Favorite Moments from a Favorite Day

It’s been a little more than 7 weeks since we tied the knot. We’ve slept in the same state for 24 of those nights, but our trend just made a major improvement when Jon arrived in Bolivia Sunday!  He brought our new CD of wedding photos and it made me think I should write down my thoughts about that incredible day, or these pictures won’t keep their stories intact for long.  So, I’m sharing a few of my favorite moments with you, and hope you’ll share your favorites back with us, and thus we’ll preserve the memories.  If you didn’t get to join us for the ceremony, here’s a little taste of the highlights.

Angie, the prettiest flower girl ever.  (Courtesy of Heidi Janecke)

My little girl is confused about whether she wants to be a tomboy or a girlie girl, and new hormones surely aren’t helping.  Either way you’re gonna be hard pressed to get her into a dress, (what if a set of parallel bars suddenly appear, she must always be ready to do a flip!) So, seeing her all glammed up was such a treat, even if she was eager to switch into shorts before the reception even began.

A little more realistic shot of us.

Jon’s the much more traditional of the two of us, hence he was the one who wanted to wait till the aisle to see his bride for the first time. But he did allow me a small concession; a “first touch.”  Instead of the recently made common “first look” where the bride and groom see each other and get photos before the ceremony, we chose to just hold hands around the corner of the building, getting a picture with the two of us, without giving anything away.  This was my favorite moment of the day before walking down the aisle, all the hustle and bustle were instantly replaced by calm when his hand was in mine, right where it belongs.

Our only regret about the wedding, was not having it video recorded. I’m still half-waiting for someone to fess up to having shot it on their smartphone. Honestly, if we had more regrets about other things we probably wouldn’t care so much that it wasn’t immortalized on DVD.  But as it was perfect even in its flaws, we hate to see all the unforgettable moments inevitably forgotten.  Can anyone guess what hilarity is captured here? Read on...

Jon’s friend from college, Tim, married us, and his message was one of the most special, yet unscripted parts of the day, culminating in the vows, where he asked Jon to take me as his husband and the father to his children.  Yeah, you heard right, he read the wrong vows, bless his heart. Jon had more sense still about him than I surely would have at that moment and so he hesitated instead of repeating what he’d been told. I likely would have said whatever Tim told me as I floated around on cloud nine.  

I was floating from the very beginning, probably somewhere around the time my dad found us bridesmaids and flower girls hiding in the stairwell and told me he was getting verklempt. But the euphoria only rose until it peaked at the instant when, we’ve been told there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  For those of you who weren’t present and searching for a tissue, after Jon and I took communion to Ben and Amanda’s sweet Spanglish rendition of “Your Love Never Fails”, Jon left me confused and alone as he took off stage right. I wish there was a picture of my concerned expression. It crossed some of your minds as well that maybe he’d gotten cold feet at a very inopportune moment and was heading for the door, but really he was retrieving a hidden stool and Bolivian bowl to wash my feet as his first act of service. Ooh, I love service, and I LOVE surprises, and that was the best one he’s ever pulled on me, I doubt he’ll be able to surpass it, no matter how many years we're fortunate enough to have together.

The only time my smile possibly stretched as far and naturally across my face that day, was watching Angie and Jon dance their father-daughter dance. 

I shocked even myself by thoroughly enjoying my dance with Jon and with my dad (were any of you even there for those 10 minutes? It felt like that tiny dance floor was the whole world.) 

But even more fun than dancing, was beaming as Jon sauntered over to Angelica, Prince Charming on an invisible white horse, and like an appropriately shy little princess in response she blushed and hid her face before accepting his hand and following him to center stage. The pictures don’t do justice to the perfection of the music, “La Niña de Tus Ojos,” a song about a little girl and her Father’s love that gave her an identity when she had none, nor how Angie just talked to him the whole time as if the magical dance floor had engulfed her as well and she too left everyone but Jon behind. Maybe the common denominator wasn’t the small square of hardwood, but that man who makes you feel like the only one in the world when he listens to you or holds you close...

The second father-daughter dance. (Courtesy of Nick Szmiot)

Another small regret is that because Tim went so far off his notes, none of his really personalized and pretty hilarious message with such phrases as “Giddyup!” and “To quote the philosopher John Mayer, 'It’s cold Baby, come back to bed,'” were written down. Please do share with us your favorite quotes from the ceremony so we can piece back together his one-of-a-kind pep talk. We’d love nothing more than to hear your favorite part of the day, so we can cherish the memories along with the photos, the rings, and all the reminders of when we officially launched this new little family.

