Ok Becky, I'll play too!
8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Houseboats on Lake Shasta in two weeks
2. Visiting "home" in October
3. Having children or adopting someday (hopefully soon)
4. Camping over the 4th of July
5. Going to San Francisco tomorrow - I love visiting the city
6. Finally seeing the Twins play the A's in Oakland
7. Continuing to be married to Nigel for the rest of my life
8. Someday living somewhere quieter and simpler
8 things I did yesterday:
1. Wii Fit for an hour
2. Taught 6 piano lessons
3. Researched possible website ideas for my designing
4. Had a YUMMY iced mocha from Bittersweet, my Wednesday treat
5. Found round-trip tickets to Fargo for $158 - may add a July trip in at that price
6. Made yummy goat curry - it tastes like beef to me but leaner
7. Crocheted
8. Farmed on Facebook
8 things I wish I could do:
1. Have a website custom designed for me
2. Not scream every time I see a spider
3. See Wicked while it's still in town
4. Finish seminary
5. Replace my wardrobe every season
6. Tolerate the heat out here in the summer
7. Witness a thunderstorm again
8. Still have all my MN friends close to me
8 shows I watch:
1. American Idol
2. Reba
3. 700 Club
4. Precepts for Life
5. Lie to Me
6. Wheel of Fortune
7. that's it, I don't watch much TV anymore
8 favorite fruits:
1. Strawberries
2. Blueberries
3. Watermelon
4. Rainier cherries
5. Apples
6. Oranges
7. Mangoes
8. Pineapple
8 places I'd like to travel to:
1. Pakistan
2. Italy (again, with Nigel this time)
3. Germany (with Nigel)
4. East coast, from Maine all the way down to South Carolina
5. Oregon
6. England
7. Thailand
8. A quiet island in the Caribbean
8 places I've lived:
1. New house on a farm
2. Old house on a farm
3. Dorm on college campus
4. Apartment on college campus
5. Spare room in a friend's house in a suburb
6. Spare room in a friend's house on a lake
7. House in a suburb
8. Apartment in a suburb
8 people I'm tagging:
1. Kathy
2. LaDonna
3. Kate
4. Jenna
5. Nigel
6. Misty
7. Jackie
8. Diana
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Our God-written love story
I've been asked a lot again lately about how Nigel and I met (it was 3 years ago today). I looked back through my archives and realized I never posted the story! So here it is, our fabulous love story.
The Preface
Both Nigel and I had patiently, and sometimes not-so-patiently, been waiting for God to bring that special person into our lives to share our journey with.
Both of us, at the urging of friends, created Yahoo! Personals profiles. I created mine quite a few years ago when my roommate Lindsay recommended it after meeting her husband on it. Nigel created his only days before our story begins. However, neither of us had paid memberships, which meant we could browse through profiles but not actually communicate with anyone we found. And I hadn't logged on in a very long time because of this, and hadn't really updated my profile much either.
God at Work in 2006
One night Nigel had a couple of his guy friends over for dinner at his apartment. After dinner, two of them decided to log onto Yahoo! and browse some of the profiles for fun. For those of you who aren't familiar with these types of sites, I'll give you a bit of info to help you out. Usually, you can browse people by age, geographic location, and sometimes other things. Yahoo! allows much more detailed searches: within a certain radius of a zip code, particular height, weight, hair color, smoker/non-smoker, Christian/non-Christian, likes, income, and many other search criteria. On this night, Nigel entered the geographic region near him, and found my profile.
The picture I had posted was of me working at Starbucks in Minnesota a couple years ago. He read and was intrigued by the profile, saw I lived in Danville and worked in youth ministry, and called to his friend Joel in the other room: "Hey Joel, this girl works at a church in Danville - do you happen to know her?" As it turns out, Joel was a volunteer in the youth ministry I was working with at CPC in Danville. Coincidence that he was there that night? Nope. Neither Nigel nor I believe in coincidences. In fact we call them God-incidences.
Joel came in the room and peered over Nigel's shoulder and said, loudly in Nigel's ear: "That's Jackie Schaunaman!!!" So Nigel asked Joel if he thought I would give him my e-mail address so we could write to each other.
Another God-incidence occurred the very next morning. I happened to be walking from my house near the church to the youth office at the church to pick something up when I ran into Joel. On a Saturday morning! He was there for a random reason as well, and mentioned Nigel and what had transpired the night before. I said I wouldn't mind Nigel writing to me and gave him my e-mail address. After all, it wouldn't hurt anything, right? And I had nothing to lose by it.
