Today is my anniversary…2 whole years under my belt! I love my wife deeply and appreciate her so much. She truly is God’s completer for me.

This morning while going through my usual routine I came across a blog post that was posted earlier today. The guy asked his wife “What is something practical I can do to make you feel loved and appreciated by me?” Wow! Apparently I don’t have it all figured out after two years! He talks about her answer to this question in his post, I would encourage you to read the whole thing.

Let me give you the lesson to learn without giving you the entire story. Again, you would do well to read the entire article.

The lesson to learn, gentlemen, is to make sure we are not making efforts to love our wives and in the process doing something else to make them feel unappreciated.  It would be similar to taking our wives on a date and picking a fight with her.  Or bringing her flowers and making an ugly comment about where she chose to place them in the house.

This is a picture from a recent trip back to MI. I am a blessed man!

It has been a while since Michelle and I have given a big update as to what is going on in our lives. Believe it or not, we have been up at Northland International University for over a year. It was on November 2, 2009 that we loaded up and pulled out of Philadelphia and left the sweet people of Grace Bible Church behind.

The last year has not come without major adjustment for both Michelle and I, but we both can look back at this transition in life and ministry and totally see the Lord working through it all.

In the space that allows here I want to just hit some major things going on with us or around us that we care about and are passionate about.

1. One of the most important things for us in this transition was finding a church in which we can serve and use our gifts to the glory of God. The Lord led us to Immanuel Baptist Church in Kingsford, MI where we are members. Michelle is very active with the music ministry and I have been doing some technical things for the church and also teaching an adult Sunday School class on what a healthy church is.
2. Last summer I officially started a doctorate degree. I took a class in counseling, which was beneficial for me to take, and now this January, I will be taking a class on biblical creationism with two scientists from Answers in Genesis.
3. Michelle and I have taken numerous trips over the last year; some short and local and others not so much. Recently we returned from Orlando, FL where Michelle was in a financial aid conference for part of the week. I flew down and met up with her mid-week and spent the rest of the week visiting friends, family, and Disney (thanks to the hook-up from my aunt and uncle). Michelle has been able to visit back home with her folks and spent some time in Philadelphia twice over the last year. We went to Munising, MI for a weekend (thank you Dillabaugh’s), a weekend in Chicago (thank you Branks’), a few days in Moorhead, MN visiting Jack and Cathy Klem, and a couple of trips to Traverse City, MI to see my Mom and brother. All in all we put some miles on the Trailblazer this year!

Going into this holiday season Michelle and I are gearing up for a big road trip. We are leaving home on December 21 and heading for Traverse City. We will be there a couple of days and then will head to Chesapeake, VA and spend some time with Michelle’s parents. Then from Chesapeake we will head to Raleigh, NC for some more time with Michelle’s extended family and then we will eventually land in Philadelphia, PA for the new year celebration with our friends and family at Grace Bible Church.

We are excited to see the things the Lord will do in us and through us in this next year. I pray that the Lord receives all the glory!

Sola Deo Gloria!