Since April...

Wow, so much has happened these past few months! Here is a quick update since our first post. We hope to be way more consistent now that we have our blog up and running.

APRIL:

-We had all of the Mellis' extended family in town!! It was so fun to have everyone in town as we celebrated so many different occasions. One of those occasions was our SoCal Wedding Reception. We felt so special getting to share in another time of celebration with those of you who live in SoCal.

-Within a few days of being back from our honeymoon, God provided an apartment for us!! He was so faithful to us as we were waiting on Him for direction. We felt led to stay in the area and happened upon a cute little town called Monrovia. We are right near the hills where we enjoy hikes to waterfalls, farmer's market every Friday and Sunday, and the luxury of everything within walking distance. A cool part of the story is that we were able to get this apartment before we had jobs. Once we met the managers of the apartment complex, we realized they were fellow believers. They said they would put in a good word for us to the owner. We met the owner and he said in all his 30 years of apartment leasing, he has never rented it out to people who do not have jobs. He decided he would take a chance on us. We went to tell the managers (Mike & Emma) the good news and they were thrilled. Emma told us that the minute she spoke to Dave on the phone regarding our appointment to view the apartment, that God had spoken to her and told her "These are the people I want here. They have been obedient to me." So at that point in time, before even meeting us, she made a few phone calls. She called her sister in Florida to start praying for us, then her sister in Texas, who then shared with her congregation to pray for us. We were so humbled to hear this that people we had never met were praying for us during this 4-5 day process. God was the one that definitely provided. This gave us such peace that He wants us to be in Monrovia for a time. It was such a neat process for us to go into engagement and marriage with no place to live and no employment. As we searched those few months before, nothing came up that we had peace about. When God asked us to wait, we didn't know for how long....but He did! :) Here are a few pics of our place.

MAY & JUNE

-We had so many guests stay over and visit these past two months!! Including: Te, Nick, Riley, Staycie, Johnny, Brittany Buckalew, Ashley Scally, Erica Miller, Brendan, Connor, Rachel, Sherianne, Kenzie, Calvin, Kristen Mellis, Maggie Newberry & Bethany, Elle Sandquist, Bri Morgan, Lori my sis, Mom & Dad, Millie (Mother In Law) & Fillie (Father In Law). P.S. if we forgot anyone, we love you!!

-We celebrated Keri's Birthday!

-Hung out with some Mormon friends in our neighborhood a few times

-Tara's Wedding Weekend

-We both got jobs within 1 day of each other

-Celebrated Father's day with both of our Father's together

-Built a garden with our friends

-Went camping twice! Once just the two of us, and once with Elle, Graden, and Bri

-Went to Tea with Lori

-Game Night/Movie Nights at the Mellis'

Pics to come :)

JULY

-Celebrated July 4th with the Mellis fam (minus Gil who was in Japan) plus Calvin and Kenzie. We swam, bbq, and watched fireworks

-Keri went to Jocey's Bridal shower

-We went to family camp at Mount Hermon for the week (Thank you to the Mellis') :) We saw lots of camp folk including: Ditto, Birdie, Gatsby, Fox, Crayola, Lucky, Mighty Wind (Bart) & Cassie, Plankton, Samoa, Nala, NSH!, Togo, Ron & Cheryl Taylor, Ali P., the Talbots, Dawn & Greg, and Donny. We spent some refreshing time together too!

-Dan (Shcmee!) came to stay with us. What a wonderful time of mutual blessing and God working

Pics to follow (once I find my cord :)