Father's Day!

In the total 22 years of my life, there has only been one man on this earth who has been consistently there for me: my dad. My dad, Tim Rule, is amazing. I have been privileged enough to be related to my number one role model.There are so many things, words, experiences, and pieces of advice I would love to share that he has shared with me that has so influence the way I have lived my life and perceived this journey God has set before me. However, there is not enough time nor enough room in cyber space to express my love for this man in my life.

All I know, is I have a LOT to thank him for. He has taught me how to trust, respect, be a servant, and unconditionally love. I think what one of my favorite qualities about my dad is that he has so many talents and such a large amount of people that he has made a significant difference in their life and yet he continues to have a humble attitude and continues to follow after God's plan for him. If there is anything I have learned from my dad, it is to seek God first, put others before yourself, and to find joy in all things.

Dad, you have been such an outstanding leader to our family. Words can't describe the numerous amount of things I have learned from you. But most of all I appreciate the model and example you have set for my brothers, myself and Savannah. Thank you for the dates that you have taken me on since I was a little girl... you will set a high bar for what to expect out of dates with other guys. Thank you for always being there to talk, thank you for always cheering us on, and thank you so much for making me feel like I was THE most important thing in the entire world.

Although you have handed me down to a pretty amazing guy, YOU will always be the first man in my life. I love you so much.

Happily Ever After Starts Here

Today marks the year anniversary of Brock and I's wedding. I woke up absolutely feeling overwhelmed with emotions and feelings. This morning we talked about exactly what we were doing at this time a year ago, how we were feeling, and all the events and people that were involved with that special day. I cooked Brock a special blueberry buttermilk pancake deluxe breakfast before he had to head out the door for work in honor of the special day (this is not routine of our typical days). However, once he left I found myself lost in wedding pictures, holding my dress and veil, wedding cards surrounding, and tears coming down my face. 

That wedding day had so much meaning behind it. Although, yes, an immense amount of planning was involved for the decor, food, and sequence of events but  the thing I still can't wrap my head around were the amount of people that were involved in making that day so special. As I looked through the pictures so many memories began replaying through my head. Our entire families' communities, family, and friends did so much to make that the most perfect day. I feel so overwhelmed thinking of the unspeakable hard work my parents did to make sure that the wedding was all that I dreamed it to be and how giving Brock's parents were. I  feel so blessed by the amount of items and services that our friends offered and provided out of their own kindness. I couldn't be more grateful for our wedding party who have been the most amazing friends before and after the wedding, we are overwhelmed by our growing friendships. Mostly, the faces that came to the wedding, those who traveled, those faces that I remember seeing as I walked down the aisle and that stayed and danced in the rain with us... all of these people I am overwhelmed with thankfulness for. Our wedding couldn't have been so special, couldn't have meant so much, and couldn't have been the wedding I always dreamed of with out them. God has so brilliantly placed these people in our lives, and we are so eternally grateful. 

 The best friends a girl could have!

 Brock's amazing groomsmen!

My second family!

 My mom... this picture says everything I want to.

 Our amazing family who have shaped and molded us into who we are

 I was privileged enough to have my Grandpa and Grandpa Spencer and my beautiful Grandma Rule at our wedding!

The 25 Kappas who came from Ireland to Seattle just to see me married off! 

As I now sit in my house, that I have now almost lived in for a year, I absolutely can not believe where I was then and where I am at now. God has been so faithful in providing for Brock and I as we learn to be husband and wife, own a home, and learn to be on our own. It has been a huge transition time in my life. I went from living with 60 girls to one man, I moved to a new city, and graduated from college. What to do now? As we put our first year of marriage behind us, I so look forward to seeing what God has intended for our future. 

 The most perfect and influential group of girls, friends, and sisters!

 Blake, Brock's brother and best friend!

Brock and I had the opportunity to celebrate our anniversary this weekend. We went out to a fancy-pants dinner and got to indulge ourselves in some amazing food. Over dinner, we talked a lot about the things we feel we have learned about each other and what we feel we have learned most about marriage. It is so sweet to see how God is working in and through out us and our marriage. Although we know there are many difficult times ahead I am so unafraid because I know that I have the best partner, team member, and team captain. 

My dad, the first man in my life!

 Savannah, my role model and encourager.

The most common piece of advice I always seemed to get before I got married was " Your first year is always the worst, it will so much better after that "...... WELL, if this was our worst year, I am really pleasantly surpirsed and thoroughly looking forward to the many, many years ahead.


Looks like my 'Happily Ever After' really did start exactly a year ago...I am one lucky gal thanks to Mr. Ingman and all of the people in our lives. 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I realize that it is already February, but I am excited to blog for the first time in 2012. I can not believe how fast time has flown. Brock and I had a wonderful Christmas with the Ingman family in Leavenworth. It was such a great reminder of how sweet it is to become part of another family and how blessed I am to have such wonderful in-laws. 

Brock and I Christmas Eve

The Ingman family in Leavenworth

For New Years, my wonderful siblings (minus little brother Brock) came and visited us for the weekend. It was so much fun to spend time together, as couples. After they have hosted us so many times in the past years, it was such a joy to be able to host them. 

I always find myself beaming whenever I think of my siblings. I am so proud of every single one. Although we haven't yet followed the footsteps of our parents who are involved in full-time ministry, we each have found our own ways of including the message of the true hope and freedom that comes from our heavenly Father in our professions. I am so convinced that Spencer, Savannah, and Brock do nothing but bless those around them. Anyone is lucky to know them, and I am lucky to be their sister. 

The three couples when they came to visit for New Years! (We missed you Brocky!)

My wonderful siblings

This past month has been a crazy one! I have just started an internship for a wonderful agency. It is a faith-based, non-profit organization that provides services, education, and support related to pregnancy, sexual integrity, and post-abortion recovery based on Biblical principles. The staff has been so inviting and such a pleasure to work with. I finally feel like I am part of the Tri -Cities community. This internship has opened my eyes to so many different things and has been such a wonderful learning experience. I feel so spoiled to get to use my degree with ministry. God is so good. 

It took me so long to write a blog this new year. I had started out with the idea that I wanted to begin the blog with my new year's resolution. However, it took me until now to think of one. I have never been big on new year's resolutions. I have always thought that you should be constantly setting forth goals for oneself, instead of one big one for the year. However, I have found a life-time goal for myself. 

Currently, I am reading the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It is changing my life. I wish I could quote all of my favorite lines to you.. but I think I would find myself re-typing the whole book on here. However, one recent line of hers that I came across really struck me. A large part of the book is dedicated to emphasizing the importance of giving thanks. 

"The practice of giving thanks...eucharisteo..this is the way we practice the presence of God, stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes. We don't have to change what we see. Only the way we see."

Later on, she high lights the fact that we can only feel ONE emotion at a time. It is our choice which feeling we feel. So many times I find myself running wild with emotions. Often times they are negative emotions, such as anger, guilt, and fear. However, I love how she tells us the way God has provided us a way out of these emotions. 

"The only way to fight a feeling is with a feeling.... Feel thanks and it's absolutely impossible to feel angry. We can only experience one emotion at a time. And we get to choose - which emotion do we want to feel?"

So, there it is. That is my life-goal. To feel thanks. To give thanks. To live thanks. I am going to fight every emotion that I have with thanks. Wish me luck!