Dates

So I'm successfully posting blog post #2. I'm proud of myself.
Here's our update:
Last weekend Matthew and I went on an Engaged Encounter retreat in Mobile, AL. It was so wonderful. It was a great retreat and God really affirmed for both of us that it is His will for us to be married. We got to focus on each other and put everything else aside. I have a very sweet, romantic, Christian and manly future husband. I can't wait until we're married!

This week has been great for me (Jess). I worked 3 in a row this week at St. Vincent's and it was great. We have done so much. We spent a day doing stabilization where I had the opportunity to be at most of the deliveries to be the nurse for the newly born baby. Jennifer, my preceptor said something really cool, that we're one of the first people to touch this brand new baby. It's pretty amazing. I did end up having a flat tire in the middle of my work week though, but Matthew and his uncle Frank came to my rescue to help me get the spare put on. Matthew is so sweet. He was actually preparing a wonderful surprise dinner for me that he had to put down in order to come to my rescue. Don't I have the most amazing husband ever? We split the meal over a few days and we had 3-bean asian salad, citrus lime rice and thai chicken with a thai peanut sauce. It was wonderful!

This weekend Matthew and I both have time off together, which is getting rarer with all the hours we're picking up. Yesterday we had frozen drink day. We had smoothies, frappuccinos and a lemon-berry slush. It was really fun. We can turn just about anything into a date. I love it! We're looking forward to getting to go to church together and having Monday off together too. We'll see what other cute date ideas we come up with. So far we've had dinner and frozen drinks. It's been nice!

Quick funny story that happened while I was writing this. I had all ready settled into my pjs and was typing about how I'm excited to have trick-or-treaters tomorrow when I heard a knock at the door and "trick or treat". So in my pj's I answered the door and gave them candy from my stash that my family had sent me for halloween. I was going to buy candy tomorrow! Obviously I was unprepared, but it was still very fun. lol

Congratulations to Karri and Trevor on their engagement this weekend! Love you both and I'm so excited to see what God has in store for you.

Let's go Rangers! First world series for the Rangers and tonight it's in Arlington.

"Brothers and sisters:
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

God bless!
Matt & Jess

New Beginnings (and a few endings)

Hey everyone! It's Jess. I'm going to try to get the ball rolling with this blog and see if I can keep it up.
Here's the news from our little corner of the world:

Jess- I have taken my last test of college ever. I can hardly believe that things are winding down. I've been working so hard for so long to succeed in nursing school and here I am basically at the finish line! (Of this part of my journey at least.)
I started my preceptorship at St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham on the labor & delivery unit. It's been really wonderful! We've worked in NICU, postpartum and triaging labor & delivery patients. I have learned so much and I'm excited to go back tomorrow! Please keep me and my preceptor in your prayers. God is creating a wonderful working relationship there, so that I can learn and grow into the nurse He's calling me to be. Also, please keep my job search in your prayers. We had a career fair last week and it's time to start putting in job applications, so I'm praying for God to open up the door at the hospital and unit where He wants me to be.
"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me" Matthew 25:40

Matt- Matt started at Best Buy a few weeks ago and he's loving it. He works with a great group of people and he loves technology, so this job is wonderful for him. He really likes the company and we're hoping that, if it's in God's plan, He'll be able to stay with Best Buy for a nice long time.

Both of us- We're getting some good wedding planning underway. Save-the-dates went out for the addresses that we have. It makes the wedding feel so soon! With the long engagement, we've gotten lulled into the idea that the wedding is a long way off, but it's coming up pretty quick! Lately we've been looking into cakes and the catering. Yum!
Also, we have our Engaged Encounter retreat weekend coming up this weekend. Please be praying for us as God uses that weekend to prepare us for marriage.

"So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22

God bless you,
Matthew & Jessica