A Thought from the Past

I just found a note I had been looking for just recently…I had jotted it down many years ago when I was in what may be one of the darkest, lowest times of my life. I was angry at everything and everyone, and what had been one small issue in my life had ballooned and spread out into every single aspect of my life. My sophomore year of college was grueling, yet at the same time so very eye opening. God, knowing what I needed at the exact moment it would have the most impact, placed this verse and the cooresponding commentary in front of me:

Hebrew 12:15

See to it that no one missed the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

The commentary:

Like a small root that grows into a great tree, bitterness springs up in our hearts and overshadows even our deepest Christian relationships. A “bitter root” comes when we allow disappointment to grow into resentment, or when we nurse grudges over past hurts. Bitterness brings with it jealousy, dissension, and immorality. When the Holy Spirit fills us, however, he can heal the hurt that causes bitterness.

These words knocked me to the ground. All of it was me. All of a sudden I could see the progression that took place; the beginning all the way to the fruit of that bitterness I had allowed to grow up in my life. And it meant I was missing the grace of God and the Holy Spirit dwelling in me. Praise God; he opened my eyes and showed me how to climb out of the hole I had dug myself into so deep.

More changes…always more changes.

Well, it’s been a while to say the least!

It’s only a few weeks from Christmas and I’m starting to decorate. I love decorating for Christmas. We got a tree last night. AH! So exciting.

In my last post, I said I was going to freelance design and do all kinds of other things. I am doing all kinds of other things…but not designing. And I’m perfectly ok with it. I’m more than ok with it! I got sick of the rat race it becomes to work with clients wanting designs. Blech. So now, I quilt with the old ladies from church every other Wednesday, I’ve dived into the relm of canning, I’ve been hemming band uniforms for the school band (thank goodness they’re done!), cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, unpacking, yard work, continually purging stuff we don’t use, babysitting, arranging, rearranging…the list is endless. I love it.

I couldn’t have imagined how great being married is…almost 4.5 months and I am loving every minute of it (even the not so fun moments). Ty is an amazing person, friend, and husband. I couldn’t ask to be with someone better than him. We laugh a lot, talk a lot, enjoy each other’s company… This is starting to sound cheesy, so simply put: I LOVE BEING MARRIED TO TY ELENBAAS! haha

I don’t know if anyone reads this…especially considering how often (or not so often) I update it. That’s ok. It’s been random thoughts anyway. A good place to throw thoughts on “paper”… I should keep it up. Good mental exercise maybe.

But for now…off to figure out what’s for dinner and clean and decorate more!

And yet again, more changes…

Well, it has been quite some time now. In the last 4 months a lot has happened! Wedding planning is coming along. Only a little over a month to go. RSVPs are coming back, decorations are coming together, boquets are being assembled… It’s good stuff. And, amazingly, we are going to get away with it being pretty cheap. I think we would have been close to my dream ideal budget of $2000 if we didn’t have to pay for the food. But, part of it is covered and so it’s not as bad as it could be!

One other new change is that I quit my job. It was becoming unbearable. Every day a circus, a new crisis, a new argument. Not a healthy environment to work in…at all. After breaking the news to my boss that I would be done in July before the wedding, I could already feel the stress level lowering a bit. After a week though, my boss decided to hire someone and told me I’d be done June 5. A bit surprising, but not out of character to what had been going on; this news was far more positive than negative. And so now, here I sit getting ready to head to my parents to do much needed laundry and help out around the house there. And tomorrow helping Leah with meals. And the rest of the week wedding planning and preperation. It really was the perfect outcome. I can live off what I have saved til the wedding. I still have my kennel job. I don’t have to have the effects of being stressed at work. And I can get things done around here that kept getting put off. It’s great.

So what will I do after I’m married? Move to Engadine! And freelance graphic design and cook and garden and sew and do things I haven’t gotten to do before ever. Like spend time with my husband and have a real house. So exciting!

Only 40 days til I’m married to my best friend who also happens to be the coolest person I know. I think I’ve got it made.

I no longer have a boyfriend…

…I have a fiancee!!!

Ty asked me to marry him last night. I’m excited.

The end.

A Post by Jessica & Ty

How do you do.

The fast rabbit ear chopped suey on my calendar girl. We are rockin el musico por plátanos. So, do you want to race a cow to the thing on the telephone because it is really really extremely extreme. Only when you try to be a way cool cat, will smith. Free willy. Jump a car today or die a slow, horrible, wonderful death ray. Stand up for goats with coats and gloat about moats and totes.

Just doit.

The End.

Another month?!

Oh man. I wrote something a month ago. I really just don’t know how the time passes so quickly…

Work has been crazy. Too many long days. I was really frustrated for a while. It’s getting better. Answered prayers for sure. God is good.

Ty is coming up this weekend. I’m really happy to get to see him and spend some time with him. … He sent me flowers … to work. I turned bright red when the girl brought them in. That made my day though. : )

I’m glad it’s the weekend. I’m exhausted and looking forward to just getting to do some stuff that I enjoy doing at my leisure…like shoveling large amounts of leaves over the hill in front of my house, or scooping dog poop out of the back yard. haha I really do enjoy it.

