A change is in the wind.

Many things have happened since I last updated.

• We are holding off on our trip to the Philippines. Yes, I know that people "hold off" on little things they meant to accomplish all the time - like college, jobs, moving out and living independently like God instructed us to do in Genesis 2:24... but I really mean it. God's will doesn't just disappear from our lives, and my God still tells me what He wants me to do.... but on that same note, God's will certainly does not work on our time.
• I got a new job. I am working not only for EPPC Global Management now, my dad's wonderful company, but I am also working for Riverworks Marketing Group. It is run by a fantastic couple just getting started, and so far I love everything about this job. I write and research for articles to go into their clients' websites or newsletters. Soon I will learn about SEOs, integrated social network marketing.. so much more. I love that all my little talents have combined into this one perfect job. Not to mention the extreme flexibility and being able to work from home.
• Daniel and I have purchased a house. This house is an absolute steal. It is brick and veneer paneling on the outside, and gorgeous new paint and hardwood floors on the inside. All new kitchen appliances. Ample yard space. Three bedrooms, one spacious bathroom. Central heating and a/c. We are very, very blessed to have been able to purchase this home at an outstanding price.
• Perhaps the biggest change and surprise: we are expecting our first child around October 19th. This was what led to the three above life decisions, and how God honored this little surprise with his will and our ability to work hard and live independently with the above blessings. I was shocked by how quickly things just fell into place after coming into God's will.

I'll be honest - I was not expecting - or even wanting - this pregnancy. I struggled with it off and on (baby bug, then career bug - it's still instilled in most women that you have to choose between the two) but ultimately I felt like God was calling me overseas and it was not my time. We continued regular marital practices to ensure pregnancy would not occur. I'm not some thoughtless silly girl and I prided myself, perhaps a bit too much, on my reproductive knowledge and scoffed those who simply "got pregnant" while "forgetting" to get birth control. I've been on birth control since I was 15 due to medical issues - and I would certainly never deceive my husband. Still, it happened anyway.

I imagined good financial wealth for my first child, a house, and two parents with college degrees and stable careers. I was terrified. I cried and sobbed to Daniel and asked why this would happen to me. Yes, I know that it's terrible for a woman to feel this way. I know that it's ungodly to not appreciate something that some women struggle with for years and years. Daniel never told my that my emotions were "wrong" and supported me with optimism - like he always does.

And then, after coming to the slow but sure realization of what my new reality was, I found myself with a contract to a house (we're moving in the first week of June) and the perfect job. Daniel received more work and continues to work on his college degree at his own pace in order to keep food on the table while furthering his own career. I've never been more proud of him, and I would say I've never been more proud of myself - women often complain about having to work or having to be an adult while pregnant. Women say they "can't" finish school while pregnant. While being a mother. Etc etc - but I know I'd never be able to do any of this without the support of a great family and the provisions of God in my life. (also, that is ONE thing I had going for me - I already graduated from college.)

But God will provide for you, and I've never seen that to be more clear. Don't ever be afraid to take that extra step - ENROLL back in college, move out, and TRUST GOD. You are in His hands... would he really lead you astray?

Now we have grown excited. Mother's Day just passed me by, and I'm almost in my 17th week of pregnancy. I'm not one of those women that thinks I deserve a Mother's Day when all I did so far was uh... have a little fun with my husband and happen to get pregnant, but it was an eye-opener from how far I've come since I cried over the little digital frame that read "pregnant."

And I've been blessed with an easy pregnancy that has been right on track with glowing reviews from my obstetrician the whole time (except some weight loss... but that's an entire other rant!) We will know the gender on June 3rd and I am just in awe of how God blesses us, we who do not deserve it. To Him goes all the glory.

Daniel, sorry, I don't mean to 1up you, I swear!

I've been meaning to blog for a while now.... Daniel beat me to the punch! I don't mean to take away from his wonderful webcomic blog, of course....

Back before Snow Patrol was annoying, they had this really amazing song, "Run." I listened to it (and Drift by Puddle of Mudd) to help get me through my three months in Europe away from Daniel.

And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

Light up...

Daniel and I have struggled a lot lately with disappointing other people. A wise man told me you spend your first year of marriage kicking people out of the bed. When you get married, you bring in your family's traits and habits into the marriage, for good or for bad. You essentially bring them into bed with you. But to have a healthy marriage, you have to separate them! You've gotta kick your parents outta bed. This is especially hard when you live in a town where your whole family and whole in-law family lives!

But we've been creating our own little life. Yes, this might mean my mother guffaws at how I organize my cabinets. Yes, this means disappointing people... but it also means independence for our family.

