Few Other Shots...

Here are a few more from the most beautiful day of our lives.

Our photographer, Stefanie Warren, is such an artist. She's an associate of Heather Ahrens, another incredible artist here in Orlando. You can view more pics at http://www.heatherahrens.net/
(click "portfolio," then "Jennifer & Steve" under Stefanie's name)


One of these days, really, we'll get our honeymoon shots from Stowe, VT, up and on display. We had such a blast hiking in the snow and taking so many plant tours, which included a maple sugar mill, a cider mill, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Cabot Creamery, the Von Trappe Family Lodge, and....

Wedding Pics

We finally got them in, and they are AMAZING.

Jennifer looked stunning, as you can see here, and I'm a sweaty mess - she's a desert rose....no surprises there.

I will post these photos in time, so please check back soon!

Today's our two-month anniversary.

PS - She's PREGNANT!! :))))

The Happiest Day

Words can't describe the best day of my life. When we have time we will blog more, hopefully soon. This is the only photo we have from our photographers. We will see all of them some time next week.

Be back soon!
Steven

Colorado Cheep'monk Tribute

Here is some leftover footage from our trip to Colorado this summer.

Jennifer and I watched this coyote stalk up to a cheeep'monk's naaast. That's the poor little critter's legs hanging from the coyote's mouth.

Jennifer, amazingly, managed to include a bird who was standing by watching the whole thing go down. We couldn't see any nest and thought it was the bird who was lunch.

Keith Green

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Click Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h89-3_kIRDA

Jennifer and I both have lives that are testimonies of God’s goodness. We grew up in Christian homes. We went our own ways. We tasted the poison of sin and felt its pain.

But we woke up and ran home one day to a heavenly father who never pointed His finger at us in disgust, nor told us we’d “gone too far this time.”

Keith Green was not only a huge part of my life growing up, but he was also there when God’s mercy broke over my life in 1994, leading a prodigal like me home.

My brother will be singing a song at our wedding. Among the ones Jennifer and I are still considering that Daniel sing is Keith’s “Make My Life a Prayer to You.”

In the mood for the music of Keith Green lately, I ran across this (click link above). It's called Your Love Broke Through. It's a prophetic cry to ALL PRODIGALS, to come home, the Father is waiting, His arms are open wide. He's not angry with you.

Steven

Noah & Ivory......

During Labor Day weekend the adults all had fun watching little Ivory play with my sister Amy's kids - Allison, Andrew & Noah, but especially Noah! Those two little ones sure did hit it off! They are going to make the cutest little couple when they walk down the aisle together at our wedding as the flower girl and boy :)

Weekend of Family Fun and Wedding Showers

Steven and I had a great time this past Labor Day weekend. It was such a special time to have his family make a very special trip all the way down here to Florida from New Jersey so they could be present at both of our wedding showers! On Friday night all the girls arrived: Ercy, Steve's mom; Abuela Irma, Steve's grandma; Natalie, Steve's sister; and Ivory & Ruby, Steve's nieces (who are the cutest girls ever)! For the first time they got to meet the Condiff & Van Tilborgh families and it was a fun weekend. We spent most of the time with eachother, getting to know one another, eating lots of food, talking about wedding plans, playing with the kids, catching up on each others lives, shopping, and of course attending two wedding showers! It really was a fantastic weekend for us. Steve and I are richly blessed with two wonderful families and it was such a treat to have some of his family come down here before our wedding so that our two familes could get to know each other before the big day.

A big thanks to the Ghiringhelli's and Cifarelli's for coming down here to celebrate this special weekend with us! On Sunday afternoon my sister, Amy and my mom, Debbie hosted a lovely Bridal Shower for me where past and current friends came together for a really fun time together. Steve joined me at the end of the shower to help me with the opening of the gifts. We were so, so blessed with the many beautiful gifts we received, but mostly we were blessed with the presence of our friends and family!

Once again on Tuesday afternoon Steve & I found ourselves overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness and generosity of Steve's co-workers at Strang during the Wedding Shower they gave us. It was another great time together made extra special by having both of our familes present for the occasion. What a great weekend! Thanks to everyone for making it so special for us!

Mexican in the Rockies

After a long hike through the Colorado wild we needed, of course, a seat and some grub. We decided on Mexican, at a place in Estes Park, which I think was called El Grande.

It was on the backside of town, at the entrance of a walkway overlooking a river, apparently an area of shops and eateries only known by locals.

