June 2010
June found Leslie and I very busy. We traveled to Houston, Texas, where we were blessed with a wedding shower/reception from friends and family. Lots of folks we know who could not make it to Kansas City for the wedding attended, and we had a great time. June also had us very busy planning for our big day. We were both working extra shifts at jobs to make a little extra cash, and I literally cannot remember anything else about it.
July 2010
As soon as July 1st hit, Leslie and I both quickly realized that in less than a month we would be husband and wife. WOW! Leslie kept very busy with work, going on several trips in the weeks immediately preceeding the wedding. I worked hard as well, working with some college aged summer residents that were a part of Midtown Community Church as much as I could. During the month of July, we had 60 students from FBC Broken Arrow, Oklahoma join us for a week of serving our neigbhorhood. Alot of great momentum was had from this.
On July 31st, 2010, Leslie and I became Husband and Wife. It was a wonderful, God honoring ceremony. For some reason, the blog isn't uploading pictures right now, or i'd have some. Hopefully soon. The ceremony could not have gone better. For those of you who were with us, thank you so much for joining us during this day. And to the countless folks who helped us pull it off, thank you.
August 2010
On Monday, August 2nd, we left on our honeymoon for Jamaica. It was an incredible trip for us overall. Early in our honeymoon, we did receive news (as most of you know by now) that Leslie's father had passed away. On day two of our stay in Jamaica, I received that call, and had the great task of telling my wife of three days this news. It blows any other hard thing I have ever had to do out the water. I've never felt so very helpless in my life. The only strength that I could muster was what the Lord gave me. As we approached our honeymoon in a very different way than most do, Leslie and I decided we would enjoy our honeymoon, while at the same time, understand that we are not trying to be disrespectful of what had happened. We mourned, we relaxed, laid low many times by the pool, and rested in the Lord and with each other. We were able to take a small trip and enjoy some sites as well. Overall, our honeymoon was really good. The time we had together that week, especially with everything that happened, was irreplaceable and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I was able, to the best of the ability that a young husband can do, care for my wife. Before leaving the Island, we went to the beach, Leslie read a note she had written to her father, in which we burned and buried along with a flower. It was our way of saying goodbye at that moment.
We arrived back to the states on Sunday evening, in Charlotte, North Carolina. I don't mean to disrespect the good friends at customs in Charlotte, but we stood in line for two hours. It was crazy. We got to the desk to re-check our luggage just in time to hear the final boarding call for our flight to Kansas City. Has anyone ever seen Home Alone? Well, that is what happened to us. We HAD to make that flight, or we'd be stuck for the night. So I grabbed my stuff, told Leslie to keep up as best she could (so I could catch the plane) and we bolted clear across the airport. I threw my stuff through security, and ran in my bare feet, shoes in hand, all the way to the LAST gate. By this time, I could not breathe, and they had already closed the door. I begged the lady to let us on the plane. Normally, once that door is shut, that's it. I begged her. They let us on, and literally just like Home Alone, said "take whatever seats are left". It is a funny story, but an experience I never want to go through again.
We arrived in Kansas City late that night. Leslie and I both took Monday off, as we were exhausted. We then traveled to Houston by car on Wednesday, the 11th, and stayed there until Sunday, the 15th, for services for her father. It was a sweet time to remember Leslie's father. The service was appropriate and well done.
Leslie and I have now been back in Kansas City since the 15th, and we are still trying to catch our breath. We still have a few boxes to unpack and sort through, and we have been married almost a month. We have MANY thank you notes that honestly are not finished yet, and we are sorry they are not.
It has been a emotion filled month. A roller coaster is a great depiction of what its been like. But through it all, God proves himself faithful every single day. We are trying to get back in the swing of life, as a new couple.
Continue to pray for the both of us. Pray that God would show favor to our marriage, and that our story of the first month of our marriage might see others come to see Jesus as faithful for the first time.
We must again say thank you to everyone who has prayed for us, helped us in MANY ways (you know who you are), and served us. We are humbled and honored to receive it.
