Christmas at CrossRoads

What a blessing to serve at such an amazing church who is willing to do whatever it will take to bring others to Christ! The last three weeks of "entering christmas" have been extraordinary-I have been so honored to have been a part of it all.
I am so excited for this weekends Christmas Eve services! They will be exciting, as well as meaningful.
Thank you Lord for sending Your Son for Us. We celebrate You!

Having only been engaged for 5 months and being married for one-it meant it was time for us to send my ring back to Robbins Bros. where Jared bought the ring to have it checked for our warranty.
Let me tell you-it is a scary thing to send your engagement ring across the country!

Everything went fine, and I finally got my ring back today! However-DHL the delivery company was supposed to have a "signature required" as it says on the package. Naturally. I came home at lunch time and what did I see? THE BOX SITTING AT THE FRONT DOOR!

Maybe Robbins Bros. wants to re-consider who they ship through...

Raking and then Running

Sunday after church we had our very first

RAKE N RUN

as Fuel Student Ministries

What was so cool about it was that the event was not a fundraiser. It was simply a chance to be Jesus to others. And you know what? 30 jr. and sr. high students showed up while it was SNOWING to rake yards for people they didn't even know!

It was an awesome time and Jesus again showed us that He is the coolest ever!

Wedding Pics...

BY POPULAR DEMAND---HERE ARE THE WEDDING PICTURES OF A LIFETIME!!!!!!!

So What are YOU thankful for???

example:

-peanut butter
-bbq sauce
-CrossRoads
-Rice a Roni
-A car
-The Price is Right

For the MOON

Just a few pics from the honeymoon-in Gatlinburg TN-where we had our own little cabin in the woods! It was pretty amazing!
The pics are from:
1) our cabin
2) in gatlinburg in a giant chair
3) hiking in the woods
4) the dixie stampede

Three things I am truly thankful for:

1) Grace found in Jesus Christ

2) My absolutely incredible husband JARED!!!

3) The opportunity to serve at CrossRoads

Slow Down...

I think each person should be reminded to do this at least once a day. Not once a week, or once a month. We all need to just slow down.

Life is far too short to rush through it all.

It's in those moments when I slow down enough when I hear God's voice.

It's in those moments when God's Word becomes real to me.

It's in those moments when I remember my first love...Jesus...

It's in those moments when I discover who I truly I...Because I see more of who God is.

Today I'm slowing down.

Married for Life:

What an amazing feeling after 25 years of praying, 2 years of friendship, a year of dating, and 5 months of planning-Jared and I are now husband and wife. And I couldn't be happier! This is now how life is for both of us...and I look forward to loving Jared more and more each day and each year we are alive here on this earth.

We had the most incredible wedding in the world-most of all because we were blessed by God's presence and the presence of our friends and family-so many who flew here from around the country (and a few from Canada too). We wouldn't have changed a thing about anything!

Jared and I are just amazed at how blessed we are-by each other, and by those supporting and loving us. Here are just a few of the amazing pictures Emily's husband Andrew took at our wedding: and we just went through a HUGE stack and narrowed it down to 104 pictures...yikes!

our engagement pics

10 More Days!

So here's the deal,

Jared and I get married in 10 days...pretty much that is the coolest thing ever!

Our friends start getting here in less then a week-which means I'm trying to get everything completed for work before they get here...

I can not wait to see my friends and get married-and I've been thinking recently about how quickly it is all going to fly by.

Before we know it, Jared and I will be another married couple in the world. Our party will be over, and everyone will be focusing on someone else. Not that I am desiring more attention, because I am not...However, it just puts life in perspective once again.

I can not imagine a more incredible person to spend my life with. Every day Jared amazes me more and more. I delight in knowing him and being known by him. He is one of the most amazing men I have ever met in my life. Thank You Lord for such an incredible blessing in my life!

THE BRIDE BLOG:

Well, Jared and I are getting married in just over 2 weeks! WOW! Praise the Lord that it is so close! Our 5 month engagement has gone by fairly fast thankfully-I am really glad it wasn't any longer then that...I don't know how people can be engaged for a year or more-GOO!