All photos not otherwise captioned are by All Angles Photography. We love those guys!!!!

An Awesome Whirlwind Tour

Twelve days ago, I wrote to you from a Florida airport, just as I am now. Then, I shared a schedule of things to be accomplished in my quick trip through the Southeast U.S. Now, with all of those activities successfully checked off my to-do list, and then some, I'm headed back to Bolivia to rejoin Angie.

Amazing ribs with some of the CVM family!

The trip was even better than anticipated.  The food was incredible: BBQ in Kansas City, pork tenderloin in a supporter's home, Panera bagels with the Auburn CVF leadership, frozen yogurt with the Tuskegee CVF leadership, pizza with both student groups, Krispy Kreme with my husband, wedding cake with dear friends, and the salads at the Shortcourse were nearly enough to tide me over till December when I return to the land of blueberries, cranberries, croutons, and ranch dressing!

Sharing Fro Yo and ministry ideas with Tuskegee's Christian Veterinary Fellowship leaders

Even better than the food were the relationships.  Reconnecting with old friends and getting to know brand new ones in Missouri, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky.  I LOVE my new/future job! Working as CVM's Southeast Regional Rep for a week by sharing at the Shortcourse and CVC, then road-tripping it down to my alma mater to meet and encourage the new students and faculty advisors, gave me a great taste for what life and work will be when we return from Bolivia in December and settle into our new routine in the States. Serving in South America is great, serving in North America is going to be wonderful too. Thank you for staying with us as we follow God's lead.

Sami Jo's big day!

To top it all off, I had the honor of standing up with my sweet friend Sami at her wedding yesterday. After six weeks of wedded bliss Jon and I are big advocates of the institution and so excited to share it with friends!

The first wedding where we didn't have to catch the bouquet or the garter, a great feeling!

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle I snuck in a fun quick lunch with my family, a surprise picnic with my new mother in-law, and we found a missionary friend to stay in our house while we're all in Bolivia for three months. God truly blessed my time in the States, and it sounds like Angie was thrilled to shock all her friends by showing back up to school this week after saying "goodbye" to everyone last semester. Taller, with longer hair, more beautiful one day to the next, and with all her new English, I'm amazed anyone even recognized her!

The Wait Is Over!

Have you ever prayed for patience and then soon after regretted it severely?  I've surely made this mistake in the past, but this time it wasn't my fault, I'm blaming Jon. I don't know why he would make such a request, he has plenty of patience, maybe he was praying for an improvement in mine...

Anyway, God sure has been teaching us, or testing ours.  Yesterday, we celebrated one month of marriage.  And by "celebrated" I mean we said "Happy one month anniversary," via email, because for the past 19 days we've been in different countries.

Seriously, one flesh cannot stretch this far.  I have no idea how you military families do it, but I have a new respect and serious empathy for you.  Being a single parent seems far more difficult when I'm not supposed to be doing it alone anymore.

When we found out we had to return to Bolivia we hoped Jon would be able to work remotely, we even rented a 3 bedroom apartment so he could have an office, but that was not to be.  Next, he asked the bank where he works if he could take an unpaid leave of absence, but his boss couldn't guarantee his job would be there when he got back.  Finally, we applied for a Family Medical Leave through the FMLA, since the cause of his absence was adoption. We were told the decision was usually made in ~5 days.  For the past two and a half seemingly endless weeks, many of you have been pleading with God for this small miracle, that would allow Jon to join us in Bolivia for 12 weeks without the added stress of the imminent job search awaiting him upon return.  Jon has been impressively proactive the whole painfully long wait, calling the woman in charge of the approval almost daily, and considering flying to her office in Dallas to hunger strike until the final verdict came through, proving how much Bolivia has already influenced him before he's even arrived.

Praise the Lord, last night the leave was approved!!  Today, I'm heading to see my husband for the first time in far too long.  Life is good.  God is good.  For the next 11 days I'll be traveling around the Southeast U.S. Today, in Kansas City, CVM's annual Shortcourse begins. A time when Christian veterinarians come together to share about workplace ministry, short-term missions, long-term missions, and serendipitously this year there's a day on Christian marriage. I'm stoked to introduce Jon to my CVM family and fellowship with lots of friends also serving around the world. This weekend is the national CVC, a veterinary continuing education conference where we'll have a booth, a CVM breakfast, and a dinner focused especially on Bolivian ministry. Then, next week, I'm excited to visit my alma mater, traveling to Auburn, AL for some time with Auburn and Tuskegee's Christian veterinary fellowship groups.  Finally, I have three fun-filled days of wedding activities for one of my best friends, Sami, before returning to Angie and Bolivia to prepare for Jon's arrival a week later.

