Friday, December 4, 2009

Josh & Brooke

Hello everyone! Today's Guest Blogger is Josh and I's good friend Jessica Campbell aka "cake-cutter". I hope you all enjoy her post and don't forget- 21 days till Christmas!!!
Brooke
I would like to take this opportunity to share what astonishing people Josh and Brooke are! Both of these individuals have had a major impact in my life, and I’m positively sure that they have had an impact in the lives of many others. But first, I will give you the scoop on how I know these two love birds!
I met Josh my freshman year of college during intramural softball season while playing for the Great Bambinos. He was always so very encouraging to every team member, even though some of us (and I mean me) weren’t quite so good. I was still treated like a valuable member of the team… black eye and all (this was an injury I acquired during our first practice while trying to catch a fly ball, and then I was made catcher. Coincidence? I think not). We were also in the same Chemistry class, which is where I met Brooke but it’s not time for that story yet. I’d say that is when I really started to get to know Mr. Ketch. Anyway, Josh has been helpful in many times throughout the last three years. I can recall him helping my roommates and I move furniture into our new house, driving out to I-35 to change my flat tire, trimming a bush at my house, helping put a trampoline together, cleaning my grandmother’s gutters in the middle of a hot summer and so many more things. What I’m trying to say about Josh is that he has a heart for people that will stop at nothing. He portrays God’s love tremendously. It’s not often that I hear anything negative come from Josh. He’s always there for his friends and family. In being around him and his family out at his grandpa’s farm, I can see how important family is to him. Thank you Josh for everything you have ever done for my roommates and I! We are extremely grateful, and I feel immensely blessed to have you as a good friend!




So, as I mentioned earlier, I met Brooke in Chemistry class my sophomore year. The first thing I think of about that time is Brooke’s granny’s banana bread and other goodies that she used to bring to class and share. What scrumptious memories those are! Brooke is also my sister through Phi Lamb, which is where I would say that I got to know her best. Brooke and I also are beloved co-workers. We’ve had many laughs that no one else may laugh at, but it always gives me something to look forward to when climbing up five flights of steep stairs. I know when I walk in the door panting like I just hiked Pike’s Peak and then to Russia and back that Brooke’s beautiful, smiling face will greet me. She is a great co-worker! And I absolutely love working with a fellow Christian that can help me maintain a Christ-like attitude. Brooke and I definitely have our adventures at Continuing Edumacation as the Social Communications Department Co-Heads. We take delight in spreading love and flyers around the office. Not only is Brooke a great, encouraging co-worker, but she is also an amazing friend who I know I can confide in about many things and get a good, honest opinion that is always considerate and helpful. She shows care and concern about things going on in my life, which is more appreciated than anyone could ever know. So, thank you Brooke for being you. I am tremendously blessed beyond words that God has placed you in my life to bring many smiles and loud laughs. I always enjoy being around you and love you dearly!



It has been a blessing to see Brooke and Josh as a couple! They both have such amazing hearts and dedicated lives to God, and it is always evident in their lifestyles and actions toward others. Both of these individuals have made an impact on my life that has definitely been for the good of things. I don’t think my life would be the same without them because I would have no furniture in my house or a trampoline, and I would be dead on the side of the road. I would most likely not enjoy work as much as I do now and I would certainly not be a co-head of a department! All of these things have been significant enough to mean so much to me. I’m glad that I’ve been able to serve them back with hot tea after a chilly bike ride or share a delightful free Chick-fil-A sandwich with both of them.
Words can never express how much gratitude I have for Josh and Brooke! I praise God that He has put them in my life and that each of them are so in tune with His will to have found each other and set an amazing example as a Christian couple that keeps God in the center of everything. I enjoy this blog, too. I love being able to keep up with what God is showing them in their lives. It is not only inspirational, but it’s also hilarious sometimes. Please don’t get rid of it! For my sake at least!
I will be praying for you two as you continue down this road of engagement and into marriage. Thank you for everything you do and just for being who you are and letting God truly lead you through a life that glorifies Him and the kingdom!
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:12-15

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Blog HACK

Hello all, this is Clay, Josh left his computer up and found the blog. For those who don't know me I'm Josh's roommate and co-best man. so Josh has been busy and blogging had to take a back seat to man stuff.

So for this one I decided to talk today about Josh's life since engagement. So far Josh has been working a lot at the NRCS and pretty much all we see of him is when he comes home from work. He and Brooke still see each other as often as possible and Reggie still freaks Brooke out. The other day Brooke brought over goodies as she normally does, I don't think she comes over with out something for us. Chex Mex is awesome by the way.

Well this is a short one cause i don't know when Josh will come back in the room so have a great Christmas everyone and happy birthday Jesus.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Ultimatum

Well...I'm suprised to see that Josh did not delete our precious blog. He told me last Sunday that if I did not blog by this Wednesday that he was going to delete it....but here we are and it's FRIDAY!! I'm still not exactly sure what I am going to blog about (which is why I haven't bogged yet) but we'll see what happens. Josh and I laugh about our blog quite often because it started out as something that I really wanted to do and Josh had no interest in doing it. Now, Josh has turned into a fantastic blogger and I can never seem to put my thoughts to words in a timely fashion. :)

In a book I'm reading called, "Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts" ,by Les & Leslie Parrott (recommended to me by a friend and it's excellent) they talk about how most people have what they call "unspoken rules" that they assume other people will follow even though they may have no clue what they are. I thought this was so funny because Josh and I have broken eachothers "unspoken rules" NUMEROUS times. To further my goal of creating a humerous blog below you will find a list of a few of what I think Josh's unspoken rules are.