Due to a death in Nigel's family, however, he actually didn't get to writing until he thought about it on Valentine's Day. So he sent off an e-mail, only to have it returned because Joel had gotten the address wrong. On February 15, I did finally get an e-mail from Nigel, and over the next couple days we exchanged a few more.
The Meeting
Nigel had been planning a dinner at his house for Friday the 17th and had invited some friends over, including Joel. He decided to invite me, but due to a commitment to a couple students I was staying with for the weekend, I had to say maybe depending on their schedules.
As Friday came, both the kids ended up with plans for the evening, so I called Joel to see what he thought about my going to the party and to confirm he would be there. He had actually decided not to go until I said I wouldn't go unless he did. So he sacrificed his other plans and went, and I called Nigel to let him know I would be there and to get directions.
I was nervous - after all, I was taking yet another risk. Plus, I had no idea what Nigel looked like, what he did for a living, or how old he was. But I decided the risk was worth it. After getting lost due to bad directions (he, he, he!) I finally made it and Joel came down to walk me up. Nigel didn't come to the door, because as it turns out he was too nervous about how the evening would go. We did say hello and he gave me a hug, and I immediately felt comfortable with him.
At the end of the night, the other guests left one by one until I was the only one left. I debated leaving, not sure how I felt about being in this man's apartment who I hadn't met before, but somehow I knew I could trust him. And I was eager to get to know more about him and share stories. It went well, and he talked to me for my whole drive home.
Nigel decided to wait a bit to call me, unsure of what to do next. Well, I took the guesswork out of it and called him the next day to see if he would like to watch a movie with me and a couple friends. He had plans, but we talked for a while and made plans for him to come to church with me the next day. Church turned into an entire day together, including a junior high soccer game, Transparency (a young adult ministry at Cornerstone that I was attending), coffee, and dinner at a Thai restaurant. The rest is history, as we've been together since!
Dating
Nigel and I quickly learned that while we are from different cultures and have eleven years between us, at the core we are more alike than we ever thought possible.
We have both commented on how the other is not at all what we thought our husband/wife would be like. It's funny how when we pray for something particular God brings us something even better than we could imagine. We knew right away that this relationship was different and that we finally had found what we had been waiting for.
We also discovered that the San Francisco Bay Area, especially the city itself, is a very romantic place to live and an even more romantic place to be in love. There are so many wonderful things to do here, and we love it!
The Proposal
Nigel and I knew rather quickly (within a couple months) that we would eventually marry, so I knew a proposal was coming. Actually, I told him he had to wait until we had been together at least three months. Not sure quite why I chose three. That would put the date for him to propose somewhere in May, since I knew he wouldn't wait any longer than that. And since we picked out the ring together in April, I knew it was coming.
May would bring him three prime days for proposing: my birthday is May 11, our 3rd dating "monthiversary" was May 17, and his birthday is May 18. Knowing the romantic he is, I suspected he would pick one of them. However, he did a great job in catching me by surprise (and I am hard to surprise).
He had asked me to keep the mornings of our birthdays open so we could go up to San Damiano to pray before the days started. San Damiano is a Benedictine retreat on a mountain above Danville, overlooking the entire valley. It's a beautiful place, quiet and lush, where I always feel God's close presence.
On my birthday, Nigel picked me up at my house at 8:30 am to take me to Peet's for coffee before heading up there. When I got in his car, it smelled like food. I asked him about it, and he said the reason he'd been a bit late is because his mom had asked him to pick up some food and bring it over before he headed out for the day. That was a reasonable answer, and I had no reason to question it.
We got to Peet's, and as we were standing in line I noticed Nigel had a funny look on his face. It looked like he was sick, actually. I asked him about it and he agreed that he'd woken up not feeling 100%. Ok. Also reasonable. Yet I was starting to suspect something was up.
When we got to the top of San Damiano and parked the car, he opened the door and asked me to go ahead to our spot and he'd be behind me in a minute. I knew then that something was up, but it was my birthday after all.
I got to the deck overlooking the valley where we always go to pray and he arrived shortly after, arms loaded with food and gifts. It was then I realized he had made up the story about his mom needing food! He handed me the gifts and told me to start opening them.
Honestly, I still can't remember what they all were, except for something lavender scented (my fave) and a beautiful white antique-looking photo box. Because after I finished, and thanked him, he asked if I liked them. I said yes, and he stuck his hand in his pocket and said, "Well, now for the grand finale." I gasped, lost my breath, and started crying as he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes! He had even brought orange juice in an empty wine bottle to celebrate, breakfast style! He also had pancakes (my favorite), eggs benedict, toast, and potatoes O'brien, all from Fature Nature's, a great little restaurant in Danville.
