The Life of an Engineer

Jennifer and I were apart from each other pretty much all of 2003. From January to August, Jennifer was up in Hartford, CT working for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Engines and I was working for Braun Intertec in Minneapolis, MN from June to December. We, Jennifer especially, were familiar with flying that year.

Later in the year, I knew I wanted to propose to Jennifer and she was expecting/wanting it. I decided to pick a very romantic holiday to “pop the question” since I was visiting her in Rolla for the weekend. So we got engaged on October 31, 2003. Yes, it was Halloween!

Jennifer picked me up St. Louis airport on Thursday and she had a lab on Friday after lunch when I planned to get ready to ask her, but just a few minutes later she said she was done & I wasn’t ready! I changed it a little so she didn’t have to wait so long.

I started the process with a scavenger hunt to find me. I changed it by having her start from the building she was at so I put a note with the first clue. It was to go where we first met (the Baptist Student Union). The next note led her to her old room where we would hang out, then where I we first prayed together, we studied (library 3rd floor), our old dorm, her sorority, my apartment, then the park we would hang out a lot. I probably missed a couple spots that I had her go.

At the park, I came up behind her and blindfolded her. Then I led her on a trust walk, where she had to follow my lead while being blindfolded. I lead her a long way to where I asked her out two year before. (Side note: when I asked her out, it was in during Freshmen week late at night when we decided to go for a walk in the rain) I was trying to make it a surprise where we were at, but she guessed it by the sound of an ATM! Well, I got on one knee, removed the blindfold, and asked if she would marry me. She said yes!

We were very happy and visited my mom that weekend, I believe. These pictures are from my roommate using my camera. It was his first time using a digital camera so he wasn’t used to it (that is why it is blurring). My other roommate had a better angle and a tripod with his camera, but forgot his batteries that he was charging so they wouldn’t go dead while taking pictures of us. Jennifer didn’t know they watched us getting engaged!

Well that is the story of how we got engaged!

P.S.-That building we are next to is now torn down. Now where we got engaged is in the middle of a grass lawn.

We met nine years ago the day before our college classes began our freshmen year. We had to be there a week early for freshmen week and on Sunday, the Baptist Student Union had an open house. When I first saw her, I really liked her. She definitely caught my eye. I, on the other hand, did not catch hers! If you know me, you know I am shy. But if you knew me in high school, I was very shy. Well, I liked her so much that I had the courage to go up and talk to her. We talked and later went our separate ways not to see each other again for two months. She didn’t remember me that much for UMR is 80% guys and 20% girls so there are a lot of guys for her to choose from. I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

When I saw her again was for trip up to St Louis to go to a Third Day concert. I was thrilled to see her, however I wasn't thrilled to find out she was dating someone. Even more so, someone I had classes with and didn't care for the guy. Thankfully, their relationship ended soon there after.

Well, we got to know each other a little bit as the semester went on with her roommate and my friend both being Mormon that got us to see each other more. We hung out more until before Christmas break I wanted to ask her out, but because of her past relationship didn’t want to date. Well, we didn’t officially start dating until August 2001, but we pretty much started dating in February 2001 when I gave her a Valentines Day gift. Also, I had a bad day that Valentine’s Day since I had three tests and career fair so I asked her for dinner and told her if I didn’t get A’s on all tests I would pay for her dinner & if I did she paid for her dinner. I paid. I’ll let you guess if I got A’s on the tests.

We dated for two years before getting engaged but it wasn’t easy for all of 2003 we were in different states and states and saw each other about 8-10 times that year. In 2002, I was a summer missionary so we didn’t get to see each other or talk hardly at all. Too bad cell phones were common then.

I’ll write about our engagement next entry.

I have heard from several friends at church, through Stuff Christians Like blog, and a friend from college about the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I figured I better check it out since I have heard such great things about it.

Wade, our youth pastor, has started a series on the Fruit of the Spirit. Last night we started on Joy. Joy is not happiness. We can have joy through our sorrow. We won't be happy, but we have joy and rejoice for God is there and has a plan for our lives. He is in control and loves us.