Thank you for your prayers for all these activities, the leave approval, my work, Angie's time without us, sweet Sami's marriage, and all the transition.  But please don't pray for more patience!

Mosquitoes, Sand and Relearning Joy

It was kind of a rough week. As many of you who read my last post could have imagined, it was hard leaving my husband after less than two weeks of being able to call him mine.  It was particularly hard for Angie to move into Jon's house on Monday after the honeymoon and then repack her suitcase to relocate again the same Friday. As she was able to verbalize so well this time in her mess of not-so-pretty emotions, she really hates change. Even though returning to Bolivia, Spanish, and her friends was a move she was eagerly awaiting, change is hard for everyone to some degree, and in a young life that's had more than its fair share of transition, stability is all the more coveted. Last night, we were finally able to Skype with Jon and when we prayed together, she asked God to let Jon come down here so we could be a "normal" family. 

And then there was the adjustment for me. Let's be honest, I'd become spoiled rotten in the States for two months with its fancy dishwashers and dryers, reliable water, relative cleanliness, temperature control, consistently speedy internet, Papa John's, I could go on... And of course it's been a challenge for me to spend money re-buying all the things I just sold in May, and all the items we just received as wedding gifts in June and July. Shopping for towels, kitchen utensils, bath mats, pillows, sheets, etc. has felt more than redundant.  

Oh my goodness, I sound whiny. Why am I telling you all this? To say that yesterday I finally felt "happy" to be here. And then I was embarrassed. I was sitting in church, worshipping with my Bolivian family of believers again and I was in a really good mood, it was really nice to be back with them.

For the first few days here, when things were less than ideal, I thought, "this is way harder than the first time I moved down three years ago, because the first time I chose to come here." Everything was an adventure. Any adversity was part of the fun, since I had come down on purpose with a calling, the mosquitoes, the insane traffic, the ubiquitous sand, and the other challenges were all the more thrilling. But this time, being outside of my plan, the inconveniences were all just kind of a drag.  When we were having a hard time setting up house and things were looking a bit bleak, I got a little down.

So, when my positive outlook was restored I was ashamed of myself, because I'm pretty sure it was circumstantial. Due to the kindness of so many friends, over the past few days we've been blessed with a borrowed washing machine, refrigerator, oven, fans, bedspreads, furniture, and much more. And I'm afraid my upturn in attitude may have been directly proportional to our improvement in standard of living.

This week when I was reminded of Paul and his call to be content in all circumstances, I thought of his surroundings. Paul wrote those words from a prison cell. A situation he surely had not chosen, nor penciled into his day planner. A trial he'd not signed up for, yet one he fully embraced, and refused to let affect his joy. 

I guess I tell you all this in hopes that next time I'm faced with hardships I won't make excuses, but remember to rejoice always, and not just when it's convenient. 

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."

-Philippians 4:11-13

We're renting the top floor of this house.  The cow is a bonus!

For those who don't already know...

Imagine if you will, returning from a perfect mountain getaway with your dreamy new husband to your cozy, recently renovated by said dreamboat, Cape Cod house. You pick up your daughter from her beach vacation with the family and settle into your freshly painted home to unpack and start a new phase of life. A phase where you begin your fulfilling job as CVM’s Southeast Regional Representative and thrive on the interactions with vet students eager to use their profession to serve the Lord and vets hungry for encouragement in how to minister in their practices. A phase where Angie starts a new school, makes great friends, and finally gets comfortable in English and North American culture. One where every Friday is date night sponsored by your generous parents and you can enjoy the colors, smells, and chill of your first autumn in four years while you work on your fledgling marriage.  

Then, turn this idyllic suburban picture of stability and peace upside down and you’ll have the upheaval we’re facing now. Haven’t God’s ways always been a stark contrast to the world’s, why did I expect any different? When has He ever encouraged us to stay in our comfort zones, let alone set up house in them? So, instead of surrounding ourselves with the aromas of cinnamon and pumpkin, we’re spending the fall in the wind and heat of Bolivian spring. Instead of starting our family in our native culture and language, we’re starting it on an unexpected adventure.  

Saturday morning, Angie and I arrived back in Bolivia. For the next four months we'll be back to our old normal in Santa Cruz, with VetRed, Spanish, and Angie's missionary kid school, with one awesome exception; Jon's coming to join us soon. Immigration's declared it necessary for Angie and me to finish out our first two years together in Bolivia before she can gain U.S. citizenship. And since Jon and I didn't write into our vows "until death or immigration do us part," he's not letting the latter stand in our way of being together as a family. His conviction to be where we are and do life with us, is even stronger than his instinct to be the provider, and for this I admire him very much.

