Proverbs 31

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
_________________

I love so many things about this Proverb. The first, is that it reminds me of my mom. She provides (alongside my father), she works hard for our family - even in the midst of cancer treatments - she loves us, and she is strong.
The second, is that it is a great vision of what my future as a wife should be. A Biblical wife doesn't just sit around - she doesn't "eat the bread of idleness," - but she participates in the life of the home and works hard to provide as a partner in the marriage. A Biblical wife is one who trusts in the Lord, and leads a life of integrity. I want to honor my future husband as a godly wife who lives a life of integrity and works to provide for the family. I don't know about getting up before the sun... haha :) I'm actually pretty sure that motherhood will make me do that, in maybe 5 years!

In 30 days I will marry Austin Haynes, and I ask that you all pray for us as we prepare to be husband and wife, that we would be willing to die to ourselves, to give of ourselves, and that we would not forget the covenant we are going to make!

I love this man, and I am thankful that God is working in my heart to prepare me to be his wife!

Love,
Elizabeth

The End is Near!

No, I'm not one of those crazies who think the world is ending in less than 20 days. Matthew 24:36 proves otherwise: "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." BUT - the end of my time at the University of Houston is very, very near. It feels so weird to think all I have to do is take one more test and I'll be graduated! I actually only have to go back to the Hilton one more time. So strange. And today, as my professors asked what I'm going to do when I graduate (after I took my make-up exams from my appendecomy-week) I didn't really have an answer. I got to explain how Austin's job is strange and hasn't told us where we will be.

Every time I tell someone new that story, they look at me all bug-eyed. I know--unbelievable. God knows what He is doing, though, and my heart is finally in a place where I'll accept it wherever it is. Some of those "wherever" places may be really hard, and I know that. Wherever he goes I go, though. Last week, Austin told me that he was discussing how he didn't know where he would live with one of the higher-ups in his region and they said that's because the company doesn't know yet. That's astonishing to me, but I guess that's just how it is. And then, this higher-up mentioned that there was an opening in the Washington (state) area. When Austin told me this, I knew my heart was okay with "wherever" because I told him that would be fine. Mind you, it is probably 71 degrees in here and I have goosebumps, so saying that about a state that's so far north is quite a stretch for me and is definitely God working on me, because I sure am stubborn!

Last weekend, my cousin Sarah, her mom Barbara and my other Aunt, Linda, threw a bridal shower for me! It was so fun, and I loved getting to see family and friends - some of which I hadn't seen in years. My mom also made me this quilt-thing (she said it isn't a quilt). Which is a Double Wedding Ring pattern, but isn't finished because my parents had to halt their lives for my appendectomy last week. It is supposed to have an H in the middle ring and an A and an E on either side. I am so excited for it! She wrote this letter about it and how much she's enjoyed spending time with me in the last year and I cried and so did half the room!

the quilt.. thing :)

Sarah & I - my maid of honor


Aunt Barbara, Sarah, me, mom

Aunt Barbara, Sarah, me, Aunt Linda!

Love,

Elizabeth