That reminds me, I DO have to go shopping tonight. I have to buy chicken for dinner tomorrow so I can start marinading it.

Ta ta for now.

Words Can’t Express…

The past month has been a whirlwind of amazingness. I can’t believe it’s almost October already. So what’s been going on? Here are a few things in reverse order (most recent listed first):

I’m running in a 5k THIS Saturday. And looking forward to it. Crazy, I know. I’m excited about it. It’s a fundraiser for His House. I’ll get to see friends I don’t get to see often, hang out with the ones I do, and have a generally fun time.

Kate is engaged. I will be standing in her wedding in December. Yay Kate! I’m happy that she is happy. Oh yeah, I need to send her money for my dress!

Got to go on a motorcycle ride to Calumet Pizza Works with one of the most wonderful people I know for my birthday…and then got totally rained on on the way back. It was the most hilarious date I’ve been on. I laughed a lot and loved every minute of it.

Have been excited for the last month and look forward to the following months. I’m getting to know Ty better every day…and the more I get to know him, the more I like him. I’m glad he likes me. : )

So, that’s the big stuff that I’m thinking of at the moment…there’s been tons going on…all the time. Never a dull moment here.

These are a few of my favorite things…Music

YouTube links to a very small selection of my favorite songs…

Frank Sinatra – I’ve Got the World on a String

Bing Crosby – Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Enya – Only Time

Flyleaf – Fully Alive, So I Thought

Mary Poppins – Spoonful of Sugar, Supercalifragelisticexpialidocious

War – Low Rider

Mark Wills – Lovin’ Every Minute

Pirates 3 – Hoist the Colours

Flight of the Conchords – The Issues

The best summer ever?

It’s been a while. Yes. I haven’t really been home…especially in the last two weeks…except to sleep and shower. Why be at home alone when you could be hanging out with a group of people that are like a second family to me? I’m glad I had the opportunity to spend so much time with them and get to know them better. They are some of the most wonderful people I know. You can’t beat that.

I’d have to say this summer has been one of the best ever.

The camping trip to Pictured Rocks was absolutely amazing. The STP Backpacking trip was amazing. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life…but it was really good. I got to experience encouragement from people struggling more than I was. I learned I can do more physically and mentally than I ever thought I could. I was reminded more acutely that I don’t need material things to be happy and live a full life…and that I believe it is easier to have a fuller life with less things. I got to watch one of the most beautiful sunrises over Lake Superior on that trip with an amazingly wonderful person. I ate a lot of ice cream and cake…more than I’ve eaten in a very long time. I got back into a regular schedule of reading my bible again. My living room isn’t a disaster anymore.

This fall has a lot of great opportunities in store. I can’t wait to see how relationships will grow and strengthen and challenges will be overcome.

It’s A Wonderful Life

Well, I’d say it’s been quite a while since I’ve written anything here! Really, it’s been a while since I’ve spent any notable time on my computer. Spending 40 hours a week in front of a computer plus having so many other things I need and want to do makes getting on a computer outside of work not so pleasant or urgent. So, what have I been doing all this time? Lots!

Right now, I’m enjoying this 4th of July relaxing. I’m watching people knee board, boat, etc out on the Portage. It’s a beautiful day. I might take a nap. I watched the Dollar Bay parade and had lunch with a bunch of friends from church and then sat around. Very tiring.

I’ve started running again, with much encouragement from Becky. I really almost look forward to running now and the only thing holding me back from doing it more often is having things as priority over running and taking showers. Taking showers is just too much work. I’d rather not. HAHA

I’ve been flying through my small library of books. I’m loving it. I forgot how much I love to read. I’ll sit on my front porch in the evenings and read my books as the sun sets on the Portage. It’s fantastic.

I’ve “landscaped” the back yard and cleaned the back and side areas. I’ve pretty much been a woman on a mission on the weekends and evenings. I’m just constantly on the move. And I love it. I’m still not done painting though. Although watching HGTV encourages me to get up and paint while I watch…plus I figured if I’m going to go do work at the campus house, I should probably do work at mine as well…so that’s keeping things moving.

I’m totally excited about the campus house, PS. I’ve been trying to get the yard cleaned up since that is what I’m good at. Plus, I don’t really know if I’d be of much assistance inside right now. It is going to be totally awesome. Also, there’s this sweet bike that was in the garage. I’m going to fix it up. It will be sweet.

Next weekend a bunch of His Housers are going camping near Pictured Rocks and it is going to be a crazy fun adventure. I’m looking forward to it. The weekend after that is the Canal Run I think and then that week is VBS. Then after that is the STP Backpacking trip around the tip of the Keweenaw. I’m so glad I’ve been running so that I’m in some sort of shape to go hiking for 4 days while attempting to keep the girls motivated and encouraged. Then after that is camping in St. Ignace for the weekend with my best friend, her boyfriend, and his buddy who is a Tech graduate too.

Fun stuff. Totally busy. What’s new. I’m loving it and am reminded of how blessed I am every day.