Serving God is never boring. Just when you think you have Him figured out suddenly there is a change you did not see coming. For instance suddenly finding your wife in three months when there was no one on the horizon for decades. For me life is nothing like I thought it would be when New Years day rolled around this year. I never thought I would be celebrating my five month wedding anniversary shortly after Thanksgiving. In fact I did not even see myself dating. Proverbs has a something to say about this. “We can make our plans but the Lord determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
Well my steps have changed once again. It seems like this is the story of my and Kari’s life so far. Just when we think we know the step we have to make a turn. Kari and I do believe we were supposed to go to Canada and join YWAM and do a DTS together. We arrived a few weeks before the school started and enjoyed getting settled into our cabin. Kari did an amazing job of decorating the space to truly feel like a home. In fact when people would visit they would be distracted with how wonderful our cabin looked. The countryside was amazing and beautiful. The people were wonderful. I enjoyed meeting some of Kari’s friends and former coworkers people I am now glad to consider my friends.
Even in such a wonderful environment there were some great difficulties. The foremost issue was the lack of finances. We had expected to be able to put a deposit for the school that would have been half of our lecture phase. However the cost of getting to the school as well as the tuition wound up being more than we originally thought. In addition to this we had some change in our support. The first month we ended up going farther into debt. We both believe that God does not want us to go into debt to be in missions. We looked at our finances and we truly believe that God was using our finances to hint at a change in direction. When we began to look at the possibility of leaving Canada we were both pretty unsure. It felt like such a failure on our part to listen to God. However, the more advice we got and the more we sought God it became apparent that we should focus on getting out of debt.
Now we have changed direction with a goal of setting our finances in order. After a fun filled visit to my brother’s family, we are in Seattle living with my parents. Our goal is to get settled for however long God would have us be here. We are in the beginning stages of getting jobs and a place to live. My parents have been very gracious and allowed us to live with them while we get our feet under us. We are both looking for jobs. We want to chip away at our debts as quick as we possibly can.
We want to thank everyone who has supported us both in prayer and financially. You have truly been a blessing to us. We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we join the workforce. We will continue to update you with our progress and let you know as the turns on this road come our way.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Off to DTS
So we have ventured out of the USA into our neighboring Canada. We left late on a Wednesday afternoon and made it as far north as Lake Shasta. Not far really, but we set up our tent, ate some smores, and had our first night of camping together.
The next day we continued our journey stopping in Portland for dinner with Rick and Sarah McClatchey. Rick was Chris’ best man in our wedding. It was great to catch up with them, and then we continued on to my parent’s house in Washington.
We stayed with my family for a couple of days and then headed over to Chris’ parents. I wish you could have seen with your eyes the load in the back of the truck. We had a 7’ freezer in the back that we brought up to Chris’ mom. It looked like we needed a rocking chair strapped to the roof of the truck cab. It was hilarious.
After a few days with Chris’ parents we started heading east. We camped in Montana just east of the Idaho border. It was beautiful. The next day we traveled through Glacier Park and camped on the east side. That night ice beads formed on the inside of our tent from the condensation. It was super cold.
The rangers warned us that bears had been visiting the campground each day and night, and they wanted to make sure we stowed our food properly. As they looked at the back of our truck they asked if we had any dishes inside. We not only had dishes, but spices and good smelling things. I honestly don’t think we could have repacked the truck to put those things inside. It would have been way too much, so we just took our chance.
I’m happy to report (although it would have made a great story) that no bears visited us that night.
We arrived in Canada late that afternoon. The border was a breeze, and they didn’t make us unpack our truck. We were so thankful. They gave us a 1 year religious workers visa and told us it shouldn’t be any trouble to extend it if we wanted to stay longer.
Then we drove for miles and miles across prairie land and I read a book while Chris drove. We arrived at Eagles Nest Ranch just in time for dinner.
We have a very nice little cabin that is nestled back off the road in a wooded area. The walkway to our door is a little bridge that is very rustic looking. We have a covered porch with a place for stacking wood, a couple of chairs and places to hang potted plants in the spring.
