Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
our love story - from shaun's perspective...
Thanksgiving 2002 - right before our wedding...
I left our meeting wanting nothing more than to spend more time with her. The same day that I got up the courage to ask her out on a date one of my best friends, who had not communicated to me, walked into the choir room before me and beat me too it. There was nothing that I could do at this point. After all he was one of my best friends. I watched their relationship from afar and saw how he was leading her on through his actions. I was so hurt for her but there was nothing that I could do. After a short while their relationship ended. It was everything that I could do to not ask her out as soon as they broke up, but I did not want her to feel like she was a menu item and I was the next to order.
After a short time and a few childish “I know someone who likes you…” conversations we told each other that we liked each other. Soon after, we went to Disneyland with a few friends. At the end of our day as we all were walking to our car Kristal came to me and said to me through a quote from one of our favorite cartoon (Emperor’s New Groove), “Squeaka, squeak, squeakum.” I asked, “What does that mean?” She replied in a whisper, “It means… I like you!” She had told me this before but this time I could tell she truly meant it. I broke her whisper with a great cheer and cartwheel across the parking lot aisle.
Later on that month, Kristal and I returned to Disneyland again on our own. Toward the end of our evening I took her on a boat ride. My goal was to drum up the courage to try and hold her hand. Nonetheless, I couldn’t do it. I was too scared. Later that evening as we were walking to our car I couldn’t stand it any longer. I reached down and slowly slid my hand into hers. It was one of the greatest feelings I had ever known.
On January 19th I asked Kristal on our first official date. I took her for the day to San Diego to shop and enjoy the Pacific Ocean culture. It was a great day. We toured the city and rode on the Mission Beach roller coaster. Right around sunset I took her on a walk along the beach to a jetty overlooking the Pacific Ocean. As the sun was setting, we shared our first kiss. We spent the rest of the evening enjoying the Gas Lamp District and returned home to school.
Our relationship grew very quickly. We couldn’t spend enough time with each other. On February 21st we returned to Disneyland resort and walked the grounds of the Disneyland Hotel. We stopped in front of their waterfalls. It was there that I told Kristal that I loved her. She told me the same in return.
On May 21st of the same year, in that same spot at the Disneyland Hotel in front of the waterfalls I asked Kristal to marry me. She said yes and we were whisked to our engagement party at my friend Brad Walcher’s house in Coto de Casa, California.
We had our legal marriage ceremony in the Chapel by the Courthouse in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 12th of 2002. My parents were the only ones present. On December 21, 2002 we were married in front of God and family in Abbotsford, British Colombia, Canada at Central Heights Church.
We honeymooned in White Rock, British Columbia, for a few days then returned to our families to celebrate Christmas together. On Boxing Day, Kristal and I set off for Maui. After our honeymoon we returned to California and we moved into an apartment in Azusa, California. After finishing school we moved to Valencia, California, to be closer to my parents. After a few years and the birth of our first child, Natalie Ryan Sawyer, we took a ministry position at Central Christian Church in Mesa, Arizona. Along with spending two and half years there we were also blessed with the birth of our second child, Landon Shaun Sawyer. After a few other stops we landed in Durango, Colorado where we had our third child, Koen Jeffery Sawyer.
Our marriage has not been one ease but of sacrifice, love, honor, forgiveness, but most of all blessing. I am truly blessed to be in the same company as her let alone to be married to and parent our wonderful children with her. I am more in love with the woman that I see before me everyday then the girl I fell in love with early in 2002.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
our love story - from my perspective...
So part of our immigration stuff is proving that Shaun & my relationship is genuine and a "real love" marriage. Because of this, we have had to tell the story of how we met, fell in love, etc, as well as document our marriage through photos of our life together. It's been kinda fun to recount it all. Today you'll hear from me...tomorrow, from Shaun! :)
I moved down to Azusa, CA, in the fall of 2001 to attend Azusa Pacific University. I was a music major, and was in the University Choir and Orchestra. It was there that I met most of my friends, since we would spend so much time together rehearsing and performing. In mid-September while eating lunch between classes, one of my friends, Michelle Cross, and her then boyfriend David Ewell, introduced me to Shaun, who was David’s best friend/roommate. I remember the lunch, and I remember him being there, but I honestly didn’t think anything of it. Later, Michelle told me that Shaun thought I was really cute and that her and David thought we would be a good match! I was surprised since I hadn’t paid too much attention. And to be honest at that time I actually liked another one of David and Shaun’s friends!
