

Chapman family update

In case anyone didn't see Steven Curtis Chapman and his family speak on Good Morning America today, here's a link to the video clip. They are all so genuine and such a testimony to the hope of the gospel and of heaven. The family will also be on Larry King Live, for the full hour, on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Unruffling our feathers

During our drive out to Lancaster, Brian and I watched The Bucket List, which is a pretty funny movie about two guys who have cancer and decide to make, and then fulfill, a list of all the things they want to do before they kick the bucket. When we got to Lancaster, we made a "bucket list" of our own - a list of things we wanted to do before we leave the area in October. One of Brian's favorite childhood vacations was driving up the East Coast with his family and staying at bed & breakfasts along the way. Since I have never experienced one, we added a b&b to the list and started researching our options. We ended up choosing The Ruffled Duck, a cute little b&b in Oxford, MD, right on the coast of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Ruffled Duck is owned by the sister of some of our friends from Wichita, so we had been hearing wonderful things about it for a couple of years. It was everything we hoped it would be - a quiet old home with lots of character, overlooking the water in a quaint little town. We started Saturday off with a gourmet 3-course breakfast and then headed over, via a car ferry, to the nearby town of St. Michael's. After walking the main street and window shopping all morning, we spent the afternoon sailing around the Chesapeake Bay (the boat was operated by an oyster catcher, so we got to see him "drudge" some oysters). We had dinner that evening in the nearby town of Easton, where we got to try Smith Island cake, which is named for a local island and was just declared the Maryland state dessert. It was an impressive stack of nine thin layers of yellow cake with chocolate frosting between - here's the recipe if you ever want to attempt it. 

Sunday morning we enjoyed another delicious breakfast and spent the morning exploring Oxford by bike. For our drive back to Lancaster, we chose a different route so we could visit Annapolis, the state capitol of Maryland. The highway took us over the Bay Bridge, which is an absolutely unreal structure, 4. 3 miles long and 190 feet high, that crosses the Chesapeake. I was very thankful that Brian was driving because I couldn't have done it - I could hardly even look out the window because we were so high. Annapolis was just past the bridge, right on the water and absolutely gorgeous, with flowers and greenery everywhere. We spent most of our time in the Historic District, where we saw the capitol building, the Naval Academy, and boats and yachts everywhere!

Thanks for praying for our friends the Briscoes, who I mentioned in my post last week. Holly and Addison have had a great week and are progressing well. Unfortunately this week I have another request to share about some friends from Wichita. On Sunday, Clark and Erin (Davis) Moeller were on their way back to Wichita from Colorado in a soft top jeep. Right outside of Pueblo, there was a malfunction in a mechanism on their rear axle, causing the jeep to flip several times before being stopped by the guard rail. They were both pinned underneath. Erin's right wrist is intact, but she has lost everything but her pinky on her right hand. Clark is in ICU with several broken vertebrae, a fractured wrist and lots of gashes on his head. There are also concerns of potential infections in both because of all the gravel and dirt found in their wounds. Neither should be alive, so their families are praising the Lord for saving them, but healing and adjusting will be difficult, especially for Erin with the loss of her right hand. I know they and their families would appreciate your prayers during this time. 

Sunny in Philadelphia

Although Brian and I spent a couple of days in Philadelphia for a wedding last year, neither one of us got to really see the city as much as we wanted. We decided to take advantage of our close proximity to this historical gold mine (we're only an hour away) and had a great weekend soaking up the beautiful weather while learning about the beginning of our nation.

It was incredible to see, over and over again, the very clear objectives of our godly forefathers. Nearly every decision they made in regard to their vision of America was inspired by Scripture. Truth is inscribed all over the city - 

- from the inscription on the Liberty Bell ("Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof. - Lev. 25:10") 

- to the burial stone marking the graves of seven Declaration signers ("... with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence") 

- to the Declaration of Independence ("that all men... are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights...") 

America truly is a country unlike any other - there is no other civilization on this planet that was created by Christians for religious freedom. Although the US may have strayed from our forefathers' original intentions, it is still an immeasurable blessing to be a citizen of this great nation.

