Jill and Scott

What a fun St Patrick's Day dinner we all enjoyed at the Leadership Meeting last week! Jill and Scott graciously hosted and provided a fabulous corned beef and cabbage dinner! It was the 2nd annual St Patty's Day celebration, and I think we have a really fun tradition started now! Jill and Scott really are one of a kind. They have very warm, welcoming personalities that just put you at ease when you are around them. We are blessed to know them. 

Thank you Jill and Scott for such a wonderful time the other night. We love you guys and really look up to you and your awesome family!

Love,

Andrea 

Heather and Brian

Just a couple nights ago, Nate and I got to spend the evening with our friends Heather and Brian, and their kids. They fixed us a fabulous dinner - roasted pork loin, seasoned potato wedges, broccoli with a hint of lemon and garlic, french bread, and for dessert, a fruit pavlova! (Can you tell I love food?) If you were like me and have never had a pavlova, let me tell you that you are missing out. I've even included a picture so you can get your taste buds going. It is delicious!

And as awesome as the dinner was that they prepared for us, even more wonderful was the fellowship we all had together at dinner. Just talking and sharing a meal together. Everyone was involved, even their littlest one in his high chair, playing and just happy to be present at the meal. After dinner, we played "Funglish," a very fun game that Brian turned out to be the champion at. All through out the evening, it was such a blessing to be spending time with this awesome family. There was even a point when I looked across the table at Brian holding the littlest one, and Heather serving the dessert, that it made me long for a family of my own someday. I realized how much I want to raise kids with Nate and have a family together. It was like a glimpse into a future I hope to have someday. 

Heather and Brian, thank you SO much for making us feel so special and for such a fun evening we got to spend with you all. You are wonderful hosts and terrific friends. It's our turn to have you guys over next!

Love,

Andrea

Julie A.

If you are ever looking for a go-getter, look no further than my friend Julie! I have the privilege of working with Julie through our high school youth group at church for the past 2 years. Julie is one of the amazing leaders we work with on a weekly basis. Her specialty - coming up with awesome ideas for community service and special events for the students! We just got done taking 16 students up to Copper Mountain for a ski day on Monday. What a fun time! And of course, everything ran so smoothly thanks to all of Julie's planning and preparation. She also coordinated a group of girls to go to the Revolve Tour last month. Several of the girls shared how much it touched them to go to the Tour.

Not only is Julie amazing at coordinating events, you can tell she loves the students and has such a heart to serve them. And they love her in return! They gravitate towards her high-energy, fun, and upbeat personality. 

Julie, you are truly one of a kind. You make youth group more exciting for the students. Your gifts are many and it is awesome to see you using them for the Lord. I look up to you in so many ways. 

Let's make sure the four of us hit the slopes again soon! 

Love,

Andrea

Christin

Nate and I have been truly blessed to get to know Christin and Josh more over the past few months. Granted, we did know them in college, and Nate practically grew up with Jesiah and his brothers. We used to go to movies - the 5 of us - and then sometimes have Taco Bell after. Good times! But being in a small group together has really given us the opportunity to get to know them even better. And can I tell you, I really look up to Christin a lot.
Christin, I just want you to know how great a mom you are to Landon. He always looks so cute when you bring him over, and you are such a natural at taking care of him. Your love for him and Josh is so clear. And then hearing how your heart is breaking when you're away from him while at work broke my heart too. I can't imagine how hard it must be to go through that every day. But I want you to know that I've thought a lot about what you said - how you are trying to make the best of the situation by making your work about glorifying God. I have thought about that several times this week, and it has inspired me to do my work for God more consciously than I did before. Thank you for your openness and authenticity. When I think about Nate and I having a baby some day, I want us to be parents like you guys.  :)

Love,

Andrea