Jul 25, 2007

Back in the States

So, it's been a long time coming... It's taken so long, partially due to the slowness of my current dial up Internet connection! I'm not used to this. I tried to upload some photos onto this post, but it was so slow that the connection timed out. Crazy. So sorry, no photos. Maybe next time. But it's all good, I guess.

So here is what has happened in the past month:
- I returned to Texas safely, obviously, and am splitting time at my mom's house and at my dad's.
- I spent some time with my family.
- I bought a pretty cheap used car and got insurance.
- I got a job with Americorps in Portland, Oregon for the upcoming year, working with at-risk youth in a local high school.
- I visited some friends in West Texas and some family in Louisiana.
- Got a new cell phone (email me if you want the number).

And here's the upcoming plan -- August is gonna be a crazy month! On Thursday, August 2nd, I'm flying out of Austin to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to go to my buddy Tim's wedding in Palm Beach. On Saturday, August 4th, I fly out of Ft. Lauderdale to Baltimore, Maryland to join up with my friends that I met in Morocco before they return to that beloved country: Scott, Amanda, and the Canners, not to mention Kattie (the woman for whom I am moving to Portland and am hoping to marry). Kattie, Amanda, Scott, and I are planning on visiting all the "sites" in Washington, DC before Amanda and Scott return to teach another year in Casablanca. From there, I fly out of Baltimore on Thursday, August 9th to Detroit, Michigan with Kattie so I can meet her family there. Then on Sunday, August 12th, the two of us fly out of Detroit back to Austin, Texas so Kattie can meet my family. Finally after a few days in Texas, we're taking a massive road trip from Austin to Portland, Oregon where we'll be meeting up with Kattie's two sisters and living there (but not together) for this upcoming year. Lord-willing, my pastor from Morocco, Bob, and his wife Sue, will join us in Portland as well. So it should be good. With Ed and Barb Velure, who worked with us in Casablanca, already in the Portland area, it should be like a mini-reunion for us. I'm excited.

But the most exciting part is what I briefly mentioned earlier -- the fact that I'm hoping to marry (Lord-willing, of course) a beautifully incredible woman, Kattie, in 2008. I couldn't be more thrilled and grateful to my God for providing such a hopeful joy in my life. I know I have made many mistakes in my life, but there are no regrets because He has revealed Himself through it all. Therefore, I am unable to comprehend the goodness that He so abundantly lavishes upon me in granting me such an honor to take her as my wife. All honor and praise and glory be unto Jesus forevermore!

**I'll update you again when I get to Portland!**

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