We're Home

The sight of the Rocky Mountains was VERY welcome after driving through all of kansas & eastern Colorado. It definitely feels like home, to look out the window and see the Flatirons. It's hard not to be motivated to go run or climb or bike when everywhere you look you see mountains. It also felt like home to go back to Flatirons Community Church. After visiting churches in Michigan, NC, and TN, it was nice to come back to Flatirons Church. We've heard better preaching, been in nicer buildings, but Flatirons just seems like home to us.

We visited Ashley's Mom in Hermann and her dad, step-mom and sister in Kansas City, and have been in beautiful Boulder for 1 full day. Tomorrow, we'll get an oil change and drive to City of Rocks in Idaho. We'll be back in Boulder around August 5 for Justin and Krista's wedding.

July 4!!!!!

We were reading today in Phillipians 3 and it made us think of that church we went to last Sunday. Phillipians 3:3 says, “For we who worship God in the Spirit are the only ones who are truly circumcised. We put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what Christ Jesus has done for us.” It reminded us that it says many times in the Bible that it is not what we do or wear or say that makes us saved, it is by grace that we have been saved, through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 is a good verse as well. So, if anyone ever tells you that you need to wear a certain dress or suit, go to a certain church, or act a certain way to be a Christian, you can refer to these verses and tell them that these “works” will get them no closer to God.

We had a great July 4!!! We spent the last few days at the Riddle Retreat visiting with family. We also ran, swam, rode bikes and waverunners, wakeboarded, fished for catfish and brim, played ping-pong and poker. We were in the annual july 4 boat parade, where about 20 boats decorated with USA flags troll around the lake and wave to all the people on their docks. Later that night we went out on the pontoon boat again and watched some fireworks. It was fun, but not as fun as 2 years ago. 2 years ago on july 4 at the same place was when we first talked about getting married.

New Pictures Posted

Check out our Picasa Web Album on the right hand side of the page to SEE what we've been up to.

We drove from Florida Keys to Chattanooga Tennessee. We bouldered and went for a run at RockTown, then climbed a few routes at Foster Falls. It is very hot & humid. We got up at 5:30am to "beat the heat" and climb, and, we still were dripping sweat after 1 climb.

SHARK!!!!!!

We're now in the Florida Keys,visiting uncle Jerry & aunt Jean. We went snorkeling yesterday and Ashley saw a 6ft Nurse Shark swim right underneath her. I swam over to see what she was screaming about and saw a large barracuda, staring us down. I've never seen Ashley swim so fast back to the boat.

We got here monday night. We've been sea kayaking, snorkeling, hog-fishing (fishing with a hand line and live shrimp inside your glove, while snorkeling) and today we went deep sea fishing for dolphin fish. We caught about 20 small dolphin fish, none big enough to keep but we had a fun time catching em. On the way back, we fished some more and caught enough snapper to feed us all for dinner.

We had a great time in Fayetteville. We relaxed and spent some quality time with friends and family. We had a blast 4wheeling with mike & gloria. We also spent a few days at the beach and surfed, canoed in the cape fear ocean, and played in the sand with our nieces & nephews (Lauren, Ali, Wesley, Elijah and Isaiah). Ashley & Elijah got stung by a little jellyfish, but were tough (the sting is comparable to a wasp sting).

Fayetteville, NC

We're Home!!! just kidding, but it's nice to be at my parents house with a real bed and a place to put our stuff (besides our car). We need to clean out the car soon cause it stinks like ashley's shoes.
We posted some pictures of our trip. http://picasaweb.google.com/jowallac/EastCoastRoadTrip
Yesterday we helped put up a pool at Gloria's (my sister) house. Hopefully it stands up. If not, we'll have 5 energetic & disappointed nieces & nephews to deal with. Gloria & Mike's new house in Raeford is really nice, much more fitting for a family of 7 than their old home. We also made them grilled cheese for lunch, which consisted of using 1.5 loaves of bread & a ton of cheese. A loaf of bread lasts us about a week, but for them, it lasts, 1 MEAL.

Rocky Top Retreat, The New River Gorge

We're sitting on a picnic table at Roger's Rocky Top Retreat Campground at the New River in WV. We just saw a beautiful sunset and are relaxing feeling like bums. Jonathan used to camp here 10 years ago when he started climbing, and Roger remembered him and all the friends he used to climb with.

