Reception Site Found!

Hello Friends!!

This is just a note to ssay than you to all of you who have prayed for me and sent me lots of suggestions in finding a reception site for Dennis and I's wedding. God is faithful and with all of your help we have finally found a place. (a big thanks to Julie W.for arranging it for me!) Praise God! Our reception is going to be held at the Ledford Center at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. Not only will this place be big enough for all expected to come but it has special meaning to me b/c one of my Southeastern 2+2 Commissioning Services was held there just before i departed to go to Kenya in 2003. Little did I know sitting there that day that while I was in Kenya God would introduce me to my future husband and that I'd be having my wedding reception in that very place 4 years later. (ok, yes I'm a mushy sentimental person but this is just one of the many neat things God has done in my life and in Dennis and I's relationship in the last few years and I want to make sure He gets all the glory for even the smallest of things!!)

Thanks for your help!

I praise God for showing me His AMAZING LOVE and GRACE through so many wonderful and caring friends!

I look forward to seeing many of you on our special day July 7th!!

Celebrating 100 More Days and counting!!!

TODAY DENNIS AND I OFFICIALLY HAVE 100 MORE DAYS TIL OUR WEDDING DAY!!!

WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Here's some more pictures he sent me today of our time together in Mombasa. These are pictures of the day we went back to the village I used to live in Matuga. He got to meet my best friend Margaret and her family as well as some of the precious ladies in my story groups.

This is Me, Dennis, Saumu and her children. I love this picture!!

This is me, Dennis and Margaret who was my best friend in the village. She was my little shadow and God is doing amazing things with her life! I miss her!

This is Us with Margaret's family who is just one of the many Kenyan families I'm considered part of. Everytime I see them they come running greeting me with "Karibu Nyumbani Mwanangu!!", which means Welcome Home My child! They are very dear and precious to me!

And here's the Kenyan village expert showing us how to eat the madafu (unripe coconut) after drinking it :) What a cutie pie:)

There's my TALL DARK AND HANDSOME himself!! With a yummy Fanta orange. Nothing tastes better than a cold Fanta in a glass bottle!

Here's my sweet fiance doing what he loves best, teaching God's Word, and sporting his lovely Kenyan Attire. LOL! You are too cute Babe!

And just to celebrate our engagement and 100 more days til we become One, here's a picture of Dennis holding the Engagement Banner the college students made and signed for us. What an encouraging day that was!!

HELP NEEDED!!!!

CALLING ALL FRIENDS!!!!

I need your help!

TCC, the original place I was going to have our wedding reception is no longer available because a new downtown restaurant is being put in, so now I’m busy scurrying around trying to find a place to have the reception. I’ve called several hotels but most of them do not allow outside catering. And then the majority of the places I’ve called are already booked for my July 7th wedding dateL

SOOOO, here’s where I need your help. IF you have any ideas or know of any place I could have my wedding reception at in Raleigh PLEASE let me know. Please keep your eyes and ears open for me. I’m desperate to find a place! As many of you know, Open Door’s reception facility is just too small to host the 200 people or so that I’m expecting.

So if you wouldn’t mind helping me do a little research I would greatly appreciate it. I need a place that isn’t too too far from Open Door Baptist Church on Durant Rd. in Raleigh, and I need to be able to use outside catering (meaning friends are doing my reception), and it needs to be able to hold 200 people. Its not a formal sit down, just snacks and dessert so there just needs to room for chairs and standing room and maybe a few tables. It would also be nice if there were already table and chairs available (not a must though)

If ya find something or have some ideas please let me know asap!! Join me in praying and searching. I’m praying God will provide quickly!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!

Some Funny Pictures!!

Was just looking at some very funny pictures Dennis sent to me a week or two ago. They are pics of the day when I left Mombasa in January As you can tell, though I did shed a few tears Dennis was right there to make me laugh and smile as he always does!! Too funny. Hope they make you laugh too!

Counting the Days

Well as you can only imagine...I've been thinking about Dennis a lot lately and missing him terribly. I've been back in the States now for 2 months away from him. Now only about 3 more months til he gets here in June. YEAH! Yes we are counting the days. Today we have only 106 more days til our wedding day!!

As I have reflected more and more on Dennis and I's time apart I also wanted to share a recent email i received from a dear sister in Christ, Susan Easley.

Allison,

"I pray that you will be patient in waiting and joyful when the reunion happens.
Your words about missing Dennis remind me of something that I have read in a book by John Piper, A Hunger for God. In that book he compares us waiting for the Lord's return with the longing that people in love have for each other when they are apart especially those that are engaged. Oh how I pray that Jesus would constantly give me that "lovesick" feeling of missing Him and longing to be in His presence. For now, we patiently wait, pray and serve--looking forward to the day when we are united with Him."

This was so encouraging and yet convicting to me as I wait for Dennis to finally be here and for us to unite together in a covenant relationship. Oh what a sweet picture it is!

How many of us would say we are truely lovesick and eagerly waiting for Christ's return, longing to be in His presence just as we long for our love relationships here on earth?

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

when I remember you upon my bed,

and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

for you have been my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Who is He?

I found this in my inbox today from a friend. I dont usually read or send forwards but this one was pretty good so I hav decided to share it. IT SPEAKS OF THE GREATNESS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!! Please feel free to comment on what you think.

In chemistry, He turned water to wine.

In biology, He was born without the normal conception;

In physics, He disapproved the law of gravity when He ascended into heaven;

In economics, He disapproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5000 men with two fishes & 5 loaves of bread;

In medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs,

In history, He is the beginning and the end;

In government, He said that he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace;

In religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through him;

So... Who is He? He is Jesus!Join me and let's celebrate him; He is worthy!!!!

In God I've found everything!

The Greatest Man in HistoryJesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

He had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us!