2011 All About God, Valerie, And Bill

Editor's Note: I hope you enjoy this look back at 2011 and see God's blessing, goodness, and faithfulness. God Bless. 

The year 2011 started off as Will, Victoria, Peter, and I celebrated New Year’s Eve at my mom’s house. For New Year’s Day Will, Victoria, and I went to the not so ‘2011 Winter Classic’. A few days latter on January 5th, we attended a game at Consol Energy Center where the Penguins thumped the Bolts.  We didn’t know that a brutal hit from Steckel during the Winter Classic and a heavy hit from Hedman from Tampa caused a concussion to Sidney Crosby – so 2011 was not a one of Sid’s or the Penguins favorite years to be sure.

The Steelers were in the Super Bowl again against the upstart Packers. And much to everyone’s surprise, the Packers won due to a inept secondary and predictable play calling on offense. So  2011 did not start off on a high note for the Steelers either.

But on a personal note, 2011 was a year that was ‘All About God, Valerie, and Bill’ 

Back on Christmas Eve 2010, I cried out to the Lord on my living room carpet as I was facing waking up alone for the first Christmas in my life. I wasn’t praying for a Christmas miracle – just the miracle of a lifetime in finding that special someone.

 God answered. I was led to get off eHarmony and several other dating sites that I was on and to sign up for Christian Mingle – a site that I was on back when I started dating. I pulled the best from each profile, put my best pictures on, and then prayed.

 It wasn’t long until I got a number of responses, several close by and a few that were out of state. One that came up on my match was from ‘Virtous247365’ from Tampa, FL. We had quite a few similarities but I wasn’t sure that she would be interested in someone not only out of state but still in search of a job. It was clear in her profile that she was looking for ‘friends first’. I put together a great short email and waited for her reply. I got a very warm response from her and we arranged a time when we could chat using the site’s IM during the evening. That went extremely well.  One thing led to another and Valerie gave me her number. 

We spent on the average of four hours a evening on the phone for the next couple of weeks and made arrangements for me to fly down on January 27th. At . 7:08 PM that evening we met – Valerie was perfect in every way for me as she told me I was perfect for her in every way.

Our Wedding Day 

 Then on February 11th, a little after 11 AM, Valerie Geis became Valerie Horosz. We spent a honeymoon weekend that was truly magical and time stood still.

In March I moved down from Ohio. We had fun taking a couple of days to drive down from Columbus.

 God had told me all along that a job and relationship would go hand in hand. God was right! I received a phone call from a recruiter who literally spent a hour with me on the phone. She said a small software company in Clearwater was looking for Quality Analysts.  A few days later I had an interview (right before my birthday). I called Valerie to tell her it went extremely well. So well that three hours later I received an offer and I gladly accepted.

Married life has been a blessing beyond belief.  My simple prayer every day is for Christ to help me love Valerie as He loved the church and gave His life for the church. We have had a few disagreements but we air them out quickly and not let the enemy creep in. And of course Valerie is always right lol !

Valerie’s family is awesome. I so enjoy Jessica – she has a heart like her mother and I am blessed to call her a friend. Val's parents love for her is incredible – her mom is so precious and her dad always makes me smile

Val’s siblings are so much fun to be around at family functions – there is a lot of love to go around. I’m so blessed that Valerie has had time to be with Will, Victoria, Peter and mom. We are so looking forward to getting the kids down here in 2012.

Christmas Dinner 2011 View

We enjoy doing everything together – from chores to shopping to cooking. On weekends we enjoy going out to dinner and then seeing a good movie. It’s a blessing to relax in the evening and watch some favorite shows together. Valerie has really enjoyed watching and attending Penguins games. And I have enjoyed watching some shows on the Food Network and Bravo.

 

We are blessed to worship at ‘The Crossing’. Pastor Greg and the associate pastors all have a heart for God and the worship music is incredible. We almost always seem to say that “I though last week’s message was one of the best ever” but the current weeks message was even better than that.

 My words to you who are still looking for that relationship, job, or both :

 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

 Matthew 7: 7-11 NIV

We are looking forward to 2012 together seeking God’s face and asking his blessing, love, favor and protection over us and our families.

Happy New Years 2022 Thoughts

Sunrise from our back patio 

Wishing all my friends a safe, healthy, and blessed New Years 2022 !

Use and practice these words more often in 2022: love, joy, peace, encouragement, gentleness, patience, kindness.

Pray often.

Worship wherever you are.

Read God's word.

Be a friend.

Enjoy family.

Encourage, support, and love your children.

Take care of the temple that God has given you.

Tell your spouse, children, and family that you love them. Directly as in 'I love you and thank God for you being in my life'.

Set attainable and realistic goals for yourself.

2021 Highlights.

We moved into our new house in March and can't thank God enough for blessing us with this opportunity.

We enjoyed spending a lot of time with Ellie (and her parents) this year and look forward to much more in 2022 !

We said goodbye to our four legged daughter Diogy in May and miss her greatly.

We enjoyed hosting Christmas Eve brunch at our house and had a excellent time with Val's family.

I can't thank God enough for my Valerie. Day in and day out her love for me blows me away. God tells me the way I can thank Him is to be a blessing to her everyday - on the good days when it's easy and especially on the bad days when it's not so easy. Val tells me that 'we make a good team'. So very true ! We truly compliment one another. Can't wait to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary!

I leave you with these scriptures for 2022. Pray they will help you praise God, give you God's peace, and be a blessing to you !

“ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’ (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.(1st Corinthians 13:13)

God Will Take Care Of You

This comes from a post dated December 6, 2015 and has a powerful message to share. God Bless. 

Thank you all for your prayers last week ! God reminded me Saturday during worship that he took care of me in darkest hour:

During my unemployment that lasted three years, God blessed me with all my bills being paid and having food on the table.

When I lost my dad during that time he blessed me with growing closer to my mother that I ever was before.

When I was lonely he waited till the perfect time to bless me with the most beautiful woman in the world who was perfect for my Valerie.

God opened up the employment door shortly after that as well.

God has blessed me with restoring my credit and buying a new house.

I know that God is already working this week for me. Ask for your continued prayers that I can go into this week knowing that no weapon formed against me will prosper and that I will be on guard for attacks from the enemy. All I have to do is call upon the name of Jesus Christ - when I say that the enemy will flee !

Praying God's blessings all of you as well as you get ready to start this work week !

Isaiah 54:17 New International Version (NIV):no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

2 Corinthians 10:4 New International Version (NIV) :"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds"