Nick Bogardus

Thank you for the very kind birthday wishes! The end of my birthday, at this moment, is as perfect as the rest of it. I’m sitting listening to Eva talk her in crib and watching a slide show of the first three years of our marriage on Kim’s computer while she gets ready for bed. It’s simple and perfect.

Last night we went to Rain Sushi in Wallingford because first of all we like it, but also because we had a Groupon for it - a Groupon which also brought in Pastor Matt Jensen and his wife, as well as Scott O’Malley and his fiance Ashlee Pottenger the same night.

I’ve gotten to hang out with these two beautiful ladies a ton the last two days. There’s nothing better than that. As you can see, Evangeline liked the chopsticks and the candle, and Kim liked the tempura green tea ice cream.

One of my presents from Kim was a book that she created called 32 Reasons I Love You. She is amazing at things like this.  She selected pictures of us, some goofy and some serious, and combined them with her list.

I’m a lucky, lucky man.

This morning we went to Top Pot Doughnuts and Caffe Fiore, two of our favorites. Eva slept for most of it so we got to talk for a long time over chocolate old-fashioneds and some of the best organic coffee in Seattle.

We spent the rest of the day hanging out the house, Skyping with family - and even friends from our time in Mongolia who live in Canada - and playing with Eva.

Then tonight, Kim floored me by making seafood crepes modeled by after one of our favorite restaurants in Long Beach.  Check these things out.

I feel very blessed and loved. It is funny to think that one year ago Kim told me she was pregnant.  Even looking back at events around my last 3 birthdays I can’t help thank God for how he has loved me, and us. I’m excited to see 33…

Three years ago today, Kim and I rode our bicycles away from our wedding reception, down the street and around the corner to our house (which you can see at the end of the video above).  Her dress was taped up to the bike so she could pedal and she rang her bell most of the ride home.

Three weeks later we stepped off of a plane in Mongolia and any liquids in my eyes and nose froze.  We spent the first year and a half of our marriage in a Soviet-bloc apartment, seven hours from the capitol of Mongolia.  Together, we taught English, the Bible, and ministered to and served students, disabled children, the local church, and YWAM-ers passing through.

We flew back from Mongolia on a Monday and were in Seattle on a Thursday for my final interviews at Mars Hill.  We found a house on Saturday and flew back for time with our family on Sunday.  Three weeks later we moved everything in our storage unit - many unopened wedding presents! - up to Seattle.  In the year and a half since, together we’ve led a community group and ministered to and served singles, couples, students, strippers, families, neighbors…and now a daughter.

Here’s the point. When we first went to Mongolia, a wise, older friend corrected my focus on how “God would use me”, to how God would bless us by using us - that it’s not about me or us, but about a sovereign God who loves lavishly.  Looking back over the past three years, that has been unreservedly true.  We left Mongolia, and we live in Seattle, with a feeling of resounding and humbling thankfulness for the people God has put around us.  Further, as we worked together not only were we blessed by those around us but we grew as a team, as ‘one’.  All of that is grace.

More than anything or anyone else, Kim has been God’s greatest display of grace in my life.  It has been amazing to watch her grow into an absolutely stunning wife, mom, and woman.  She has a contagious joy in everything and with everyone.  (I’m lucky because I get to be around her all the time!)  She has also grown as a photographer.  Every time she does a shoot I have a new ‘favorite’ picture.  There is no one I trust more, no one whose opinion I value more.  I’m so proud to call myself her husband and thankful for the years we’ve had together.

Here’s to three years together and the hope of many more.

1. A wife whose beauty, creativity, and generous heart amaze me more every year.  More specifically, getting to watch the beginning of her growing into the mom I knew she would be.

2. The birth of a healthy, sweet baby girl, Evangeline Jane.  At six weeks, her smile and sense of humor already melt us.

3. Family who has loved, supported, and been patient with me for longer than anyone. 

4. A church community that deeply loves Jesus, the Bible, and people. 

5. Friends and co-workers, Gospel partners, who constantly challenge and inspire me; most often by pointing to Jesus.

6. The ability to receive theological and pastoral training from some of the best men I’ve ever met.

7. A memorable ‘babymoon’ with Kim where we drove from Seattle to Orange County down the 101.  We met a Nixon, stayed in a place that looked like Dwight Schrute’s farm, ate two of the best meals (Syrah and Wild Flour Bread) we’ve ever had in Sonoma, and kayaked with sea otters.

8. Getting to explore, know, and love a new city with Kim.  (We owe nearly every great restaurant tip to Anthony though)

9. A new home that is closer to work, cheaper, and bigger so we can host visitors and guests.

10. God’s relentless, faithful, patient love and grace that is most visible in all of the above but that sustains my every breath.

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Things that didn’t make the cut (but were still great): Netflix, a batting cage in the office, a few waves at Big Rock, Bonhoeffer bio by Metaxas, Mumford & Sons, and Bear Flag Fish Co.