Jennifer showed me around, then we really splurged. I tried a locally brewed brewskie Jennifer suggested to me. It came in this contorted glass that I was tempted to buy. We also ate some churros, which weren't bad.

Trail Ridge Road

We ended up at lookout after lookout like this one on Trail Ridge Road after taking Hwy 34 from I-70 all the way to Estes Park. This incredible ride is the highest continuous stretch of highway in the U.S.

Meet the Millers

I was pleasantly surprised to meet the very friendly Miller family!

We stayed at Grandpa Glen and Grandma Edie's home in Brighton. The photo above is of the two of them at Syra's wedding in Gypsum. Glen and Edie are one of the sweetest couples in the world. I told Jennifer I want to adopt them as grandparents since all of my extended family lives in Argentina.

It was nice to meet Jennifer's aunt, Ann, her husband, Bob, and their sweet 13-year-old daughter, Molly. I also got to meet aunt Patti, the very hilarious mother of the bride, pictured here with her husband, Tim. A beautiful rainbow, which is difficult to see, is in the sky behind them. Jennifer pointed it out to Syra when it appeared minutes following the wedding ceremony.

Grandpa Glen's brother, Gene, and his kind wife, Gladys, (both not pictured) gave Jennifer and I some very encouraging and wise advice late Friday night while the music blared on the dance floor and the four of us shared a special time seated at a table on the opposite side of the room.

The handsome couple I haven't mentioned is, of course, Dave and Debra Condiff, Jennifer's parents. This photo was taken just before the wedding ceremony, a few short hours after the three of us took a fun trip to Aspen and ate lunch at a famous local rib shack.

The Wedding

Jennifer's cousin, Syra, had a beautiful wedding near Vail, Colorado. She married Jay, who is originally from Connecticut. I thought the two of them had a cool honeymoon idea -- hunting and camping in the Colorado wild!

I was a little biased in my photography all day though (sorry Syra) and had my eye trained on Jennifer pretty much all the time. She looked absolutely gorgeous! The pic to the left was of her rushing to gather the bridal party before the newlyweds were presented in public for the first time.

The Big Thompson River

This is the river we hiked up late afternoon last Saturday.

Rocky Mountain High

You don't need drugs when you can breathe the fresh air and breath-taking vistas of Colorado. What a place!

Jennifer and I took plenty of photos last weekend. Since I'm still so cyber-challenged here, I figured I'd display a few of those photos in separate posts and include a brief description of each one.

This one was during our six-mile hike to fern falls and beyond. The river behind us was where I later jumped in and let my entire body go numb under the exhilerating rush of mountain ice water.

Enjoy!

Steve

The Sweetest Thing

I love this pic of Jennifer. We were at Baldwin Park. Her shirt says: "The World Needs More Hugs."

My bride-to-be left for Denver this morning and I'm missing her so much already!! She is really so amazing, literally my best friend. I love doing everything with her. We make each other laugh so much. I can't say enough about her.

The "epitome of sweetness," I described her to her sister, Amy, months ago, after our first date. It's like I cannot figure out what I ever did to deserve such a beautiful and kind and tender person.

It's not that I'm all that bad of a guy. It's just that she's all that good.

Can't wait to see you Thursday, love!

Steven

Summer of Love

July came and went. We're glad though that time is going so quickly. Less than three months and we'll be hitched and on down the road....

My brother Daniel and his wife, Jenniffer, were with us during the beginning of July. This photo is of the four of us at a local Irish tavern called Liam Fitzpatrick's. They spent the weekends here in Lake Mary both before and after their weeklong cruise to the Bahamas. We were so glad it worked out for all of us to spend so much time together.

Aside from taking them swimming in a canal popular with the local gators and manatees :), Jennifer and I took them to breakfast at a Winter Park cafe, gave them a tour of the botanical gardens where we're getting married, and BBQ'd bratwursts and steaks on a windy beach in Lighthouse Point Park.

The two of them went home happy and rested, but unfortunately, Jaden, their one and a half-year-old boy, came down with a fever the moment they arrived at his grandmother Diane's house, where he was staying.

July has been a great month for the two of us. Jennifer began her new job several weeks ago and no longer has to work weekends!

One weekend, we spent a day in the College Park, Winter Park and Balwin Park areas, where we hung out at a high-end thrift store, ate Italian frozen yogurt, browsed stores in the village of Baldwin Park, and even got to look at Jupiter up close through Florida's most high-powered telescope, located at the Science Center (where we also watched an IMAX U2 laser show).

