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woondiggity
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Name: Woonilla
Birthday: 1/26/1979
Gender: Male
Interests: geetah, singing/songwriting, steak
Expertise: Foreign Accents
Occupation: Artist
Industry: Entertainment
Message: message me
AIM:  woondiggity
Member Since:
10/13/2003
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| I'm ENGAGED!!!On Tuesday, April 24, 2007, i asked Hanna to marry me. Of course, she said yes, or else i wouldn't be writing a xanga entry on it. So here's how it all went down:
Hanna really doesn't like surprises, so i didn't want to do something where i popped the question out of the blue. On the other hand, i enjoy surprising her. So i decided i would make the whole day a surprise, so that she would know it was coming, but so that i could still have my fun.
I made Tuesday Hanna's "Free Day." Next to Jesus and (hopefully) me, she loves nothing more than getting free stuff, so i arranged for her to go get free stuff all day. I basically went around to different stores and places and bought stuff for her, and then talked to cashiers and managers and told them i was sending her to pick everything up on this particular day. Then i made these coupons for her to present in order to redeem the stuff. When she redeemed something, she'd have to take a photo before she could get the next coupon, which i'd also left with the cashiers. Hanna hates taking pictures and gets easily embarrassed, so i had my fun  . Anyhow, she went around on her own all day picking up the various items, which all led to an evening out with yours truly and a special question. Everyone keeps saying how it's so unbelievable that i'm engaged (and by the way, why's it so unbelieveable, huh?!!!  ), so i will provide photographic proof that it all happened.
Some photos are missing, so i'll just tell you what happened in lieu of the picture.
When Hanna returned from washing her face after waking up, there was a big card that said "Hanna's Free Day" on her bed, along with an envelope with the first coupon on it. The rules were explained: take a pic with the merchandise and the coupon, and then you can receive the next coupon.
The first coupon was to Starbucks, where she got a Free Green Tea.
Then she got free lunch at WTS (lobster bisque from The Capital Grille--in the thermos--and flatbread from Cosi
Then off to the mall, where there was a dress (the "oooh") from The Limited...
...and a home-spa treatment (the "ahhh) from Crabtree & Evelyn waiting for her.
While Hanna was at the mall, i was setting up a little home shopping experience at her place...every woman loves to shop for shoes! She picked the pair on the left.
 
(here's the pair she chose)
Then, a free date...obviously with me!...
Which led to a free dinner at Barclay Prime in Rittenhouse Square--SO GOOD!!!...
Isn't she so cute :P
Which led to her getting a "Free Black Box & ?"...a nd one final coupon:
And then, the big payoff! After she got that final coupon, she said, "okay, now?" So i started getting up out of my seat to get down on a knee, but she got embarrassed and said, "No! Don't do it!!!" So of course, i did. I had a little speech prepared, but she looked so embarrassed that i didn't bother with it. Anyhow, i was literally on my knee for 30 seconds. Then it was over just like that, and we just went about eating. Hahahaha...someone asked me if i made her cry. I didn't. She laughed. Hahahaha! After she got the ring, my efforts at conversation were futile. She kept looking at the ring all night (which i guess means i bought a good one). I could've been turning bright green, and it wouldn't have mattered!
After we ate dinner, i had a surprise party planned with all our friends, but because of mismatching cover stories, inconsistencies, and bad lying, she sniffed it out...but she was still shocked and embarrassed! Anyhow, THANKS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS FOR COMING OUT TO CELEBRATE WITH US. Special thanks to everyone who helped me shop and set up and sneak around! Really, the fact that we have such wonderful people to enjoy life with is the best part of it all. The after-party was the best part of the night for me (save for the way Hanna looked when i picked her up). It's so encouraging to start our engagement with so much support and love. So again, Thanks! I'll put pictures of the after party up when i get them.
And lastly, thanks unending to the God who gives meaning, strength, joy, and love to our relationship. I have learned so much about seeking the beauty of Christ through the fires of our relationship, and even more about the grace that brings that beauty near to our lives.
