It's December?!

I love nursing school. No actually I don't. I love the people I have met in class and love the thought of becoming a nurse. School stinks. Haha, and thats maybe the first time I have really ever said that because I truly love learning new things. Yeah, I think I just admitted to being a nerd. Oh well.

Today, I am one week away from temporary freedom and going home to Chicago (Chicago will just always be home). Thanksgiving break provided just enough re-energizing to hopefully get me through to the rest of finals. It was great to cook a Thanksgiving meal (thats almost 3 times now, thank you!). And I may still have a lot to learn in the cooking realm but it was fun anyways. We were able to hang out with family, which was one of the greatest blessings. It was quint and quiet...which I am definitely not used to. Holidays are always a hustle and bustle in our family. I was blessed to grow up with such a big loving family. And Errik and I were close to spending this Thanksgiving alone, which may sound super romantic but growing up with BIG holiday gatherings...it just wouldn't quite feel the same. It was wonderful and the Lord knew just what we needed.

Now, its December and my countdown until the end of finals and going home begins. But that's what I am afraid of right now. Countdowns. With going back to nursing school, my life is a schedule of deadlines and where I have to be and when. However, my hope this Christmas season is that I find time to stop and enjoy just being with friends and family that I cherish so much and to remember what Christmas is TRULY all about. Christ. I hope that as my calendar continues to fill up this month, that I will have time to just sit. Patiently. And enjoy where I am in life, right now... and not let life become all about deadlines and countdowns or maybe what's to come next in life.

Richly Blessed...

The past month has been super busy for Errik and I. I just don't know how that happens. I think we are both getting used to the fact that Errik doesn't have to work weekends anymore so we have been taking advantage of that! We love getting out of Columbia and exploring all thats out there. Here's what we've been up to!

Oct 2: We took the day and drove up to Hendersonville, NC. It's a quint small mountain town near Asheville, not too far from here. We had the privelage of hanging out with the newly engaged Brittany Jones and Zach Brady. They are way too fun. They showed us around town...the cute little local shops. Lots of antique stores much to Errik's dismay but I loved it and I think he is beginning to also. The leaves were just beginning to change and we were SO happy to be wearing very light jackets (it was still 90 in Columbia!). I just absolutely love driving through the mountains. It's always breathtaking and I just can't seem to look around and not think there is a God. A God who so masterfully handcrafted something so beautiful for us to take part in. As we drove through, "Oh, how He loves us" by David Crowder was playing. That's just perfectly sums it up for me. After hanging out in hendersonville, we took a short drive to an apple orchard that sits on top of a mountain. Simply breathtaking.

Oct 9: Are you ready for some foooooootball!! College Gameday arrived to town! Let me remind you of what happened THAT weekend. The #1 ranked team in college football rolllllled into town (Alabama). My Gamecocks (yes mine) pulled out a sweet sweet victory. It was one of the best sporting events I have been to, apart from Illinois coming back from a 20 point deficit in the NCAA bball tourney a few years back. I had a great time. It was a balmy 87 degree afternoon. Unfortunately, I couldnt get Errik a ticket (they were going for hundreds of dollars, I mean these people take their football seriously!). I went with some of my friends that I have met through Nursing school. They are such a blessing and crazy fun. They will most likely help me survive school.

Oct 16: The SC state fair is in town for a week or so. Always good people watching...ha and Errik and I went to the Josh Kelley, Eric Church and Miranda Lambert concert. It was a perfect evening. We enjoyed the music, the food and of course people watching. Saturday was drove back up to the mountains. I was told that this was going to be PRIME fall colors weekend in the mountains. So, Errik and I decided to go hiking in the mountains near Asheville, NC for the day. Our first plan was to drive up to Mt. Mitchell, the highest point East of the Mississippi River. However, as we were driving up there, I decided to check the weather report again and it was a meer 19 degrees with windchill. EEEK. We wanted to hike but we were certainly not ready for that in our light pants and jacket. A cold front had come through there just 2 days earlier and there were black bear warnings all over the place. I'll pass. Mount Pisgah provided perfect scenery for us to enjoy. The day was absolutely perfect. Sunny and near 70 with a light breeze. The trees were almost at peak colors. We enjoyed a short 1.5 hour hike to the top, enjoyed the view, scampered back down and drove the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway into Asheville. We enjoyed downtown Asheville, very artsy and ecletic.

