Student Loans

After several years of saving, I paid off my student loans recently.  Yesterday, I received a notice in the mail from the University of Minnesota officially informing me that my loans from them were "paid in full."  I also paid off my loads from the Department of Education, so I hope to receive a similar notice from them soon.

Introducing the Groomsmen: John Yackovich, Brother of the Bride

John and Kelly have known each other for all of his life and most of hers. In other words, he is Kelly's brother.

John and Luke met for the first time when Kelly's family hosted Luke for Thanksgiving in 2008. He accuses Kelly of "stealing his major" because they both have undergraduate degrees (and are pursuing Ph.Ds) in Computer Science. He lives with his girlfriend, who is also named Kelly, which creates an understandable amount of confusion and humor. John is pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh.

National Postdoc Appreciation Day

Apparently, it is today.  I feel quite appreciated.

Introducing the Groomsmen: Jonathan

Of all the groomsmen, Jonathan has known Luke the longest.  They met in the Autumn of 2001; Luke had returned from studying abroad in Australia in July.  Both were students and members of Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) at the University of Minnesota, which was a singularly important group in Luke's spiritual growth.  When they met, Jonathan did not yet have the beard or mustache.

Jonathan and Luke became friends in CSF.  They have much in common, including their faith and a desire to wrestle with difficult and important questions.  On issues ranging from childbearing to global warming to the interpretation of Genesis to cosmology, they often have strongly divergent views; however, and they also share a mutual respect and durable friendship even when their answers sharply differ.  They have both grown and learned much through their friendship.

Jonathan recently received his MBA from the Carlson School of Management; he works at Syngenta as a NAFTA Business Development Analyst.  He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife Christina, who is a professional photographer and took the photograph above.  They have welcomed into their home a black Labrador Retriever named Dietriech and their daughter Luciana Shalom, who was born on Sep. 3, 2009.

Introducing the Groomsmen: Paul Rimmer

Through a warp in the space-time continuum, the TARDIS has brought Doctor Who to be a groomsman in Luke and Kelly's wedding!  Actually, this is Paul dressed as The Doctor at the CGSA end-of-year party from the Spring of 2008.  

Paul and Luke met when Luke returned from California at the beginning of 2007.  He and Luke met in CGSA, and Paul has served as its co-president.  

Both were graduate students in the Physics Department, and this created many opportunities for profound discussions about the relationship between faith and physics.  Paul also has a deep interest in church traditions and history, which has been the source of more great conversations and opportunities to learn.  Paul is a man of profound thoughts and deep dedication to truth. 

Paul is currently a graduate student seeking is Ph.D. in Theoretical Astrophysics and Astrochemistry at Ohio State.  He lives in Columbus with his wife Arwen and their two cats Mab and Merlin.