Do You Still Even blog?

I would like to start of my post today with an apology, I would like to apologize for being such a bad blogger. It's been two weeks since my last post. I'm not even sure if anyone still reads this thing anymore but I still plan on writing. I want to post more frequent than I have I just seem to find better things to do...haha. So I will try for at least once a week and we'll see how that goes.

So now onward we go. Happy February to all. It seems a little crazy to think that we've already made it through one month of 2010. But that is exciting to me because that means I am one month on the calendar closer to my wedding. (By the way expect a lot of my blog posts from here on out to mention my upcoming wedding). We're about 4 and half months from the wedding day and I'm so ready for it to get here. Last weekend we spent a few hours trying to find ties for myself and the groomsmen for the wedding. That was quite an adventure that would take a little too long to repeat here, suffice it to say that we did eventually find ties that we are happy with for the guys. So that's another thing off the list.

I love being able to have the weekends with Katie. There are times that we complain about not being together enough but then I remember those couples that I know that get less time together than we do and then remember to be grateful for the time that we do get together.

Ministry is going well. I met with some local youth pastors last week about getting involved in a spring break local mission project. Hopefully the students can catch the vision and will want to get involved in this as well.

Well that's all for now so until next time...

5 months

Today marks 5 months til the wedding day and I can't wait. We've been working on some details lately and it gets me more excited about that day. This past weekend was a great weekend. Katie was here in Titusville and we had a great time. I cooked dinner for us on Friday night and then we watched some episodes of Scrubs. Saturday we went to Merritt Island because I had to pick out some new glasses. Then we had lunch at the food court at the mall. Then it was back to my apartment to clean and organize my extra bedroom so we can start storing wedding gifts and such. Sunday we had a great time at church and had Publix subs for lunch. All in all it was a good weekend.

I know this is a short update but don't have a lot on my mind right now but thought I would give you guys an update. Until next time...

Happy New Year

I would like to apologize for the lack of bloggage these last few weeks. But the holiday season was an especially busy time for me. Katie came up here the weekend before Christmas to start her Winter break from school. It was the start of two weeks together for us (the most time we've spent together). We left for Stuart on Christmas Eve after our service here at church that I was leading. We spent Christmas eve, Christmas day, and the day after Christmas w/ her family. Then it was back Titusville b/c I had to preach Sunday. Then Monday we left for Plant City and spending time w/ my family. Then it was back here for New Year's and a lock-in w/ the youth.

I hope everyone had a great holiday season and is looking forward to the New Year. I know I am excited about this year and it will be a year I remember for the rest of my life. My sister is getting married in March and then in just 5 and half short months I'll be getting married. So this will be a great year. You can visit our wedding website for details on the wedding TheKnot. Until next time....

Random Musings:The Return

Since I can't really think of anything to write a blog post about I thought I would take this opportunity to bring back some random thoughts for the blog.

1. I was very happy to see the Gators get beat by Alabama in the SEC Championship Game
2. It was sad that Bobby Bowden couldn't go out with a better record but it was definitely time for some changes to be made. I'm excited about the future with Jimbo Fisher.
3. I can't believe that 2009 is almost over but I'm glad that it is because it's closer to my wedding
4. Speaking of that we're almost 6 months away from the wedding and I'm very excited
5. My sister and her boyfriend got engaged on Thanksgiving and will be getting married sometime in 2010 as well.
6. December is a very busy month for me and I'm starting to understand why people get stressed during this month.
7. Two of my new favorite websites are mylifeisaverage.com and itmademyday.com I suggest you check them out.

That's all I could come up with for now. Until next time...

Things I'm Thankful For

Today I have decided to be like every good youth minister and "borrow" an idea from someone else. My friend James Ross blogged today about 10 things he's thankful for. So I decided to do the same.

