Valentine's Day Events

First off, I just want to say that I have the most wonderful husband in the world!

As yesterday was Valentine's day, my amazing husband had things planned out. He came home, to me almost having the house completely clean (which got finished today), and said that my flowers we still at the store. He just wanted to get home to see me so he didn't stop and get them. (He did have to work late and he did get me some today.)

After I did what I could to finish what I had started, he let me open the package that had come in the day before and he had re-wrapped for me. Inside was the camera case that I'd been wanting!  I was so excited, and this was just the beginning.

Then he took me out to Olive Garden for dinner. It was crazy getting there as there was a wreak along with everyone going out. When we got there, they announced that they had two open cafe tables if anyone wanted to sit there. So, we got to sit down as soon as we got there. We kind of felt bad for everyone that had to wait though. However, I guess they chose to wait.

Once we were done with our delicious Chicken Parmigiana, he took me to the mall. We were so full that when he asked if I wanted dessert, I said maybe later. Of course, later they were closed. Guess we really didn't need that cookie cake slice anyhow.

We meandered around the mall for a bit until he led me into Build-a-Bear. I love the man. There we stuffed, fluffed, dressed, and named our Husky/Wolf, Dallas Winston Ellsworth. Tanner wanted Winston, I was about to name him Hunter, so we settled on Dallas. But I made Winston his middle name for Tanner. ;)

<-- Isn't he adorable?! (Yes, I know. I'm a dork.)

All in all, it was a FANTASTIC Valentine's day.

Unfortunately, I haven't exactly gotten him anything. Besides a organized and clean house! (Which, ironically, we found two houses that we really like that are in our price range! YAY!) I tried to paint him a painting, but it failed epically.. and I was going to make him a heart cookie cake, but I didn't have a heart shaped pan and I figured he'd like the painting better because it would never go away. I may still make him the cookie.. icing and all.

Happy Valentine's Day (yesterday) to all!

Keep on keeping on!

A Very Happy Wife. :)

The Joys of House Searching...

As some of you already know, my husband and I are searching for a house. We are already paying 700 a month, so why not get a place we could call our own? Plus, then we would have our parking and we wouldn't be able to hear through the walls. (Ugh.) Thus, the search began. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly difficult. We don't have a very large budget and the houses here are way overpriced. So, finding what we want in the price range we are comfortable with is difficult in of itself.

We found a couple houses that we liked, but both of them recently went pending, meaning someone is in the process of buying it. We were going to look at houses yesterday, but our realtor texted me because she got rear-ended! It was terrible! I felt so bad for her and I'm praying that she is okay!

So, here I am today, feeling like perhaps I've hit a wall. I've been asking myself, "Is this a sign that we aren't supposed to move right now? Should I just stop looking?"

It doesn't help that we were tight on money there for a week and I'm still feeling the weight of that. It's that feeling of not being able to buy anything because we can't afford it. I look at the people around us and wonder how they got to where they are and when we will get there! I'm trying to do everything that I can, but sometimes it feels like no matter what we do, it's not enough.

I know that I need to just lean heavily on God and give everything to Him. He knows what is best and when I have completely relied on Him, things turn out for the better. Perhaps I have just been lacking in that area recently. It's a lot easier to say "Give it all to God" than it is to do. Maybe that's my problem. I know I should, but maybe I'm just not doing it.

I need to stop worrying about money and the house search and everything that has to do with my "new business". (I became an Independent Scentsy Consultant back on the 18th! Which I am super excited about!) Perhaps if I just let everything go and have complete faith that God will take care of everything, things will start falling into place. I'm 100% sure I'll feel better.

It's just so hard to stop worrying...

God is in control. He has a plan. I have got to rely upon Him. God is good all the time.

Keep on keeping on. <3

Where is Your Treasure?

One Wednesday a while back, the preacher at the congregation we attend taught a lesson on storing our treasures in Heaven. Matthew 6: 19-24 says:

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Usually, when we read this passage, we automatically think "Where my heart is, that is where my treasure will be." But if you read closely, it's quite the opposite. Where we store our treasure is where our heart will be, as we read in verse 21.

 ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

So, what is our treasure? Typically, we think of gold and jewels as treasure. At least that's the first thing that comes to mind, especially when I was a child. However, that's not all the word means. We can treasure things, people, time.

So, what do you treasure? Wealth? Time? Friends? Family? Pets? Really, what do you invest in? That is how you will tell what you treasure. Because if you spend time doing something, you treasure that. For example, I spend lots of time with my husband. Therefore, as I should, I treasure him.

The real question is: Are you treasuring God? If we are supposed to be storing up our treasures in Heaven, should we not be treasuring God and His work? Of course we should. So, are we? Are we spending the amount of time we should with him? Perhaps we should be spending more time with Him and less time on Facebook, or playing video games, or watching TV, or whatever else we are doing so much.

I think it's time we re-evaluate how much time we spend doing things. Myself included. Time to start storing our treasures in Heaven instead of earthly things that won't last. For where our treasure lies, there our hearts will be also.

It's That Time of Year Again.

Well, it's almost Christmas. Tanner and I have the tree put up and decorated, the icicle lights out up around the shed outside, most of the presents are bought and wrapped, the plans are made for heading to Dallas for Christmas, and everything is settling down a little. I can't believe it's already this time of year!

It's weird to think back on last year. The 14th of this month will mark the day that I picked up Tanner from the DFW airport and we first saw each other in person. Who would have know that less than a year later we would be married!

I'm working on the 12 days of Christmas for Tanner. I got the idea from a fellow blogger who said she and her husband enjoyed it emensely. So, I'm giving it a try. Unfortunately, I didn't start off so well. We've technicly been celebrating the 1st day of Christmas since Saturday night. I couldn't be patient. I was going to make him a ice cream cake, (recipie via Pintrest) which is just two layers of ice cream bars, cool whip, and carmel topping, this Thursday. However, he wanted ice cream and I really wanted to find out if the "cake" was going to be any good, so we ended up making it together and eating it after it had time to freeze for a bit. Needless to say, it was delicious. On the down side, now I have to wait until this Friday for day 2. -.-

That's pretty much all that has been happening. I lead such an exciting life. :P Ha ha!

Keep On Keeping On!

Elisabeth

Happy Thanksgiving! (Belated Thanksgiving, rather..)

I can't believe it's already Thanksgiving! I've been married for two months and it's almost Christmas! Time just keeps on flying by! I remember the days when each day dragged on for waht seemed to be forever. Where did those days go?

In other news, two weekends ago, my wonderful husband and I went to a marriage seminar. (Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas to be exact.) It was amazing! I seriously think anyone even thinking about getting married in the future should go! Gary has a way of putting things in a different light and thinking about things in a new way, a GODLY way. It was really eye opening.

One of the things that he said that really stuck with me is that marriage is the biggest challenge a person can face spiritually. People never really see it that way. Most people think that they are in love and they will get married and everything will get easier from there. However, things just get harder. It's really true if you think about it. Once you start living with someone, those little things that once attracted you to that person start to get on your nerves. The hard thing is though, that, for a good relationship, you can't make them change. You, yourself, have to learn to live with it and deal with it in a Godly way. That is truely a BIG challenge.

All that being said, Tanner and I are in Dallas celebrating with our family. It's really good to spend time with everyone and have more than just a weekend to be together. Of course, as like every other year, we have all eaten way too much of the many delicious foods that entered into our house for lunch. Not that being too full stops any of us from eating more. It's all just so good! I think, though, that we shall be sent home with many leftovers.. If they survive the long journey back that is.

Speaking of going home, I get to put up our first Christmas tree when we get home! I'm acctually pretty excited. We got a pre-lit, six foot tree for fifty bucks. It was pretty awesome. We got some solid colored ornaments for it, until we fill it up with ornaments that mean more to us, and a nice lighted topper. I'm really excited to put it up. Though I can't decide if I should wait for Tanner to help or just do it myself. I should probably ask his oppinion beofre I do anything. :P

I've acctually gotten several gifts already picked out and ready to be wrapped. It's pretty cool. I've still got a month left and won't have to frantically search for something to get for everyone. Yay!

Well, Keep on keeping on! :)