Not only am I thrilled beyond belief to become Angela Amerine-there is just so much that entails the happiness and joy I find in that honor.

Jared and I are also becoming overjoyed at the thought of seeing our family and friends again who live across the country from us. I am particularly excited to see Mom, Ryan, Jesse, Janelle, Melissa, Sari, Dan and Annette, Papa, and the Zahnizers. I am doubting I will sleep much the week of the wedding, but hey-you never know:)

Personally as the Bride, I am finding myself more humbled every day that Jared would select me and ask me if I will be his bride for our entire lives. Life with him gets more exciting everyday, and I delight in seeing him be the man God has made him to be. I feel undeserving of Jared's love-and that is because i am. Some people try to convince me otherwise, but I know that there is nothing I have done to deserve unconditional love. And it reminds me so much of Christ and His love for us. I do not deserve the unchanging love of Christ-and yet He offers it so freely! Thank You Lord!

I am so thankful now for this opportunity to experience more and more of God's love in my life as Jared and I come together to become one in just over 2 weeks!

I Have Been Blessed by:

~Seeing Jared everday and planning our wedding which is in 2 weeks

~Finally seeing my Best Friend Emily almost every day again after 3 years of not seeing her more then a few times a year

~My parents opening their house to me before I get married and just watching tv or hanging out with them

~Being able to see my bro and sis and nephews so much more!

~Mark and Mary Cryderman who have gone out of their way to make us feel comfortable here

~The Jr. High and Sr. High students here who make me laugh and feel appreciated

~A wonderful church body-as well as church building facility to do almost anything in!

~The awesome place that Jared already moved into!

~The great people who have been so kind and supportive although they do not know us that well.

Things I miss about CA:

~I miss walking into Jared's house, and spending hours keeping Jesse from doing his homework.

~I miss when Robert was friends with me and we would sing "Here I am to Worship"

~I miss singing with Ryan every single Sunday and not even having to plan out or think about who is going to sing what part

~I miss all my roomates: Janelle, Lindz, Sari, Liz, and Carina

~I miss going to Classic Coffee with J

~I miss getting $20 full pedicures

~I miss the students in Long Beach-especially those in Jr. High

~I miss Melissa asking if she can randomly stay the night at my place

~I miss Sandra and Rebekah and their smiling faces and listening ears

~I miss the close access to the beach, mountains, Disney, and a lot of other things

~I miss going up to Livermore to hang out with Jared's fam.

~I miss when my roomates would jump on me to wake me up.

~I miss watching movies with my roomates on the big blue couch

Wow-I guess I'm feeling sentimental right now...

Van Blocks our Way Home!

So here we were, making great timing back from Niagara Falls...Jared driving-dad in the front, and me and mom in the back. We were in an area where they were doing construction on the south bound lanes, so the traffic was all in the northbound side-a lane each direction...we were still moving at a pretty good pace...when traffic stopped...completely...for a long time...
After about 15 minutes of waiting by our car, we saw there was a broken down aerostar mini van (much like the one pictured) about 15 cars ahead.

Of course, traffic was now backed up for miles and didn't look like it was going to move any time soon-remember, there is no way anyone can get around this van because there are cement barriers on either side of the lane.

So Jared and I decide to venture up to the car to see what the deal is-plus Jared is a genius and knows lots about cars.
Turns out that for some reason the van was placed into park and was stuck in it! There was no way to push it or anything! A truck driver was in the front seat trying to help fix it, and my wonderful fiance decided to poke his head in to work his magic. Not more then a few minutes went by (and I'm convinced with Jared's help), the car was finally out of Park! Jared and I ran back to our car-only to find my parents visiting with the surrounding cars as everyone was chillin out in the lane...

Good times...

Niagara Again and for the first time...

We just got back from a quick trip to Niagara Falls where my grandparents live. Jared, me, and my parents traveled up there on Friday right after work...of course not without a huge ordeal of driving over a used needle (syringe style) in the Meijer parking lot...Jared coming to save the day, and us ending up having to drive up there with the Focus...

