New Home!

It's been awhile since I last updated this...We moved into a new townhome on May 1st in NW Rochester at the Douglas Trail's Townhomes. We are really enjoying our new place as it is much more spacious than our little apartment on the Crossroads campus. It is also right next to the beautiful Douglas Bike Trail and has a basketball court right on the grounds as well so that's good for the summer. Nicole graduated from Crossroads on May 2nd and we enjoyed getting to see a lot of family then. She is still working full time at Kindercare and part time at Panera. I'm still working part time at Aeropostale and part time with FCA, I am now up to almost $900 a month in monthly support so I'm just over a third of the way to being in full-time sports ministry, which I'm really excited about! Also, if I can get my support up, then Nicole can quit her second job at Panera, which would be really nice for her to have her weekends off to rest! Last weekend, we were in Iowa helping out with Kory's (Nicole's bro) graduation party and got to see more family then as well. I'm still playing on the church softball team as well and I have another game tonite, I got some hitting tips from Nicole and her sisters when we were at their house so hopefully that helps as I've never played baseball or softball before this summer! I'm hoping to get a walking video tour of our new place posted on here sometime but for now, here's a pic from move in day that shows a brief glimpse of our new home...That's all I got for now, later!

Beautiful weather and Update

Well, it's finally getting nicer outside and we've really been enjoying it. Yesterday, we played tennis and sand volleyball and even got a little sunburned. Last Sunday we got to go home for the day for Easter and had a great time at Barb and Dave's house getting to see family and also got to see Grandma and Grandpa Bolin's new apartment and stopped by Grandma and Grandpa Jensen's house as well before going to Nicole's family's house and then back to Rochester for Nicole to work Monday morning. Nicole is now working full time M-F 8-5 at Kindercare as well as still working weekends at Panera. I am now up to 15 hours a week working with FCA and have been visiting huddles and going to staff meetings. Currently, I'm recruiting high school and college age huddle leaders for this summers FCA Rochester Youth Sports Camp. Also, I'm in the beginning stages of starting up an FCA youth Flag Football League for this fall, so I'm really excited about that. I also am joining the Hope Summit church softball team, which may be interesting since I've never played softball or baseball before, but I figured I would try it since they asked me. In other news, we are moving May 1st hopefully and Nicole is graduating from Crossroads on May 2nd so that will be a fun weekend and we'll get to see a lot of family again. I've also been asked to run a Skip Day Sand Volleyball Tourney for Crossroads again so that should be next week sometime. Here's a pic of me, Nicole and Noah from Easter. Hope this post finds everyone doing well!

FCA and Work Update

Well it's been a couple months since I updated this but things have been busy here. I am now at almost $800 in monthly support for FCA and am still working 10-15 hours a week at Aeropostale. Nicole just got a full-time job and Kinder Care today so she is really excited about that. We are also going to be applying to get into Sunrise Townhomes within the next month or so and will probably be moving the end of April hopefully. Nicole spent last weekend with her mom and Aunt in the Twin Cities shopping and hanging out while I went home to the farm and visited Mom and Dad and also saw the grandparents and Matt, Ashley and Noah, so I had a great weekend as well. I am also really excited for the warmer weather, it has been really great. Nicole and I went roller blading on the trail today so that was fun. Other than that, we are doing well, The picture here is of me and Noah when I was home this last weekend.

FCA and family update

It's been a few weeks since my last update. We went to Florida with my parents from the 9th-15th and went to a few days of Disney World, including going on Aerosmith's Rockin Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror 3 times each. Since returning from Florida, I have been working part-time still with Aeropostale while beginning to work with FCA 10-12 hrs per week. I have also been doing more support raising and I am now at $700 in monthly support. Nicole has applied for three jobs but still waiting to hear back, while getting very anxious to begin working somewhere. This past weekend, Nicole and I stayed at a hotel in Marshalltown with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. So we are staying pretty busy but doing well. Hope all is well with all of you.

FCA and EVerything else Monthly Progess Report

Hey all,
I know I haven't updated our blog for some time now, but things have been busy in the James and Nicole Bolin household with Christmases on both sides of the family and celebrating our first Christmas and New Year's as a married couple. We had lots of fun seeing family on both sides and Nicole is now officially done with college and college basketball now and she is now looking for a job once we get back from Florida. We are leaving for Florida this Friday and coming back the following Thursday. We're going for a meeting for my mom and going to Disney for a couple days as a Christmas present from my parents. I also got hired back on as a Core Team Member at Aeropostale but as business is slowing down, my hours there have been cut back to 10-15 per week. However, the timing is fine because I officially started part time with FCA this week at 10-15 hours per week as well. I am mostly still doing support raising, but also I will start visiting some campuses and doing some of the ministry stuff as well as more training for when I raise enough support to become full time. As of January 1st, I am now at $640 per month support. I hope to be up to $2000 per month by this coming fall or winter. I hope to be able to call and visit some more people and make new connections in the coming months to make this goal a reality. I just need to put my faith in God that he will make a way for his works if it is His will for my life. This is definitely a time of transition for us, with us both just out of college and sports for the first time and just married and looking for full time work but I know that God will see His will be done in our lives if we just trust in Him. Of that I am certain, of any of the details I am far less than certain... I hope anyone reading this is doing well and I love you all...

Late Night and Cold Weather

Well, I officially have completed my first ever overnight shift at Aero. Last night I was in the mall doing an overnight floor set from 8 pm to 5 am. The wind chill when I got off work was around 20 degrees below zero so that was chilly. I'm working 43 hours this week and our first Christmas of the year is this Friday, so a busy week all around with Nicole having her last set of college finals this week as well. I'm still working on fundraising for FCA and hoping to start part time in January or February at the latest. Nicole finished her basketball career with a win over AFLBS in Maple Grove on Saturday. We also watched "The Dark Knight", the newest batman movie Saturday night with Will and Karly and Kathie and Anthony. Our season end soccer banquet is tomorrow night so that means free pizza ranch. Well, I'm trying to stay warm and awake right now, so I'll see ya'll later. Oh, and Go Vikings! The Vikes beat the Cards 35-14 yesterday and are now just one win away from clinching the NFC North Title for the first time ever because the last division title for the Vikes came when it was still called the NFC Central. That's all for now...

Christmas Decorating

Hey All,
Here's a picture of our little Christmas tree we got for our apartment, that we decorated last week. We actually designed our own "1st Christmas" Ornament. Nicole is now in her last couple weeks of college and basketball, while I am still working at Aeropostale. I got my first paycheck today, so that was exciting. We also just found out today that we are going to Florida with my parents in January so I'm looking forward to that. Other than that, I am still working on fund raising for my FCA staff position. I am excited for Christmas and being home with everyone!