Below I've put a few highlights of our trip into a slideshow - if you click on it, you can view the pictures at a larger size. One of our favorite finds was the Reading Terminal Market, where we stumbled upon a live cooking demonstration by Adam Gertler, who was a finalist in the most recent season of The Next Food Network Star. He was making Mexican breakfast burritos and we were able to sample them - yum! We also got to run in Rocky's footsteps up the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Another favorite moment was standing in the very room that the Declaration of Independence was signed in - it was pretty surreal. And of course, we were very excited to eat an authentic Philly cheesesteak at Jim's Steaks.

On another note, please say a prayer for our friends Patrick and Holly Briscoe and their new baby girl, Addison. Holly was almost 28 weeks when they packed up their home in Kansas City to move to Longview, TX last week. When they arrived in Longview on Friday, Holly went into the doctor because Addison wasn't moving, and they ended up finding low amniotic fluid so they had to rush her to labor and delivery. Addison was born via c-section a few hours later at 1 lb. 11 oz. and 13.5 inches long. She and Holly are doing fine, but as you can imagine, they will both be weathering some obstacles these next few months.

Welcome to Scranton

You might want to skip the last part of this entry if you're not an Office fan.

For our first Saturday in the area, Brian and I got up early and headed to the Lancaster Central Market, which is recognized as the oldest farmers' market in the country. Housed in an old red brick building that was built in 1889, it has more than 60 vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and tons of yummy Amish baked goodies! We got fresh sweet corn, peaches, broccoli and a couple of incredible donuts. I'm planning on shopping there as much as I can, because not only is the food fresh and delicious, its also pretty cheap!

The market is located down the block from the corporate headquarters of Auntie Anne's pretzels (which started in Lancaster). Brian made me stop to take a picture because I LOVE their pretzels!

Saturday afternoon, we decided to head north to Scranton, which is where The Office is fictionally based. It's about 2.5 hours from here, so a little bit of a trek, but we figured it was worth it because we will probably never have the chance to go again. Secretly, I think we were both hoping to run into Jim and Pam, or even better, Dwight.

Getting closer...

They recently took the original "Welcome to Scranton" sign down and put this one up it its place. The original one is now on display at the Steamtown Mall (yes, we went to see it, keep reading).

Here's the original sign on display at the mall!

At the mall, we discovered that we had JUST missed seeing Kelly Kapoor in person! She had been at the mall promoting the show and the city's "fun run" that was that morning - she left less than an hour before we arrived! We were so bummed!

Huge Office display in the center of the mall. Note the Dwight bobble head on the elevator.

So, although we didn't get to meet Jim and Pam, we did walk out of the mall with Gamestop's last copy of MarioKart for Wii, which we have been searching for since we got our Wii last month. As one of Wii's most popular games, it's pretty tough to find. We were very excited to find a copy in Scranton of all places! After leaving the mall, we drove around downtown Scranton and saw some of the other buildings that are shown in the opening credits. All in all, a great day!

We're heading to Philadelphia this weekend, so stay tuned for some more pictures!

Life in Lancaster

I am quickly learning how dangerous it is to get behind in my blog - somehow a month has already passed, and now I don't know quite where to start! After logging 1,300 miles on the Jetta odometer while getting to see the landscape of 7 different states, we are finally residents of Lancaster, PA! But let's rewind life just a little before I bring you up to date.

The last weekend of June (and my last weekend in KC), my great friend Valerie Bailes and I were privileged to host 10 of our friends at Val's house in Liberty, MO for our fifth annual Girls Weekend. These yearly get-togethers of sorority sisters are always full of laughter and fun, and this year was no exception. Activities centered around a theme of "our favorite things" and included everything from picking blueberries to making lip balm. Below are a couple of pictures of the group - click here if you want to see more (beware, there are hundreds)!

Nelson Art Museum (yes, that's right, Kelly and I are matching)

Sporting our sashes with this year's patches

After Girls Weekend, I hurried home to help Brian finish packing up our little home. We rented a 26 foot long U-haul to transport everything back to Wichita, and it's a good thing we chose that size (the biggest they offer). Somehow we filled the entire thing, which neither of us was expecting! Some of our Bible Study friends came to help us and were such a huge blessing - the guys helped Brian load the heavy stuff and the girls were so sweet and helped me vacuum and clean before we left. What servant-hearted friends! Thanks yall! We miss you!!!!