1. God's grace - everyday I am reminded of God's amazing grace. I am thankful he chose to love me and chose to redeem me by sending Jesus.
2. Katie - I am so very thankful for God bringing her into my life. These past 7 months have been better than I could have imagined. I am thankful that I knew so early on that she was the one for me. I am thankful that in just under 207 days she will be my wife and we will have the rest of our lives together.
3. My family - my parents have supported me and I am grateful for that. I know I could never do enough to repay them for all that they've done for me but I know I don't need to. My sister is always there to listen to me and I am thankful for her and Ryan. I'm also thankful for my new family, the Lindgrens. They are a great family and I love spending time with them as well.
4. Life and health - I am alive and breathing and able to walk around.
5. Church family - I am thankful that they have taken me in and made me one of their own.
6. youth ministry - I am humbled that God has chosen to use me here to love these youth that he loves. I am thankful that I get to be paid to do something that I would do for free. I love investing in these students.
7. God's provision - I have not had a week yet where I have not had enough money. In this economy that is a fortunate statement to make.
8. North Brevard Youth Pastor network - this group of guys and gals are an encouragement to me. I know God is wanting to do some great things in Titusville through the youth ministries here.
9. Freedom - I am thankful to live America and enjoy the freedoms we have. I may not agree w/ how some people use their freedoms but it is great to be able to be free.
10. the youth group - not only am I thankful that I get to be in youth ministry but I am thankful for the group I get to serve. I blessed to be able to serve such a great group of teenagers and their families.

Happy Thanksgiving you all and take time to reflect on everything you have to be thankful for. Until next time...

Long Time Coming

I would first like to apologize to all my loyal readers for not updating in such a long time. It's just been a little crazy lately. But nevertheless I am here to update you on things. This past weekend was a crazy weekend. I went down to Stuart Friday afternoon to of course spend time with Katie. Friday evening we went for dinner then went to Target and Best Buy and then to Starbucks. Saturday we went to downtown Stuart with Katie's sister Amanda. Saturday evening Katie and her family came up to Titusville because I was preaching Sunday morning in the morning service. Saturday evening I started to not feel so well and ended up having to make a late night run to CVS to pick up some stomach medicine ( I don't believe my sickness was any way related to the Florida State game).

Sunday I wasn't feeling much better but I felt well enough to go on to church to preach. My parents came over too so our families got to meet. We went out to lunch after church. It was a great time and I was so glad that our families like each other.

In other news I am excited about what I feel God is doing in Titusville. Every other Friday a group of youth pastors in town get together to pray and plan things together. One of our fellow youth pastors, Trey Gordon, felt God leading him to start a non-profit ministry focused on building families in the North Brevard area. The name of the ministry is Hope for North Brevard and you can find out more info here. I truly believe that God is going to do some great things through this organization.

Things are going well at First Baptist as well. We've a couple new students visit the last few weeks. Well I say new (they're new to me) but they went to church here when they younger. I'm working on plans for the upcoming year and trying to stay focused on being sure I am doing and leading this group where God wants it go. All this wedding planning has made me want to be sure that I have plans for ministry in order too. I guess this is one way God is helping me not to procrastinate.

Speaking of wedding plans Katie and I have a page on the wedding website The Knot. You can find it by clicking here. You can leave us comments in our guestbook, see the wedding details and eventually you will be able to RSVP. I hope you stop by the page. Sorry for the length of this post and I'll try to be more regular. Until next time...

Brad Paisley and Plant City

Well this past weekend was a really great weekend. Katie and I spent Friday and Saturday in Plant City. We got to my parents' house in time to eat a quick dinner before we headed over to Tampa for the Brad Paisley concert. Wow what a concert it was. Probably one of the best concerts I've ever seen. Our seats were awesome. We were in row 10 which was obviously ten rows from the stage. However there was an extension of the stage that jetted out into the seats and our seats were right next to this part of the stage. So we got to see the performers up close when they came out to this part of the stage. (I got the tickets b/c I had joined the Brad Paisley fan club and so you get VIP tix and well that's where we ended up.) The concert started out with Jimmy Wayne opening up. He did a good job. Then it was on to Dierks Bentley who rocked. He puts on a great show. Then of course it was on to Brad and wow is all I can say. It was the first time I'd even seen him in concert and it was a blast. We will definitely be seeing him in concert again.

Saturday we spent the day with my family. Saturday afternoon we went to the nursing home to visit my grandma (mom's mom). We had a good time with her but it is always so tough seeing her like that. After that my parents, sister, sister's boyfriend, and Katie and I went to Lakeland to go play some putt-putt golf. After that we went to dinner w/ my sister and her boyfriend. It was a good time with my family.

Well that's all for now so until next time...