Wedding Day

Hi everyone.  Ben and I got married yesterday, on Good Friday.  We were going to get married today, at his church.  However, due to some communication difficulties, we ended up getting married at the local JP office on Friday instead.

It worked out kind of nicely this way.  The JP was very kind to come in on his day off, being that it was Good Friday and the office was closed.  We called to see if we could get married on that day, just on the off chance that they would be open that day.  This kind gentleman, Roger Lopez, was willing to come in on his day off and perform the ceremony.  [He had eight day old twin boys at home and told us that Friday was the first day he has been out of the house.]  This was also Ben and I's last day of the Daniel Fast - what a wonderful way to conclude our fast!

It ended up just being us and the girls, since my friends ended up having car trouble and couldn't make it and my parent's weren't able to be here until today.  That's okay though; we didn't do anything special.  Here are a couple pictures we took when we got home.  I was going to upload a video Angela took on her dad's phone, but I cannot get it to upload right now.

But FIRST, here is the proposal that Ben read to me on the evening we got engaged.  I said a while back that I would post it and never did.  So I figure now is as good a time as any!

I love you more then words can describe. This has been a surreal experience.  God has truly moved through our relationship.  And has answered our prayers.  I am asking you right now Naomi Cox if you will join me on a Journey.  This journey will not be easy nor will it be anything we can’t handle with Gods help.  With Gods hand holding ours he will guide us through.  This journey will be a wonderful adventure.  So I am asking you today to take my hand and be my wife and share this adventure with me.  Through all that life brings, bad or good, may we grow together in love eternal, and grow in our faith and love in Jesus Christ.  May we be a light to those that live in darkness, and an example to our kids as to what a Godly house should be.  I want no one other then you to share this journey with me.  Till we reach the end and are taken to see our maker may we bless each other with our love for one another and our love for others.  It would be a great honor if you would become my wife.  Will you Marry me I love you.

I hope everyone has a blessed Easter weekend.

 ⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

 ⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

 ⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

 ⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

 ⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split ⁵² and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

 ⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:45-54

Camping @ Canyon Lake

We enjoyed another weekend at Canyon Lake.  This time we stayed for two nights, at a different park.  Last time we stayed at Potter's Creek Park, this time we stayed at Canyon Park.  There are fewer amenities at Canyon Park, but we actually preferred Canyon Park.  Canyon Park has many more tent sites to choose from, the swim beach was larger, there are plenty of sites with access to areas of the lake suitable for swimming, and there is a nice hiking trail throughout the park.

So, here are some of the highlights from this camping trip.  Hope you enjoy!

Some of the visitors to our campsite.

 "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."  Romans 1:20

There are always beautiful things to see in nature.  

I believe this is a centipede.  Pretty creepy, but oddly beautiful with its bright orange legs. 

We did some hiking and geocaching while at the lake this weekend.  We had a good time.  Poor Kaley took a couple of pretty good falls, but she was a real trooper the entire time.  She never once complained, and she was willing to try new things.  We made up a Best Camper Award to give here when we returned home, to let her know how proud of her we were.  She was really happy about that award.  : )

Another picture from when we were out geocaching.

Fasting

"At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.  I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
Daniel 10: 2 & 3

Spiritually, fasting is a time when we choose to physically deny ourselves and to seek God.  The Daniel Fast, a partial fast, was written by Susan Gregory and is based on Daniel's three weeks of fasting.  Ben has done this fast before, but this will be my first time.  I have done a 5 day juice fast before, as well as a 10 day Master Cleanse fast, but never the Daniel Fast.  Ben and I choose to do this fast as a means of helping us toward our goal of a healthier lifestyle.  Ron Lagerquist, author of Fasting to Freedom, has this to say about fasting:

"Fasting accomplishes two purposes.  First, it will reveal how much the flesh has taken control of emotions, and secondly, it will serve in breaking the flesh's hold upon the will" (http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/Fasting_And_Addiction.htm).  

I'm pretty sure no one likes to consider the possibility that they are addicted to all the bad stuff in the food we eat.  We really don't like to consider the possibility that we are emotionally attached to the food we eat.  However, I know a lot of people are very familiar with these experiences.

So, first step in living a healthier life = have a healthier relationship with the food choices we make.  The great thing about the Daniel Fast is that you are not eliminating food entirely, so I think it is probably easier for people who have never fasted.

Basically, when doing the Daniel Fast, you follow these basic guidelines:
1. Only fruits and vegetables.
2. Only water for a beverage.
3. No sweeteners and no bread containing yeast, baking powder, etc.
4. No artificial or processed foods.

We are on day three right now.  It feels good to know you DO still have control over the food choices you make.  Susan Gregory offers a blog, http://danielfast.wordpress.com/, and a website, http://www.daniel-fast.com/, where you can find a lot of helpful information.  I actually bought the book for Ben this past Christmas, and I have the book on my Kindle.  Ben didn't have the book the last time he did the fast, but it really is helpful to have the book.  Not only because Ms. Gregory offers many good recipes to choose from, but also because it has a devotional for each day of the fast.

I think that fasting should be an important part of our spiritual life.  Jesus indicated that he believed it to not only be important, but He indicated an assumption that we would practice fasting on a regular basis.

"And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting.  I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get."  Matthew 6:16

I have never fasted regularly, as I should, but Ben and I have both fasted before.  I can tell you, from my experience, it is not a miserable time at all.  It is actually a very freeing experience.  We all know that we have to eat to live.  I think this fact discourages many people when they consider trying to eat healthier and live a healthier lifestyle.  Sometimes we are so entrenched in our bad habits that it feels as though we will never have victory.  That really does not have to be the case - and we do not have to suffer tremendously to get to where we want to be either.

The first fast I ever did was a juice fast after reading Fasting to Freedom.  Lagerquist offers a wonderful literary depiction of the testing of Jesus after His forty day fast.  You can read the exert here: http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/Jesus_Fasting.htm.  Lagerquist concludes with this:

"Fasting is the pilgrimage to the dessert of your soul.  There, you will greet your greatest foe, and in weakness discover the strength of Jesus."

This makes me smile and reminds me of a beautiful hymn:

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and brought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.