Seattle to Austin ✈️
My extended family made their first-ever trek out to Austin, and we had a blast showing them around our beloved city. From mouth-watering Austin eateries to nail-biting soccer games, we kept ourselves busy and had a blast.
But that’s not all — we also got the chance to see the locations of one of my Mom’s favorite shows, Fixer Upper, come to life in Waco, TX! Yes, that’s right — we visited the Magnolia Silos, the brainchild of the one and only Chip and Joanna Gaines.
We also had the pleasure of watching the hilarious comedian Dustin Nickerson and laughing until we cried. His jokes had us rolling on the floor and added even more fun to our already exciting week. We definitely recommend checking out his latest show on Netflix!
Celebrating Easter ✝️️
Being a Christian is truly something special. It’s like joining a massive, loving family that stretches across the entire globe. And on one of the holiest days of our religion, we got to celebrate with our brand new church family at Austin Stone Northwest!
Even though we were surrounded by mostly strangers, we all had one very important thing in common — our love for the Lord. And that was enough to make it feel like a full-on family affair! The worship was heartfelt and powerful, and we all felt an immediate sense of community and belonging. But what made it even sweeter was having my folks in town to share in the experience with us.
Proud Dad Moments 👏
Y’all, let me tell you about the incredible experience I had with our boys, James and Cole. I had the pleasure of serving alongside them as greeters at our church for the first time, and it was such a sweet experience.
Greeting people as they walked into the building may seem like a small task, but it’s actually a huge opportunity to make people feel welcomed and valued — especially those who may be unsure or uncomfortable with God, Christianity, or attending church at all.
James and Cole embraced this opportunity with open hearts and a genuine desire to make everyone feel at home.
And let me tell you, we know firsthand just how important it is to feel welcomed when you’re new to a church.
As recent newcomers ourselves, we were so grateful for the smiling faces of greeters welcoming us to the church, saying hello, and making us feel comfortable. It was a no-brainer to join this amazing service team and help others feel just as welcomed as Jesus welcomes us
A Mad Dash to Seattle 🏒
So picture this: your favorite hockey team is playing a playoff game in Seattle on a Friday night, but you live in Austin, TX, and you need to be back to coach your four-year-old’s soccer match early Saturday morning. What do you do?
Well, of course, you say “challenge accepted” and make it happen!
I woke up before dawn on Friday, hopped on a plane to Seattle, and met up with one of our best buddies in the city. We had an absolute blast watching an incredible game that night — let’s just say our voices were a little hoarse from all the cheering! But I wasn’t done yet — after the game, I hopped on a midnight flight back to Austin and landed just in time to drive straight to the match.
It was an incredible experience and I’m so grateful that I listened to Allie and went for it.
30 years from now, I will still be telling this story and — great news — the Kraken knocked the defending Stanley Cup champs out of the playoffs and we are moving to the next round!
Until next time y’all,
Justin
