Beginning.

Well, I figured that since I love reading other people's blogs that maybe it was time to start my own. Not that I think people are going to love reading it as much as I love reading people's blogs, but perhaps it will be fun for me. That and I've always wished that I was a better journaler so that I could have written memories of the things that come to impact our lives in big ways. Maybe I'll be a better blogger than I am a journaler. 

We don't live an extravagant life by anyone's terms but our own, but we love life and truly living and I hope that maybe someday our simple yet joy-filled life can impact someone else's. That's why I chose the fonts I did for our blog title in the picture at the top of the page. I like to think that even though life can be a little bit "crooked" sometimes just like the font...it's still what we know and love and can grow and learn from - it's still a gift from God.

For now, I'll begin with a few pictures in order to "introduce" ourselves.  

Picture #1 - The obvious. Rob and Stephanie. The ordinary people whose lives you've chosen to follow. Really all we hope is that the things we learn and do in our daily lives will someday change the world for Jesus - even if it is only in one person's life that change occurs.

Picture #2 - In November we moved into our first home and we love every bit of it! The last few months have been filled with painting and gradually hanging pictures on the walls. It's such a gift to truly feel like you're coming home to somewhere special. And now that we're settled, we can't wait to start opening our door to whomever wants or needs a comfortable place to be!

Picture #3 - Our family is most important to us. I think we've really learned that since moving away for our undergraduate studies and especially now that we're married. Our families have stood by us in everything and supported us in more ways than one. The best part is that when we got married, family doubled for us and we love both of our parents and siblings and are so thankful for the things they teach us about love.

Picture #4 - We LOVE ice cream. Probably a little bit too much. This particular bowl has my mom's homemade hot fudge on top. It doesn't get much better than that!

Picture #5 - We love to play games. Our latest favorite is "Quirkle" - it's great for two players who love strategy games! We play at least a couple of times a week.

Picture #6 - We love to camp. Some very good friends gave us a wonderful tent as a wedding gift and we were able to enjoy it 3 times last summer. We're hoping to get a lot of use out of it this summer too!

Picture #7 - Kuyper College holds a very special place in our hearts. Thanks to God's leading despite our other plans, we both ended up at Kuyper College in 2006. Rob asked me to be his girlfriend for the first time (yes, due to my fears, he had to ask again a couple months later...) on a bench at Kuyper College. We kissed for the first time in his dorm room on 1st Timmer (romantic, right?). Rob asked me to be his wife in the chapel at Kuyper College in 2008 and in 2009 we were married in the same Chapel. Oh, and we received a great education too. :) We both graduated with many special memories and lifelong friends and we both still work there part-time. 

Picture #8 - Rob is currently attending Western Michigan Univeristy, Grand Rapids Campus - working towards his Masters degree in Social Work. He's taking 3 classes this semester and that combined with full time work keeps him busier than we like...but he loves it and is truly looking forward to all he'll be able to do.

Picture #9 - Our latest big decision is that I will begin classes in August at Spring Arbor University. I will be studying for my Masters degree in Counseling. My goal is to become a school counselor with the intentions of gaining my community license as well to someday be a marriage and family counselor. 

Picture #10 - Rob has been working with a non-profit organization called MOSES for probably close to 10 years now. MOSES is an organization that facilitates mission trips for middle school, high school and college students. Rob started by participating on trips and now serves on the Boards of Directors. Together we lead most of the weekend trips to churches in Chicago and Detroit. We're looking forward to one in 2 weeks!

Picture #11 - We attend Rockford Reformed Church and we love it. We started attending 2 and a half years ago when I started my internship with their youth ministries programs. We've grown to love the community there and have been so blessed by working with the youth ministries and by the people we've come to know and most recently by teaching a 6th grade Sunday School class that is ASKING to study the Old Testament!

Picture #12 - One thing I hope for each of us is that we have people in our lives that inspire us and encourage us to follow God's will in our lives. Aaron and Gwen are some of those people for us. I'm not sure they understand just how much they encourage us just by living their lives for Jesus. They are beautiful people that have certainly changed our lives forever. They've been on our hearts a lot lately so I thought I'd include them here too.

So there's a little bit about us. It's a simple life that we live but we love every minute of it and we wake up every morning knowing that despite the trials we face...we've never been more blessed or more overwhelmed by grace.