6 states = head cold

It seems like March has just FLOWN by and that is because of how busy I have been and how much traveling has happened. Business trip to Connecticut- then San Diego- then a family emergency that took us 700 miles from home. My body is protesting! I think this is what the nucleous of my cells are screaming "Time to get sick so it forces her to stay in one place for a while!"

It has been a great month though. I got to see lots of old friends in San Diego, even older friends in Wisconsin and Minnesota. God has really blessed me.

Spring has yet to officially arrive here in Ohio so as I look forward to crashing on my couch tonight and dreaming of my cruise to the bahamas in 2 months!

Strong Words

I was listening to some of my favorite podcasts while working out at the gym this weekend. Brian and Bobbie Houston from the HillSong Church in Sydney are some of my favorite speakers. I got to hear Bobbie Houston in person while at a Women's conference in LA and have come to love listening to her talk. She makes you laugh with her enthusiasm, like watching someone who has had too much coffee and can't stop talking!

One thing she kept on saying is resonating in my mind- even 72 hours later. She kept on referring to her chosen passage of scripture as "strong words". God has Strong Words for his people.

Sometimes in life we are faced with strong words. Words like Cancer, Infertility, Unemployment, Death. Words that you never think will be spoken to you, and then they are. Never to be taken back. They come at times when you least expect them. They hurt and they sting. They bring fear and grief.

However- I am reminded that my Father is a King. He is used to pronouncing and proclaiming. Take the best speech you have ever heard and remember the passion it stirred in you. Remember the hope you felt in your heart.

Reading the words of our King will arouse the same hope, the same passion in you. If you have had a strong earthly word spoken to you, find an even stronger word from your Father.

1 John 3:1
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

Settling In

The last couple of weeks I have noticed something about myself. I think I have finally settled into Ohio. Looking back I think last year was really really rough. New state, new home, new church, new friends, new job. Although my transient nature somewhat thrives on the new- I am finding alot of joy in the familiar and a peace with my surroundings.

This week especially two things stuck out to alert me about my new found state of mind.

We are getting more involved in our church. This week we met with leaders to volunteer in both International Student ministry and Young Professional women's group! I think holding back from comitting ourselves was fear that Ohio wasn't going to work out for us. It feels so good to be involved and using our gifts and talents for God's glory!

Second thing may seem a little weird- and no there is no Agbovi Junior on the way yet. When I left California I was given some items from my previous employer who was liquidating inventory. Two boxes of high end English baby strollers. We brought them with us to Ohio and for some odd reason I have never opened them up!

This week I was envisioning the "nursery" and decided to see what was inside those boxes. Wow..what a surprise! I found there are three beautiful strollers in those boxes. :) One pink and two neutral. Emmanuel heard me banging around upstairs so he came up and started laughing! He grabbed the pink one and started vroom vrooming around the hallways! Hopefully soon we can fill up those little strollers.

Anyway- just wanted to let you know that I am doing well here. Enjoying God's blessing on my life.

Guest Blogger- "Today is Valentine's Day"

Today is Valentine day

Yesterday my wife asked me what I’m going to be writing about today, since today is valentine day. I told her I started another topic and should finish it today.
Well, you can imagine what her advise to me is. She said: “I think you should write about valentine day.” So here is what I think about valentine day.

As a married man, I know that valentine day is very important for most women, especially to those with “soul mate.” Here is my confession. I can be a little stubborn sometimes, particularly when it comes to “Traditions.” I don’t really like the idea of having tradition, I like thing to happen spontaneously. Don’t get me wrong, I get excited everyday on my way home from work to see my beautiful wife and talk with her and just have fun together. Is that a tradition? I look forward to spending time with her, but when it comes to things that seem akin to “tradition” I’m averse, yes quite reluctant. I’ve learned quickly to please my wife in many ways for God’s glory, and I know she is grateful for that, but at the same time, I know she gets sad or maybe upset when I don’t get excited about traditions.

I decided to get energized and be prepared for some of the traditions such as putting Christmas tree together few days before “Jesus birthday”, or celebrating valentine day with passion and enthusiasm. For those of you who are thinking, what about birthday, or wedding anniversary? Those days are “a giving” which means, I do not consider those celebration days a traditional days; those days are days God has set aside and blessed. That being said, for this year valentine day, my wife and I have a reservation at a very nice restaurant at 7:00 PM. We are going to dress up very nicely and have a romantic evening for ourselves. I bought her a very nice gift from Victoria Secrets. My wife and I often spend quixotic evening together, either in our house or go out for dinner, but why today is different from the others?

Valentine day is a unique day set aside for romance sometime in the 3rd century (not by God but by people). Maybe for those who don’t usually have time to be romantic (I was once one of them), or to those who because of their jobs or geographic location do not spend time together enough!
The day was originally a pagan celebration that was renamed after two early Christian martyrs named Valentine.
Jesus did sacrifice his life for us so we can have abundant of live. So whenever you celebrate the so-called “Valentine day” remembers the love God demonstrate to the world. Valentine has many symbols, but the one that I like the most is the heart-shaped outline and the doves. These two symbols represent for me LOVE and PEACE.

We need to be thankful for every single day God has given us and treat those days with our spouse like a valentine day, day of love and peace. A healthy relationship is a blessing from God, so let us celebrate this valentine day with joy and gladness with respect that God is sovereign.
Here we go!!! Have a Happy valentine! Emmanuel Agbovi

More patience than I!

So I am not going with any of the three suggested topics in my previous blog because I just wanted to quickly brag on my husband for a few minutes. There are so many good qualities that make me adore him...even after being with him for 4 years, but yesterday it was his patience that made me giggle.

We had rented some movies from the Redbox- for those of you who don't know what that is, it is a movie vending machine located at various gas stations and grocery stores around my community. For $1 a night you can select a movie from a touch screen.

Well we had two to take back and wanted to rent a new one- so we stopped at the local gas station. Eman wanted to drive me because it had started to snow- but insisted on wearing his Adidas shorts and tennis shoes!

So we get the Redbox- snow is coming down and the machine is broken. I first attempt to get a movie and after two attempts I give up and go to the car. Eman however, standing in his shorts mind you, attempts for AT LEAST 15 minutes to get the darn thing to vend a movie. I see him using two hands...one to get the mouse over the right movie and the other to quickly select the movie. You would think he was performing brain surgery with the intensity he was working!! I was cracking up in the car and had to both take a picture and show you the patience of a saint that is my husband.

I love that perseverance in him and it spreads throughout his life. Whether it is our marriage, his job, his home, his friendship, he has taught me so much about patience. It is amazing what we have learned from each other and I am so thankful to have him in my life.