Things with the other guy didn’t turn out, so Shaun started to make his move! He started having lunch with me, and we slowly developed a friendship. When I went home to Abbotsford for Christmas break, Shaun asked for my phone number, and he called me a few times while I was there. He heard that I was spending New Years Eve in Seattle with some of my friends, so he decided to fly up to join us. After school started in January, we started spending more one-on-one time together. I really liked him as a friend, but was unsure of if I had “the butterflies.” He asked me to go on a date with him to Disneyland (one of our favorite hangouts) and I said yes. In my mind I was going to give him one more chance – if I didn’t have romantic feelings for him by the end of the day then I was not going to pursue it any more. Sure enough, by the end of the Disneyland date I really liked him, more then a friend!
At Claimjumper in Seattle, WA, on New Years Eve 2001 
On January 19, 2002, he asked me on a date day to San Diego. He had the whole day planned out, and it was a great day. It was there, on Mission Beach, that he asked me to be his girlfriend and we had our first kiss.
In Seaport Village, San Diego, on the day Shaun asked me to be his girl...
We spent a lot of time together during that semester – during lunch breaks, sitting together at school chapel, him coming to my choir concerts, driving out to his parents house in Valencia, CA, for dinner, and going to Disneyland on dates.
On one of our many dates to Disneyland...
On another San Diego date day...
In February he told me that he loved me, and I told him the same thing! In March we met up with my parents in Palm Springs, CA, during spring break. Shaun’s parents drove out for a couple of days too, and we all spent Easter together. It was also when Shaun asked my parents for my hand in marriage. Fortunately, I had warned them this might be coming soon, since we loved each other and knew we wanted to marry, even though we had only officially been together for two months!
In Palm Springs, CA, on Easter Sunday 2002...
At the Ontario airport (CA) I think after we dropped Julene off after her visit...
Dinner with both sets of parents at Macaroni Grill in May 2002...
In May I was off on a two-week choir tour of the west coast. When I returned I had a couple of days before I had to return to Canada for the summer. Shaun asked me to dinner on May 21st, but while I was getting ready he disappeared. I went back to my room where I noticed an envelope on my bed. I opened it, and inside was a video of him. He had planned a scavenger hunt all around the LA area, with stops at different locations that were meaningful to us in our relationship. At each location was another envelope with a video inside, telling me where to go next. The last location was outside the Disneyland Hotel, where he met me, and asked met to share in the adventure of life with him. Of course I said yes! We had an engagement party that night with our friends and Shaun’s family.
Engaged!!!
After that we both headed up to Canada, for Shaun to meet my whole extended family and my friends. I stayed for the summer and to plan our big wedding, and Shaun headed back to Southern California, but he did come up to visit a couple of times over the course of the summer, and we spoke on the phone and emailed every day.
In my parents backyard before Shaun had to head back to Cali for the summer...
I headed back to APU in August 2002. In October, we headed to Las Vegas, NV, with Shaun’s parents to get married! Since we were planning on living in the US, we had hired an US immigration lawyer at the time that had recommended we legally get married in the USA, and then have the ceremony in Canada as we planned in December. So that’s what we did!
On December 21, 2002, we were married in front of God, our families, and friends at Central Heights Church in Abbotsford, B.C. We went on a 3 night “first” honeymoon to White Rock, BC, and then went back to my parents house to celebrate Christmas with both of our families. On Boxing Day, we flew to Maui, where we spent 8 glorious days on our “second” honeymoon.
In Maui on a sunset whale watching cruise...
After our wedding, Shaun worked part-time as a tutor/teacher at Valley Montessori while finishing up his last semester, and while I finished my Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in December 2003. Shaun eventually found in niche in working in worship ministry. Since May 2006 we have lived in Arizona, Nevada, back to So Cal, and Colorado.
We have been through a lot with all of the moves and change in careers. Along the way we have been blessed with three kids – Natalie Ryan (almost 5 years old), Landon Shaun (almost 3 years old), and Koen Jeffrey (5 months old). Our relationship has only gotten stronger through everything. We still love being together – playing with our kids, going out on dates, watching movies, or just hanging out together after the kids are in bed! Shaun is my best friend, partner in life, and the only person I can imagine being with!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
lately...