Oct 23: We had the PLEASURE of driving down to good ol' Macon, GA! Great friends of ours (the Browns) just moved down there a few months ago and we had the opportunity to go and visit. We had an amazing time. Just hanging out, playing with their kids, getting wooped by the boys in cards (whatever) and just being outside. We went with them and their cute kiddos on saturday to a "working farm" (do they know were from the midwest). Rock Ranch. It was pretty awesome...cane fishing (?), pumpkins shooting a million yards out of a cannon, bob and larry (veggie tales!), tiny town, paddle boats, giant jumping pillow thing, absolutely perfect weather....the list goes on. The point: We had a blast! We absolutely love spending time with them and their kids. Our time is generally filled with constant laughter, there is nothing better. We miss them but are so blessed by their love and faith in Christ and the awesome examples they set for us as well as their kids. And thank you bella for falling asleep in my arms. :)

This weekend: Harvest Party at church, a great opportunity to hang out with the high schoolers and be able to bless our community with a little fun and games. And Errik and I are going to the Carolina/Tennessee game on Saturday! Whew. What a month!

Hypocrisy

So last night I had the privilege of going to a on-campus ministry meeting at USC. It brought back old college memories. I was talking with some of the girls that invited me to come about this funny place in life Errik and I are at. We are in this funny place of being married, not having kids and too care free to sit and worry about adult responsibilities. What I mean by that is we don't feel grown up even though everything around us would point to that. But I'll talk more about that later. What was so awesome about last night was that I heard one of the best sermons I have heard in awhile. However, it was a tough topic but something people deal with at all stages of life. I hope to share some of it with you the best I can.

He spoke on Acts 4:32-5:11. In short, its a passage that talks about Barnabas (Joseph) and Ananias. Barnabas sold a field and brought all the money and laid it at the apostles' feet to help his church. BUT Ananias sold a piece of property, kept some of the proceeds and brought only part of it to the apostles. Peter asked him why he lied in his heart to the Holy Spirit and keep some of it back for himself. He lied to God and fell down dead. Later, Sapphira came in and lied about how much the property was worth. They tested the Spirit of the Lord. She fell down and breathed her last.

As you can see, Barnabas gave everything he had. He was all in with helping the church and the needy. Ananias, on the other hand, wanted the credit of giving everything even though he didn't. He wanted people to think he was as great as Barnabas and have his same reputation. That's the problem with Christian culture these days. People preach one thing but act completely different. The pastor brought up an article he read about how this writer took up being immersed in the Christian culture for 7 straight days. He read Christian books, listened to Christian music, went to Church, the whole bit. At the end of those 7 days, he said the Christian culture was the most inauthentic thing he has ever been a part of. It's pop culture without the cuss words and some Jesus words thrown in.

Wow. That hit me hard. Is that the image we are displaying for all the world to see? I think it's time we become honest with ourselves and find out who we really are. So much of us wants to live that Christian life but want to keep a hold of idols in our life. We want to change the outside appearance, which is much easier to do, than change whats on the inside. And how much we read the bible or know about the bible does not reflect our relationship with Jesus, not that I am saying you shouldn't read the bible. God hates hypocrisy. And guess what? God sees EVERYTHING. There isn't a single thing you can hide from him. Does that scare you? Because it shouldn't, you shouldn't have anything to hide. If you don't believe me, read about the Pharisees or read the Gospels. The Pharisees were the most religious people and God was often speaking to them. The Gospels aren't fluffy wonderful stories, they are about the bad junk that is made clean. These are the questions I had to ask myself. Am I living in a Christian bubble? Do I live two different lives? Because most likely, our hidden lives are who we actually are. Ouch.

My Generation

So there is a new show on this year called My Generation. It is the story of a bunch of people ten years out of high school. It is shot documentary style but they are fictional characters. I think it is interesting because there is so much that has happened in the last ten years in our country and there are so many directions people go after high school. I suppose I like it because I am partial to nostalgia and retrospection. I like to think about my own like and where I've been since throwing that square hat in the air some 7 years ago now. But the reason I say all that is because the choices we all make really do determine the value of our lives in this life and the next...

I decided to go into social work because it was one of the few professions I felt I could do some good in other's lives and be a christian at the same time given the talents God has given me. I could have walked down many roads and I can't help but watch a show like that and wonder if my life would count for anything had I made the wrong choices. Would I be stuck in some dead end job not using my gifts, would I spend my weekends at some bar instead of pouring into kids at church or would I be in a relationship that wasn't glorifying to God instead of married to my wife.