And needless to say, Hanna, i love you forever.
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| UPDATEI guess it's been a while since I've updated what's happening in the Looney Land of Woonny, so here's my life in a few paragraphs.
I'm still working in Cherry Hill, NJ, as a youth pastor, and still living in West Philly with 7 other guys. Everyone in ministry says they're learning a lot, and that's because there's always so much to learn. You learn a lot when you preach every week--some of it even has to do with preaching. Preaching to youth in particular has forced me to figure out ways of communicating some pretty abstact things in very simple terms. If you know me, I like the fact that theology has complexity and nuance; but i realize more and more that if i can't communicate profound truths in simple terms, then im not thinking like a shepherd. Preaching every week helps you find your own voice, too. I'm sure my preaching still bears the obvious marks of my role models and mentors, but at least i've been more comfortable speaking from my own heart, rather than in the modes of others. More important than any of these practical lessons, preaching has kept me under God's watchful eye. I feel his gaze upon the inner reaches of my hidden soul. God has excavated so many of my own issues and motives. Most would say i'm fairly (if not very) introspective to begin with, but this has less to do with me seeing me than it does to do with knowing God sees me. As a minister, that's both comforting and devastating. I can never get away with preaching from a pedastal, however rigorous my effort, because God is constantly bringing me to that bowed posture of repentance and humility.
The ministry itself has its issues. The kids are great. I love my kids. There are, of course, talkative kids who snicker and sleep not so subtly during sermons. There are also more memorable moments when some middle schooler takes it upon himself to read his Bible, or when one of my upperclassmen reaches out to a seventh grader. All in all, they are a precious group of kids, and I love being their pastor...most of the time ;). However, there are definitely difficulties. The biggest problem is that we have a youth group of 50+ and not enough staff. Well, for a time, the staff consisted essentially of me and...well, me. Now, thankfully, we have a young adult helping us, but we had to steal her from an understaffed Sunday School ministry. Our church situation is unusual, because despite the size of our youth group, the adult congregation is on the small side. Moreover, there are only a handful of English speakers (much less English speakers young enough to reach youth). Ideally, i think a student-staff ratio of 10 to 1 (at least) would be great, but right now, it's nearly 30:1. Undoubtedly, God can use whoever chooses to serve, but in our youth group, it is certainly the case that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Most days, i'm so busy managing the size of our group (making sure that no one is setting fires and that no one is getting left out) that there's little time for personal ministry. There's a growing lack of intimacy that's forming between the kids and me. We get along great, but there's just not enough one-on-one personal contact for them to open up, even when i ask them how they're doing. I found out recently that a number of kids were having difficulties, and it broke my heart that i had to find out second hand.
Admittedly, i haven't even been here a year yet, and trust takes time to develop. I realize that ministry is a long-term endeavor that requires perseverance and determination. Whatever false starts and missteps may come, i am relying on God's providence. I'm learning to pray because things are beyond my control, and not simply because i should. And i'm learning that God is patient with me and with the kids. I can't see myself as a mini-Messiah. it's not up to me to save their souls. I'm simply there to be faithful in my ministry before God. Whatever else happens, i have to trust in Christ.
Ok...now the fun stuff...which shall be brief. Things with Hanna are going well. She's REALLY busy with school and working part-time, so pray for her. God's been refining me through the relationship, which probably makes it sound like things have been rough (haha). But, what i mean is that in a relationship, you realize how imperfect and sinful you are, and in order to love someone, Christ must increase, and you must decrease. At the same time, our relationship is a lot of fun. It's amazing how much fun you can have with a person who frees you to trust.
On another note, we're about two weeks from our one-year mark. :) I know...We serve a God of miracles!!! Also, my folks are coming in town this weekend, and our families are meeting...eeeek! hehe.
Anyway, say hi to a lonely man and leave a comment!
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exactly...
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| Thanksgiving in Texas!I'm going to be in Houston from Monday, 11/20 until Friday, 11/24, so if you want to hang out, leave a comment or call me up :).
<>< W
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| 6 months :)
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