Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Our Shower is Possessed

I'm still laughing as I write this because a funny thing just happened. At least Jeff and I think it's friggin' hilarious. I was sitting here at the computer, doing my homework when all of a sudden I hear Jeff screaming from the bathroom to come help him. He was reading in the bath tub, but the water was still running. What happened when I heard him scream was the shower became possessed and turned on and started spraying him and our Bib Lit book. Ok, so it doesn't sound as funny in writing, especially because I'm a horrible story teller (that's a trait of anyone who is or has once been on Mt View's student leadership team) but you will have to take my word for it. I'm still chuckling. much love becky





D-Groups and Townhouses

Discipleship groups were just posted and they start this week. We talked to Dean Higle before classes started and the leaders at youth talked to him about getting in a noon group so we could be involved with the youth group on Wednesday nights. But, sadly, we both got put into Wednesday night D-groups. So, no helping out with youth group for us. It sucks and sort of makes us bitter, but we know there must be a reason for it. We'll get over it soon and I'm sure we'll realize why it all is happening as it is.

The other thing we found out lately (which we just laugh about) is that we had a townhouse reserved for us, but because of a break somewhere in communication, we were told there weren't any available. Chris, don't worry, everything's workin out great :) So Jeff went in to talk with Dean Sabin the other day and asked if he could get us into a townhouse whenever one becomes available (whether at the semester or next year). Dean then asked Jeff why we changed our minds. Jeff asked what do you mean. Dean said well we were told you wanted to live off-campus. Jeff said, no we wnated to live on-campus but we were told there were none available. Dean said well we had one reserved for you, but we just gave it away. So that's the story. It's quite funny. It's all good because everything's workin out great here. We have a neighbor that Jeff has been witnessing to so God's definitely workin with us livin here for now. It's sweet to see that, and I'm sure we'll see a similar situation start happenin with the D-Group deal.

So yeah, that's just a lil bit of what's been goin on around here lately. God's good. Have a great day. much love becky

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Funny Picture

Swarty and Jeff at a crazy dress-up night in Austin. I wanted to share this with you all because I thought it was pretty funny.

Saturday, September 24, 2005

My Wife

Hey everybody this is Jeff. Yep, its my first time to post something on this here blog of ours. This is something that i meant to post on wednesday, but i just got around to doing it.
Wednesday, September 21st was one year to the day that Becky and I went on our first date, and so i thought that i would just tell you all, whoever you are that read this, how amazing my wife is.

Our first date was just about the best day of my life. I mean I was with a beautiful girl all day long and there was never an awkward moment. Okay i will get to the point. I knew pretty much that day that she was the girl for me.

The next five weeks were a blur, but everyday was more awsome than the one before. I was doing something that i had never done before, but even in just that amount of time i could not imagine myself without her. About the fifth week, after alot of prayer and a setting arranged by God( Chris Swarthout's couch), i told her that i loved her. WOW! And did i love her. How could I not. She was beautiful and smart and Christ focused. Here was a girl that could be a lawyer/model/whatever she wanted, and her goal in life was to be youth pastor and be happy doing exactly what God wanted. And she said she loved me. WOW!

It probably wasn't two and half weeks and we were talking about marriage. I won't go into the details of all the different plans and thoughts that we had about the actual wedding and when it would be, because they just don't matter now. But the one important thing was that i was gonna talk to her dad, Dave, my father-in-law, when i visited for new years.

Before i talk about that i just have to say that between Thanksgiving and Christmas was the saddest, happy time in my life. We went almost a month without seeing each other. There was one night that i drove the 15 or so minutes home from work and cried like a baby. And many days similiar to that. I have never missed someone so much.

Okay back to happy stuff. New years rolled around and i had a date with Dave. He didn't know it, maybe. (Some of you who read this will know what i mean). I was scared. I mean you ask a guy to marry his daughter when you've only been together barely three months and shes only 18 and still living at home. And i was poor. And the list goes on. Well we watched bowl games and i sweated, while becky was at work, and at some point i finally got the nerve to bring it up. Hallelujah! He liked me and said yes and even understood way more than i could have hoped. Once again God answered prayer. If you ever doubt He has a plan just wait on Him, He is Good.

Well im gonna skip about seven months and go straight to being married. Thats only been about seven weeks so some of you old foggies probably will laugh at the naive kid. Well i can't be what im not. Anyway seven weeks, they have been amazing. When you get to live with your best friend and share in there life, its increadible. We have grown so close and yet i know that, God willing, in the decades to come we can only get closer. As we seek God, and His will together, He will bless us even if the blessings aren't recieved untill later. God provides us all with help. In many ways He has patched my life in times of need and proped me up when i could not stand on my own. And now He has given me the ultimate help and bracing in Becky. He has provided her to me and i only hope that i can be all to her that she is to me.