We've also had more time to hang out at Jennifer's parent's house, which is located only one mile from my place. It's been so good getting to be around David and Debbie, and we also love seeing Jennifer's sister, Amy, and her husband, Martijn, who have three of the cutest kids----Allison, 8, Andrew, 6, and Noah, 2.

Wedding plans are going well. What should be an extremely stressful time has been a pure delight. Jennifer and I have our moments, but they are so few and far between that it almost seems unfair (compared to the horror stories of anxiety and stress we have heard from others).

One huge reason is we are constantly on the same page. Another: Jennifer's little blue book, which she keeps filled out, and constantly updated. She is so awesome with this. She keeps things on track and moving right along.

I should help her write her own book when it's all over. She can call it, How to Plan a Wedding in Four Months.

Next week Jennifer will be flying to Colorado. She's in her cousin's wedding near Vail. She will leave a few days before I do, to spend time with family in Brighton, and I'll arrive next Thursday. I'm looking forward to meeting all of her family (most of them from her mother's side) and also look forward to spending some time in nature. I shaved my beard for the wedding :)

In grace

Steven

Our First Road Trip

To back up a little....

Jennifer and I drove up the coast about two months ago to spend the weekend with the Reynold's. They had just sold their fine furniture business in NJ and moved south, to their new home on the northern edge of the Palmetto State (South Carolina), just below Charlotte, N.C.

We both had a blast packing the Golf and driving out of the Orlando area that Thursday afternoon, May 1.

Jennifer was a dream to travel with. And for eight hours on the road together we shared our favorite music, drank gourmet truckstop cappucino and told stories about ourselves. We celebrated my birthday with a full rack of baby back ribs somewhere in Georgia.

When we arrived around 1AM Christina, my sister, was waiting up for us. She was so excited to finally meet Jennifer. She instantly fell in love with her.

Her husband, Matt, and their two little ones, 7-year-old Hannah (pictured above) and 1-year-old Emily, got to meet Jennifer the next day. Matt commented after first meeting Jennifer that he felt he had just met my twin. He really pegged it.

We had an amazing time together that Friday night. I cooked up some steaks, Jennifer helped Hannah make a salad (smile), and we all laughed a lot over dinner. Christina at one point said: "Steven! You're totally yourself around her." So true.

The next day, Jennifer and I went for a long walk along a river at a nearby state park. The trail was filled with butterflies, the sound of running water and several benches along the way. It was a day of grace.

When we returned, all six of us dropped by Fort Mill's town fair and watched Hannah bounce around on the air rides---she was adorable!

Then, on our way home Sunday, Jennifer and I planned an afternoon and evening in Savannah, Ga.

The old city was beautiful. We couldn't stop talking about the trees and porches and square parks. We had dinner at Tubby's Seafood on the riverfront, where an obnoxious clanging bell rings each time a ship passes. They call the ritual "ship shots," since patrons are poured free shots for each ship. Anyways, the area reminded Jennifer a little of New Orleans.

We had our first dance after a horse-pulled carriage ride and a couple of gelato's in the main plaza. The spot was hidden down some brick stairs close to the front of the plaza where a live band played country and pop ballads.

It was our five week anniversary that Saturday.

In grace
Steven

All You Need Is Love

Jennifer's favorite saying is "All you need is love."

Maybe because in the presence of love everything is different. True, the Source, and only true remedy for our weak hearts, is a Father we can't see. But I know He uses human beings to express Himself to us, to teach us to love, to help us believe in love.

In the presence of love we are changed, made new, healed. There's no suspicion nor games nor fear in love. It is always trusting, preferring, out-going. But aside from giving, it's in the receiving that I am changed too.

I used to think I was humble. I turned down compliments left and right. But if I can't see the beauty inside of me, how will I see it (without trying to take it) inside of you?

I love you Jennnifer Lynn. You are my gift and my dream.

In His grace

Steven

A Year of New Beginnings

At the beginning of this year, 2008, I made a proclamation over my life – “It is a year of new beginnings!” Little did I know that a man from Lake Mary, FL had also declared those very same words for the upcoming year on New Year’s Eve, in a conversation with his friend.... How very true those words were for both of us!

