ELLIOT'S BATTLE AGAINST THE MIRROR

Ok, sorry for all the dog videos and pics, but it's our first dog and we're super excited. Last one for a while, I promise :)

PICTURES OF ELLIOT

Here are some pics of Elliot's first day as a Kasper.

ELLIOT

This is our new puppy, Elliot. We got him yesterday after a day long search for a dog. He is a beautiful 4 month old chocolate poodle. He is a super fun little guy!

NEW BANDS

Leigh's brother Jake showed me these two new bands. I've enjoyed these songs a lot, so I thought I'd share them. They're both also songs you can buy on Guitar Hero III and play to!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pOtNqDyyX2c&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KvUrl-IzeWg

COOL THINGS

On an older blog of mine (which has been deleted) I used to do a blog of things I thought were cool that week or month or X amount of time; I'm now going to restart this blog entry.

*MY WIFE - she is great and will likely always appear on my "cool things" list. We just spend a day shopping together in Atlanta and had an awesome time together. Wives are great!

*FLETCH DVD - this has got to be one of the greatest movies ever! I've been looking all over the place for it on DVD and found it yesterday.

*APPLE STORES - Atlanta has a ton of Apple Stores! When I see one, I turn into a little boy in a candy store. Leigh usually has to drag me out by the arm crying. I wish we had an Apple Store in Wichita.

DELAYED

We are sitting here in the Wichita airport delayed for another half hour, so I thought what a great time to catch up on my blog. A couple observations from sitting in a terminal that has been delayed: 1) everyone in the WORLD has an iPod. As I look around the sea of people I see white headphones in everyone's ears. 2) there is always one person in the terminal that is having a conversation of their cell phone about four times louder than they need too. 3) unattended little kids go from super cute to annoying very quickly. 4) a person writing a blog entry about being delayed in an airport goes from mildly funny to a downer fast.

MORE PICS

Here are some more picture from the wedding from your viewing pleasure.

WEDDING PICS!

Here are some of Leigh and I's favorite pictures from the wedding. JD, our photographer, did an amazing job with the pics. Enjoy!

GROOM - TY

So now that it is 4 days before we tie the knot, we thought it would be good to post a blog about us! We are both excited about meeting each other’s friends and families! Unfortunately there probably won’t be a lot of time for details at the big event (mostly hugs and hellos), so here’s a bit about our lives in the Big ‘Ta.

Right now Ty is an extremely busy man! He is currently working full time at Youthville as a Family Support Worker. Youthville does case management for SRS. Ty’s job is to monitor visits with parents, spend time with his caseload of kiddos, and check up on the foster parents. This is a great job because it is laying the foundation for what Ty would like to do in the future. Eventually he would like to do some type of family counseling where he would be able to work with parents and their kids.

To do this, Ty is finishing school at Tabor University. He is attending an adult program here in Wichita and will be finished in November. His degree will be in Christian Ministries. His plan is to continue school soon after and get his masters and probably his doctorate. He has a lot of options as to where he will obtain those degrees but has not yet decided.

In addition to school and Youthville, Ty is on staff at our church Wheatland Mission. He coordinates worship and will soon be starting a youth program. This job has been a great learning experience so far and really allows Ty to apply what he has learned in school, etc. Our church is really special to us and we love being involved in its ministries.

Ty is a bass and guitar player so he is often asked to play gigs with different bands around town. His own band is Urban John and is made up of UJ (a groomsman) and Brandon Graves (a friend in Lawrence). He loves music, soccer (Arsenal), watching movies, and chicken nuggets!

THE BEST MEN - UJ

Out of all the Finns I know, UJ is definitely one of them! UJ is from Lahti, Finland and his real name is Urpo Juhani, hence – UJ. He came to the states to finish his doctorate in aerospace engineering. Please refer to him as Dr. UJ. He and I are in a band together called Urban John, which is actually his name translated to English. The meaning of my name translated to Finnish is Tiiliskiventekija, just in case you were wondering. Currently UJ is working on his pilot’s license. He flies all the time! I keep trying to get a free ride, but have yet to put my life into UJ’s hands. Right now UJ is working for Cessna doing something I cannot explain. All I know is that it takes brains! He is also extremely busy playing music with several different bands. UJ has been a great friend for several years and I am really glad to have him stand beside me as I marry Leigh.

THE BEST MEN - ERICH

Erich and I met when I was hired to tour with a worship leader. We needed a drummer so we began looking. We got a lead when we heard about a great young drummer. That drummer turned out to be Erich. On our first tour together, Erich and I were banned from four-wheelers in Arkansas due to some unfortunate events - flipping a four-wheeler, breaking one, and demolishing a gravel church parking lot, all in one day. After the grilling from the Arkansas Foundation of Four-Wheel Drivers for Safety (or AFFWDS), Erich and I became very close friends. Erich is currently in Nashville with his beautiful wife Rana, working as a musician/substitute teacher. Erich has been a great friend and is the most down-to-earth guy you will ever meet. Erich’s wife, Rana, will also play a role in our wedding – the guestbook table person. I can’t wait to see you guys.

THE BEST MEN - ANDY

Like Josh, Andy and I also met through Erich. Andy’s band (Nameless Faces) needed a drummer and bass player for a show and hired Wichita’s greatest bass & drum combo - myself & Erich. Andy also lived with Josh and I in our Riverside bungalow. He would tell you that I was the messiest, however, he was by far the messiest roommate. If you are around Andy and I for more than five minutes, you will see that we can’t be near each other without horsing around with each other in some way. While playing a show in Kansas City, our van ran out of gas. While the others left to get gas, Andy and I stayed and took part in an epic wrestling battle, which has left a scare on my right elbow to this day. Andy is currently working at Starbucks and preparing for a summer tour with Nameless Faces. Thanks for taking time out of your rock star life to be at our wedding.

THE BEST MEN - TRAVIS

Travis is the friend I’ve known longest on my Best Men line up. Travis and I met through a mutual friend at church. He is the big brother I never had. The picture of us at the top is Travis and I playing our “one inch punch” game (you should have seen his face after my next punch). At one point I lived with Travis and his lovely wife Jennette, in Travis’ office. A good portion of what I know about church ministry came from this man, so if I’m terrible as a pastor, you can blame it on him! I was his right-hand man in worship and youth ministries and still continue to bounce ideas off of him. Travis is currently a worship pastor at Springs Calvary in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is the father of three awesome boys (Ethan, Taite, and Jaden) and the most beautiful little girl you’ve ever seen (Trinity). In addition, Travis and his wife are currently pregnant with their next baby! Thanks Travis for all your wisdom and guidance throughout our relationship and into our marriage.