Well i guess i said at the begining that i would tell you about my wife, and i ended up telling you the some off the story of us. But i think that who she is to me is told best in the story of us. Or you could think of it more as a tribute to her or us. So sorry if i dissapointed.
jeff

Friday, September 23, 2005

Random Pictures

Amye, myself, and Shauna at the awesome bridal shower they threw for me. Thanks girls!
This is the first picture of us. It was taken on Coranado Beach in San Diego in December 2002. I was a sophomore in high school and Jeff was a sophomore in college. We like to laugh at this picture, but aren't we cute?
This is my puppy Kobe. He's the best!
Look at him, he's just so darn cute!
Here's Mo. I love him too, but Kobe's my first love.
My lil black boy. Now I don't have to adopt.
(That's for all you who get this, and if you don't, well too bad)
My boys. They are just so adorable.
Chris and Rachel at our reception.
I'm not sure what he's doing, but he's hot so it's ok.
Chrsitina, our photographer.
Chris and Carol.
Shaniqua lookin good as usual.
Swarty and Mueller. I think Mueller's missing his wife.
Ali and Chris. How cute.
Swarty and Ali havin a good time (hopefully) at our reception.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." This has been one of my favorite verses for a few years now, but it took on a whole new meaning in my life tonight. Being timid, or shy, is often written off as a personality trait. It's an excuse many, like myself, have been using and getting away with. But the Bible says the spirit of timidity is not from Him. If we have been tranformed by the Holy Spirit, we should not be a timid people. We should be bold, expressing the love of Christ in ALL we do. We should be full of power, love, and self-discipline, for that is what the Holy Spirit has given to us. I was challenged by this tonight. Think about it. Pray about it. much love becky.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Worship and Materialism

Ok, I've come to realize a lot over the past few weeks. Here's a few random thoughts on some stuff that's been goin through my head. The first is worship. I've come to the realization that we, as Christians, make too much out of worship (at least from what I've experienced). I don't mean the praising God, I mean the music. It's so pathetic how we seem to not be able to praise God if the music isn't our style. We should be able to praise God in silence. Now, I known this for a while and been convicted about it, but it wasn't until the last few weeks at Bethany that I've started to apply it. Everything goes down here during worship. Old hymns, new songs, songs I've sang since I was a kid, songs I've never heard before. It doesn't seem to matter what the case, no one cares. Everyone's there to praise God. To give Him the glory and honor, not the song. That's so cool and something I think all of us need to stop talking about and start applying in our worship. A true passion for seeking Him.

The second thing that's really got me going lately it Christians and materialism. Why do we think that stuff will make us happy or content. I've seen so many people so focused on Christ, that none of that matters. It's awesome to be in a place where materialism doesn't seem to be a huge issue. But that makes mterialism stick out even more when I do see it. Why don't we put our money toward tithing, even giving above and beyond our 10% or using our money to put toward a trip to N.O. to help out with the hurricane relief. But no, we use the money God's provided us with to buy the latest trends, whether in clothes, music, movies, video games, etc. It's not all bad to have this stuff, but why are we neglecting the real needs of others to expand our wardrobe? It's easier said than done, I know this. But it's something God's really given me a passion for lately. Acts 2:44-45 says "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." Remember you can't serve God and money. What's it gonna be? much love becky

Friday, September 16, 2005

More Wedding Pictures


Aren't we good together?

Maid of Honor, us, and Best Man

Kathye, Becky, and Nancy

Grandpa's lasts words of advice.

Garter Toss

The guys.

The girls havin' a good time.

Amye, Becky, and Shauna

We were cute little kids.

Bouquet Toss-I think Amye got it.

Jason's toast-naked boys.

Amye's toast

Swartys and Poes

How's my hair?

Chris and Rachel

Becky and Groves

Shauna and Amye

Beth finishing up our AWESOME cake

The girls, we're hot.

The Poes and the guys.

Mom and me.

Work it Jeff.

Checkin' in with the wives.

The best wedding party ever!

We are so cool.

Jeff and his best man, Jason.


Becky and her maid of honor, Amye.

Daddy's girl.

Whoa there.

Don't get jealous Jeff.

Takin' a stroll by the creek.


Kiss me already!

I love you baby!

La de da.

Pictures with the Poes.

Pictures with the Heppners.

Becky withher grandparents and parents.

We are so in love.

Becky posing for the camera.

Being playful.

We are WAY to far apart, but cool shot.

Thanks for comin' everyone. Now let's get on with this dang thing.

Dustin escorting our moms.

Becky, Jeff, and the grandparents.

Grandma Poe and us.

Grandma and Grandpa Olson and us.

Grandma and Grandpa Machlan and us.

MMM...cake.

Standing on the bridge.

Becky in the meadow.

Dad walking Becky down the isle.

Shauna and Josh

Rachel and Darin

Amye and Chris

What's so funny? Guess you had to be there.

Hey, we're married, now what?

The Kiss.

Moms

Lighting the unity candle. Girls, don't laugh.

Chris and Darin

Shauna and Chris

Rachel and Josh

Amye and Jason

Giving of the bride.

Reading 1 Corinthians 13

Bouquet and rings

Reception time


This was the only bite of cake I got and it was GOOD!

Cleaning up.

Now that's a gorgeous cake.



















Unity Candle and rings.