One of the great things that happened was that instead of us having to get a hotel (which is just complicating since we are not married yet), we were able to stay at a friends house which is not far from my grandparents. We all had a blast-the many stops at Tim Hortons...and Jared seeing the Falls for the first time...and for me, though I have been there many times before, standing there with the man I am about to marry in just over 6 weeks was the most incredible feeling in the world! It was especially exciting because this was probably the last trip we will take before we get married-so next time-we don't have to worry about rooms and all that stuff:)

Yay for Niagara Falls and my grandparents and my parents and JARED!!!!!!!!!!

What do you do when...

So for those of you who go to CrossRoads and were in church on Sunday-hopefully you remember a story about a girl named Sophia-my relationship with her-the hardships she had...

She just sent me a e-mail telling me her dad (foster dad) is in a coma...and she has been placed in a new home...

I plan on staying up most of the night praying...for her, her 3 other sisters, and her dad...

7 WEEKS AND 4 DAYS!!!!!!!

It's true and I can hardly believe I will be the bride walking down the aisle to the man I will spend the rest of my life with. God couldn't have planned it any better!
I still can't believe we are counting in weeks now! Pretty much most of the plans are all in place...photographer...reception place..dress...shoes...even the minister;) Jared and I are priveleged to have my dad perform our wedding ceremony for us...Jared and I manage to spend plenty of time together and just enjoy each others presence. In the midst of starting up youth group and moving and everything else-God is just holding everything in the palm of His hand and things are not too overwhelming (though I may have my moments).

We are so excited for the wedding (yes:) But even more so...for marriage...as it was created by God-meant to be a symbolic representation of Christ's love and relationship to us.

Now all I have to do is learn how to sign my soon to be new name...

Angela Maureen Amerine

Change, Change, and more Change-it's all good

I have quite a few friends who totally struggle with change in their lives...change of any kind. What I've come to realize is that change is just a part of life...everything around us constantly changes...everything except Christ that is. So I've made a resolution with myself...I will embrace change my entire life through...whether it's moving, or turning another year older. And I rejoice and embrace in the unchanging God that I love and follow!

So with the many things that have been going on-this is why I have not updated my blog in forever:
July 20 marked my last day working at Light and Life Christian Fellowship-man I still miss those Jr. High student!
July 21 I had a wedding shower at RB's! Janelle and the girls did an amazing job and it was a really fun time with some great friends! Man I miss them too!
July 22-24 Jared and I visited with his mom before we moved out here to Michigan. We definetly miss her.
July 24 Jared was baptized by Steve Gerali: a very personal and wonderful time celebrated by me, his mom, Jesse, and the Z's.
July 28 My parents had flown out to CA and drove across the US with me and Jared! We brought a heat wave all the way with us to MI!
August 2 my second nephew was born! Aaron Morgan Teal entered the world to know Christ and love Him with us! I love him so much!
August 4 marked my first day of work at CrossRoads Comm. Church as their Student Ministries Director! I am overjoyed to be working there!
August 10-11 Jared and I drove over to Grand Haven for my friend Lindsey's wedding, where I sang at their beach-side wedding

And a whole bunch of other stuff happened here and there too! And here we are! Thanks God for Change! I embrace it all!

Exerpt from a letter a Jr. High student gave me last night:

"You are my light in my darkness
My shelter in a storm
You gave me strength when I was weak
And Your love to keep me warm
When I was hurting, lost, abused
It was your faith that I had used.
When I was cold, depress, and lonely
I stayed alive by your love only.
When I felt pushed or shunned away
It was your friendship made me stay.
I knew you loved me when you cared
You did what no one else had dared
You took the time to learn
To see what I really am in me
You listened to my thoughts and fears
And helped me wipe away my tears
You helped me learn respect
And love to pray to God my Lord above
You are my light in my darkness
And I hope you see
I'll love you Angela for eternity!"

Let the tears flow! Wow I will miss these students!