Christmas

We're having a baby!

Sara & I found out last week that we are pregnant! We are due to have a baby join family around July 28th. We are extremely excited about it! I guess the saying for us goes, "First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the dog, then comes the baby in the baby carriage." Sara & I feel Western is an amazing place to raise a baby at and couldn't think of a better community to help us feel cared for & safe with a little one. Talk about on site baby-sitters too! We are excited to look to next year & everything that it will bring. 

I coach 2 teams here at Western during basketball season. I am the Head JV Coach & a Varsity Assistant. Currently both teams are 4-0 & our varsity team is currenlty ranked #1 in state at the 2A level. Saturday we had a monumental game vs #1 ranked (3A) Regis that went to 3 overtimes. It ended in a 4 point win for us and was an extremely emotional game. Consequently in the game, our star shooting guard broke his wrist in the 1st quarter and will be out 4-6 weeks. It was a huge downer for our team, but it will simply just cause the guys to unify even more & rely on each other. If you'd like to follow our team and read about each game, go to: http://www.maxpreps.com/oregon/basketball/western-mennonite-(salem)/schedule.aspx?schoolid=2e9e9468-1ab3-4ed5-b845-919335241373&gendersport=boys,basketball&urpath=,local,team 

I'm back

Man, it has been a long time since I've blogged. So much has changed since the last time I was able to log on here. 

Sara & I are working out at Western Mennonite School. She is teaching Middle School History, Geography, & Language Arts. She is loving the kids & enjoying this teaching experience a lot. It is incredibly different then what she was doing last year, & overall she loves the change & is glad she made it.

I am the Dorm Director at Western. We have 39 students that stay in the dorm, & of those 39, 20 are international. We have 8 different countries represented in the dorm. I have 6 staff members that work for me & so far this year is going so well. The students seem to love it here & I have had to do very little discipline which is rare. 

Basketball has started & that has me busy, but very excited. Our varsity team is ranked #1 or #2 in state depending on what ranking your looking at & we are posed to have another fantastic year. My JV team is loaded with talent again this year & we should challenge our 21-3 record from last year. 

Sara & I live here on campus, & when we took the jobs we weren't sure how the living arrangements would be. After a few months of being here on campus 24/7, we are learning to love it. It is quiet & peaceful. Our dog Promise has plenty of room to run around & it is so convenient having everything you do be within walking distance. The only bad thing was it didn't have cable or satellite & the Internet was limited as it had school blocks. So after months of looking into stuff, we finally have our own Internet & I can finally access my blog once again! Hallelujah! Sometimes in the warp speed of life, work, family, & friends you begin to get out of touch with people you want to stay in contact with. My blog is a resource I use to keep people involved in Sara & I's life. It has been rough lately not being able to blog for 5 months. but hopefully now I'm back on the blogging trail & I will start it back up.

Lately, God has been opening doors for Sara & I to talk with people or be a support to people. It has been amazing to see the blessings that he has given us that have allowed us to freely bless other people. We have been learning that even in the hard times, God is doing something new & creating growth. Even in the unlikely of circumstances, He is growing us up to reach to higher heights. Last year at this time we were at a low point in our marriage. We were arguing, we didn't have a dime to our name, I felt 100% responsible, & we simply didn't know what to do. All I kept doing was trusting God & trusting He had our best interests in mind & that He would bring Sara & I stronger together. Flash forward one year & we couldn't be happier. Our marriage is fantastic, we have more than enough money which has allowed us to begin to get out of debt & to bless others, & we absolutely love our jobs & know we are right where God wants us. It's amazing to see how God works & how he can make a "flower grow through the cracks even in hard times." 

Sara & I are embarking on our 4th Thanksgiving together & know one thing...I am so thankful for her & the blessing she is to me. I am thankful for my family. I have been blessed now with 2 wonderful Fathers who are great men to be with, 2 spirit filled-interceding mothers who are a joy to me, 5 sisters who I care for dearly & would do anything for, 2 brothers who are great guys, & grandparents who love me through thick & thin. I have an amazing family & am so blessed to be surrounded by such great people. In this holiday season I am thankful for what I have & expectant to what is to come. I only hope I am as much of a blessing to others as they are to me...

"What love we've given, we'll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity."

Leo Buscaglia