1. Do not call Josh when he is in class.
Consequence: He will email you his schedule and request that you print it and display it anywhere you might possibly go before the semester is over. :)
2. Limit phone calls to 10 minutes or less.
3. DO NOT BE LATE...EVER! Haha...
4. Volume in vehicles should not be set highter than 12.
5. Vegetables=bad.
6. Heinze ketchup is the best and there is not another brand that could ever measure up to its greatness.
Haha, that is about all I can think of at the moment. Maybe Josh will create a list of what he thinks my "unspoken rules" are this coming Wednesday! Hint, Hint, Josh.

One thing I love about Josh is the joy that he adds to my life. God has given me an incredible gift by putting Josh in my life and I have known it since we first starting dating. Our relationship has brought a lot of laughter and joy into both of our lives. I'm thankful for all of our friends and family that have added so much joy to our lives.

"You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound."
Psalms 4:7

Monday, October 26, 2009

Blogalicious

Hello Everyone!

I have been thinking lately about what holds marriages together. Brooke and I have talked about it and realize that it is not going to be easy to get along all of the time and we know that there will be times that we want to strangle each other. It will probably be harder than we expect at times for us to hold our relationship together. The thing that comes to mind when I think about marriage is the love that two people have for each other and the commitment that they make to each other to stay together for life. The problem I have is that many people love each other with all their hearts and still "fall away" from each other and it leads to divorce. Virtually every marriage begins with love, but that doesn't seem to hold the relationship together for life. So what glues a marriage together? Love is the strongest bond you can have with someone in this life, and it doesn't always work. I have come to a conclusion and it is something I have been told my whole life but lately I have felt and have been shown the reality of THE answer. The Lord of All is that glue that holds marriage together....after all he did invent it! It seems so obvious but before it was something that had just been told to me. I believed it but it wasn't "real" to me until lately. Brooke and I have always known in our hearts that we have something that not many relationships have and it is our relationship with our Father. He is our ultimate Provider, Sustainer, Comforter, and Savior. He is our Counselor, Teacher, Redeemer, and Friend. He is our Everything and we are nothing without him. He is the reason that we WILL stay together for life. It is not our love for each other or the happiness that we bring to each other's life, because even that will someday fail us. It is our love for God and the love He has for us that will ultimately hold us in the storms of this life. It is a tremendous blessing from Him that we are meant to spend the rest of our lives together. It is and will be our mission to live to fulfill God's perfect will for our lives every day that we are blessed to have with each other. Praise God for his forgiveness and mercy!


Psalm 31:3

"Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me."

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Blessed

Wow...time really does fly. I can't believe that our wedding is a day less than eight months away. 242 days to be exact! :) God continues to be faithful to Josh and I in allowing things fall into place. Josh is about to enroll in his last semester at OSU and is on track to graduate in May. I've diagnosed him with a moderate (and increasing) case of "senioritis"! He is very excited to work full time for the NRCS. We are praying that he will be placed in an office as close to Stillwater as possible so that we can live somewhere close in order for me to finish my last semester of classes and then a semester of student teaching. Josh and I are believing that wherever we go that it will be God's will and where He wants us to be.

As far as wedding plans go....we recently got to take a sneak peak of our engagement pictures that Josh's sister, Lauren took for us. We are still picking out our favorites for Lauren to put some finishing touches on but I just can't wait to show you them so here's a sneak peak! She did a wonderful job! :)
Well I guess that is about all for today....thanks for following us in the wedding planning process and for being apart of our lives!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
Proverbs 3:4-6

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The first blog!

Welcome to the beginning of Brooke and I's weekly blog! Many of you probably don't see me as a blogger....me either, but because I love my future wife SOOOO much I have given in to being a blogger. Honestly, I have never read a blog and I have no idea what goes into one...so I guess I'm just going to write about what's going on in our lives.
We finally have a date (June 13th 2010)! I am very excited and relieved to finally be able to say June 13th when someone asks me when our date is instead of....well sometime in June or July. It is going to be at the Farmer's Market in OKC. Since we have our date we are able to start on the planning and such. I have learned quick that the planning can be very stressful and annoying...I have started a list of "Lessons Learned by Josh for Josh" for wedding planning! These come from lessons I have gained through interesting times in the life of Josh and Brooke and Wedding. It is not all bad though and most of the time it is very exciting and fun to think about the beggining of our lives together. God has blessed us beyond measure in our relationship. I am so thankful to have the most beautiful, loving, caring, fun, and thoughtful woman in the world in my life.
We just got our engagement pictures taken a week ago by my lovely sister Lauren. She did an awesome job and we should have pictures up on facebook soon so you can make fun of my goofy face. Man, I am just glad they are over. Me and the camera just don't get along!
Well, I guess I am done for today...I don't want to bore you with too much. Thanks for stopping by on the "road to June 13th"...dang that was corny!


Romans 12:9-11

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.