A little bit about us:
1. We were going to start dating on October 31, 2008, but realized halloween wasn't a good anniversary date, so we waited for 3 hours, and officially began dating on November 1, 2008
2. James proposed on stage at a comedy club, and made Jen bow to the crowd after saying yes.
3. We were married in Ottawa on August 27, 2011
4. We love to golf and enjoying pretending to know what we're doing on the course
5. We laugh at the most ridiculous things
6. We love to play cards and have had some pretty intense games of war, crazy 8 countdown, rummy and most recently hand and foot (yes, that's a card game)
7. We love camping, but don't get to camp nearly as much as we'd like to
8. Whenever we drive in the car, we sing and dance (yes, we are those people you see in your rearview mirror just dancing away)
9. We love getting to know people and can't wait to meet our fellow racers!
A little bit About Jen:
I am married to the most beautiful woman in the world: Jennifer Festeryga. She thinks my opinion is biased, I disagree.
Jen grew up in a small town called Woodstock, Ontario (not the one where the concert happened, the one with the full scale replica of a cow named 'snow countess' at the center of town.) She and her sister, Kay, were raised by their mother Joann, and their grandparents Stan and Terry. Jen attended the University of Ottawa graduating with honours in human kinetics. Ottawa is where she found and married me, but more importantly she found God there in 2008 and got her first Bible, it was pink! Since then she has pursued Him so intensely that I can rarely keep up with her. Then, in a conversation with my mom, she said she would "never move to Toronto." She has since learned she'll go wherever God tells her to.
In University Jen had no cable, so she bought all 10 seasons of friends. And watched them all… for four years straight. So when she she says "flamly," or "remember when I had corneas?", or anything that doesn't quite make sense, don't worry it's just Friends. Oh and she's a cat person (ewww), I don't get it but she honestly thinks anything her cats do are the most hilarious thing in the world.
Jen has an amazing heart for missions, and for children, especially children in struggling countries. Jen was doing more volunteering for the church nursery and youth groups within a few months of becoming a Christian than most lifelong church goers ever get around to doing. She’s been to Guatemala twice to work with kids there, and I keep coming home to find out that we are sponsoring another child in a third world country.
Jen loves to read, whether it’s her Bible, or a Christian author, or (since we signed up for the world race) every single blog on the World Race website. I have to shake my head every time Jen picks up a new Karen Kingsbury book because I know she’s going to find some life altering idea in it somewhere, and it’s not just going to alter her life. That is one of the great blessings of being married to Jen though, she’s more than willing to drag me along with her to a closer walk with Christ even if I’m quite content where I am.
I’m constantly amazed by Jen’s ability to get along with everybody she meets, she is an incredibly likeable person. The only problem is she’s a little shy when meeting new people, so feel free to make the first step and just give her a great big hug when you meet her, that should speed up the process!
A little bit about James:
I have the great privilege of being married to James, who stole my heart after throwing cake in my face (strange, I know).
He comes from a large family with 2 sets of parents, 7 siblings, 2 nieces, 4 sets of grandparents, and loads of aunts, uncles and cousins. It can be very intimidating coming into such a large family (especially when they’re such a tight-knit family), but they just wrap you right up in their love and it becomes so easy to see how James turned out so loving and talkative. Yes, talkative. That is one of the key things to know about James… that boy can talk! I’m giving you fair warning now; don’t ask him a question if you don’t have time to hear the answer.
James is also a singer. When he’s not talking, he’s usually singing or humming which ever song is currently in is head, or whichever song I want to be in his head.
James is full of adventure, and there never seems to be a dull moment when he is around. Even the most mundane activities turn into an adventure with him. Moving for example, is not normally an adventurous activity, especially when it’s only 2 blocks that you’re moving. James makes it an adventure, however, when there is no moving truck, and he says “it’s only 2 blocks, we can carry it.”
Yes, it’s only 2 blocks… but there’s a couch, and a bed, and 2 dressers, and… well adventure. During our pre-marriage counselling, our Pastor told me that life with James would be one big adventure. Wise words Pastor Tom, wise words.
James has an amazing gift of patience. I’m in awe of his ability to calmly sit in Toronto traffic, despite the fact that it’s a Saturday morning, and there should be NO traffic. He’s also patient with me when I’m his partner in Catch Phrase and just cannot understand his clues despite their simplicity.
James was raised in a Christian home and is a man of God. It has been amazing watching his faith grow over the past few years . His commitment to keeping God at the centre of our relationship and being a faithful servant is something I greatly admire in him. I love listening to James during bible studies and am constantly amazed by how much he knows and by how his brain works. James has an amazing voice and sings on the worship team at our church as well as in their choir.
James loves learning new facts and tends to be the guy who knows random things that make you look at him quizzically while thinking “how on earth did you know that?”
He is a huge rugby fan and is currently playing, reffing, and coaching. He has already come up with a plan on how he can bring his rubgy ball on the trip so that he can play with both his teammates and people he meets in the countries we travel to.
I could write a million more things, but that takes the fun out of you getting to know him yourself!
