We celebrated our 1 year anniversary...yeah we made it!:) Just kidding..it has been a wonderful year. Luke suprised me with my favorite flowers, a room at Fitgers, and a spa day at the salon. You can't beat a hotel that has aveda products in the bathroom. We both had facials and massages. So relaxing!!! We endulged in our wedding cake topper...yummy! This was the view from our room. Click on the picture to see more pics!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
newlyweds
Dani's married! We are so excited for the happy couple. I had the job of personal attended, and all went smoothly, except for almost leaving without the honeymoon luggage. She planned the most beautiful day. The ceremony was on wisconsin point by the water, and the reception at the encounter was perfect. I loved the colors! Click on the link to see more wedding pics!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
missy
Hey friends and family,
We are asking for your prayers for our sister in law Missy Rowan (luke's brother's wife). She was recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in her 22nd week of pregnancy. She and her baby Angel are fighting strong, but please keep them in your prayers. There is a link to her caring bridge site in our links lisif you would like to keep updated or leave her a note of encouragement.
We are asking for your prayers for our sister in law Missy Rowan (luke's brother's wife). She was recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in her 22nd week of pregnancy. She and her baby Angel are fighting strong, but please keep them in your prayers. There is a link to her caring bridge site in our links lisif you would like to keep updated or leave her a note of encouragement.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
wedding days
We had the priveledge of attending our friend pete and angies wedding this past Saturday. All I have to say is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. After the ceremony we took a train ride up the shore. Then we all met at the tent overlooking Lake Superior where we dined listening to a swinging jazz band. It was such a perfect day for the happy couple. We were reminded of our wedding...almost a whole year now! Click on the photo to see more pics...
yard games at the 4th party
We had a great fourth. Around noon we walked with Ty down to 4th fest but couldn't stay long it was way too hot for the pup. Later that day we headed off to the olsons for a BBQ. Luke took his favorite place at the grill with the men. As we spit watermelon seeds and cherry pits we knew it was finally summer in duluth. After a few yard games, Luke and I left the party to meet the Ohmans/Byers down by the waterfront to watch the fireworks. It was cool to see them up close and personal!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Flat tire!
Yeah so I am sitting here at the car place. I got a random flat tire on the way to work today! So fun! At least they have internet to play on! So I thought I would update our blog. I have decided that we are going to try to update more often...promise! Not a whole lot happening in the rowan house. We are still lovin have a puppy. He is so cute. Luke is enjoying his new job of youth and young adult pastor! Lots of activities this summer. Well the mechanic is hailing me! Talk soon!
Friday, June 8, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
My wife told me not to say anything stupid!
Got a credit card? CUT IT UP! I have been fully-100% converted. I am a disciple of Dave Ramsey and Jesus-of coarse. This past Thanksgiving when I was at my in-laws, my brother in-law, Brian, was looking up stocks on the internet. I asked him what he was doing. Brian informed me that he was making some adjustments to his retirement portfolio before the end of the year. He started talking the jargon of finance guys and my head began spinning. At that moment I realized I was FINANCIALLY ILLITERATE! I felt so overwhelmed, however for the next hour or so he patiently answered my questions and wet my appetite for financial knowledge. Before the night was over Brian laid out some steps to take before we met again at Christmas.
A few days later I was listening to Focus on the Family podcast, and they were playing their #1 requested show before the end of the year. The show consisted of an interview with a crazy Christian financial guy named Dave Ramsey. In the show, Ramsey layed out the step of finanical freedom called the Baby Steps (Brian's are similar). The Baby Steps are as followed:
1. Save an Emergency Fund of $1000
2. Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball
3. Put 3-6 months of Expenses in savings
4. Invest 15% of household income into a Roth IRA's and pre-tax retiremnt
5. College Funding for children
6. Pay off home early
7. Build wealth and give (Dave teaches tithing-no matter where you are at in the Baby Steps)
Invest in mutual funds and real estate
Jody and I started the baby steps in January with a plast-sectomy. We vowed to not used credit cards ever again. We have started a budget and set several goals and are on our way to becoming financially fit. We have almost become a little obsessive in following the plan. Jody and I listen to Dave Ramsey's podcast everyday-check it out! The cool thing about all this is how God has blessed us in our pursuit of financial responsibility.
