New computer

Today, I did something I've only done twice in my life: purchased myself a new computer!!! For the third time, I bought a Dell. I've loved my Dell laptop so much that I just bought another one. (actually, it wasn't entirely on my own...my dad is buying my current one from me so my mom can use it for city council and such) Buying a new computer is pretty exciting for me, and I've found myself navagating over to Dell's website even after purchasing it to remind myself what I'm getting. The main things are as follows: 3gigs of RAM, Intel Duo 1.66Ghz, DVD-RW, bluetooth, 250gig hard drive, two batteries (one 9-cell for extra long battery life), a built in camera/microphone, and....a street pattern back. Yep, I went for a styled look. We'll see how it looks in real life, but I bought it on a whim. Here's what it'll look like:

No snow day?!?

That was the thought of every teacher and student this morning at Spruce Hill Christian School. Several inches of snow, sleet, and rain came down today...and we had school. (the problem: our administrator made the call from Florida) Only about half the school came due to weather and our buses not operating. However, 5th grade managed to take the lemon and make lemonade! We went sledding in a nearby park with the help of a local parent bringing out sleds (I can't take credit for the idea; one of the students had it). Everyone had a great time! Here are some pictures.

Field trip comes to life

Today, my 5th graders and I walked to a UPenn auditorium to see at Holocaust play called My Heart in a Suitcase. We'll be studying WWII later this year, and the kids are really interested in that time period. The show was amazing, despite its sad ending with a girl having to leave her parents in Germany. Unfortunately, they both died in concentration camps without ever seeing her again. When the show was over, the actors came back on stage with a special announcement: the main character in the story is alive and IN THE AUDIENCE! The real Ann Fox came up and answered questions from the audience. It was really neat to see, and the kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. She lives in Philadelphia, so she comes to one show a year, and this was it! What a neat experience!!!

A new calling?

My dad sent this to me. I think I found a new calling in life. See more about the guy who started it and his ideas here.

More engagement pictures

As promised, Sarah and I have more engagement pictures! Click here for a slideshow.


All pictures taken by roommate/groomsman/professional photographer/all-around super stud Seth Shimkonis.

Engagement picture

Seth took our engagement pictures last weekend. Here's our main one, with more to come this weekend:

Free pancake day Tuesday at IHOP

It's that time of year again! Visit IHOP tomorrow for a free short stack of pancakes.

Seth on guitar

This is my roommate. He's great.

When God doesn't cooperate

This afternoon, one of my students called and left a message on my voice mail saying that her sister had died. The family is a huge presence in our school--dad is the headmaster in addition to several students being enrolled. We had known about her sister's struggle with pulmonary hypertension for the whole school year, praying for her and her family every week. There had been several close calls, but the one this afternoon was too close. The doctors had told her she had 6 months to live...around three years ago. The illness has totally consumed the family for the last few months, and they have been a source of strength throughout it. Our headmaster has told me that God has used the situation for many, many good conversations about life and death, and we trust that He has continued plans to glorify Himself through this. It's just hard when God doesn't seem to cooperate with what we want!

Please pray for their family, our class, and our school as we grieve this situation.

2 Corinthians 5

Our Heavenly Dwelling

1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Free pictures at Walgreens!

Today, Friday, and Saturday, you can get a FREE family pack of photos. One 8x10, two 5x7s, and four 4x6s...all you need to do is this:

Instructions:
1. Login or Register if new to the site.
2. Upload your photo or choose it from your library.
3. Choose your set (1-8x10 2-5x7 4-4x6's)
4. Click "check out".
5. Enter code: VALENTINE
6. Complete checkout

Super bowl

Sarah, Jim, Teresa, and I watched tonight's Super Bowl at Krista and Adina's house in Wynnwood, PA (just on the outskirts of Philly). Going into the evening, I thought I would be rooting for the Patriots, since they had Tom Brady (Michigan graduate) and it would be neat to see a truly undefeated team in my lifetime. Soon after we started watching the game, however, I found my self rooting quite strongly for the Giants! (Krista is a die-hard fan, and her influence may have been more persuasive than I realize). It was fun to watch with friends and a true fan of one of the teams. It made me think back to the Super Bowl parties we'd have on 40th street with snow football in the backyard during halftime....those were the days...

Yesterday, Jim and I went to celebrate Auntie Ann's birthday with a free pretzel. Will and Michelle rode with us, and we all had a good time hanging out in University City. Jim and I went to Spruce Hill to finish up some work I had to do this weekend and fax out a resume for Jim. Still no leads on the job front for him yet, but he's persisting with 15-20+ applications a day!

It's hard to believe the weekend is done already. They go by so quickly! Sarah and I didn't work on any wedding stuff this weekend...and we're not stressed about it either. Praise God!