The inside of the cabin is very nice with a wood burning stove and a regular heater. We brought a dresser with us that we set at the foot of our bed. There was a bed and bedside tables, a full size fridge, microwave, and little table in the cabin. We brought a lamp, and bookshelf, lots of storage bins, and other kitchen items.
It is a cozy place that we have quickly made into our home. We really do love it.
The DTS started on October first. Both of us are excited about this season of our lives and marriage. It is a time of growing together in the Lord and learning how to minister together. Also we know that this will be a season where we will be learning a lot from the people around us. It is truly a blessing to be here and to have the freedom to experience the DTS without a lot of expectations on us.
Chris is going to be John Knoch’s (the base leader) assistant during the school. This will be his work duty, and I know that he will do an amazing job. He is very attentive to details, and he anticipates needs. I am not sure yet what I will do for a work duty. I will find out sometime next week as all the jobs are allocated by the staff. I have decided to be a student in the school so that Chris and I can experience it together.
An area that we believe God is highlighting during the DTS is walking together in unity. This is for the staff and the student body, but I also see how Chris and I are learning this as well. I am so grateful for the grace on us to communicate and to walk together. I think that this will grow over the next 5 months in new and exciting ways. I’m really looking forward to it.
One area that you can be praying for us is for our finances. We currently owe $3,900 for the DTS, and the outreach fees will be added to that. In the end that could be another $7000 for the both of us. We don’t know where the money is coming from, and we are praying for this regularly. If you could join with us in prayer we would be so grateful. We process our finances through the Church of Glad Tidings, so if you are able and you desire to make a contribution please send your check there with a note attached (for Chris and Kari Adams).
Church of Glad Tidings
PO Box 1630
Yuba City, CA 95992
We are looking forward to communicating throughout the school letting you know about our adventures and our prayer needs. Thank you for being part of this journey and blessing us with your friendship and support.
Much Love,
Chris and Kari Adams
The next day we continued our journey stopping in Portland for dinner with Rick and Sarah McClatchey. Rick was Chris’ best man in our wedding. It was great to catch up with them, and then we continued on to my parent’s house in Washington.
We stayed with my family for a couple of days and then headed over to Chris’ parents. I wish you could have seen with your eyes the load in the back of the truck. We had a 7’ freezer in the back that we brought up to Chris’ mom. It looked like we needed a rocking chair strapped to the roof of the truck cab. It was hilarious.
After a few days with Chris’ parents we started heading east. We camped in Montana just east of the Idaho border. It was beautiful. The next day we traveled through Glacier Park and camped on the east side. That night ice beads formed on the inside of our tent from the condensation. It was super cold.
The rangers warned us that bears had been visiting the campground each day and night, and they wanted to make sure we stowed our food properly. As they looked at the back of our truck they asked if we had any dishes inside. We not only had dishes, but spices and good smelling things. I honestly don’t think we could have repacked the truck to put those things inside. It would have been way too much, so we just took our chance.
I’m happy to report (although it would have made a great story) that no bears visited us that night.
We arrived in Canada late that afternoon. The border was a breeze, and they didn’t make us unpack our truck. We were so thankful. They gave us a 1 year religious workers visa and told us it shouldn’t be any trouble to extend it if we wanted to stay longer.
Then we drove for miles and miles across prairie land and I read a book while Chris drove. We arrived at Eagles Nest Ranch just in time for dinner.
We have a very nice little cabin that is nestled back off the road in a wooded area. The walkway to our door is a little bridge that is very rustic looking. We have a covered porch with a place for stacking wood, a couple of chairs and places to hang potted plants in the spring.
The inside of the cabin is very nice with a wood burning stove and a regular heater. We brought a dresser with us that we set at the foot of our bed. There was a bed and bedside tables, a full size fridge, microwave, and little table in the cabin. We brought a lamp, and bookshelf, lots of storage bins, and other kitchen items.
It is a cozy place that we have quickly made into our home. We really do love it.
