The First Anniversary with the Cake Topper

Well, my mom did save the top of our wedding cake for our first anniversary. So on Friday we celebrated our first year anniversary by cutting our wedding cake topper. It got a bit messy. :)

well, here's a new post...china

Scott and I just got back from China Sunday night. We had a great trip! And we're still trying to get over jet lag. I have learned so much on this trip. One of the things that was solidified in my mind was how nothing is more rewarding than being a part of God's work. I had fun getting back in touch with Stella and Lina. I got to do a lot with Stella, including getting a perm for ten bucks. We also got our nails done for a dollar. She helped me shop for jeans and we got to talk a lot. Lina's house is beautiful and amazing. Everything was marble, and i got to hold her precious son. It was fun to be able to experience China being married to Scott. One thing i realized more is how good of a teacher he is. We have never had to work together on something so much as on this trip. We were constantly teaching or preparing to teach. We were glad to be finished teaching although it was a good experience. One of the best parts about siteseeing on this trip was in Beijing. The last couple of days we spent in Beijing. The best part was the Great Wall of China. It was literally amazing in every way. This wall is over 3,000 miles long and built by hand. The scenery while standing on it was amazing too with all the mountains. We also got to see the Olympic village from a distance. And i got an Olympic t-shirt for two bucks. It was sweet! So this trip was completely different than when I went two years ago. And i learned so much more. It was so nice to be with Scott and to share the experiences with him this time. Also, while we were there we celebrated his birthday and our first year anniversary! I can't believe we've been married for a whole year now. One thing I always say about being married is that it always seems to get better as we learn to work, live, and grow together. Anyway, there is too much to describe in words about this trip. But I will post some pictures when I get a chance.

Everything and Anything

a date at 12 foot falls

and we found the coolest tree root thing

Oh the joys of packing!

i just got new glasses. i was a little excited!

it took me a while to find some that fit my face. i have a really small head

some beautiful pics down by the lake

Leila

This is one of my friends from China, Leila. This was two summers ago.

This is her husband James doing Karaoke. Boy, that was an exciting time.

Me, trying to fish on their farm...i finally did catch a tiny one.

Their Mercedes that they always drove us around in.

Leila and James

She is so sweet! I can't wait to see her this summer.

These are pictures of her new baby she just sent me. Isn't he adorable? I'm not sure what his name is. She didn't tell me probably because they don't have an English name for him. Maybe she'll let me name him. Afterall, we gave her husband his English name. I can't wait to hold him.

Grandpa Patz

I just love this picture of my grandpa smiling. I think this is how we all remember him.

The picture below is my grandpa and all of his sons. The taller ones beside him are Clifford on the left and Howard on the right. My dad is the little one on the left and my uncle Darrell is on the right. A neat thing about this picture is the pink chair that you see in the background is in our house to this day.

And here is a picture of my grandma and my grandpa together.

I've Been Tagged

My sister Katie tagged me and my sister-in-law Tristan tagged me. So here are the 8 things about myself:

1) When I was ten, I was fishing at Phillip's Lake with my dad, my brother Matthew, and an elderly man we called Grandpa Al. My dad, thinking I knew how to cast a fishing pole, let me cast it all by myself. Big mistake! A few seconds later I heard my dad yell my name. I looked over, and cut some slack on the fishing line since the end of it was now hooked on my dad's nostril. We couldn't help but get a video of the worm hanging from his nose. But my poor dad ended up having to go to the emergency room to get it out. They had to freeze his nose and pull it all the way through. The next day he still went to church with a pierced nose.

2) When I was in first grade, I brought a rock to show and tell at school. This was a big rock I found that i thought looked like a diamond. Since I kept it out in the hall in my backpack during the day, i had to get it during bathroom break. So I ended up having to take it in the bathroom with me. I must not have felt comfortable leaving it on the bathroom counter, so I brought it into the stall with me. Another big mistake! As I was about to set the rock on the back of the toilet, it fell through the cardboard box I had it in and went straight for the toilet bowl. And so for the next few weeks the stall door read "Out of Order" and the broken toilet sat by the dumpster. I felt so guilty.

3) I love to crochet.

4) I've never had a broken bone.

5) I don't like to read, but my husband loves to read...and I mean he LOVES it.