Jennifer and I are big fans of FamilyLife. We listen everyday to the podcast of FamilyLife Today. We went through their premarital material (which I didn't know it was theirs, but it was very good) and have gone to a Weekend to Remember. We love the honesty and authenticity that Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine have and their love for Christ.

This week they are broadcasting the story of Might Molly Muntz. She is Dennis Rainey's granddaughter that was born June 13, 2008 and died June 19, 2008. All week they are going through the pain and sorrow of the story of her life, but through it, knowing God was there and glorifying Him. I recommend you listen to her story. Click here for the FamilyLife Page.

Jennifer found out Molly's death before it was told on air from Rebecca Muntz's blog. Also from it, we have found out that she was expecting a baby (Micah) in October, but miscarried so they went through the pain over again. Go to her blog for a birthday poem to Molly: What's Cooking?

We pray that our baby is healthy and everything goes well. But no matter what happens, we pray that we will glorify God and praise him through any sorrow we go through in life.

Did you miss the Live Townhall for Hope on April 23? Well here it is to view from hulu.com:

Enjoy for it is well worth the watch. We saw it live with 12 other people at a small Luthern school in Little Rock.

You want to but it? Click here.

Here is a video from last night's Britan's Got Talent of Susan Boyle performing Memory:

Here is a video from Mr. T on Mothers:

Well I have only one week to go until my Professional Engineer exam and then I can relax on the beach at Gulf Shores! WooHoo!! So keep me in your prayers that I study well, rest well, and do well on the test so I can be one and done!

This past week was Easter so like usual, it was the highest attendance at church. At Grace Point, we had 1058 people at church which is the first time we have had over 1000 people at church. That is unbelievable that we are getting this big. We starting going to Grace Point in January 2005. When we went the average attendance was 180 people. Now it is about 830 people. Crazy! We have averaged a growth of about 45% each year. If this keeps up, we will average 1,200 around Easter 2010, and 1,750 for Easter 2011.

In the four years we have been going to GPC, we met in the cafeteria of Bentonville High School, then built our building, then went to two services, and now have three services. The next big step for GPC is probably planting a church. When we first starting going was when they had the building campaign. The phrase used during it was "we are a church of 200, building for a church of 500." Nope, we are now around 1,000.

It wouldn't mean much though if it was just that we are going in numbers, but we have a great group of people at our church. We have struggles, but we are willing to share in those struggles. We are all on a journey together which makes the church great. We have been so blessed by being a part of Grace Point.

Now off to study! I'm looking forward to being back involved again with the youth in two weeks!

Once you become a Christian, your life is supposed to easy and peachy and everything goes by the plan.  Life becomes like Leave it Beaver.  Nothing really goes wrong.  All is right in the world and their is no more pain . . .  Right? 

ONE weekend was a great weekend.  I loved hanging out with the 9th grade boys all weekend.  One of my favorite things was praying over Jason that goes to GPC and just started an Auto Body shop by the high school.  I am still trying to recover from ONE.

It seems like everyone on Facebook is doing a 25 Random Things.  I thought it was pretty stupid, but I have enjoyed reading people's random things.  Jennifer put on hers that because she did one that I would do one and mine would be better.  Well, I am more or less doing one and mine won't be better.  I really liked her thoughts.  I have been meaning to write a blog entry anyways that had some random thoughts so I am doing that instead of a list of 25 things.

Having a hard time sleeping?  Get the Snoozatron. 

Yesterday marked that there is only 100 days to go until I take the eight hour exam to determine if I become a Professional Engineer. I have a lot of studying to do between now and then, but hopefully I will do well. I have already taken a review class at the U of A and have studied 4 hours and hope to do a couple more today. In all I will need to study somewhere between 200 and 300 hours for the exam. You can do the math to figure out how much that is per day!

Also, yesterday was 30 days until we pay off our second mortgage which we are thankful for and then we are going to try to make our savings account a lot bigger for my company (like other companies that rely on construction) isn't doing that well.

In addition, today it is 36 days until ONE weekend which is a pretty awesome weekend retreat for the youth at Grace Point.

So that is some countdowns for some things that are coming up in the future of my life. Any countdowns going on in your life?

This is a special comment from Jenn... I cannot resist!