What a read

I'm reading a book called "A Long Way Gone" right now. A friend had recommended it to me some time ago and I've been wanting to pick it up. I mentioned it to my sister last night and she said she happened to already own it so she lent it to me. 

It's awesome.

It's the memoir of a boy that was made to be a child soldier during the civil war in Sierra Leone, Africa. It's beyond comprehension so of the things he has already seen-and I've only just started. 

Off again

I'm in Houston, TX right now-waiting to get on my next flight that will take me to Tucson, AZ. Pretty good flight from Tulsa here and hopefully the next one will be just as smooth. Brandi took me to the airport this morning and we had a little trouble finding it. Somehow we missed a turn somewhere. But, she dropped me off just in time and I made it right before they were boarding. 

Yesterday went well. We got to Tulsa a little bit later than we had planned but it worked out just fine. Got all the boxes moved into Brandi's apartment and she'll be spending some time over the next few days getting everything there organized. It's a small apartment-but nice. We're hoping to be able to do some painting and different things in it to make it "homey." I, of course, will have nothing to do with the creative process of that. But, I am happy to paint, lift, and move as directed! 

I think I'm going to like living in Tulsa. I was able to hang out with my sister for a little while (she lives in the same apartment complex I'm living in, oddly enough) and she showed me around a little bit. Just seems like a very cool city-and I think it has endless possibilities. I'm living in a beautiful part of town known as "midtown." It's right across the street from the river so I can bike, run, and walk, to my heart content. (I would imagine I would be content after not to much of that, though!) 

Hoping for a good few days in Arizona. I don't know exactly what to expect for this trip. I know I'm speaking tonight and then twice on Sunday. As far as Thursday, Friday, and Saturday go-I'm just not sure. 

One thing's for sure, though-it's going to be hot!

Packed up...heading out

This morning Brandi and I woke up early and started packing away for the big move. Our goal is to be on the road and heading to Tulsa by noon. So far, we're right on schedule! 

We've got the cars pretty well packed up and we're getting ready to run some last minute errands. Once we get done with that, we'll hit the road and hopefully arrive in Tulsa by 4 so we can get Brandi moved in to ORU and get me moved into the apartment I'll be staying at. 

We're anxious to see what her apartment actually looks like. We know that it's just a one bedroom but we're hoping for a decent amount of living space. For right now, I'll just be crashing with a friend of Brandi's until she and I get married. Once that happens, I'll move into the ORU apartment with her. 

It's been a great morning so far...and I think it's going to stay that way. Tulsa-here we come! 

It's hot in 'Bama

Still really enjoying my time in Alabama. But it is so, so, so hot! And muggy. And when I go outside I immediately start to sweat. 

Had a couple of great services yesterday. Last night some kids really connected with God and that's always exciting to see. I spoke again this morning but have tonight off. I'll talk twice tomorrow and then we head up to Baton Rouge to speak at the church on Sunday morning. Brandi and I will fly back to Kanas City on Monday, move to Tulsa on Tuesday, and I'll fly out to Arizona on Wednesday and fly back to Tulsa on Monday. 

Whew!! Busy, busy. 

Plus, turns out, wedding planning takes a lot of concentration! And there are A LOT of details. But, it's a lot of fun and Brandi is patient with me. So that's nice. We're still going back and forth between two different dates. Hopefully, by next week, we'll have one set in stone. 

Rocking Alabama

I'm sitting at a Barnes and Noble in Montgomery, AL right now. I'm speaking at a camp this week and I've got a little bit of time off before I have to go judge a talent show (i.e. America's Got Talent) at 6. 

This is going to be a great weekend for a couple reasons: 

1. Brandi (my FINACE!!) got to come with me this week so it's great hanging out with her before life gets crazy next week moving to Tulsa and all that is involved with that. We're taking some time this week to do some intense wedding planning. No date yet but we're for sure rocking in sometime this fall!

2. My best friend, Daniel, is able to come up to the camp and hang out this week. He and I went to college together and we haven't hung out since last year when we went to England. He brought his girlfriend along with him so we've all had a wonderful time spending the days together. We're thinking of heading down to the beach on Thursday. That would be amazing!

I spoke this morning and will do it again tonight and tomorrow morning. I'll have the night off tomorrow and then hit it again on Friday. Then we're off to Baton Rouge, LA to speak on Sunday. We'll fly back into KC on Monday. 

It's going great so far. We don't have internet where we're at so I'll just try to sneak away whenever I get a chance!

I'm Engaged!

Well, last night it finally happened. I asked Brandi Nicole Stark to be my wife. And she said, "Yes!" Here's the story...

It all happened at her aunt and uncles house. They've got a really great pool in the backyard so that was where the main event was going to take place. Her cousins took her out for a little while during the evening and I headed that way and started setting everything up. She came back to the house at around 9 and the family started playing some card games while her brother, uncle, and I finished getting all the final touches on everything. I had 400 votive candles set up around the pool-some in the shape of a heart and some just scattered around. But, there was just the slightest breeze so they wouldn't stay lit! So, we managed to find these colored, plastic cups that we put the candles in. And it actually looked really nice. But, we started running out of time so we didn't get all 400 lit. It was still really, really beautiful, though. Then we scattered 4 dozen roses all over the ground and leading down to where I was going to propose. 

So, at 9:30 I rang the doorbell and ran off. She found a note on the door that told her that she was going to go on a little journey. So, she picked up the flashlight we had provided for her and started down the path. Leading her were note cards I had made up-each with something that I love about her written on them. Along the way I had a few presents for her to open and a DVD I had made for her to watch. After the last gift, there was a note for her to head down to the pool area where I would be waiting for her. 

I had hired two violin players so as we was walking down the steps to the pool they were playing the most amazing music you could ever imagine. I mean, really, it was just magical. So, I led her to the middle of everything, told her how much I loved her and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Then, I got down on one knee and said, "Brandi, will you marry me?" And she said, "Yes! A thousand times, yes!" So, we talked for a little while longer and looked at all the candles and the whole set-up. 

To finish up the evening I took her over to a table I had set up and we took communion together. I wanted to first thing we do as an engaged couple to honor God and His faithfulness in our lives. 

So, there isn't a wedding date set just yet but when it is, I'll let everyone know! Also, there should be some pictures coming in the next couple days so be on the look out for them. 

I'M GETTING MARRIED!!

Let's go out to the ballgame

Last Sunday, Brandi, Brandi's parents, and I went to St. Louis to watch the Cardinals play the San Francisco Giants. (Cardinals won 7-0 thank you!) I had never been to St. Louis before and it was only the 3rd time ever having gone to a professional baseball game. (I went to one on Seattle with the family and one in Minneapolis a couple years ago but got really bored so I left pretty early in.) This one was a really great time, though.

We were going to go up into the arch but the tram was broken and after the game we just couldn't be bothered. It was still really cool just to see, though.