Girls (minus Camille Potchad)

Guys (minus Mike Potchad)

Before we pulled away at midnight, we stood in our dark house and thanked the Lord, through quite a few tears, for all of the ways He had blessed us there. Looking back, we were once again reminded of His faithfulness, which greatly encouraged us toward the road ahead. Brian bravely maneuvered the U-haul (and its trailer which held my Jeep) down I-35 and we made it to Wichita safe and sound. We were there a couple of weeks, during which time we got to see my sister, Lesley, my brother, Austin, who we hadn't seen since Christmas, and Brian's sister, Abby, and her husband, Adam. Brian also got to work for his dad for a week, which gave him a great taste of what he will be doing once we move back to Wichita this fall. 

The morning of July 16, we absolutely crammed the Jetta full of stuff and hit the road again (after my tearful goodbye to Stryder. I have never been away from him this long since I brought him home). And when I say cram, I mean CRAM.

The road trip was thankfully pretty uneventful, except for a traffic jam outside of Indianapolis that cost us 3 hours. After waiting in a standstill for 1.5 hours at 11:30 p.m., we had had enough and put the Garmin to good use and found another route. My favorite part of the drive was through West Virginia - wow. Crossing the state line from Ohio, we drove over a beautiful old bridge through a huge gorge and it was absolutely breathtaking. The rest of the time we were in the state, the highway was full of twists and turns, streams, bridges and mountains. I am so grateful for the opportunity to see a part of God's creation, and my country, that I had never seen before.

Our apartment is great - we're renting all of our furniture, so it was really nice to move into a place that was already ready to be lived in. The complex is in the middle of Amish farmland, although we're also about a quarter of a mile from the city's main highway. Lancaster is certainly an interesting dichotomy of old-world Amish and modern day America. Tonight we walked a trail that encircles our apartments and got to see an Amish man plowing his field behind a horse. We have quickly developed a great respect for these people - they are humble, hard-working and extremely disciplined. I know that just observing them could teach me a lot.

I have already written way too much so I'll wrap it up for now with a picture of our apartment building, but all you Office fans need to check back soon because we went to SCRANTON today! I'll post pics and stories soon!

Beginning of the end

Tonight marks one week out from our last night in Kansas City, so I thought I'd take a break from packing to write once more before the big move. We're entering into our week of lasts (does anyone else ever look at change this way)?!? Brian mowed the lawn for the last time today, it's our last Sunday night here, I'm getting my last haircut in KC tomorrow, etc, etc... :) I'm sitting on the couch surrounded by boxes - my parents came up this week for several days and were an incredibly huge help, serving us by doing everything from cleaning our carpets to washing my car (both were embarrassingly dirty)! We could not have done this without them! Although we still have a lot to do, we're feeling on track and hopeful that everything we own will be in a box by this time next week.

The last couple of weeks have been bittersweet as we have started saying goodbye to dear friends here in KC. The Lord answered our prayers by surrounding us these last three years with people who are not only really fun, but who have also challenged, encouraged and sharpened us. We feel truly blessed.

Our great friends, Lea and Valerie Bailes - at the Royals vs. Rangers "buck night" last week. 

Camping at Smithville Lake last weekend with Jake and Jamie Kirby and Mike and Camille Potchad. Got to pull two ticks off Stryder afterward (one of the nastiest things I have EVER done), but getting to spend time with these two couples was totally worth it!

Our Tuesday night Bible Study group sent us off with a special dinner last week. We have never been around such a warm and welcoming group of friends - what an example each of them has been to us as they have lived out what it looks like to be the body of Christ.

