Finally!

Well the rumors are true. Gene and I are expecting our first baby on March 16th 2012! Which also happens to be the anniversary of our first date, weird much? We are so excited and can't wait to meet him or her. The doctor said we could find out the sex maybe at our next apt so we'll see. Stay tuned! Yay baby!

Promises, promises

There is a new post coming to update you on all the goings on for the last two years. PROMISE!

Married!

Well we did it. We're finally married! Phew, what a whirl wind. We got to see all our wonderful friends from out of town (and in town) and were so sad to see them all leave again. Thank you to everyone that helped out so much to make this day perfect. There were a lot of you and I thank God for such wonderful friends and family that helped us. The picture above is courtesy of our friends RJ and Emily. I will post more pics as we get them.

The Room

A TEENAGER'S VIEW OF HEAVEN

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like. 'I wowed 'em,' he later told his father, Bruce. 'It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote..' It also was the last.

Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted..

The Moores framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. 'I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it,' Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. 'I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.'

Brian's Essay: The Room...

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read 'Girls I have liked.' I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named 'Friends' was next to one marked 'Friends I have betrayed.' The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird 'Books I Have Read,' 'Lies I Have Told,' 'Comfort I have Given,' 'Jokes I Have Laughed at .' Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: 'Things I've yelled at my brothers.' Others I couldn't laugh at: 'Things I Have Done in My Anger', 'Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.' I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.

Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked 'TV Shows I have watched', I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked 'Lustful Thoughts,' I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.

I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!' In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards.. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it.. The title bore 'People I Have Shared the Gospel With.' The handle was brighter than those around it, seemed newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.

No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own..

He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. 'No!' I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was 'No, no,' as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back.. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.

 He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, 'It is finished.' I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. '-Phil. 4:13 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.' John 3:16 If you feel the same way forward it so the love of Jesus will touch their lives also.. My 'People I shared the gospel with' file just got bigger, how about yours?

God Bless +

We're Engaged!!!

Ok I know a little late on the notice but hey a girl gets a little busy after she gets engaged!!

Gene and I have been together for a little over a year now (ok a year and three months but who's counting), anyway, lets go back to April-ish. We'd been ring shopping quite a bit so I thought he'd propose at some point in the next few months. Well one night on our way to home group he just casually asks me, "You don't really need a DIAMOND do you?", um what, excuse me? Now I'm not really high maintance (I still have clothes in my closet from college and I haven't bought a pair of new shoes in, I don't know how long.) so of course I thought he was serious. I replied, "ARE YOU KIDDING?! We've been out shopping for rings for how long now, we've spent days at a time ring shopping and now you're asking me if I really need a diamond?" needless to say I was a bit peeved. One friend of mine loveingly called this time in my life "diamond gate '09". But then after venting to my sister (who talked me off the ledge numerous times) and a couple close friends I calmed down. I started looking at gemstone rings and actually got on board with the whole "non traditional" ring idea. So I made Gene go out looking for Gem stones with me. He reluctantly trapsed about the mall with me as I forced him to look at all the Gem stones in town (he deserved this and you'll find out why later).

Fast forward a week or so.....Gene says to me, "We're going to Colorado this weekend." Ok do I have a choice, No. So I make plans to go to Colorado, book a hotel and all that jazz for the weekend of May 1st and 2nd. After I get it all booked I realize, HOLY CRAP my parents birthdays are the 1st and 2nd AND my best friends baby shower is that weekend as well. I run to Gene to tell him we have to reschedule and all he says is, "O'well guess you'll have to just call them from Colorado." What? There is no getting out of this trip, what's going on? Then a few nights before we leave we go to dinner and he says, "I have a fun thing planned for you this weekend." I of course ask him what and he tells me a scavanger hunt. Hmm ok. He tells me that he found a bunch of little trinkettes that I'm gonna love and he thought this would be a fun way to give them to me. Okey dokey. I start suspecting but I don't want to get my hopes up and then if it is just trinkets that he put so much thought into I didn't want to be disappointed.

So we get to Colorado and check in to our hotel. Friday night we go out with some friends and enjoy the craziness that our good 'ole Roaring Fork valley has to offer. The next morning (Saturday) he sends me to breakfast with my good friend Laura Vogel (Lauralita I like to call her). He says he'll call me when he's ready. So we go to breakfast and no call, we go look for shoes, no call......finally he calls a few hours later and says ok have Laura drop you off at BB's (best barbaque place of all time!!!). I get to BB's and when I get in the truck there is a little box with a note and an empty charm bracelet. The note leads me to the first place we met........another little box and another love note! Oooo this is fun! So I continue all around town from place to place. All places we had special memories at and the charms to match. Each charm was significant to that place (cell phone for the place he got my number, a little cross for the first place we went to church together and so on.) We end up at the resturant we went to for our first date, Mango's! So yummy. Well I have to ask the bartender for a shot (since that's what I did before Gene got there on our first date cause I was so nervous!) so I get a shot and she brings me a box. Another charm, and she's set up and beautiful table by the fireplace that she's lit just for us! I'm starting to think that this is just a charm bracelet hunt and it's fun and so thoughtful so I'm trying not to be too disappointed that I may leave Colorado ringless. So after lunch the next note lead us half way hanging lake.

