Author: Shay

I can’t help it, I love rainy days. They are the best. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the desert and we didn’t see much rain, and this year we’re experiencing so much rain it’s amazing. I woke up this morning to a drizzle, and it’s still drizzling as we speak. It’s so nice. Reminds me of our great God and Savior. He created every little rain drop, and he knew where each one would drop. He knew that I would think about Him when I saw His creation. I just love rainy days.

It’s been a great last couple of weeks, but I am been very busy with school ending. This week is finals week and then I have to move out of my apartment (dorm). Bethany graduates on Saturday, that’s kind of crazy, but it should be fun. We’re doing well. It’s great to be engaged! We are really enjoying it and can’t wait to be married.

Yesterday I slept a lot. It was actually kind of weird. I slept like 9 hours on Saturday night and on Sunday afternoon I took a nap on a friends couch for a few hours I guess it was. I’m not sure if I am sick or something and so I am pretty tired. I think I am eternally sick though. Seriously, ever since high school I have been the most sick person alive. Ok, that’s probably an exaggeration, but if some kind of new sickness comes you can guarantee that I will have it. It can get pretty annoying. Actually, I’m tired right now, I think I’m going to go take a nap.

This past weekend was on the best weekends of my life. And you’ll know why as you read..

I went to Washington state this weekend to be with Bethany and her family because her grandfather passed away. It sounds bad, but it was really good to be with and the family and just support Bethany during this time.

But we had some extra time after all the services and the weekend so I set up a date with her in Seattle on Monday night. But what you don’t know is that I have had the ring for about a week and a half, and I have had the money for about a month and a half. (How did I get the money you ask? — > Long story short, I basically got a check in the mail from a previous job that I had. It was serious God’s provision). Anyways, Bethany’s parents dropped us off at the waterfront in Seattle and we said our goodbyes to them and they we were off to Starbucks on the pier to have coffee. (what Bethany didn’t know was that I had already talked to her parents and they were actually going to hang around Seattle until I call them). So after we got a our coffee we started walking down the waterfront I told Bethany that we should go sit on the dock by the Seattle Aquarium. Then we sat down on a table, and we were all alone because it was around 9:00pm and no one was on the streets on a Monday night. Then I asked her what she wanted to talk about, and she kindly replied “You…” So I said, “What if I told you I loved you?” (which was the first time I have told her that) and she just kind of gasped and looked at me.. and then I said, “And what if I did this?…” and I knelt down on one knee and said, “Will you marry me?”

Basically, it was like the shock factor for Bethany. I have basically been making her think that engagement was a long ways off, but I pulled out a sneaky trick. :). Then she told me to stand up and said “YES!”

It was so much fun. And after I hugged her and kissed her, we called her parents and they came over to us and they took the picture you see of us here.

After everyone left we went over to the “Old Spaghetti Factory” and had a nice dinner by ourselves. Then we walked over to the Space Needle and hung out around there.

It was so much fun. And now we’re looking forward to getting married some time in August. We’re not exactly sure of the date right now, but we’re talking through it.

You can continue to pray for us as God grows us in our relationship and that we would continue to pursue Christ as we pursue each other.

look at that rock!!

She’s the best. I love her.

These people were just painting on the side of the road today, it was kind of interesting. It probably has something to do with the upcoming cowboy poetry festival. They hold it annually and it’s kind of crazy. Tons of people come to this thing, but then again.. maybe I’m wrong.

At any rate, I’m about to head to work so I’d figure I’d just write something about a conversation I just had with my roommate. You see, I work for Starbucks Coffee (corporate) and he works for Coffee Kiosk (privately owned). He tried to tell me today that so many people come in and say how much better their coffee is. I take offense to that. I mean, who wouldn’t. There once was a day when Starbucks only had one store. And I asked him if his company went corporate what he would do and he said that he would still put his money into private ownership because he has control over his money. Well, I think that’s lame. He also says that he has more security. Well, I think he’s a little off his rocker. (don’t worry kids, my roommate is a good guy and I’m not coming down on him). This is just a debate we have all the time. It’s kind of fun. He tries these kinds of tricks all the time to make me angry, but he’ll never get the best of me.

But I think that we all know what it really comes down to. He’s just upset that I get full benefits, free coffee, a 401K savings plan, stock options, free drinks, and 30% off any store in the nation. It’s not my fault! I just work for a great company. So at the end of the day, I’ll be at Starbucks.

A “bed of roses” I saw today..

Here is a verse that might encourage you, it has encouraged me today.

2 Corinthians 9:12
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

“Controlling the Tongue” - James 3

We started a new section of our study through James in church this morning. We actually started chapter 3 which begins with a discussion on the tongue. Pastor Scott showed us the power of the tongue by showing us the illustrations that James uses which are right in the text. They start in verse 3 and move forward. The Bible compares our own tongues to a bit that would go in to a horses mouth. It also compares it to the rudder of a ship. These are great pictures on the power of that “little red devil” in our mouths. The things we say are really just what is coming out of our hearts. How are you doing with your words today? Are you using them to build people up or tear people down. Because it really is not true that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That is a lie. Words do hurt. They hurt when people say wrong things about you, and gossip about you. They hurt when they have a harmful intent toward you. Control your tongue today and God will be greatly glorified.

For further study please go read and study the third chapter of James, I trust you will be convicted and encouraged.