The DTS started on October first. Both of us are excited about this season of our lives and marriage. It is a time of growing together in the Lord and learning how to minister together. Also we know that this will be a season where we will be learning a lot from the people around us. It is truly a blessing to be here and to have the freedom to experience the DTS without a lot of expectations on us.
Chris is going to be John Knoch’s (the base leader) assistant during the school. This will be his work duty, and I know that he will do an amazing job. He is very attentive to details, and he anticipates needs. I am not sure yet what I will do for a work duty. I will find out sometime next week as all the jobs are allocated by the staff. I have decided to be a student in the school so that Chris and I can experience it together.
An area that we believe God is highlighting during the DTS is walking together in unity. This is for the staff and the student body, but I also see how Chris and I are learning this as well. I am so grateful for the grace on us to communicate and to walk together. I think that this will grow over the next 5 months in new and exciting ways. I’m really looking forward to it.
One area that you can be praying for us is for our finances. We currently owe $3,900 for the DTS, and the outreach fees will be added to that. In the end that could be another $7000 for the both of us. We don’t know where the money is coming from, and we are praying for this regularly. If you could join with us in prayer we would be so grateful. We process our finances through the Church of Glad Tidings, so if you are able and you desire to make a contribution please send your check there with a note attached (for Chris and Kari Adams).
Church of Glad Tidings
PO Box 1630
Yuba City, CA 95992
We are looking forward to communicating throughout the school letting you know about our adventures and our prayer needs. Thank you for being part of this journey and blessing us with your friendship and support.
Much Love,
Chris and Kari Adams
Our Love Story Kari’s Version
Chris and I met March 23, 2009 at Paul and Mary Tice home. I was planning to go to the Tice’s for dinner that Monday night and Mary texted me earlier in the day asking if I would mind if she invited her nephew over for dinner. She told me that he had a heart for missions and was on his way to Cambodia. I wrote her back and said that would be great.
The night before I was out for dinner with Cheryl Bryan and we were talking about relationships. She asked me at the end of the evening if I had ever considered Chris Adams.
I responded “Who is Chris Adams?”
She replied, “Oh my gosh I can’t believe I have never thought of this before!”
She then proceeded to tell me that Chris was a wonderful guy who has been serving at the church for years and it had always baffled her and Pastor Dave why he was not snatched up by the young women. She mentioned that Mary Tice is his aunt, and she called Mary to get some of the basic information on Chris… Stuff like is he single, how old he is etc…
So when I got the text from Mary I figured that Cheryl had done some match making behind the scenes work, and I wasn’t too surprised. What I didn’t know is that Chris would be aware it was more or less a set up. I figured he was just innocently going to his Aunt’s house for dinner.
The evening was great and we got to know one another a bit. I found out that he had a heart for Cambodia and that he was very excited to be leaving soon. I figured that if this was going to work out it would have to be a God thing.
When I drove home that night I called Cheryl and told her what I thought of Chris. I thought he was cute, and that he was really sweet and that I loved that he was missions hearted and adventurous enough to go, but I said that I wasn’t sure if he even had a clue that it was a potential set up.
Cheryl replied, “Oh yes, he had a clue for sure.” I was so glad that I didn’t know that or else I would have been extremely shy that evening.
Wednesday March 25, 2009
I got a message from Cheryl that Chris was really busy that week, but that he would be pursuing something over the weekend. I felt pretty relaxed about it and just figured that if it was a God thing then things would just simply work out.
Friday March 27, 2009
I was going to a special church service and afterwards I was invited to a dinner that the local pastors and the guest speakers were attending. On my way over to the meal I passed Chris in the parking lot and he had the look on his face that said, “I’d really like to talk with you, but I am super busy right now and you are talking with Cheryl.”
A few minutes later Shelly Adams (Chris’ sister) came running after me and asked me if I would like to go out to Red Robin with her friends after the pastor’s gathering. I asked her who would be going and she told me that Chris would be coming along with her friends from Washington Sharron and Kim, and Ari from the church. I agreed to meet them there later on.