Many of you know that at the beginning of 2008 I had been living in Cape Town, South Africa for over 3 years and was involved in a Christian ministry there. Originally I had planned on living there for another 2 years, but because of unfortunate circumstances and a major turn of events I found myself moving back to the USA during the month of February. It was a bitter-sweet decision to leave South Africa but I knew it was the right choice for me as I had the peace of God with me. I arrived in Lake Mary, Florida with my entire life packed in two suitcases!

I was at a very strange place in my life, not knowing what the next chapter would entail. I had closed the last chapter of my life, one which included plans for the next two years, and now with that chapter closed I felt clueless as to what might happen next. Living one day at a time truly was the mindset I lived out. Always ready for a new adventure and excited to start fresh and new, it was a thrill not knowing what road the Lord would lead me on. It wasn’t long before that all became crystal clear!

It was in Mid-March that my sister, Amy, started talking to me about a nice guy she knew who worked at the same company she worked at. She asked me if she could arrange for us to meet each other. I’ve never allowed my sister to set me up before and she had never tried before, but for some reason I said yes and thank goodness I did! It’s funny how it actually worked out though because Amy never did set up our date. Instead it was this unknown guy who decided to take matters into his own hands and asked Amy for my number! Once he got my number he called me up, we talked on the phone for a while and then agreed to go on a “blind” date with each other and that’s how the story of Steven & Jennifer began!

I was immediately drawn to Steven’s wonderful heart and was continually amazed by his humility. I had never met anyone like him before….nor will I ever. He is the sweetest, most thoughtful man I know and it didn’t take long before I realized that I loved him. I was often surprised with how much we discovered we had in common, from the smaller things in life like music, to the more important matters in life like our God-given calling and purpose. We connected instantly on so many levels that it almost seemed too good to be true, but it wasn’t! It is true. We found each other! There isn’t anyone else in this world that I would want to spend the rest of my life with!

God gave Steven to me. God gave me this perfect gift at the perfect time! Our "New Beginning" starts with us. Thank you Lord – You are so faithful!!!

Beauty on the Beach

We drove nearly 150 miles Thursday afternoon, from Lake Mary to Fort De Soto, an island south of St. Petersburg. We arrived just after 7pm, while the sun was still up. The remote beach, called North Beach, was not visible from where we parked.

We walked through some scattered patches of palm trees and pines before we could see its white sands. Turns out that North Beach was recently rated one of the whitest sand beaches in the country.

The Gulf of Mexico was beautiful and tranquil and the water was very warm. The sky was without a single cloud and deep blue, since the humidity was low. The seagulls screamed sporadically over the water.

We put down our blanket and took off our sandals. The sand felt and looked like white flour.

Jennifer fought back tears when I kneeled in the water an hour later and asked her to marry me. She was the picture of beauty. She had a gorgeous white sundress and was almost constantly smiling.

I was pinching myself all night. Though we had already talked in the past about marriage and a future together, when she actually said "yes," I thought I would lose it.

Dinner was at The Hurricane restaurant in Pass-A-Grille, Fla. After a slight mixup, the dining facility was opened up to us, and a complimentary round of champagne was brought over to Jennifer and I.

We took a quick stroll down by The Pier in St. Petersburg and had some pics done in one of those instant photo booths at the pier before heading home.

The most amazing and unforgettable evening of my life. We will never be the same!

In grace
Steven

Steven and Jennifer

This is a dream. This is real.

Jennifer Lynn fell out of the sky on March 29th. I fell in love with her the first time I saw her, when I picked her up for our first (blind) date, my heart racing, palms good and sweaty.

Aside from that old knowing thing people like us look for, Lifehouse sorta sealed the deal, we're fond of saying. They played in the background first, then on center stage two weeks later at the Hard Rock cafe in Universal Studios.

But it was before then, on a windy Saturday morning, on a network of mansion-laden lakes and mossy tree-covered canals, and a conversation that peeked into each other's hearts over brunch at a sidewalk cafe in Winter Park afterwards, that kind of did me in.

I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Between those beautiful emerald eyes and the sweet tenderness of her soul, I trusted Jennifer immediately. She had my heart.

Jennifer is the definition of grace, for me. There's nothing I could've done to deserve her or make her happen. She just came, out of nowhere. And like a gift, I'm receiving her.

I am repeatedly humbled and overwhelmed with gratitude. She is God's perfect gift to me. She says the same is true for her (that I'm a gift from God to her). It's a compliment that as often as she pays me I'm doing my best to do her the honor of receiving.

In grace (it's what it's all about)

Steven

Anybody out there??