#3...

On October 16, 2009 I was given the privilege to begin a relationship with the most amazing women in the world.  If any of you truly know me, you know that I am speaking of my unforgettably beautiful fiancé (soon to be wife #31012) Jennifer Schroeder of Turquoise Feathers.  Not only is she the face of this wonderful company, but she is also the brains behind this very blog you are currently reading.  Design being one of the many she is talented at, I have the privilege this year to be spending our 3rd Valentine's Day together (3 of many, many more).

Although we are not spending the actual day together, it still means just as much.  We will be celebrating this wonderful day on February 16th (our 28th month anniversary, yes I still count those) by getting matching tattoos that symbolize our soon to come marriage.

But all of that aside I would like to take some time to celebrate our life together so far by posting a couple pictures of some of my favorite memories with my beautiful Valentine.

Friend's Wedding in 2010, She was so Beautiful

2nd Picture we took together, Irela BOTB 2009

My Favorite Engagement Picture, Christmas 2010

Brother & Sister in Law's Wedding, 6/5/10

Summer Engagement Pictures, 2011

These are just a couple of my favorite moments in the past two and a half years of life that I have been able to share with the most precious human being in the entire world.  It is truly an honor to be associated with her and it will be even more of an honor on 3/10/12 to declare Jennifer Schroeder to be my wife Mrs. Jennifer Tod. 

till another VALENTINE'S day, 

normallyINDIE

Our Time Apart...

I have been blessed to be in relationship with the most caring, loving, compassionate, creative, wonderful, exciting, generous, perfect person in the world for the last 28 months.  If you know me at all you know that I am referring to my wonderful soon to be wife, Jennifer Schroeder.  We have been together for 28 wonderful months and in this time we have had to spend 19 of those months apart.  She has been in Indianapolis, I have been in Cincinnati.  For a short amount of time it looked like we would be close again, (my internship at Emmanuel Church of Greenwood), but that changed when I was blessed to serve at Groesbeck United Methodist Church here in Cincinnati.  Do not get me wrong, I am so honored to be serving at this place where lives are being changed daily and I have the ability to speak into the lives of students and get to call it my "job".  But there is still something missing.

My heart is somewhere else and it is in Indianapolis with my wonderful fiancé.  It is something that only those who are in love would understand, but when you are apart there is such a sense of loneliness it is sometimes unbearable.  We will be getting married on March 10th and the long wait of separation will finally be over.  Looking at that date does not make the days ahead any easier.  Jennifer will be finishing school and I starting work here in Cincinnati doing what we both love, but it is so hard to do with the other to share it with.

If I can be totally transparent, this is something I struggle.  I struggle with the question of why would God put us doing such great things, but apart.  I do not understand.  I know in the scheme of a lifetime these last couple of months are not going to mean anything, but right now it feels like an eternity.  It feels like part of my soul is somewhere else.

What I have come to understand over these wonderful 28 months is that it is a journey and God is only preparing us for our life together.  A life of ministry, love, compassion, hope, joy, sadness, and once again love.  God has ordained us to be in these places for this time for a reason and right now I am searching for the reason why.

As explained by Francis Chan in his most recent book Erasing Hell, we are merely the clay being molded for a much better purpose by the potter.  It is outrageous to think that we have a say in what the final piece of work the potter is creating.  But this unknown is hard to handle.

In these last couple of months I am merely going to pray.  Pray for God's leadership, guidance and growth.  And most of all I will be anxiously awaiting the day when Jennifer and I can begin our life together.  Nothing excites me more than that day.  This feeling is something I never thought I would feel, but God has blessed me with the opportunity to truly feel love.  A love that transcends the distance between Indianapolis and Cincinnati and a love that will truly endure whatever life throws at us.

I anxiously await the day that I can call her my wife and I can love and serve her for the rest of my life.



till THAT day,



normallyINDIE

A Baby Was Born...

22 years ago today I was born into this world by a mother named Susan Tod and a father named Jeff Tod, some of the most caring and loving people.  Over the years I have lived in St. Louis, South Florida, Central Illinois, Cincinnati, and now Indianapolis.  This time I have seen many places, met many people, and grown in many ways, but none like I have grown today.

Today I had the opportunity to spend the day with my fiancé Jennifer Schroeder at Main Street Tattoo getting my birthday gift put on my upper forearm by an amazing tattoo artist TJ Harmon.  But the tattoo was not the thing that I have really grown by.  But instead, it was the love that the tattoo symbolized.

Over the last couple of months, Jennifer and I have completed the book 5 Love Languages and I have found that Jennifer's Love Languages are Physical Touch and Quality Time.  Mine, on the other hand, are Gifts and Words of Affirmation.

This tattoo today was one of many gifts that I was given from Jennifer this weekend and it made me feel so loved.  The fact that someone would care so much about me that they would plan something, purchase something, or coordinate a get together astonishes me.  Jennifer is filled with unconditional love for me and this tattoo is just one of many instances when she has shown me this.  I could never believe that someone would love me in this way, but Jennifer's love for me is truly a symbol of Jesus' love.

Unconditional Love is the reason that we love.  Unconditional love is what saves lives.  October 9th 2011 is just another day that I was shown what this love really looks like.


till another day,



normallyINDIE

Pain ...

So there I was excited about the final softball game of the year and it hits me, running to first base, over stepping the bag and falling slamming my head, back, and left arm on the ground.  Thinking i was okay just lying there for awhile, realized the rest of the night that my arm was hurt pretty bad.  Playing through the rest of the game, the pain intensified.  Got home and I realized that it is worse.  My beautiful fiance and I went to the St. Francis Hospital in Southport, IN.  After a couple hours of testing, x-rays, and waiting we received the verdict that it was no fractures, but severe bruising and swelling of the tissue in my elbow.  After a day of rest and pain, I realized that the pain is still pretty bad.

So what this means is nothing, but what I have realized is the unconditional love that comes from it.  My fiance Jenny spent the night at the hospital with me as well as got me donuts from Long's Bakery this morning, iced my elbow, and watched golf with me as I was still in pain.  Now this is not just about someone doing nice things for me, but the unconditional love that comes from this.  Jenny loves me so much that she would not have thought any different about it.  He first instinct was to help me and it was so because she loves me.

This love she has for me is not just for the feelings that may come from it, but her love for me is about sacrifice and action.  In order for me to really understand her love I have to see it through her actions.  And she proves it to me everyday that she is truly in love with me.  My fiance is the most wonderful and sacrificial human being in the world.

This love makes the waiting 7 months to get married harder than ever.  Everyday I get more and more excited to be with her.  She is the one and I am awaiting the moment I can show her my unconditional love for her someday.  I am waiting...


Till another Day

normallyINDIE