When I arrived at RR I found the table conveniently arranged with just 2 seats next to one another for Chris and me. He arrived a few minutes later and we had a nice meal together all 6 of us. After dinner Chris asked if he could walk me to my car. We stood outside and talked for a few minutes before I got too cold to stay out there, so I invited him to sit with me in the car. We sat for about a half an hour and talked about missions and packing and moving and things of that sort. He then asked me if I wanted to go out with him on Sunday morning before church of for lunch afterwards, and I agreed to meet him for breakfast.
Saturday March 28th
We were both at the church in the afternoon for a servant counsel meeting. Chris met me in the hall and asked if he could sit next to me. I was already sitting in the middle section with his aunt and I said, “Sure.” When he came in and sat down he said he realized what a statement he was making. He normally sits by himself or with his sister, so to be sitting with me in the middle of that group it was something that raised questions.
I got the first question after the meeting, “How’s your love life Kari?”
”I don’t have a love life,” I replied.
“Are you interested in anyone?”
“I don’t know.” I said
“Well are you interested in the one you were just sitting next to?”
“I’m checking him out.”
“Well he’s one of my favorites. I don’t have favorites, but if I did he would be one of them. He is an amazing guy.”
“So I have heard.”
After the meeting I joined Chris, Shelly and the girls over at Steve and Nita Foch’s house for a late lunch and had a great time of fellowship with all of them. We then headed back to the church for the evening service. Chris was serving that weekend on security, so we didn’t sit together, but he walked me to and from my car.
Sunday March 29th
I met him at 7:30 for breakfast. We had a nice time getting to know each other and finding out more details about our next weeks’ plans. Chris was driving up to Washington that afternoon to visit his parents as one last visit before leaving for Cambodia. I was flying up to Washington that Thursday to surprise my mom for her birthday. We arranged that Chris would pick me up from the airport and we would meet his parents for lunch on Thursday. I mentioned that I would have to get one of my family members to come over to the Seattle side to pick me up that afternoon because we live about 2.5 hours from the airport.
Chris said, “No problem, I’ve already looked it up and it’s only a couple of hours away. I can drive you to your family.”
I thought to myself what kind of guy is this that he would look it up before we met together, he remembered where my family lives, and he was ready for it. I was surprised and really felt blessed.
That evening as Chris was driving to Washington I called and we talked for a few hours on the phone. He ended up getting a flat tire, so I stayed on the phone with him as he waited for roadside assistance.
At 4am I got a text that said that he made it in just fine. I was surprised that he wrote and thought that it was really sweet and considerate that he would let me know. I also thought this is pretty bold to write someone at 4am when you’ve only just met them.
Monday March 30th
We talked and Chris was able to rearrange some of his trip in Washington so that it would be possible for him to spend Thursday night with my family and surprise my mom the next morning.
Tuesday March 31st
We had a talk on the phone that started with Chris saying, “Since we are meeting each others families maybe we should bring some definition to this relationship so we know how to talk with them about it.”
I thought, “Who is this guy who talks like this.” I was so impressed.
We talked for a few hours about life and what we were sensing about one another. We were open and honest and really easily verbalized our attraction and our feelings in that conversation. By the end of it we agreed that we were boyfriend and girlfriend and that it was fine to refer to one another as such.
Wednesday April 1st
We talked on the phone again and I asked Chris if it was necessary for him to return to Yuba City the weekend that I was going to arrive in WA. I asked if it would be possible for him to reschedule his departure for Atlanta to leave from Seattle instead of Sacramento. He said he would look into it.
April 2nd
I arrived in Seattle and he met me at the airport. He said that it didn’t cost anything to change the flights and that he was just waiting for confirmation from the school of world missions that it would be ok to miss a few days of the following week in order to stay in Washington. That day I met his parents and felt immediately at home with them. I felt embraced and welcomed. We drove to my sister’s house that evening and she had us working on party things for my mom’s birthday party until 2am.
April 3rd
My dad came over to my sister’s to meet Chris before breakfast. We went separately to breakfast and it was a real surprise to my mom that I was there, and that Chris was there too. It was all very exciting.
That day we spent with my parents and niece at the movies, and also getting ready for a birthday dinner. We stayed up again until 2 something getting ready for the party the next day.
April 4th
My mom sister and I spent the day together shopping, and doing pampering things for mom while Chris spent the day with my dad, brother in law and niece. Chris and my dad had a few hours together getting to know one another and working on a slide show production for my mom’s surprise party that night.
After the party (BTW my mom was really surprised) Chris and I went out to watch the sunset and have some time together. We spent the next 3 hours talking about how we see life and what it possibly means for us that it seemed that God was bringing us together. At the end of the evening we came home and changed our facebook status. That got comments within the first few minutes. It was a lot of fun. Here are 2 single people who have been single for 14 years at least finally coming together.
Sunday April 5th
My parents went with us over to Chris’ parents to meet each other. Shelly drove up from CA because she didn’t want to miss anything and Sharron and Kim came over from Aberdeen to be part of everything as well. After lunch my dad and Chris went on a walk together and Chris asked my dad’s blessing for my hand in marriage. My dad was happy to give it and blessed Chris. It was great.
Monday April 6th
Chris and I had our first full day together. We went out to Barnes and Nobles and bought a journal to write our story in. We also bought the book “Laugh your Way to a Better Marriage.” It’s hilarious. We also went out ring sizing so that when it did come time to propose Chris would know my ring size.
Tuesday April 7th
We spent in Portland with Chris’ friends from college. I got to see his old stomping grounds and it was great to have this part of his life shown to me as he shared his stories.
Wednesday April 8th
Chris had to leave for Atlanta for a guys hang out time that was going to be like a last get together before he was headed out for Cambodia indefinitely. His mom dropped both of us at the airport and Chris caught a flight, and I waited for my dad to pick me up. He and I went out for breakfast and processed all the things going on and then we went over to the ring store and I bought a ring for Chris. I figured that it would take time to order and we didn’t know how quickly things might move. I didn’t want him to feel pressured, so I just did this on my own without telling him. When I got home my mom and I started browsing for wedding dresses. She found one at David’s bridal that I just loved, and was eager to try on.
April 11th
I went home to California and Chris’ mom had come down to be with Shelly. We met to hang out that afternoon and I mentioned the dress. Shelly suggested that we call David’s Bridal and see if they had an opening. They did in 1 hour which would be the time it would take for us to go up there. So we went up to Chico and I tried on the dress. We were taking pictures of it and sending them to my mom, and I then bought the dress.
April 12th Easter Sunday
Chris’ mom and sister came over to my Gram’s house and met my family.
Tuesday April 14th
Chris and I were arranging with Pastor Dave to see if he would marry us, and we were checking with the church corporate calendar to see what weekend would be best. We settled on a date and made all kinds of arrangements. We also arranged for an announcement at church on that Saturday for our engagement. We were already getting a lot of questions about Cambodia and about when I was returning to YWAM.
I started telling a few people that we were announcing this and they would ask me, “How did he propose?”
I would respond, “Well I know that he is going to give me a nice speech and ask the question someday, and most likely we will have a ring by the time we get married, but for now he can tie a string around my finger if he likes, because that would be fine with me.”
Wednesday April 15
Chris returns from Atlanta around 11:30pm
Thursday April 16th
We are walking in the park around 12:30am and Chris asks me if I want one of the gifts he brought back with him from Atlanta.
I said, “Yes, of course.”
He then got down on one knee and pulled out a box.
I started exclaiming, “No way, no way… how did you get one?”
He could barely get the words, “Kari Dills will you marry me?” out of his mouth as I was exclaiming, “No way… YES OF COURSE!” “How did you get that?”
“It’s a very good story,” he said.
I’ll let Chris share how he got it in his version. I really love the ring. It is a solitaire diamond set in white gold with an embracing wedding band that goes on each side. The engagement ring sits inside the embracement. The embracing bands have chained diamonds of baguettes and round stones. I love it, and it really suits me.