3 zucchini, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 tsp garlic
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 tsp basil
1 tsp salt
an answer to our problem?
As I've said in other posts, Koen has not been sleeping well at night lately! He is up 2 - 4 times every night to eat. When I took him to the doctor when we all had the flu, I had mentioned something about possibly teething to her and she said he isn't even close. So it hadn't even crossed my mind. But...
This morning I noticed a small white tooth peeking out of his bottom gums!!!
Could this the answer to our sleep problems?! I sure hope so! I feel so bad because obviously he has been uncomfortable, and I haven't been giving him tylenol or orajel to help him. What a trooper...
Sunday, February 20, 2011
changes...eh?
Proverbs 19:21
Dana told us at the beginning of January to prepare us - to pray about it, to see what we felt God calling us to do, and to give us an opportunity to test the waters to see if there were other jobs out there to provide for our family. He said things *could* possibly change if the finances improved, but he didn't really see how it could at this point. So for the first few weeks we did just that-- we fervently prayed for God to provide for the church so we could stay. But the more we talked and prayed about it, we realized that we weren't sure we wanted to be in an unstable environment for our family. Dana had said we could possibly do a month-to-month thing, but with Natalie starting school in the fall we weren't sure if we wanted to do that and then have to pull her out of school and move if things went sour financially again. Also, our lease was coming up at the end of March, and we knew we'd have to either move again or sign a new lease.
So, we set out starting to look for other worship ministry jobs, but unsure of if we even wanted to do ministry at this point. We've put our lives/hearts out there many times now, moved cross-country and to many locations only to have to pack up and move a short time later. We weren't sure if we were willing to do it, again! And, because of the economy here, there are practically no full-time worship jobs available at this time, at least in our style or the locations we would be willing to move to. So it seemed that door was closed.
We kept this really quiet, except for our families and a few close friends. We had people praying for us, and we really felt God's peace, that He would really take care of us, just like He has done before! He hasn't let us down yet!
After really talking things through, we decided to accept an offer from my parents to move up to Abbotsford! My dad offered a position for Shaun, working for his company and also learning how to do home renovations, which is something that Shaun has wanted to learn for quite some time now. It was a hard decision to make, only because we weren't sure if things here were going to change or not. And also it is another HUGE move for our family, to a place which is familiar to me, but so different for Shaun.
So...how do I feel about this?
At the beginning of January I was DEVASTATED. Angry. Frustrated. Questioning. But, we came to the conclusion that we love our church. They have been so great to us, and we have seen their love for God. Because of this, we need to trust the church leadership, that they are truly seeking God's wisdom for the church...and because we know God is leading them, we can know that He is leading us in this way.
I am SO VERY EXCITED to move closer to my family. My parents, Ben-Kari-Lacey, my grandmas, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and old friends! But at the same time, I haven't lived in Abbotsford for 13 years! When I left I was a teenager, young and innocent, without a husband and family. And now, I am 30 years old, married, with 3 children, and have been through a LOT these last few years. I have grown in my faith in the Lord, and I am honestly not the same person I was when I left at 17 years old! So there will be some adjustment...adjusting to life as an adult in the place I grew up!
Since we made this decision I have been so very busy doing TONS. OF. PAPERWORK. We are applying for permanent residency for Shaun, trying to get him a work permit, and I have also been getting the paperwork together for getting our kids their certificates of Canadian citizenship, since they are automatically dual citizens since they are essentially Canadians born abroad.
The plan is to move at the end of March. Our lease is up March 31st so the timing worked out well. Shaun is unable to work until the work permit goes through (hopefully in August/September) but he can do volunteer work or even work in pastoral ministry in some facet legally. We are hoping he can maybe work at a summer camp this summer either doing worship ministry or something...so if any of you have any connections we could use it! :)
We are going to be living in Abbotsford (near UFV) and need to find a good school for Natalie to start in September! Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated on that too!
One more quick thought -
it can be really hurtful when people say things like "Wow, you guys sure move a lot."
We have only ever gone where the Lord has lead us, and for us, so far, this has been the adventure He called us on. We at times have felt like vagabonds...but then again the apostle Paul traveled/moved around a lot in his ministry!
So...we would appreciate that if you really know our hearts and care about us that you would just be supportive of our decision, and know that we just really, really, really want what God wants for us.
