Kelsey's Entertainment Shower

Last weekend Sam and I traveled home to Wheaton so I along with our friends, Allie and Amy could shower my best friend, Kelsey with gifts for her upcoming wedding (New Years Eve)! Kelsey and I have been best friends for 12 years, beginning our friendship at Longfellow Elementary, continuing through middle school/high school together, graduated college together at Olivet this past May and now have the privilege to stand up in each others weddings. It's been quite the journey! I have always admired Kelsey for her love for people, her intelligence, and the godly example she has always been to me. I am so proud of her :) Sam and I are anxiously awaiting their wedding in 40 days! Love you Kels. Thankful for the friend you have been and will always be to me.

Picture of Allie and Amy (our good friends and small group leaders in high school)
with Kels and I at the shower!  

We also enjoyed a yummy dinner with Mom and Dad Haist on Friday night (celebrating Dad's birthday) and Saturday spent the evening celebrating Grandma Dean's 80th Birthday with the Dean's. It was a wonderful weekend home. Blessed by our loving families :)

2nd post of the day: South City Church

Hello all. We decided to give you guys a two for one deal today! As many of you know, Katelyn and I spent a while trying to figure out what denomination (or lack there of) we wanted to join. After spending time among Methodists, Christian & Missionary Alliance folks, Baptists, Acts 29 folks, non-denoms, and Dutch Calvinists (CRC), we had quite a decision to make! Through a lot of studying, book reading, and conversations, we came to conclusion that we wanted to belong to the Presbyterian Church in America (check out beliefs here)!

Upon coming to this decision, we starting hunting for churches as soon as we moved to St. Louis. It only took our second Sunday here to find our home. Here's a story...

One of Katelyn's "criteria" for a church was that it be big enough that people wouldn't notice we were new, if we were out of town, or if we walked in late on any given Sunday. Well, when we visited South City Church (our new church) within 30 seconds of finding our seats Vivian, a wonderful 92 year-old lady, gave us a warm welcome: "I didn't recognize the back of your heads! Are you new?" All to say, we walked out knowing that this is the church for us.

Since then, we have officially become members, joined a community group, and had a blast getting involved. Katelyn is now a nursery coordinator and I've been playing drums every other Sunday. We couldn't feel more at home with our new church family. It is a joy and blessing to be here.

You can check out our website here: http://www.southcitychurch.com

Girls Weekend :)

This weekend my good friends, Katie and Elyse came to visit! We had fun on Friday playing the Wii (Sam's idea) and Saturday we spent the day at the St. Louis Zoo (it's free and fun)! After that, we headed to Pei Wei for dinner where we enjoyed some really good Asian food. Sunday we went to church and enjoyed grilled cheese and tomato soup before they headed back to Wheaton. Sam spent the weekend working, studying, and being a hermit :) Thanks for visiting guys! I miss you already! 

Katie, Me & Elyse before heading to the zoo!