Saturday April 18th
We are sitting in the servant counsel meeting 3 weeks later and Pastor Dave introduces us as a couple and announces our engagement! He explained that the church has had many prophecies about how we will wait and wait and wait and then “Suddenly” God will move and everything will be different. He announced us as a “Suddenly” standing in the back of the room. He said it was like a prophetic picture of what God is doing in the church. Get ready and hold on God sometimes moves fast!
The night before I was out for dinner with Cheryl Bryan and we were talking about relationships. She asked me at the end of the evening if I had ever considered Chris Adams.
I responded “Who is Chris Adams?”
She replied, “Oh my gosh I can’t believe I have never thought of this before!”
She then proceeded to tell me that Chris was a wonderful guy who has been serving at the church for years and it had always baffled her and Pastor Dave why he was not snatched up by the young women. She mentioned that Mary Tice is his aunt, and she called Mary to get some of the basic information on Chris… Stuff like is he single, how old he is etc…
So when I got the text from Mary I figured that Cheryl had done some match making behind the scenes work, and I wasn’t too surprised. What I didn’t know is that Chris would be aware it was more or less a set up. I figured he was just innocently going to his Aunt’s house for dinner.
The evening was great and we got to know one another a bit. I found out that he had a heart for Cambodia and that he was very excited to be leaving soon. I figured that if this was going to work out it would have to be a God thing.
When I drove home that night I called Cheryl and told her what I thought of Chris. I thought he was cute, and that he was really sweet and that I loved that he was missions hearted and adventurous enough to go, but I said that I wasn’t sure if he even had a clue that it was a potential set up.
Cheryl replied, “Oh yes, he had a clue for sure.” I was so glad that I didn’t know that or else I would have been extremely shy that evening.
Wednesday March 25, 2009
I got a message from Cheryl that Chris was really busy that week, but that he would be pursuing something over the weekend. I felt pretty relaxed about it and just figured that if it was a God thing then things would just simply work out.
Friday March 27, 2009
I was going to a special church service and afterwards I was invited to a dinner that the local pastors and the guest speakers were attending. On my way over to the meal I passed Chris in the parking lot and he had the look on his face that said, “I’d really like to talk with you, but I am super busy right now and you are talking with Cheryl.”
A few minutes later Shelly Adams (Chris’ sister) came running after me and asked me if I would like to go out to Red Robin with her friends after the pastor’s gathering. I asked her who would be going and she told me that Chris would be coming along with her friends from Washington Sharron and Kim, and Ari from the church. I agreed to meet them there later on.
When I arrived at RR I found the table conveniently arranged with just 2 seats next to one another for Chris and me. He arrived a few minutes later and we had a nice meal together all 6 of us. After dinner Chris asked if he could walk me to my car. We stood outside and talked for a few minutes before I got too cold to stay out there, so I invited him to sit with me in the car. We sat for about a half an hour and talked about missions and packing and moving and things of that sort. He then asked me if I wanted to go out with him on Sunday morning before church of for lunch afterwards, and I agreed to meet him for breakfast.
Saturday March 28th
We were both at the church in the afternoon for a servant counsel meeting. Chris met me in the hall and asked if he could sit next to me. I was already sitting in the middle section with his aunt and I said, “Sure.” When he came in and sat down he said he realized what a statement he was making. He normally sits by himself or with his sister, so to be sitting with me in the middle of that group it was something that raised questions.
I got the first question after the meeting, “How’s your love life Kari?”
”I don’t have a love life,” I replied.
“Are you interested in anyone?”
“I don’t know.” I said
“Well are you interested in the one you were just sitting next to?”
“I’m checking him out.”
“Well he’s one of my favorites. I don’t have favorites, but if I did he would be one of them. He is an amazing guy.”
“So I have heard.”
After the meeting I joined Chris, Shelly and the girls over at Steve and Nita Foch’s house for a late lunch and had a great time of fellowship with all of them. We then headed back to the church for the evening service. Chris was serving that weekend on security, so we didn’t sit together, but he walked me to and from my car.