I suppose I say all this to say how important it is to take a look at one's life to make sure it means something more than "The American Dream" more than just getting ahead. I'm not their yet but I'm happy to say I am where I am supposed to be.

What it is to be blessed

Starting my third week of work as a social worker I am reminded of how blessed I can be without even knowing it. This weekend was filled with many of the things I love including spending time with my wife, hanging out with the 9th grade guys and watching the Packers and USC win some games. It was a great weekend, but every weekend for the next five months could look the same if I'm not careful. What I mean is that my life as a christian, as a husband, as a social worker had to be balanced.

It seems guys often get overwhelmed with the "fun" parts of life like sports but end up missing some of the more important things like building relationships. I hope I can find a balance that the lord will be pleased with. Whether that means limiting my time in front of a tv or computer or taking the effort to spend time with the 9th grade guys I'm working with, I hope I am up for the challenge. If I can find a good balance I think I will do something better than just be blessed...I might be able to bless others with the gifts God has given me.

A new chapter...

Well, I have officially finished one week of nursing school. A bizillion more to go. I have a myriad of emotions as Errik and I begin this new chapter. I am excited to finally begin what I have been waiting a long time to start. However, this week has been very overwhelming and slightly stressful, ok very stressful. Errik has been a huge help with doing more things around the house and encouraging me every single day that I can do this. Thats what I have to keep reminding myself...everyday. I can do this. This has probably been one of the hardest things I have had to do thus far. I am constantly trying to tell myself to enjoy the journey. On the flip side of that, I am so excited to begin this journey and cant wait to start working in the hospital!

The great thing is that for once Errik and I feel we are exactly where the Lord wants us. We have been surrounded by great friends, an awesome family and a wonderful church that has encouraged us in so many facets of life. For that, we are truly blessed. So cheers to beginning the next 2 years of our life and after that...who knows! The possibilities are endless...

Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave but not our hearts.

Well, I am back from Chicago. Being in Chicago was amazing but going "home" is still such a strange oddity to me. This was the first trip that I really began to feel like Columbia is becoming our home. This summer I was really homesick. I mean REALLY homesick. I have never felt that way before and cant really pinpoint why. I do think that one of the hardest parts about being away is that we have 3 of the most adorable nieces with 2 more on the way! I wish I could be there to watch them grow up and hear all the funny things they say but I do know that Columbia is right where we need to be...for the time being at least.

Well, I was very blessed to have the opportunity to go back "home" and "recharge my batteries" as Errik put it. And I did just that. I was able to do almost all the things I wanted to do while I was home...visit with friends and family a lot, go downtown, eat at portillos, have chicago style pizza (VERY hard to find in the south...) and celebrate my sisters 30th birthday. I even was a full scale tourist in the city with a camera around my neck and all (yeah, im cool). We took the architectural tour down the chicago river, right through the heart of the city. I was speechless. Amazing, everyone should do it even if you have lived in chicago your whole life.

However, leaving "home" provided mixed emotions this time. I enjoyed every minute of being there and playing with my 2 1/2 yr old niece Olivia but after a week seemed ready to be back in real life. Back to the hot south where the air conditioning has been full blast since the beginning of June, where people talk funny, where sweet tea is offered at every meal and where my husband and Aspen are waiting for me. What I noticed was that home wasnt the sense of the geographical surroundings. It didnt matter where I was but who I was with. I am not only blessed with one home but two.

This is my first post on Renee and I's blog. Hopefully I don't screw it up to badly. Renee is in Chicago with the fame this week so I've been a bachelor all week. I'm looking forward to her coming home. Also I start my new job at Ascension Hospice on Tuesday. I'm excited to actually be a social worker after six total years of college and four years of serving tables and who knows how many other odd jobs. It will certainly take some adjusting having a "big kid" job and a job which challenges you with strong emotion on a regular basis but I am up for that challenge. Thats all for now...tune in next time.

It's only the beginning...

Errik and I are going to try this out. Being away from family and friends has left it very challenging to keep in touch the way we would like. From the quirks of everyday living in the south to the challenges of where to go and what to do next, this is our journey of moving away from the known and into the unknown. Hang on for the ride...its about to get CRAZY!