As I tried to compose myself, happy and shaking, I called my dad to tell him the news. He was excited and very happy for us, as was Donni, and as I put Nigel on the phone he pointed up behind me. I gave him the phone and turned around, only to see Deana, Bill, and Jen walking by (who also work in the youth ministry at CPC). It turns out they were having a meeting up there, and got to be the first to see us after getting engaged!
The rest of the day was amazing. I got to tell my women's ministry small group about a half hour later at our end-of-the-year brunch, and as they were all gushing over me I was given the microphone and asked by the MC to tell the story to the whole room!
Then I went downstairs to my desk where flowers were awaiting me (it was my birthday, you know!) and told the story some more. Then on to a Giants game in San Francisco with GREAT seats.
After the game we stopped by Nigel's mom's house to tell them, then He surprised me with dinner at Il Fornaio, a fancy Italian restaurant that I had been wanting to go to for months. After they gave us each a free glass of champagne to celebrate, it was on to another surprise--Nigel had bought tickets to the musical Beauty and the Beast at the theater just down the street, with seats in the 3rd row! It was an amazing show, too.
So by the end of the day, I was exhausted yet definitely felt like a princess who had been swept off her feet by her knight in shining armor. I will never forget it.
We had already talked about our dream wedding and knew it would be at a vineyard in California, as we had both always wanted an outdoor wedding. We set the date for October 8th, 2006.
The Preface
Both Nigel and I had patiently, and sometimes not-so-patiently, been waiting for God to bring that special person into our lives to share our journey with.
Both of us, at the urging of friends, created Yahoo! Personals profiles. I created mine quite a few years ago when my roommate Lindsay recommended it after meeting her husband on it. Nigel created his only days before our story begins. However, neither of us had paid memberships, which meant we could browse through profiles but not actually communicate with anyone we found. And I hadn't logged on in a very long time because of this, and hadn't really updated my profile much either.
God at Work in 2006
One night Nigel had a couple of his guy friends over for dinner at his apartment. After dinner, two of them decided to log onto Yahoo! and browse some of the profiles for fun. For those of you who aren't familiar with these types of sites, I'll give you a bit of info to help you out. Usually, you can browse people by age, geographic location, and sometimes other things. Yahoo! allows much more detailed searches: within a certain radius of a zip code, particular height, weight, hair color, smoker/non-smoker, Christian/non-Christian, likes, income, and many other search criteria. On this night, Nigel entered the geographic region near him, and found my profile.
The picture I had posted was of me working at Starbucks in Minnesota a couple years ago. He read and was intrigued by the profile, saw I lived in Danville and worked in youth ministry, and called to his friend Joel in the other room: "Hey Joel, this girl works at a church in Danville - do you happen to know her?" As it turns out, Joel was a volunteer in the youth ministry I was working with at CPC in Danville. Coincidence that he was there that night? Nope. Neither Nigel nor I believe in coincidences. In fact we call them God-incidences.
Joel came in the room and peered over Nigel's shoulder and said, loudly in Nigel's ear: "That's Jackie Schaunaman!!!" So Nigel asked Joel if he thought I would give him my e-mail address so we could write to each other.
Another God-incidence occurred the very next morning. I happened to be walking from my house near the church to the youth office at the church to pick something up when I ran into Joel. On a Saturday morning! He was there for a random reason as well, and mentioned Nigel and what had transpired the night before. I said I wouldn't mind Nigel writing to me and gave him my e-mail address. After all, it wouldn't hurt anything, right? And I had nothing to lose by it.
Due to a death in Nigel's family, however, he actually didn't get to writing until he thought about it on Valentine's Day. So he sent off an e-mail, only to have it returned because Joel had gotten the address wrong. On February 15, I did finally get an e-mail from Nigel, and over the next couple days we exchanged a few more.
The Meeting
Nigel had been planning a dinner at his house for Friday the 17th and had invited some friends over, including Joel. He decided to invite me, but due to a commitment to a couple students I was staying with for the weekend, I had to say maybe depending on their schedules.
As Friday came, both the kids ended up with plans for the evening, so I called Joel to see what he thought about my going to the party and to confirm he would be there. He had actually decided not to go until I said I wouldn't go unless he did. So he sacrificed his other plans and went, and I called Nigel to let him know I would be there and to get directions.