Sunday March 29th
I met him at 7:30 for breakfast. We had a nice time getting to know each other and finding out more details about our next weeks’ plans. Chris was driving up to Washington that afternoon to visit his parents as one last visit before leaving for Cambodia. I was flying up to Washington that Thursday to surprise my mom for her birthday. We arranged that Chris would pick me up from the airport and we would meet his parents for lunch on Thursday. I mentioned that I would have to get one of my family members to come over to the Seattle side to pick me up that afternoon because we live about 2.5 hours from the airport.
Chris said, “No problem, I’ve already looked it up and it’s only a couple of hours away. I can drive you to your family.”
I thought to myself what kind of guy is this that he would look it up before we met together, he remembered where my family lives, and he was ready for it. I was surprised and really felt blessed.
That evening as Chris was driving to Washington I called and we talked for a few hours on the phone. He ended up getting a flat tire, so I stayed on the phone with him as he waited for roadside assistance.
At 4am I got a text that said that he made it in just fine. I was surprised that he wrote and thought that it was really sweet and considerate that he would let me know. I also thought this is pretty bold to write someone at 4am when you’ve only just met them.
Monday March 30th
We talked and Chris was able to rearrange some of his trip in Washington so that it would be possible for him to spend Thursday night with my family and surprise my mom the next morning.
Tuesday March 31st
We had a talk on the phone that started with Chris saying, “Since we are meeting each others families maybe we should bring some definition to this relationship so we know how to talk with them about it.”
I thought, “Who is this guy who talks like this.” I was so impressed.
We talked for a few hours about life and what we were sensing about one another. We were open and honest and really easily verbalized our attraction and our feelings in that conversation. By the end of it we agreed that we were boyfriend and girlfriend and that it was fine to refer to one another as such.
Wednesday April 1st
We talked on the phone again and I asked Chris if it was necessary for him to return to Yuba City the weekend that I was going to arrive in WA. I asked if it would be possible for him to reschedule his departure for Atlanta to leave from Seattle instead of Sacramento. He said he would look into it.
April 2nd
I arrived in Seattle and he met me at the airport. He said that it didn’t cost anything to change the flights and that he was just waiting for confirmation from the school of world missions that it would be ok to miss a few days of the following week in order to stay in Washington. That day I met his parents and felt immediately at home with them. I felt embraced and welcomed. We drove to my sister’s house that evening and she had us working on party things for my mom’s birthday party until 2am.
April 3rd
My dad came over to my sister’s to meet Chris before breakfast. We went separately to breakfast and it was a real surprise to my mom that I was there, and that Chris was there too. It was all very exciting.
That day we spent with my parents and niece at the movies, and also getting ready for a birthday dinner. We stayed up again until 2 something getting ready for the party the next day.
April 4th
My mom sister and I spent the day together shopping, and doing pampering things for mom while Chris spent the day with my dad, brother in law and niece. Chris and my dad had a few hours together getting to know one another and working on a slide show production for my mom’s surprise party that night.
After the party (BTW my mom was really surprised) Chris and I went out to watch the sunset and have some time together. We spent the next 3 hours talking about how we see life and what it possibly means for us that it seemed that God was bringing us together. At the end of the evening we came home and changed our facebook status. That got comments within the first few minutes. It was a lot of fun. Here are 2 single people who have been single for 14 years at least finally coming together.
Sunday April 5th
My parents went with us over to Chris’ parents to meet each other. Shelly drove up from CA because she didn’t want to miss anything and Sharron and Kim came over from Aberdeen to be part of everything as well. After lunch my dad and Chris went on a walk together and Chris asked my dad’s blessing for my hand in marriage. My dad was happy to give it and blessed Chris. It was great.
Monday April 6th
Chris and I had our first full day together. We went out to Barnes and Nobles and bought a journal to write our story in. We also bought the book “Laugh your Way to a Better Marriage.” It’s hilarious. We also went out ring sizing so that when it did come time to propose Chris would know my ring size.
