The very first thing you need to know about us – THE #1 – WE LOVE GOD!!!
And just for good measure, we want you to know that JESUS CHRIST IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR!!
Again, there's no way around it, it's just the way it is and it's not changing – we love God, and we want you to know it. He is the reason we are where we are at, and we hope to give Him the glory for our whole lives, for everything that we do. Without Him, none of us is possible.
Now on to all of the less important stuff:
We both grew up in Christian households. Stephanie is the oldest of 11 (sadly, divorce made this possible. Divorce is a terrible thing) and I am the youngest of 5. We both love our families dearly. To the Carters, Stutzmans, Newlans, and a Damron – we wouldn't trade you guys for anyone!
So we both grew up in church and don't have really crazy, I-used-meth-since-I-was-ten-and-served-jail-time-then-came-to-God-at-a-Christian-rock-concert testimonies. But we have followed God our whole lives, and He has been preparing us for more and more. We have so much to look forward to on the World Race and for the rest of our lives.
Stephanie and I met in church in 2007 and grew to know each other more when she worked (where I still do) on the farm for my dad. Hoeing weeds in the middle of a bean field might not be romantic, but it sure can help lead there!
We grew to know each other more over the next year (mostly over the phone, since I was going to Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia and she was working and attending College of Southern Idaho at home), after which we started dating. We dated for two years and on May 13, 2010, I proposed.
For you ladies, Stephanie will have to blog the story on that one, and yes, I can be very romantic. 🙂
Then, on July 24, 2010 (yes, only two months later – we knew we were going to get married, so why put it off?) I entered into a pretty special relationship with the most wonderful, beautiful, exciting, lovable woman of God ever. (Don't let her try to talk you out of it, she really is that great. I am very blessed to have Stephanie as my wife.)
Right after we got married, we moved to Virginia so I could finish my last year of school. After graduation, we moved back to Idaho (we had wanted to stay in Virginia untlil we started having kids, but God's ways are bigger than ours. . . so here we are!) I work for my dad on the farm, Stephanie works part-time both as a nanny and as a barista, we are the youth group leaders in our church, I play the bass as part of the church worship team, and we have a really cool Lab/Chesapeake dog named Hank, a big Siamese cat named Henry, a turtle named Goliath, and hermit crabs named Rocky, Rambo, and Bash. Ummm… let me see… that pretty much sums up how we spend our time.
But anyway, I will have to write a blog detailing our recent revival/fire for God. In short, we are growing closer and closer to God than ever before, entering a deeper relationship with Him. Recently, I gave the message (for Sunday service) about revival of God's people. Shortly after that, a friend of ours gave us the link to the World Race. Coincidence? Yeah, right. I think not.
SO NOW HERE WE ARE!!! We're going on an amazing mission trip around the world in God's Name! How exciting!!
Okay, here are some random facts about each other as written from the perspective of the other spouse:
He LOVES the O.C. Supertones. . . actually, that is an understatement!
Kutless is her favorite band (even though the Supertones should be)
He randomly breaks into song, and it usually isn't the right lyrics. He is the king of parody!
She really likes quilts (I bought her an Amish quilt from Ohio that she cried when she got fingernail polish on it).
My sisters and I thought we saw a spider.
Yeah, right.
Boise State is his favorite college football team. We even got to go to the VA Tech game in 2010. (Epic game!)
She screamed her head off harder than me.
She is SO FUNNY when she talks in her sleep. I have the most hilarious conversations with her.
He is really quiet UNTIL he gets to know you. . . then he is crazy fun!!
She makes the cutest names for animals, and she loves cute animals. Actually, she's really cute when she sees a cute animal. Like that puppy we couldn't resist getting.
He works so hard to provide for us and NEVER complains about it.
She loves to have her back scratched (constantly). And she likes to pick my blackheads (constantly).
He is the most patient, loving, level-headed man I have met!!
She loves me so much she always yells "I love you" when I'm leaving. Soon I was doing it too.
I LOVE MY HUSBAND!!!!!
I LOVE MY WIFE!!!!!