We've had a good time the past 2 days biking, climbing, swimming and bouldering at the local spots. Jason Marshal just met up with us this morning. He's a fun guy and challenges Jonathan a little especially since he's 6ft4! The atmosphere at the campsite is really laid back. Many climbers come here for the easy access to the climbing, cheap nights stay but most of all for Roger's quirky personality. He lives here and jokes around with everyone sharing tall tales, trash talk, beta on climbs, the weather and any other topic. Yesterday after hearing about Ashley's efforts to avoid poison ivy, oak and sumac he warned her that there's just no way to avoid it, it's everywhere...YIKES!!! However she's still trying with alcohol pads, sanitizer and showers that makes us stand apart from the rest of the stinky dirt bag climbers. Jonathan's even taken more showers in the last week than ever.

WE'RE BUMS!!!!!!

Yes, we are now homeless & jobless, living out of BamBam (our car). Thanks to a lot of y'alls help, we gave away alot of our stuff and put the rest of it in our storage shed or our car. We both quit work May 23. We sold our house May 25. And, now we're in Michigan visiting family. Thank you so much to those of you who have helped us and encouraged us. We have been blessed by many of you. It has been amazing how God has been with us every step of the way for the last year as we visited Thailand, sold our house, quit jobs, and a lot of other steps that have all gone soo smoothly. He has definitely grown our faith & trust in Him.

We have had a good time so far, despite surviving 3 hailstorms, a lot of rain, ashley losing her cell phone (my # is 720 335 1418), not getting cell phone service at all in South Dakota, getting less than 20mpg driving through South Dakota, and gas at 3.69/gallon. We've had a great time visiting family and drinking 5cent coffee & 99 cent donuts in the world famous Wall Drug store in SD.

Be sure to check our pictures at the link over there and also don't forget that you can subscribe to this blog so that it emails you when we update it.
God Bless You,
Jonathan & Ashley

We're IN

We just found out we got accepted to the YWAM DTS in Chiang Mai. Yeah. It starts Sept. 10 and lasts 5 months. Look at the link over there for more info if want it.

Our real summer plans

Obviously, these plans are tentative, but, this should give you an idea of what we'll be doing this summer.

May 25, sell house
may 25-30, hang out in boulder area with Amy & Eric
May 30-June 2, climb in South Dakota around Mt Rushmore
June 2-5 Hang out in Gaylord Michigan with family
June6-7 Hang out in Kalamazoo Michigan with Angela & Justin
June 8-11 climb/camp at the New River Gorge with friends
June 12- hang out in NC with friends & family,
June 15-17 Ashley flies to KC for Jen's wedding
June 27-30 drive to the Keys in Florida to visit family
July 1-4 Drive to Jackson TN
July8, leave for the NW roadtrip. Spend a few days climbing at City of Rocks, Idaho (july 8-11), visit friends in Portland (July 12), Backpack in Olympic NP (July 13-15), Visit Nelson in Seattle, Backpack in the North Cascades (July 16-19), climb and bike in squamish and whistler (July 19-23), then stay a week in Banff NP (July 23-29). Drive through Glacier NP (July 29-30), the Tetons(July 30-31), then climb at (aug. 1-4)Wild Iris or Tensleep in Wyoming.
Aug. 5, try to make it to Keystone for Justin & Krista's wedding.

August 20? Fly to Thailand, explore the beaches of southern thailand, then make our way to Chiang Mai
Sept. 10, YWAM DTS Chiang Mai starts. this stands for Youth With a Mission, Discipleship Training School. It is a missionary training school for 5 months. it includes a lot of time in a classroom, and a lot of time doing outreach activities in Northern Thailand and China. It will be a good opportunity for exposure to lots of different things (orphanage work, building projects, and many other outreach activities)
Visit Tim & Joann in Guam
Feb. Stay in Northern Thailand, try to get settled a little, learn the language, and start trying to figure out what, how, and where we could serve most effectively.
November 2008. Return to America to visit for Christmas

1 month to go

So, we now have a skype name. It is jonathanashleywallace. have you heard of skype. it is an easy cheap way to call internationally from your computer. cool. I just called ashley from this computer for 2.1 cents per minute. would have been cooler if she wasn't in the same room. Another cool thing is if you had a skype name, you could call me from your computer for free, if we were both on the internet & skype & somewhere in the WORLD.

COOL.

We're getting excited to get outta this crazy town. A lot of stuff has come together, and a lot is left to do.

See ya.