Windemere, Wichita and a Wii

Brian and I are pretty excited. We returned to KC last night after spending four days in Wichita, where we were able to check some major things off our moving to-do list. Not only did God provide us with $400 worth of great moving boxes (THANK YOU Myma and CH!!!), but we were able to find a place to rent when we move back to Wichita in the fall. This is a lot harder than you might think, especially when you have an 80 lb. dog and you need a lease less than 12 months. After introducing Stryder to the management staff (they required this), the Windemere at Tallgrass approved us. For those of you from Wichita - we'll be on Rock between 21st and 29th, which is about a mile from where Brian will be working.

Since last October, I have been actively searching for a Wii for Brian. I absolutely refuse to pay $600 on ebay, so I've checked at Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Gamestop and multiple other electronics stores. Yet the Wiis continued to elude me. A couple of weeks ago, Brian heard that Nebraska Furniture Mart (a GIGANTIC store here in KC that carries a little of everything) had gotten a big shipment in. Although they had already sold out by the time we drove out there, they encouraged him to keep calling back over the next few weeks, as another large shipment was due in soon. Last Wednesday, Brian called and heard the words we had been waiting for - "Yes, we just got a shipment, but you better get out here NOW! We can't hold one for you, and these things are flying off the shelf!" Brian called from school to report the news, so I immediately jumped in my car and sped the 20 miles to go pick up our new toy. As I walked in the door, three guys walked out carrying Wiis, so I quickened my pace and headed for electronics. Five minutes later, I was headed home with our Wii in the front seat beside me.

To go along with our Wii, we were also hoping to get a Wii Fit, but NFM was out. These exercise/balance boards were just recently released, so I resigned myself to the fact that I probably wouldn't be getting one for a while. When we played the Wii with our parents this weekend, they had so much fun that Brian's mom wanted to get one. When she called Best Buy to check their stock, they told her to come on over, and she was excited to find not only Wiis but some Fits as well. She picked one up for us, and it is even better than we had imagined! It has all kinds of aerobic games that get your heart pumping and balance games that improve your posture and core strength.

Anyways, we would highly recommend both the Wii and the Wii Fit to anyone who is considering purchasing one. We would also recommend looking for it in Wichita, as we searched for 9 months to find one in KC, and it only took Brian's mom 9 minutes. :)

Our Great Adventure

As Brian and I are heading into the most "transitional" time of our married life so far, I figured it's about time we join the blogging world. Being a professional writing major, I can't believe I've put it off this long, but better late than never, right? So here we go!

I settled on the title of this post for a couple of reasons, the first being that the Steven Curtis Chapman family has been really heavy on my heart for the past week. (You know his song... "saddle up your horses... this is the great adventure...") Anyway, they are such a neat family with a really incredible ministry - let's all continue to pray that the Lord gives them peace that passes understanding as they work through their grief over the coming months. My brother Austin went to Baylor with Emily (the oldest daughter) and they are great friends - one hour before the accident, she called to ask him to be her wedding photographer, as she had just gotten engaged the weekend before. Needless to say, the last thing she probably wants to do right now is start planning a wedding, so I am praying that God gives her extra energy and joy with the tasks in front of her.

Brian and I (and Stryder too!) are about to jump into this next phase of our great adventure - we're starting to pack up and prepare to leave our little rental home on 80th Street in Overland Park. We've been here nearly 3 years and part of us wishes we could stay a bit longer. We are, however, excited about what is around the corner... a move 1,100 miles away to Amish Country USA (aka: Lancaster, PA). We'll be there 3 or 4 months so Brian can volunteer for the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic while he applies to orthodontic programs across the country. After his time there is up, we will move to Wichita so he can work for his dad in his orthodontic practice.

If there is one thing we've learned over the past year, it's that life pretty much NEVER works out the way you plan. We never imagined it would be so difficult for Brian to get into an ortho program. We never imagined we would be living for a time in the middle of Pennsylvania farmland. But we also never imagined how much the re-routes and detours could teach us about letting go... of expectations, of pride, of the trust we place in the known. These are invaluable lessons I hope we'll always carry with us. We are so thankful that His plans are not ours.

So, thanks to whoever is reading this - we are very thankful that you are part of our adventure. And we hope you'll check back often for updates from our little family. :)

P.S. All of my blogging friends have these adorable custom pages with cute backgrounds and cool headers - I have no idea how to add all of that fun stuff. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!