6) Someday I'd like to adopt a Chinese baby girl, but I wonder how I'll ever be able to afford to meet the demands of the Chinese adoption policies.

7) I like to organize and decorate.

8) I love being married...Scott's the best. I always tell him he's my bestest friend.

Now I have to tag 8 people. So i'm tagging Scott, Stella, Janelle, Heather, Kelly, Sarah, Alicia, and Jenn.

I'm So Proud of Him

Mom Mohler, Scott, and Jodi
We took more pictures with his family , but my camera ran out of memory space, so I still need to get those from everyone.

Scott hugging his mom after the graduation.

Dad, Scott, Me, and Mom before the Graduation

Yesterday, May 12, 2007, Scott graduated with a bachelors degree in Biblical Languages. I am so proud of him. Most of his family came to celebrate, and it was a special time. I am so proud of Him. He has worked so hard!

A Desire Within Me

Well, I don't normally just write out my thoughts on this blog. It's much easier to post pictures when they're available. But there is something on my mind lately...a desire within me that longs for fulfillment. And i know that fulfillment is ultimately found in Christ, but I am talking more specifically along the lines of my specific purpose here on earth. I don't know where to begin in explaining my feelings. I am no writer. But, I guess it began when the Lord changed my heart and gave me a desire for him at the age of 12. I began to examine everything in my life, and I became tender to the Holy Spirit's working. I have so many memories of Missions Conferences at Northland, Missions week at church, or missions trips to Mexico, St. Vincent, and China. Every time the Lord stirred something within me. To see people without the Lord and children going hungry and homeless...I wanted to do something about it. And then there were the girls in youth group who came from ungodly homes, who struggled with security and feeling loved...I wanted to do something about it. And then now, as I've watched my sister lose her precious children who were finally getting love...I wish I could do something about it. It's like I have this craving to love the ones who have never felt love. I want to help them. I HAVE to give what I have been given so abundantly. I guess, to sum it up, since I may sound very vague...I believe that God has given me the gift of compassion. And so, I look to the examples in my life...my mom who always practiced hospitality even to the people that were always overlooked or with special needs, my sister who has fostered 6 children, my sister-in-law Tristan who recently adopted a beautiful Haitian orphan, and many others who DO something about their compassion. And also, I look forward to my next phase of life, praying that God will give me opportunities and strength to fulfill this longing within me to the glory of His Name.

Proverbs 31: 20
"She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy."

My Wonderful Weekend

Above, is a poem that Scott wrote for my 22nd birthday.
It made me cry.

As you can tell, i just woke up. And i woke up to all these candles below.

With 22 licorice sticks spelling "I Love You"

And we got to go to fireworks the night before.

He made me this picture album with 22 pictures in it.

It was a special birthday.

This fireworks show is the biggest in North America. Louisville does it to celebrate the beginnign of the Kentucky derby.

And below is our visit to Southern Seminary.

We absolutely loved it, and we're making plans to attend the seminary in the fall.

Scott really like the library.

Answer to Prayer

Below was posted by my sister Janelle Johnson about her precious kids. Please pray!

Yesterday, Jason and I were able to talk to the kids! It was so good to hear their sweet little voices, although they sound so different on the phone.

We talked to Kalynn first. She said she is honoring Jesus.

When we talked to Paul, he said "Mom, I'm sad, I miss you Mom."

We didn't talk to Preston much. He doesn't have the patience to be still and talk on the phone.

Courtney held the phone up to Anna's ear. She didn't say anything, but Courtney said she was waiving "bye bye" to us.

It was so good to hear their voices and be able to tell them how much we love them.

I talked to Courtney for a few minutes. She said everything is going "really well". Anna has an ear infection and is on an anti-biotic. The kids all leave really early in the morning for their daycare, and do not get home until after 6:00. (Courtney works full time and is also in nursing school.)

This morning, I got a phone call from Rayman Kilgore, the child service worker. He said he got a frantic call from Courtney at around 7:00 this morning. He couldn't understand her, because she sounded so upset. He said that Courtney and the kids are having a difficult transition. Courtney has called him numerous times, and has been very frustrated. He was going to call her back and remind her that she can "get out of this", but she seems very determined to do this for her cousin Karen.

Will you pray that the Lord will soften her heart to the idea of Jason and I adopting them? The kids need love, time, attention, and Christ. God knows, and I am so thankful to have hope in Him.