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!

The Latest News

As of today, I am over $500 in FCA monthly support. That means I am about a fifth of the way to full time. I worked as cashier for the first time at Aero on Monday as well as yesterday. I like that better than folding clothes but I still fold plenty of clothes, too. I am hoping I only have to work there for another month or two but we'll see I guess. Nicole found out this past week that she is not going to be eligible to play basketball next semester and so she has to find a full-time job now by January or February as she will be done with classes and basketball. Deb, Dennis, Nick, Marque, Janeen, Morgan, Grandma and Grandpa Jensen were all in Rochester this past Sunday for Kathie's B-Day. We went to Hu Hot after church and then had pizza in the student center for supper. I'm excited to be coming back to Iowa for a couple days next week over Thanksgiving. Things are different when you're working but at least I was able to get a couple of days off for Thanksgiving and have already taken off work for a couple of Christmas'. The Vikings lost on Sunday to the Bucs after leading by 7 at halftime so that didn't sit well with me, however, Nicole's beloved Packers crushed the Bears on Sunday, putting the Bears, Packers and Vikings in a three way tie for first place in the NFC North at 5-5. That's about all for now. Hope this post finds anyone reading it doing well.....

2-0, Lots of Family, and My first day of work

Well the Crossroads Basketball season kicked off this last weekend. After the weekend, both the women's and men's teams came out 2-0 but all four games were close and very exciting till the end. In the girl's first game, they narrowly defeated St. Cloud Tech, 2008 NIAC Conference Champs, 46-45 and then in Saturday's game, Nicole hit 3-3's and had 11 pts. as the girls beat AFLBS by double digits. In the men's side, Brett Capes and Chris Cronin had big games as the men came back in both games for big wins. Also, this weekend, my parents were up to visit as well as Nicole's family and Judy Hanson and then on Sunday we ate out with Nicole's aunt and uncle so things were pretty busy with everyone here, but lots of fun. Yesterday was a great day as a Viking fan, as the Vikings beat the rival Packers for the first time in 4 years by a matter of inches on a final second 52 yard field goal miss by Packer's kicker Mason Crosby to keep the final score 28-27. Then after the big game, I got called in for my first day of work. I folded lots of girl's clothing and was pretty ready to be done when I got off at 9. But I'm probably only working there till Jan. 1st so I can make things work until then. As far as FCA fundraising goes, I got another $50 in monthly support as well as over $300 more in one-time gifts, so things continue to keep coming in which is a very encouraging thing. Hope everyone is doing well....
Here's a picture of me and Nicole from this weekend.

Aeropostale and Anything

Hey all,
In FCA funding news, I got a few more monthly contributors and am almost over $500 in monthly support now. Yeah! I am still working on getting a lot more but content with where things are headed.
Today I get to scrimmage with the girl's basketball team which is always fun, it's at least a chance for me to play some ball. My training went well at Aeropostale last night and I bought some really nice new clothes with my new huge employee discount. So now I have "preppy" clothes but I have to dress that way to work there and the clothes are really nice so it's ok. I start working there next week. In other news, Obama is going to be the next president, I'm not so sure about that, but we'll see what happens, I guess... Can't do much else about it. Anyways, I hope that this blogging finds anyone reading it doing well. I hope to see as much family as possible over Thanksgiving and Christmas! Have a great day.