This was the hardest hike of my life!!! Here is the view going up....do you see a trail cause I don't. Nope just crawl over the rocks. SHOOT ME!
But the view was just amazing and the trail was awesome. It was raining so we were getting soaked but everything was so vivid! This is a little cave thing that the waterfall was just trickling over. (you can see the rushing water to the right of the cave)

So half way up the mountain we come to a little log hut thing. It was covered in carvings. As I got closer they were all initials. The whole thing was covered with people who loved each other. It was so sweet. Well of course there was a box with a charm and a note to continue to the top! (At this point I'm thinking, so help me if I get my butt up to the top of this mountain and there is another freakin charm and no ring I'm gonna flip out! The charms were lovely and the thought he put into this whole thing was so amazing but this was the hardest hike of my life and I wanted to cry when that note said we had to keep going.) Ok back to the story. So Gene went over to the hut and "imortilized our love." in this little log shack!

Isn't he cute in there! He carved our initials huge and over a couple other peoples but they'll get over it. Ok so we continue to the top. Remember the air is extreemly thin on the top of the world and I'm completely out of shape, so here we go. I'm almost there and almost in tears and I look up, as I'm gasping for air, these little kids come skipping down the mountain. They've been to the top and are now skipping down the freakin mountain. I really wanted to throw a rock in their general direction (but again I digress I was wet and getting slightly grumpy with this mountain.) So we continue on and come to this staircase that has a railing and thank goodness because the side of the staircase was shear and straight down! We get up the stair case and Gene parks me on this little bridge and tells me to wait here. So I took some pictures of the waterfall going under the bridge I was on.

Beautiful isn't it! This was really a spectacular hike and I recommend it to most people. If I can make it up there you can too, trust me! So then I hear a faint yell coming from the direction Gene went off in. I walk through some trees and it opens up into this.....

This place was just stunning! The water is crystal clear and there are even little fish up there. How fish get to the top of a mountain is beyond me but they were there and that's how it is. Then I spy Gene across the lake just standing there with a little grin on his face (it's a crappy picture but he is grinning).........

So I walk around the lake to get to Gene. He lead me back behind the waterfall a little and I see another little box on top of a boulder. I walked over to it and opened it. Another charm, a little engagement ring charm and a note that simply says, "Will you marry me?" I turn around and there's Gene right behind me on one knee with the ring in his hand. I freaked out slightly and cried a little. The best proposal I could've ever asked for. It was a diamond by the way (that whole trick was suggested by Gene's wonderful brother, Thanks Greg!).

So we hung out in the serenity of the lake for awhile and then we too skipped down the mountain like little kids. We had to stop at the little log shack to take a pic with our initials.
We ran back to the hotel to get changed because Gene's brother and sister in law came all the way from Denver to congratulate us and have dinner with us (they may have came for other things but I like to think it was just for us.) So there ya have it. The engagement story. Here is a picture of the completed bracelet and the ring!

We're getting married this September and we are buying a house right now too, hence me not updating the blog for awhile. Hope everyone is doing well.
Love,
Alivia (almost Burgess!!!)

Arthritis Walk!

Hey everyone! Check out my Arthritis Foundation donation page

Livie's Team

..............Or 

Join my Team

..............OR, OR make a donation on either page!

Thanks everyone! God Bless!!

Gene-days

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GENE!!!!!

So we all know that I'm terrible at keeping my blog up to date and even worse at taking pictures and getting them on here! Turns out we only have a picture of the cake I made for Gene for his birthday and that's it, the only picture we took! We've got to get better at this.

Well Gene has had a week long celebration for his 29th birthday. My family likes to call it Gene-days, or Livie-days for my birthday.....etc.

Gene days began last Sunday night. Every Sunday we have a family dinner at my Mom and Stepdad's house. She gets to try out new recipes on us and we get to hang out with family and have amazing food!! Hurray!

Anyway, we decided to make last Sunday the start to Gene days! So while Gene was off with my Godfather and Dad at the sportsmans show after chuch on sunday, I went to my mom's and created this..............

Pineapple upside down cake!

This is Gene's favorite cake. Well I found out after I made it that I was supposed to make it after a recipe in a cook book that his mom gave him. GREAT!! O'well it turned out pretty good. Way too sweet for me but Gene is a sugarholic so it worked. Wasn't mom's but still good ;o)

My mom made chicken souvalaki, greek rice pilaf and some amazing pita bread! That night Gene got three awesome shirts from my mom and step-dad. (mostly dress shirts).

Wednesday night before we left for dinner he received some awesome cards from his friends and family from afar. The only one I got to see was Kim's beautiful hand made birthday card! Thank you to everyone that sent cards and love!! We love you very much and can't wait to see you! MUAH!!

That night, for dinner, we went to Rodizio's Grill for more birthday festivities. For those of you who don't know, Rodizio's is a Brazilian grill. You get the "full rodizio" and waiters come around with spits of meat and carve you off whatever you want onto your plate. There is a little wooden thing that is red on one side and green on the other. When you flip it to green it's on! Gene was amazed that there was food coming at him from every direction! When we needed a rest - flip it to red. It was wild wednesdays so we got to try some buffalo stew and rattle snake sausage! mmmmmmm!  Gene received more gifts this night. 

• From Erin and Ryan Taylor (my sis and bro in law) he got two tickets to the Dave Matthews Band! 
  
• From me he got a four session fly tying class (that I'm going to take with him) ;o) 
  
• From my God parents and her girls he got a daily devotional book and a great christian T-shirt that looks like this:

In case you can't read it, it says: "Son, I need you to build a bridge, here are all the tools you will need see you soon. Love, Dad

• And my mom and stepdad got him another gift - a tie to go with all those dress shirts. He thinks that maybe my mom is trying to tell him something ;o) He loves them and so do I, he looks pretty studly in all his dress up clothes!

Monday will be the last day of Gene days. My dad and stepmom are taking us out for birthday dinner and MORE presents! He's so SPOILED!! 

WE LOVE YOU GENE-O!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET HEART!!