This End Down

I often have days where I wake up feeling absolutely horrible. I used to hate them, because I’d fuss around trying to figure out what to do with myself–get productive, eat food, get outside, do something. Often one of those would help some, but it’d very often end in frustration. Finally, I’d desperately cry out to God to help, reading the Word, putting on worship music, seeking him in prayer. And then after a while I’d be fine.

This morning I realized that, whatever the cause, it’s an instant cue for me to seek God. It’s great! I wish more mornings began with me desperately needing and seeking the Lord. I asked him to make it happen more often, although I wouldn’t mind if he kept the desire around but found a way to make it happen without me feeling like death in the morning.

Tereva got a new bike the other day, and after I cleaned her (the bike, not Tereva) up a little, she took her for her first ride. She decided to name her Tinkerbell, and I decided to take some photos, which are now up online for your enjoyment here: Tinkerbell and my fiancée.

Yah.

Holy crap.

It’ll be in March. I’m assuming most Michiganders won’t come but will send their best, so if you are one, no worries about not being able to afford a plane ticket and hotel stay and stuff. We understand. However, I will be sending out invitations to some Michiganders just in case some of them are crazy enough to come down.

So, we’ll be getting married some time in March… probably the 21st, but we’re not 100% sure. More information soon.

If you have any tips, tricks, connections on how to get married in Gainesville without spending a million dollars… especially if it’s still with a classy wedding and a bojillion people… I’d love your help.

Also, I plan to take full advantage of every offer for help, so don’t make it unless you mean it.

Finally, the engagement story (because you know you were going to ask):

A few years ago, when we were dating the first time, I created a meal for her (Chicken and Broccoli with a cream sauce over spaghetti) that she absolutely loved, and has been asking for since. So, I cooked that meal for her and served it along with some de-alcoholized wine (didn’t want our senses to be at all impaired for this special moment). She showed up to my house and the food was set out and a mix tape I made her a few years ago for Valentine’s Day was playing.

After the meal, I told her I was taking her somewhere for dessert, so we got in the car and drove over to a park/playground behind her old dorm (Beaty). I had her sit down at a picnic table and close her eyse, and I told her I was setting out dessert. I did set out dessert, but the dessert bag also had the ring box in it. I kneeled down and opened the box, and then told her to look at me. She said, “Wait, where are you? My eyes are closed!” She found me eventually, and I told her to open her eyes. After she took a second to take in the scene, I asked her to marry me.

There was lots of crying and “I love you”’s, but I think at some point she said “yes,” and I know that eventually she let me actually put the ring on her finger. Then we called people until both of our phones died; I freaked out because we hadn’t called everyone, and then we just gave up and put it on Facebook and prayed no one would get too upset.

That’s it! I’ll keep you updated here.

Mike Patz - Accord

Sermon last week from my church about “One Accord”—I talked to my leadership team about this two weeks ago, but Mike is a much better speaker than I am.

It’s a little over an hour, so if you don’t have time, that’s cool, but I definitely suggest you read it—especially if you’re into politics.

This is Jason’s Funk mix he recommended me to learn all about the joy that is funk:

(sorry, but this widget was killing people’s browsers. If you want to see it, go to listen.grooveshark.com and search for mstauffer… then go to my playlists.)

A charge for $.11 showed up on my bank statement from “EST COMPANY.” I found page after page of complaints, only to finally learn that they were one of 20ish front companies for a “small credit scam”:

Ebook Web site on DSL Reports.com

Complaintwire.com folks reported on it here and here.

From what I can tell, the only thing to do is report it to my bank and have them do a “charge-back”–which apparently puts a negative tick on the scammers’ merchant account, which will hopefully eventually be shut down with enough charge-backs. Maybe. I think that’s what I read.

Most people say to cancel the account, but I really don’t want to deal with that.. we’ll see.