A visit.

This weekend our good friend Matt came to visit us. Matt is from my hometown, went to UofA with us, and was Andy's good friend and roommate. Somehow we all ended up in the South. Matt lives in Nashville and was willing to come to MS to see us. We had an easy, relaxing weekend: hung out at coffee shops, watched a weird, but good movie (Catfish, anyone?), ate way too much sweets, and went to the reservoir. 

We also went to Brent's Drugs for lunch on Sunday. It's an old-time burger and soda place, and we had heard a lot about it, especially since it was featured in The Help. The food was delicious, and the company was lovely: an old friend plus some new ones from Redeemer.  Sadly it was our waiter's first day and we waited over an hour for our food and almost 2 hours for our shakes!...but... he looked like he was about to have a nervous breakdown so we were patient (well mostly). 

(Andy is pretending that he was just attacked by something; obviously we were not fooled.)

Also I wanted to share the sermon from Sunday's service at Redeemer. So good! And by good I mean convicting. It is called The Suffering Savior, and is about our suffering when we follow Christ. I've heard many sermons/passages on suffering but I didn't think they applied to me, unless I move to a 3rd-world country or face violent persecution. I am very blessed and to call anything that I am going through as "suffering" is usually me having a pity-party. However, I love what Pastor Campbell has to say, and I hope that when I am faced with a decision to follow Christ that I would choose to suffer.

Can we take all y'all back with us?

We're back! The wedding was beautiful. I mean magazine worthy! Greg and Brooke did an amazing job. We're are so happy to be apart of it and loved seeing all the family get together to celebrate them. 

Me with the best man :)

Greg giving his toast to his beautiful bride. He was at a loss for words. So sweet. 

Here's just a glimpse into the bachelor party. I won't go into detail :)

Though the best part was hanging out with the fam:

We miss you guys and wish we were closer. But for now we are happy to be home, just the two of us.

And so it begins...

Last week my good friend Jill  moved to Alabama, which means I got to see her as she drove through. It was wonderful! Jill and our friend Kate stayed for a night, and it was just refreshing to be around not just good friends, but Arizonans :) It felt as is we were back in Tucson for the night. And the plus side to Jill moving is that she will now be only 3 hours away instead of 22!!

Tomorrow is my first day of work. This week was orientation, and today was an ice-cream social to meet the parents and kids. I love the teacher I am assisting; she is a hoot! Her name is Soyrietta Valentine, and she is VERY southern, which mostly means that she usually needs to explain the meanings for a lot of the phrases she uses. I'm excited but a little nervous. The weirdest part was introducing myself to all the parents as Mrs. Jeffrey, when I'm young enough to be their kid! Oh well :) Wish me luck and pray for energy because I am going to need it.

Catch up...

Kellie and I have been reading through Romans lately. We started last week and have been slowly making our way through it. Yesterday we sat down with some tea and read chapter three together. For me, there is something about reading a book like Romans out loud with someone else...it just seems to make more sense. I like to talk out my thoughts and ask questions and hear what others have to say. In fact, that is how Jon Morris and I started to become close friends.

Here's Jon!

He and I studied Romans our freshman year at Arizona, and absolutely loved it. It was like a light went on in my head of all the truths I had grown up knowing...it was when the truths became reality and I truly understood what I believed. Anyway, Kellie and I have been going through Romans and loving it. Yesterday was a good time because as we went through chapter three we re-learned some truths: mainly that in our faith (our belief that God justifies us freely) we desire to obey the law (do good deeds) rather than ignore it and do whatever we please (Romans 3:31). It's truths like this that, once I understand them, I desire to search more into the gospel to understand what my life as a Christian is all about. Romans is a great book to do this in and we are both so excited to be reading it.

We've also been enjoying our church. Last weekend we were invited over for a dinner party at a church member's house. It was a great time to socialize and get to know others. It truly is a blessing to know people here in Jackson...especially brothers and sisters in Christ. Today was great also...we met a young couple at church and hit it off with them right away. Kellie actually works (or will be working) with the wife, and they invited us over for dinner tonight! We are pretty pumped :)

Here are a few other things going on in our lives:

 We decided to splurge one night and get Tollhouse cookies. Kellie was SO excited!!

 In excitement for The Hobbit movie that comes out next year, I am reading the Lord of the Rings. I just started the Fellowship of the Ring! I've never actually read them...unless you count my Dad reading them to me and Greg growing up (while I fell asleep most of the time).

We'll be out of town this weekend heading back to California because... My bro get's married to his fine Bride this Sunday! Man, I'm so excited!