Tuesday April 7th
We spent in Portland with Chris’ friends from college. I got to see his old stomping grounds and it was great to have this part of his life shown to me as he shared his stories.
Wednesday April 8th
Chris had to leave for Atlanta for a guys hang out time that was going to be like a last get together before he was headed out for Cambodia indefinitely. His mom dropped both of us at the airport and Chris caught a flight, and I waited for my dad to pick me up. He and I went out for breakfast and processed all the things going on and then we went over to the ring store and I bought a ring for Chris. I figured that it would take time to order and we didn’t know how quickly things might move. I didn’t want him to feel pressured, so I just did this on my own without telling him. When I got home my mom and I started browsing for wedding dresses. She found one at David’s bridal that I just loved, and was eager to try on.
April 11th
I went home to California and Chris’ mom had come down to be with Shelly. We met to hang out that afternoon and I mentioned the dress. Shelly suggested that we call David’s Bridal and see if they had an opening. They did in 1 hour which would be the time it would take for us to go up there. So we went up to Chico and I tried on the dress. We were taking pictures of it and sending them to my mom, and I then bought the dress.
April 12th Easter Sunday
Chris’ mom and sister came over to my Gram’s house and met my family.
Tuesday April 14th
Chris and I were arranging with Pastor Dave to see if he would marry us, and we were checking with the church corporate calendar to see what weekend would be best. We settled on a date and made all kinds of arrangements. We also arranged for an announcement at church on that Saturday for our engagement. We were already getting a lot of questions about Cambodia and about when I was returning to YWAM.
I started telling a few people that we were announcing this and they would ask me, “How did he propose?”
I would respond, “Well I know that he is going to give me a nice speech and ask the question someday, and most likely we will have a ring by the time we get married, but for now he can tie a string around my finger if he likes, because that would be fine with me.”
Wednesday April 15
Chris returns from Atlanta around 11:30pm
Thursday April 16th
We are walking in the park around 12:30am and Chris asks me if I want one of the gifts he brought back with him from Atlanta.
I said, “Yes, of course.”
He then got down on one knee and pulled out a box.
I started exclaiming, “No way, no way… how did you get one?”
He could barely get the words, “Kari Dills will you marry me?” out of his mouth as I was exclaiming, “No way… YES OF COURSE!” “How did you get that?”
“It’s a very good story,” he said.
I’ll let Chris share how he got it in his version. I really love the ring. It is a solitaire diamond set in white gold with an embracing wedding band that goes on each side. The engagement ring sits inside the embracement. The embracing bands have chained diamonds of baguettes and round stones. I love it, and it really suits me.
Saturday April 18th
We are sitting in the servant counsel meeting 3 weeks later and Pastor Dave introduces us as a couple and announces our engagement! He explained that the church has had many prophecies about how we will wait and wait and wait and then “Suddenly” God will move and everything will be different. He announced us as a “Suddenly” standing in the back of the room. He said it was like a prophetic picture of what God is doing in the church. Get ready and hold on God sometimes moves fast!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Begining
Welcome All!
You have found the blog of Chris and Kari (soon to be) Adams. We are still in the process of creating the blog. We plan to use this space to tell the story of how we met, and the adventure that God has for us. We are very excited to see what is in store for the future! We hope you will check back often and read about the amazing life we are living. Our desire is that by reading these stories you will be encouraged and inspired to dream bigger than you have before. We also pray that you come to realize that God is involved in all the little details and He does have a great plan for your life.
We will try to get the story of how we met on here in the next week or two. After that we will update periodically with stories about our new life together. A life of 'Living in Love.'
Our wedding will be held on June 28th at 3:00 pm. We would love to see you there. Please email us if you would like some more information at ckadams09@gmail.com
We will try to get the story of how we met on here in the next week or two. After that we will update periodically with stories about our new life together. A life of 'Living in Love.'
Our wedding will be held on June 28th at 3:00 pm. We would love to see you there. Please email us if you would like some more information at ckadams09@gmail.com
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