Fun times in Dallas

We have had several opportunities to head back to Dallas this summer which is always so much fun and so refreshing for both of us. Early in June we were there for the wedding of two of our good friends Ashton and Belina. They were married in a beautiful church in Highland Park and then had their reception on the top floor of a hotel right downtown. The wedding and reception were fun for many reasons including the fun Albanian dancing that took place all night. Belina's family came to the States for the first time and many of her friends from Albania live in and around Dallas for various reasons. One of the most amazing things was that we sat at a table (we were the very first to arrive at the reception and chose our own seats) full of Albanians who are on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ! This was fun in itself as Lindsay spent a few years on staff with CCC at Michigan State. The other fun thing was that one of the couples is on staff in Istanbul, Turkey!! They are currently in the U.S. because the husband is finishing up seminary and they are raising support. They have already lived in Istanbul and love the city. Joe had a blast speaking a little Turkish with them, comparing notes about their favorite spots around the city, and sharing stories and their hearts for the place and the Turks. Overall, while we enjoyed seeing our friends be united in marriage, it was also very refreshing to spend time with others who love the Lord and have a heart for some of the same things and places that we do! Praise God for "randomly" seating us together for the evening!

The beautiful ceremony in a beautiful church

The view from the reception

The Roddens and the Tassins!!

We never ask people to take our picture...weird

An Albanian dance

We have been to a few Rangers games this year already but at the beginning of the summer we enjoyed a game and an amazing fireworks show with our good friend Marshall and his girlfriend Kristine. She is from the Cleveland area and actually grew up in a church that some of our friends now do ministry in (yeah Andrea...that means you! Can you believe it?). She also attended Miami University in Oxford, OH which holds a very special place in our hearts as it is the place where Lindsay started falling in love with Joe. Needless to say, we are proud of Marshall for choosing a Midwestern girl! It was a really fun night in Arlington!