Thanks :)
Friday, February 18, 2011
grand design
that this day was coming
but even though i knew
it doesn't hurt any less
but somehow the suffering
draws me to You
well i could start running in anger
but then what's the point of a Savior
i feel the pain
but it still doesn't change who You are
nothing i feel
is outside of the reach of Your arms
my whole world could crumble
and all of the pieces remain
in Your hands that are waiting
to put them together again
just like i know You will
in Your own time
in Your own wisdom
cause one day i'll look back
and see Your grand design
maybe it will make sense then
these questions i have
but with it all here front and center
sometimes it's hard to remember
i feel the pain
but it still doesn't change who You are
nothing i feel
is outside of the reach of Your arms
my whole world could crumble
and all of the pieces remain
in Your hands that are waiting
to put them together again
oh i could start running in anger
but then where's the need for a Savior
i feel the pain
but it still doesn't change who You are
nothing i feel
is outside of the reach of Your arms
my whole world could crumble
and all of the pieces remain
in Your hands that are waiting
to put them together again
i know You will...
-- Jill Phillips
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Koen J - 5 months old!
Seriously...time is flying way. too. fast. I just LOVE the stage Koen is at. He is just ready. Not sure what he's ready for, but he's ready and eager for it. And I love it.
Koen is starting to talk - jibber jabber, but I have heard Dada many times and a few times I have heard him say something that sounds like Mamamamama. Too cute!
This is his look he gives me...the look of total being totally enamored with his Mama. I love it...and I cherish it because I know he won't feel this way forever! :)
We LOVE you Koen J!!!
Monday, February 14, 2011
love
Making cupcakes for Valentines Day...
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
morning snuggles
Thursday, February 3, 2011
white lightning chicken chili
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 lbs cubed chicken breast
1/2 cup white wine
1 tsp cumin seed
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp white pepper (I only had black and that works too)
1 Tbsp lime juice (or the juice of 1 lime)
14 oz chicken broth
1 (7 oz) can chopped green chilis, undrained (I used mild)
2 cans white northern beans, undrained
1 can white shoepeg corn
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced or chopped
Sautee the onion and garlic in the olive oil, then add cubed chicken. When the chicken is cooked through, add the spices and white wine. Let it simmer down a bit. Then add the chicken broth, green chilis, beans, and corn. Bring to a boil, then simmer for at least 30 minutes, until liquid has reduced. Add mushrooms for the end, just to soften.
Serve with crushed tortilla chips, shredded Monterrey Jack cheese, and/or sour cream. Enjoy!
PS. Makes about 5 servings, around 365 calories per serving.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
made to crave
So, we decided no diets - we are just going to make healthy choices. So our diet looks like this:
- lots of fruits and veggies
- lots of proteins (nuts, meats, yogurt, string cheese)
- limited bread carbs (especially in the afternoon/evening)
- no eating past 7pm
- no refined sugars - instead we are using honey or raw sugar in moderation
- exercise 3 times a week (I have been just walking fast on the treadmill on an incline for 40 minutes)
We started this on January 2nd, a month ago today. The first couple of weeks I didn't really monitor how much I was eating. This last week or two I have been counting my calories only to make sure I am eating enough (or maybe sometimes make sure I'm not eating too much!) because I am adamant about wanting to maintain my milk supply for Koen even while doing this. So my goal, while nursing, is to eat around 1900 calories per day, which should allow me to lose at least 1.5 lbs per week and still maintain bf-ing for Koen.
Today (Wednesday) is my weigh-in day, and I am happy to report that I have lost 8.4 lbs in a month! I am really excited about this - now I am less than 2 lbs from my pre-Koen weight. I still have a loooong way to go. But somehow having this be a lifestyle rather then a diet I feel so liberated.
I also just got this book in the mail...
It is a book that just came out, and so far it is so very good. It talks about how we were all made to crave something, and that is God. However, we all look for ways to satisfy our cravings with other things. For most women, well at least the ones that need to read this book, it is food. She talks about how God is the only one who can truly satisfy us. The book doesn't focus on calories, diets, or even what the scale says. But instead submitting to God, glorifying Him with our bodies by eating well and exercise, and denying ourselves/our sinful nature when we are craving things other than Him.
If you want more info on the book, go to Made To Crave.
I'll be back with more of these updates...I promise! :)