Luke
Resources
Websites
www.daveramsey.com
www.money.com
www.mvelopes.com (Budeting software-evelopes style)
Books
Total Money Makeover-Dave Ramsey (about: Wealth building tools and knowledge) Excellent
The Wealthy Barber-David Chilton (about: Solid financial knowledge and investing) Very Good
Publications
Money Magazine
Podcast
David Ramsey
Money Matter (Crown Financial Ministry)
A few days later I was listening to Focus on the Family podcast, and they were playing their #1 requested show before the end of the year. The show consisted of an interview with a crazy Christian financial guy named Dave Ramsey. In the show, Ramsey layed out the step of finanical freedom called the Baby Steps (Brian's are similar). The Baby Steps are as followed:
1. Save an Emergency Fund of $1000
2. Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball
3. Put 3-6 months of Expenses in savings
4. Invest 15% of household income into a Roth IRA's and pre-tax retiremnt
5. College Funding for children
6. Pay off home early
7. Build wealth and give (Dave teaches tithing-no matter where you are at in the Baby Steps)
Invest in mutual funds and real estate
Jody and I started the baby steps in January with a plast-sectomy. We vowed to not used credit cards ever again. We have started a budget and set several goals and are on our way to becoming financially fit. We have almost become a little obsessive in following the plan. Jody and I listen to Dave Ramsey's podcast everyday-check it out! The cool thing about all this is how God has blessed us in our pursuit of financial responsibility.
Luke
Resources
Websites
www.daveramsey.com
www.money.com
www.mvelopes.com (Budeting software-evelopes style)
Books
Total Money Makeover-Dave Ramsey (about: Wealth building tools and knowledge) Excellent
The Wealthy Barber-David Chilton (about: Solid financial knowledge and investing) Very Good
Publications
Money Magazine
Podcast
David Ramsey
Money Matter (Crown Financial Ministry)
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
one life
As I was researching for our missions emphasis for the youth I came across these stats. How painful are they?- It seems so hopeless, but we serve a big God, who did give us one life to do something with...
HIV & AIDS in Africa
As the sun goes down on another day in Africa, more than 6,000 fresh gravesites show the day’s toll. And tomorrow AIDS will claim another 6,000 lives. The day after? Yep, 6,000 more. AIDS does not discriminate - it can kill anyone, and does, every day. It does not take holidays off, it does not spare the innocent.
In Africa, an entire generation is dying. Mothers. Fathers. Teachers. Farmers. Even pastors. Working men and women. Dead. In their shadow are more than 15 million innocent children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
Here are just a few of the real-life facts:
• In 2005, more than 2.8 million people died because of AIDS – that’s equal to a plague killing off the entire population of Chicago.
• 15 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Think about it – that’s around the same as the total number of high school students in the U.S.
• By 2010, an estimated 20.2 million children worldwide will have lost a parent to AIDS.
• In Swaziland, one of every three people is HIV-positive. Imagine if that were true in your youth group? Your church? Your own family?
But this is not a hopeless situation. Not if people like us are willing to stand up and use their One Life to Do Something about it.
HIV & AIDS in Africa
As the sun goes down on another day in Africa, more than 6,000 fresh gravesites show the day’s toll. And tomorrow AIDS will claim another 6,000 lives. The day after? Yep, 6,000 more. AIDS does not discriminate - it can kill anyone, and does, every day. It does not take holidays off, it does not spare the innocent.
In Africa, an entire generation is dying. Mothers. Fathers. Teachers. Farmers. Even pastors. Working men and women. Dead. In their shadow are more than 15 million innocent children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
Here are just a few of the real-life facts:
• In 2005, more than 2.8 million people died because of AIDS – that’s equal to a plague killing off the entire population of Chicago.
• 15 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Think about it – that’s around the same as the total number of high school students in the U.S.
• By 2010, an estimated 20.2 million children worldwide will have lost a parent to AIDS.
• In Swaziland, one of every three people is HIV-positive. Imagine if that were true in your youth group? Your church? Your own family?
But this is not a hopeless situation. Not if people like us are willing to stand up and use their One Life to Do Something about it.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
wacky aussie cooks
Reciently Luke and I have discovered the wide world of podcasts. Are they for real? I can't believe...its FREE! I feel like I should be getting a bill in the mail any day now. How amazing is it that you can listen to the BBC news, or the latest sermon from a church in western Texas, or Rochester MN. We started our podcast journey by enjoying a few sermons that would download weekly...then we discovered that you could listen to your devos on the way to work, you could learn better grammer, or you could listen to the highlights of the Wall Street Journal. We don't have a TV so we started to get some news programs so we could stay updated. First we listened...but now the nightly news just pops right into the computer...and we can WATCH it when we want....amazing. And yes...still free. You can learn to speak Chinese, or do yoga. Totally FREE! There are podcasts that will motivate you to clean the house or stay on a diet. Our new favorite is a cooking podcast called "Crash Test Kitchen." It's a poor quality home video of this austraulian couple who don't have any idea how to cook. Nor do they have any of the right equipment( they reciently shattered a glass bowl while trying to saute onions in it over their gas burner). But they dive right in and learn as they go. They are totally wacky and fight about what they are cooking in their 10 min cast. There are many other cooking podcasts out there, but this one has been very successful, even making it into TIME magazine. Check it out...Its Free!!
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