More than ever we cherish your prayers and support. If you're not receiving our bi-monthly update letters but would like to, let us know and we'll get you signed up.

"So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 

-Matthew 19:6

Surreality turns Reality

People love to blog about their weddings, why doesn't anyone ever blog about their honeymoon?  Don't answer that...

Jon and I spent last week in Colorado hiking, white water rafting, gaining weight, and enjoying peace. It was the most relaxing week I've ever had. Let's be honest, it was probably the first time I've ever really relaxed. Even on normal vacations you can't just sleep whenever you want, turn off your phone and computer, and forget about the rest of the world. 

It was an incredible time of learning to be married, in a bubble made for two, free of conflict, free of stress, and minus the usual semi-constant barrage of "Mommy!" When he praised me once for my patience with navigating when he asked me for the same direction more than once, I realized how unnatural our honeymoon-sphere was, and hoped we were setting patterns for how we'll communicate in the future when normalcy returns.  It was so nice to simplify for a moment and let the world revolve around just the two of us. In the simplicity we were really really good. I pray that now as complexity and confusion take over, we'll have laid the groundwork for a team that treats each other really really well.

I had about one month to get used to the idea of being a mom before my fairly large bundle of joy was placed in my lap a couple years ago. But somehow it felt much less strange to be a parent even after that short adjustment period than it does to be a wife after seven months of engagement to prepare me. Nothing has ever felt so surreal as being married. For how long will we randomly look at each other and say with shock and a smile, "We're married!"?

Last night, my amazing parents brought Angie back from her week at the beach, and we began our lives as a family of three. Angie woke up a ball of nervous excitement in her new bed, we sent Daddy off to work for his first day back, and I sat down to the computer to try to get caught up and back into the swing of things.  Reality is setting in as we are settling down. But, thus far, it seems a sweet sweet reality.

 "Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37:4

If I had time to blog...

Even if I had time to blog would I have the fortitude to tame my racing thoughts. If I had time to blog, what would I say?

Angie getting along fabulously with her daddy and her new cousin Ava.

I might let you know that a little someone is growing up in more ways than one.  And while her mind may be tuned to cartoons, coloring, and her dollhouse, her body is heading in another direction. The niña is becoming a señorita. In light of that mess of hormones and the chaos that has become our lives of late, we could maybe use your prayers.

I'd probably remind you that in two days I get to marry the man who makes me melt into a puddle, and not just 'cause he's ruggedly handsome, but because he loves me like Christ loved the church, and wants to keep doing that forever.

I'd likely share with you a quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer that God put on my heart recently, “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.....We must not.....assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God.” This is pertinent for me right now in our medium-longterm planning, as well as in every moment of the day.  And I don't think it'd be inappropriate for me to substitute the first "God" with "Angie." "I must be ready to allow myself to be interrupted by Angie." How any parent has ever survived summer break is beyond me, but with a wedding and a total absence of friends for the kiddo, the tension between her wanting my attention and me bristling at interruptions is evident, and convicting. Engagement and wedding planning have had their definite ups and downs. But this week where so many people we love are coming from around the country, and the world, to be with us for this special time, has made me appreciate the wedding tradition in spite of the huge effort it's been. I've never felt so loved as I have these past few weeks, culminating in this one.  On the other hand, I won't be terribly disappointed when we're back to the status quo.  With reason we've been uber-focused on ourselves, the foundation of our marriage, and the details of kicking it off with a bang to honor the covenant we're entering into.  But at times it's felt very us-centric, and I'm ready to get back to looking beyond ourselves in our agendas, our conversations, and our actions. 

I would definitely tell you that Amanda Gregory and Kira Spears are the most incredible party planners in the history of the world.  Among the spoiling rotten of all the bridal fun, they threw me an unbelievable shower/bachelorette party. I wish everyone could have a night as personalized and thoughtful as tonight. Every second was tailored exactly to my tastes and favorites for the past fifteen years, things even I had forgotten about myself. It was a night of nostalgia, enjoying the moment and the amazing friends I have now, yet moving into a new phase of life and family for the future. 

And finally, if I had time and the concentration required to blog I'd probably ask you for your prayers.  Please pray for Angie as she rides this roller-coaster of wedding-weekend emotions with us, but from a different perspective.  Please pray for all those who are traveling to be with us and are sharing in our events.  And pray that we can give God the glory in every festivity. If we can do that, none of it will have been in vain.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." -1 Corinthians 10:31