As I type the title above I am reminded of the marketing tactic of my best friend Kevin Nickel. When I worked for his families concrete company many years ago it was common to tell the current client that their driveway, patio, or walkway was their best work yet. And to the Nickel’s credit, they were right. Every new project they took on they were better at fulfilling that the previous job.
2010 has been Amy and I’s best year. The blessings God has given us are far beyond anything we deserve, and we praise God for all he has given to us.
Travel
Honestly as I type this I cannot even remember all of the trips we have been on this year. I am going browsing iPhoto now just to remind me.
In January, we started the year off strong with our trip to Puerto Rico. Amy and I had a wonderful time leaving the -20* of Minnesota to arrive in 80* weather in Puerto Rico. Yes that was a 100* temperature change from departure to destination. It was an amazing 10-days filled with adventure and sight-seeing. As always Amy booked an awesome trip. From the El Yunque rainforest, to the majestic blue ocean front at the Coconut Palms we played, relaxed, and took in a lot of great culture.
In the beginning of February, we stopped into Summit County, CO to see our favorite amateur snow boarder friends Adam and Julie. Adam had an awesome opportunity to be on a trip with their church and due to being gone we only saw him for a day. Julie, Amy, and I still had a great four days of snow boarding, and hanging out. Loveland, Beaver Creek, and Breckenridge are must visits if you enjoy skiing or snowboarding. At Breckenridge we boarded the highest chairlift accessible run in the U.S. known as the Imperial Express (12,840ft). It was definitely one of my favorite runs of my boarding career. 2′ deep powder down a portion of the run helped me redefine what leg strength is as the snow was very choppy. Imaging jumping up-and-down for about 10 minutes straight and that is about what it feels like. The Imperial is also the run Amy took a hard fall causing a HUGE blister in her hip that lasted for almost 2 months. Overall it was a wonderful time with Julie, and a good to see Adam.
During the 3rd week of February, Kevin and I went backpacking at St. Croix State park in the low teen temperatures of the Minnesota winter. It was cold. Kevin and I hiked until 3a.m. and then cooked steaks over an open fire. On day 2 week did some snow shoeing. It was a great trip with great company.
The Kekakabic Trail (pics http://www.nathanamy.com/photos/) marked a great acheivement in October in Amy and I’s backpacking career. The Kek is Minnesota’s most elite backpacking trail through some of the remotest parts of the BWCA. Kevin, Tony, Amy, and I made the 38 mile trek over 4.5 days. It was some of the most difficult terrain, and unlike the Superior Hiking trail we rarely near anything that could resemble help should a major problem arise. We had the priveledge to hike through forest, blow down, and burnt forrest. The views and landscape was beatiful, and the company was great. Any serious Minnesota backpacker needs to do themselves a favor and do the Kekakabic trail.
Marriage
I never knew it would be this good. It seems like every year Amy and I become closer, and more in love that we were the previous year. Amazing does not even describe it. Amy is truly a gift from God to me, and I am continually reminded of his love when I think about Amy. She just seems to so perfectly compliment my strengths and weaknesses, and I her’s. I am so glad God did not reveal to me earlier in my life how great the marriage he had planned for me would be, as I would have likely done something that would have only gotten in the way of his plans for our life. As I reflect back on this year my mind is just blown by how Amy and I have continued to refine our love for each other, and for God. When I was younger I always believe that God had a wife for me, but I just could not image the marriage he would bless us with would be filled with so much joy. Life before Amy seems like a distance memory, and a period of time that was preparing for her and the life we would have together. The passion in our marriage is stronger today than is was in the first year. Pop culture has spent 26 years trying to tell me that marriage is the end of passion, sorry pop culture…God owns this one and this marriage gets better with age. The only thing here that is deteriorating is Amy and I’s tolerance for how Pop culture lies to kids about what marriage is and should be.
God & River Valley Church [RVC]
In 2009 Amy and I started attending River Valley Church [RVC], and what a great family we have become a part of. In 2009 we started getting back on track with our life in attending church and rejuvenating our relationship with God. In 2010, it is clear that we have found our home, and our relationship with God. Rob Ketterling(Lead Pastor) is an amazing man of God who has built a unique church centered around ministering to children, and sending members of the congregation around the U.S. and world on mission trips. Through RVC’s life groups Amy and I have gotten to know many amazing people. In 09′ and into ’10 we realized we wanted to find more christian friends, and God answered that call with RVC’s Life groups. Recently we discovered Marriage Night, a quarterly Friday message for married couples. The best way to avoid problems in the future is to prevent them, and Marriage Night is providing a great forum for strengthening marriages. Amy and I look forward to seeing how God will use us at RVC to further his kingdom.
Nathan’s Favorite 2010 Messages
- Surprise Me God (okay this is from Sept 2009, but I still love it)
- An amazing message challenging us to look for the work of God in our daily lives. When you start looking for it, you will quickly get a glimpse of how much God does for you each and every day.
- Not a Grasshopper
- Metaphore of God being this force of encouragement when you are at the bottom and completely out of strength.
- Words that Changed the World
- We take holding God’s word for granted because we do not have to hide it from any oppressive force, and we have not had to experience seeing blood shed it.
- Familee
- One person in the family must take a stand and say “It stops here”.
- Why God Why
- We wouldn’t get it even if he did tell us. As I look back on Amy and I’s early relationship, the car accident I can see how God was at work.
- The question is not why God, it is what is next God? It is not our place to question God, whatever has happend has happend for a reason. Believe in him, and he will take care of you.
Oh and all of these fine messages from Rob Ketterling can be found at http://rivervalleychurch.org/video/mediaplayer.php?category=rvc (Be sure to click on the “2010″ sections in the navigation towards the bottom of the page)
College
Amy finished her Associates degree with a 4.0 GPA. I am so proud of her for achieving her Asssociates, and getting 4.0 while managing a full time job. I was able to compelte my Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, acheiving a 3.8 GPA. Amy and I have applied ourselves in our studies and the results are evident. The stregnth God has given us in our marriage and our life can only be described as humbling.
Final Thoughts
As Amy and I sit in the Delta Sky Lounge waiting for our flight to Peru, all I can think is what an amazing year we have had, and how blessed we are. We are going to end the year celebrating our 5th anniversary in Cusco, Peru. We will then launch on 2011 by hiking the Inca trail to see the ancient ruins of Machu Pichu. I am excited to see what God has in store for Amy and I in 2011. Amy will be starting her Bachelors degree in March at Bethel Univeristy, and I will be ramping up Port Eighty, Inc. to take on more projects. Most importantly Amy and I will be getting involved at RVC. While we are not sure what that commitment will be yet, we are poised and listening for what it will be. Lastly, Amy and I are quite excited about the first Hein neice/nephew that Timothy and Manju will be having later this year. We are already planning our travel to Maryland to meet the newest Hein and to celebrate the birth.
