I heard a message on the radio one day and it was speaking about ‘plans’ and how sometimes we have them and we think they are God’s too but sometimes they turn out not to be. The day after I heard this message I had some doors close and was thankful that I had heard that message on the radio. Just because I had a plan and thought it was going to all work out does not mean it is God’s and so I have to be obedient and understand there is a reason when doors close suddenly.

As you know I had gotten connections to go and speak at high schools in the York Region. I was sent the application you have to fill out to be able to start going in and was told that there were some things on the application that might have changed so if I had any questions to ask. As I looked over the application everything looked good except that I saw that in the requirements it said you had to be 25 or under. I was a little surprised and so wrote the person I was in contact with and asked her if that was something they still required. To my shock I got a quick email saying “Yes, we do have an age limit of 25…..thank you for your interest in the program and all the best in your work in the community.” I couldn’t believe the response and was a bit shocked to receive it but maybe there is a reason why I am not to go with that organization and speak in schools. I do not believe that is the end of going and speaking to teens but I have to accept that this door has been closed for now.

There are still great things that are happening.  🙂 About a month ago Travis and I started a small study and we meet at our house bi-weekly. The first couple of times we had dinners and played games so that the group could get to know each other more. Last Thursday the group decided they wanted to have a Thanksgiving dinner so everybody brought some food and it was a delicious meal. We said what we were thankful for this year and then we started our actual study on the book called “Crazy Love”. We have already got good feedback on the book and some have told us that it is so good they can not put it down. We have had some great moments sharing our thoughts and at the end of the nights we have had some great times praying together. I am very thankful for the group we have. I hope that this group will continue to be open with each other and that they will continue to learn so much about Jesus and his amazing magnitude.

As you also know on August 29^th I spoke to the junior youth at my church. Thank you for praying for me as I prepared this message! I was nervous about what I should and shouldn’t say but I really felt the prayers and in the end I think I said exactly what I needed to say. After I spoke I had a girl who is not a Christian share with me how she could relate to so much I said that day. After that day I went out with her and she opened up with me and shared so much of what has gone on in her life and what continues to go on. She is 13 but has already been involved in things that bring darkness into her life. Not only that but she is young and has already tried to hang herself. It is so sad! Things were going awesome with this girl. I loved going out with her and chatting with her regularly. I also loved giving her hope and sharing with her about Jesus but all of a sudden I found out last week that I can not see her anymore. :S Her Mom realized she was going out with me and that she was sharing things with me that she would not share with her Mom. Her Mom got jealous that she was talking to me more then her and so she told her she did not want her to go out with me or talk to me anymore. Please pray for this girl. I will not go against what her Mom said and I will respect that but this girl needs someone to talk to. Please pray that the Mom will not be threatened by me and she will allow her to talk to me again or that someone else can speak into her life and help her with all that she is dealing with.

The other big thing I am working on right now is the process of publishing a book. I have been in touch with others who have written books and I am just trying to see what the next step is for me and what the best thing is for me to do. I have also tried to write different people to make sure that I have the rights to add things in my book that they have said. For instance I talk in one chapter on how the book “Captivating” has impacted my life and so I asked John and Stasi Eldredge if they were okay with me mentioning their book and I did hear back from them last and they said it was fine. They even thanked me for getting the message out there so that was pretty neat. My Dad has some connections with publishers too and so he has been awesome at finding out information for me. I feel like I have gave it my best in writing this book and so I want to make sure that I look into everything as much as I can before I just go ahead and sign one contract without looking into options. God knows what exactly is going to happen with the book and what publishing company I will go with so I am not worried. I know just like everything else that in His time things will come together.

 On July 17^th I made vows in front of God, my family and friends to stay by Travis’ side in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow and in the good times and the bad. I promised to love him without reservation, comfort him in times of distress, encourage him to achieve his goals, laugh with him and cry with him, grow with him in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with him and cherish him for as long as we both shall live.

God blessed us with an incredibly gorgeous day and our ceremony was everything we wanted it to be and more. Everyone who was involved did an amazing job at making our day so special. From the words the pastors said to the beautiful blessing that was poured over us…our day was wonderful! 

The day definitely flew by and before I knew it all those months of planning and organizing our special day was behind. It really is crazy how much work goes into a wedding but in the end I found it all worthwhile. Though I have not had the time to change my name I consider myself Mrs. Gosselin and now my life begins with a husband by my side.

Travis and I took off to Mexico for our honeymoon and stayed down in the Maya Riviera. It was a wonderful week where we could relax after such a busy time. We did take advantage and spent two days doing excursions. We went on ATVs through the jungles, went zip lining over lagoons with crocodiles, got to hold snakes, went swimming in under water caves, went snorkeling and went to Mayan Ruins. It was such an adventure and it was so much fun to do it together and to create new memories together. We were blessed to be able to do all we did!

Now we are back home and getting back into our routines. I love that I never have to say good bye to Travis at night and that we are able to live in the same place now. I love the times that we have already had and know there will be so many more great times together. I know this is just the beginning and it is so exciting. It is fun cooking together and organizing our house together. It still seems weird to think it is ours but it is. 🙂

I am so incredibly happy right now!!! Travis has been such a romantic and amazing husband to me. I feel so blessed to have him in my life and I am so incredibly blessed to know that he is the one that I get to share my days with now. It is one of those happy feelings you just can’t really describe. 

Though my life is full of great things right now I do not forget what my life was once like and how I once was filled with so much hurt and confusion. I do not remember it to hold on to past things of my life but to remind myself that there are many out there that are filled with pain and that need to have some hope in their lives. I remember to remind myself that God is not done with me yet and that He is still using me and wants to continue using me to touch others. Yes I am married now but that does not change who I am or how I want to help others.

So what is next for me and how can you help me?

I have been asked to speak to the junior youth at my church and share my testimony on August 29^th. I would ask you to please pray for me as I prepare this. I know it is my testimony and it should be easy to share but this is my first time speaking to youth that young and I want to make sure that I use words and share my story in a way that is going to impact a younger crowd.

As well Travis and I continue to be busy with Nexus.  Right now we are focusing on building a young adults group within our church. We want to plan a couple of events where we see who the core group is and then from there we want to start a study in the fall that will be held at our place every other week. Pray for us that we really will reach to those young adults in the church that we may have not even seen before. Our church is growing and that is awesome to see but it is hard to not miss people and I just hope that we aren’t missing any one who really needs a group to connect to. We know that with school beginning again it means that there will be new young adults that will be moving to the area so please pray that we will reach those young adults as well.

Now that the wedding is over it is time to start looking into publishing my book. It is still kind of scary to think of publishing my book because I know there are risks involved in publishing it but I know this is what I have to do so please pray for me that I would have a peace about it and that everything involved in publishing a book would go smoothly.

Thank you for reading this long message and for being willing to be a part of my life. Thank you to those of you who continue to believe in me and who continue to support me through prayer or financially, both are so very important. There is a lot that money can do but there is so much power in prayer.