I've never been more excited about our new life together. Daniel and I are so much more than simply "in looooove" like I see so many other couples using as the basis for a relationship, or even worse, marriage! We're compatible, we agree on almost every religious, political, and lifestyle paths, and we're just in sync in so many ways. We know each other so well and we really are each others' best friends. I never knew it would happen so early, no, but I'm grateful that God wants us to get started right away. And we have...

In light of all the horrible decisions I see people making lately, I encourage you, before you consider a step like marriage, get as much pre-marital counseling as possible. Not just the required "oh I get a 30% discount on my license lol" counseling. Financial counseling. Parental counseling. Pastoral counseling. Take EVERYONE'S opinions into account! A lot of people told me I was too young... and even though I disagreed, I took them seriously! After all, they had a point.... the divorce rate for people who get married under the age of 25 is DRASTICALLY higher than everyone else's!

• Please don't get married just to have a big wedding. The longer you wait, the more money people save, the bigger wedding you'll get, and the more ideas you'll get from your soon-to-be-divorcee friends' weddings.
• Please don't get married just to have sex. It's awesome, I'm not gonna lie, but if you think that a marriage can solely sustain on good sex alone, *cue Judas priest* you gotta another think coming! Just ask any celebrity who has been divorced!
• Please don't get married just because you're desperate for some "home ec"-esque lifestyle. Blech! Hello, it is the 2000s. The June Cleaver lifestyle is a gross waste of a woman's (obvious superior) intelligence (IMO) and if you have a talent you should be using it! Besides, you're gonna look back 10 years from now and think, "Well, I wish I'd done ________" before getting married.
• PLEASE DON'T BE SO CLOSE-MINDED THAT YOU CAN'T LISTEN TO GOOD ADVICE.

Besides... after you finally do get married (hopefully after making a good, long, well-thought out decision!) you will have to spend your first year of marriage making your OWN decisions. You'll never get to take back the opportunity to get good pre-marital advice again... because after you're married, it's over!

Over, off, & out -
Jennifer<3

Grace and Forgiveness

This is one of those religious blogs, I thought would preface that so if you don't want to hear our religious meanderings then you probably won't want to read this one. Although if you want to hear what we have to say then please read everything and tell us what you think.

I am going to talk about Christian grace and forgiveness.

Jesus has many things to say about grace, mercy, and forgiveness. In Matthew 5:8 He says, "Blessed be the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Common sense states that if you are known as a merciful person then you are more likely to be shown mercy. If you are not a nice person and ruthless and merciful then there is a much less chance of somebody throwing you a bone when you need help.

Jesus also brings up the same principle about forgiveness in the prayer he uses as an example for a prayer. Matthew 6:12 says "Forgive us our trespasses as forgive those who trespass against us." This time, Jesus is talking about the interaction between us and God on the subject of forgiveness.

Forgiveness from Christ is so absolute it should overflow from and extend to others. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells a parable about a man who owes a large amount of money and is forgiven the debt, afterwards the man who was forgiven the large debt shakes down a man who owes him a small debt and demands he pay it. The man who forgave the large debt hears this and throws the first man in prison until the debt is repayed.

The point being is that the man who owed the large debt did not understand forgiveness so forgiveness was not shown to him. We should be aware of the grace and forgiveness offered to us.

Grace and gratitude have the same root word and it is no surprise. What other way should a person respond to grace that gratefully? Grace, by definition, is not something to be expected because it is not something deserved or earned.

The funny thing about being filled with Christ's love for us is this: His love for us like His grace, does a greater good shared with others. If we are filled with His love, then love should flow from us to others. Also just as Christ's love and grace is for everyone, so also should we extend our love and grace to others.

Paul understood this and included it in his famous "love chapter" in 1 Corinthians. 1 Cor 13:4-5.

This chapter also state if we do great things, but we have no love, or hold a grudge, or are unkind, or act in any unloving way; than everything we do is ultimately for nothing. How can we be good examples to the world when we are consumed by greed, hate, or even jealousy?

In summary, because we are saved, we are called to love others, show grace to others, forgive those who have wronged us, and show mercy to whoever needs it.

-Daniel

Daniel's First Blog

Hello internet! This is Daniel making his first post on our blog. I suppose I should think about something to write...


wait, it's coming to me.....



Eureka! My muse has hit me once more with her mallet of inspiration! I shall begin my rantings with some information about me and the kind of things I will be posting on this here blog.

First I will probably be reviewing webcomics every week or so, but I will also be posting my muzings on life and such. I am going to try to keep this from being a "Hey check out this website/cd/comic" posting place. I want to have serious things here too. Such as my wife's amazing cooking skills and my cooking skills which are less about cooking and more about improvising.

Enoough of my ramblings, have fun exploring our site, and read my wife's stuff!