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