Just 20 Days away - It's becoming REAL people!  A few weeks ago wedding pews, centerpieces, bow ties, playlists, and party favors were dreamlike imaginings... Now the suits are pressed, hanging in my closet, the plane tickets and hotel rooms are booked, and I know more than I could ever wish to know about the minutia of party planning... napkin folds?! Seriously!? But honestly, I am STOKED!!  Britt has been a champion in planning so much of our special day.  I am doing exactly what a good fiance should do - "Yes Honey, that's exactly what I wanted... couldn't have chosen any better myself ;)"  And the best part is we are in the final stretch --- I am down to my LAST 2 races (Berlin and Rieti) before I stand at the end of that aisle waiting to recite those vows.  Homestretch, right?!

But this wedding is more than just a lovely day spent with friends and family.  For Brittany and I this is a day where we get to celebrate our devotion to one another but ALSO our devotion as a couple to making a difference in the world.  In so many ways our relationship started through running and then flourished through our joint passion for charity.  For us, CHARITY is synonymous with LOVE! We hope that this union is further celebrated by lighting a fire of compassion in those around us! 

Instead of gifts we are asking for our friends and family to memorialize the special day by touching hundreds of lives in East Africa.  We are supporting the Spark a Brighter Future project through World Vision which will provide digital education tools, internet connectivity, and training to students and teachers at schools in Kenya.  More than just providing access to educational resources, this project will empower children to DREAM bigger and CONNECT to a world of possibility.  During my 10 years as a refugee in Kenya I yearned for the opportunity to go to school and pursue my dreams of having a better life.  My friends and I wrote the alphabet in the sand of the refugee camp and dreamed of having a pencil and paper.  My life changed when I got the chance to write my story down and submit it to the US embassy for a chance to build a better future in the US.  With your help Brittany and I want to make sure that every child has the opportunity to write down their stories and pursue their goals in education. Education has changed both of our lives and we hope together we can celebrate our marriage by changing the lives of hundreds of children in East Africa.  
If you want to be part of our special day and help us SHARE THE LOVE with hundreds of children in East Africa, please visit our Wedding Giving Page!  Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts on our special day - I will be dancing down that aisle!

It's finally happened - Brittany and I have been challenged to the ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE!  We taking the challenge for CLEAN WATER in South Sudan. Just $50 provides clean water for life for ONE child in South Sudan!  Take the clean water ice bucket challenge and help us save lives!!

Next up is: Alan Webb, Steve Haas, Tom Caracci, Tom Hightower, Rebekah Morreale, Nanami Sunaga, and Katie Ross!!  24 Hours :)  
Donate to our Hood to Coast event or to Team World Vision for South Sudan!