I was nervous - after all, I was taking yet another risk. Plus, I had no idea what Nigel looked like, what he did for a living, or how old he was. But I decided the risk was worth it. After getting lost due to bad directions (he, he, he!) I finally made it and Joel came down to walk me up. Nigel didn't come to the door, because as it turns out he was too nervous about how the evening would go. We did say hello and he gave me a hug, and I immediately felt comfortable with him.
At the end of the night, the other guests left one by one until I was the only one left. I debated leaving, not sure how I felt about being in this man's apartment who I hadn't met before, but somehow I knew I could trust him. And I was eager to get to know more about him and share stories. It went well, and he talked to me for my whole drive home.
Nigel decided to wait a bit to call me, unsure of what to do next. Well, I took the guesswork out of it and called him the next day to see if he would like to watch a movie with me and a couple friends. He had plans, but we talked for a while and made plans for him to come to church with me the next day. Church turned into an entire day together, including a junior high soccer game, Transparency (a young adult ministry at Cornerstone that I was attending), coffee, and dinner at a Thai restaurant. The rest is history, as we've been together since!
Dating
Nigel and I quickly learned that while we are from different cultures and have eleven years between us, at the core we are more alike than we ever thought possible.
We have both commented on how the other is not at all what we thought our husband/wife would be like. It's funny how when we pray for something particular God brings us something even better than we could imagine. We knew right away that this relationship was different and that we finally had found what we had been waiting for.
We also discovered that the San Francisco Bay Area, especially the city itself, is a very romantic place to live and an even more romantic place to be in love. There are so many wonderful things to do here, and we love it!
The Proposal
Nigel and I knew rather quickly (within a couple months) that we would eventually marry, so I knew a proposal was coming. Actually, I told him he had to wait until we had been together at least three months. Not sure quite why I chose three. That would put the date for him to propose somewhere in May, since I knew he wouldn't wait any longer than that. And since we picked out the ring together in April, I knew it was coming.
May would bring him three prime days for proposing: my birthday is May 11, our 3rd dating "monthiversary" was May 17, and his birthday is May 18. Knowing the romantic he is, I suspected he would pick one of them. However, he did a great job in catching me by surprise (and I am hard to surprise).
He had asked me to keep the mornings of our birthdays open so we could go up to San Damiano to pray before the days started. San Damiano is a Benedictine retreat on a mountain above Danville, overlooking the entire valley. It's a beautiful place, quiet and lush, where I always feel God's close presence.
On my birthday, Nigel picked me up at my house at 8:30 am to take me to Peet's for coffee before heading up there. When I got in his car, it smelled like food. I asked him about it, and he said the reason he'd been a bit late is because his mom had asked him to pick up some food and bring it over before he headed out for the day. That was a reasonable answer, and I had no reason to question it.
We got to Peet's, and as we were standing in line I noticed Nigel had a funny look on his face. It looked like he was sick, actually. I asked him about it and he agreed that he'd woken up not feeling 100%. Ok. Also reasonable. Yet I was starting to suspect something was up.
When we got to the top of San Damiano and parked the car, he opened the door and asked me to go ahead to our spot and he'd be behind me in a minute. I knew then that something was up, but it was my birthday after all.
I got to the deck overlooking the valley where we always go to pray and he arrived shortly after, arms loaded with food and gifts. It was then I realized he had made up the story about his mom needing food! He handed me the gifts and told me to start opening them.
Honestly, I still can't remember what they all were, except for something lavender scented (my fave) and a beautiful white antique-looking photo box. Because after I finished, and thanked him, he asked if I liked them. I said yes, and he stuck his hand in his pocket and said, "Well, now for the grand finale." I gasped, lost my breath, and started crying as he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes! He had even brought orange juice in an empty wine bottle to celebrate, breakfast style! He also had pancakes (my favorite), eggs benedict, toast, and potatoes O'brien, all from Fature Nature's, a great little restaurant in Danville.
As I tried to compose myself, happy and shaking, I called my dad to tell him the news. He was excited and very happy for us, as was Donni, and as I put Nigel on the phone he pointed up behind me. I gave him the phone and turned around, only to see Deana, Bill, and Jen walking by (who also work in the youth ministry at CPC). It turns out they were having a meeting up there, and got to be the first to see us after getting engaged!
The rest of the day was amazing. I got to tell my women's ministry small group about a half hour later at our end-of-the-year brunch, and as they were all gushing over me I was given the microphone and asked by the MC to tell the story to the whole room!
Then I went downstairs to my desk where flowers were awaiting me (it was my birthday, you know!) and told the story some more. Then on to a Giants game in San Francisco with GREAT seats.
After the game we stopped by Nigel's mom's house to tell them, then He surprised me with dinner at Il Fornaio, a fancy Italian restaurant that I had been wanting to go to for months. After they gave us each a free glass of champagne to celebrate, it was on to another surprise--Nigel had bought tickets to the musical Beauty and the Beast at the theater just down the street, with seats in the 3rd row! It was an amazing show, too.
So by the end of the day, I was exhausted yet definitely felt like a princess who had been swept off her feet by her knight in shining armor. I will never forget it.
We had already talked about our dream wedding and knew it would be at a vineyard in California, as we had both always wanted an outdoor wedding. We set the date for October 8th, 2006.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
This new day
It is an historic day in America, a day when our first African-American president takes his oath of office. A day in which many place their hope for their future success and prosperity and the prosperity of our country in the hands of a man. One man.
Yet, I know that ultimately it is God who is sovereign. God has a purpose through the presidency of Barack Obama, and He has a purpose for America. And whether Obama is a willing vessel or not, God can and will use him to further His purposes for humanity as a whole. We need to remember, however, that it is God who is in control. God has "pulled the financial rug out from under us" as Kay Arthur predicted in the Precepts video I watched this morning (recorded years ago). God has allowed and planned for this time in America's history. He knows the struggles of our nation, and the struggles of each individual. Yet He desires for us to do the one thing that will help - turn back to Him.
Yet we need to turn to Him alone, not Obama, or Rick Warren, our own pastors, or anyone else for our hope and purpose. God alone has the answers. God alone is in command, and it is through God alone that justice will one day reign and we will all be called to account for how we chose to spend our time here on this earth.
I found great encouragement in Obama's inaugural address today. I believe God will use him, and I pray that he is leaning on God's strength and wisdom for guidance in these times. None of us know what is coming, only God does. And He's far smarter than I am, so I will not question His timing or plans for our country.
I will, however, continue to pray.
I pray that the selfish greed that has America ensnared will be brought to light for what it is: sin. I pray that we learn to disagree and dialogue with each other in a civil and loving way, rather than bash each other for differing opinions. I pray for repentance of all for the ways which we have sought to serve ourselves and not God. I pray for forgiveness and mercy for the wrongs we have committed against each other and against God. I pray for guidance to understand more fully the identity I have found and that all can find in Jesus Christ alone. I pray for eyes to be opened and veils of selfishness and lies to be ripped away. I pray for more love and generosity to ooze out of my life and the lives of all who know the saving grace of Jesus Christ, so that no one can deny its power or truth. And I pray all of it in the name of the One who is the Savior, Righteous One, Lover of my soul, and Hearer of my prayers, Jesus. Amen.
Yet, I know that ultimately it is God who is sovereign. God has a purpose through the presidency of Barack Obama, and He has a purpose for America. And whether Obama is a willing vessel or not, God can and will use him to further His purposes for humanity as a whole. We need to remember, however, that it is God who is in control. God has "pulled the financial rug out from under us" as Kay Arthur predicted in the Precepts video I watched this morning (recorded years ago). God has allowed and planned for this time in America's history. He knows the struggles of our nation, and the struggles of each individual. Yet He desires for us to do the one thing that will help - turn back to Him.
Yet we need to turn to Him alone, not Obama, or Rick Warren, our own pastors, or anyone else for our hope and purpose. God alone has the answers. God alone is in command, and it is through God alone that justice will one day reign and we will all be called to account for how we chose to spend our time here on this earth.
I found great encouragement in Obama's inaugural address today. I believe God will use him, and I pray that he is leaning on God's strength and wisdom for guidance in these times. None of us know what is coming, only God does. And He's far smarter than I am, so I will not question His timing or plans for our country.
I will, however, continue to pray.
I pray that the selfish greed that has America ensnared will be brought to light for what it is: sin. I pray that we learn to disagree and dialogue with each other in a civil and loving way, rather than bash each other for differing opinions. I pray for repentance of all for the ways which we have sought to serve ourselves and not God. I pray for forgiveness and mercy for the wrongs we have committed against each other and against God. I pray for guidance to understand more fully the identity I have found and that all can find in Jesus Christ alone. I pray for eyes to be opened and veils of selfishness and lies to be ripped away. I pray for more love and generosity to ooze out of my life and the lives of all who know the saving grace of Jesus Christ, so that no one can deny its power or truth. And I pray all of it in the name of the One who is the Savior, Righteous One, Lover of my soul, and Hearer of my prayers, Jesus. Amen.
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