the end is near!

I keep having to remind myself that these next few weeks will fly by.. especially in the face of exams, projects, and papers... It feels crazy! I go to class for only 23 more days (if you include my possible make-up class from the "snow day" we had..) and then I take one final, and then I walk. There were so many times in these last four years that I thought I wouldn't make it! My second-choice career path would have been a hair stylist - no lie. But here I am, at the end of March in my senior year. Finally.

And... everything is planned for the wedding! That feels good. We finally figured everything out, and it all just gets to wait 79 days until it all comes to fruition. The downside is that Austin will be gone the majority of the time.

He'll spend two weeks in Ohio starting on April 3, and come back for a visit the weekend of April 16th, and then he goes to po-dunk Paulden, Arizona for four weeks of on-the-job training,. After that, he goes off to Ohio again.. for a long time. He's home for Memorial Day and then the wedding is here, and then we go to Paris! When we get back, he has to go back to Ohio for a week, while I sit in Houston and sort out my/our life... and then we'll be relocated. C-r-a-z-y.

While all this madness happens, God is constantly reminding me that there is a time for everything, that He makes everything beautiful it it's time, and His timing is perfect. Patience is a lesson He always seems to be teaching/reminding me of!

Mom's surgery is in about two weeks - please keep her in your prayers. We're hoping she can recover quickly and start radiation three weeks afterward so she will be done with radiation before the wedding. Keep that in your prayers!

Love you all,
Elizabeth

I feel like I should be on Paris overload by now

I am so sick today, it's ridiculous. Although I worked 6 hours, something about the rain and my sick stomach has kept me from much of anything. That said, I have been sitting on my tush researching Paris attractions, shopping and food like mad!

One of my wonderful brothers, Matt, bought Austin and I airfare and 6 room nights in a cutesy boutique hotel in the heart of Paris, France for our honeymoon! We'll be there for six full days. There is so much to do in Paris. I keep reading through webpage after webpage of maps, blogs, tips, tricks, background information.. the list goes on. You want to know the crazy part? I'm such a "planner" that I won't stop looking at this stuff until I feel like I've got it all figured out! Good thing we have 3 months (89 days until we depart!) so we'll have time to revise it...

God is funny. He made me this crazy-organized type-A person who loves to plan things. It's a blessing in a lot of ways: I rarely miss assignments, I never procrastinate, and I can prepare my week well because I know what's ahead. I think this is one of the first things my mother-in-law-to-be learned about me-- that, and how crazy Austin makes me when he isn't the same way! But he knew I needed a guy that would smooth off the edginess, and remind me that things will be okay even when they don't go as planned. Poor Austin is still learning how to deal with how grumpy I get when we miss a turn or get lost. I have to admit, that is probably when my fuse is the shortest - all because I feel like I'm losing control - and I'm usually even not the one driving!

More importantly, Austin points to my heart when I am doing these stupid things. When my flesh goes nuts, at the end of the conversation he tells me the words that convict me so much - that I should pray about where my heart is - and in a very loving way. God made me that way, but He wants me to trust that He has the best in mind for me. (Another good example is how we have no idea where we will live in 3 months when Austin finishes his training. Talk about trusting in God's will with this one! Please pray with us!)

One of the lessons I think I will perpetually be learning and re-learning and reminded of by God is that these things aren't meant to be in my control. When I start taking things into my own hands, often I'm ignoring what God wants for me. I start planning out my life, and I stop asking God what He wants for me and where He wants me to go. He says He provides even for the flowers of the field, so why I am so worried about my tomorrows? I think it's healthy and Godly to be prepared for tomorrow; otherwise, how would we go on job interviews or know when bills are due and etc, but I think it's easy for me to try to make my tomorrows without seeking Him, and following His will, rather than asking Him to join on mine. How silly am I?! That is so worthless.

So I am going to go back to my Paris researching, because I know my time won't be as free in a few weeks as it will be now, on Spring Break. It's my last one, after all! But amongst all this planning, I'll be seeking God's will. I'm glad He reminded me that He has plans for me... even when I am on vacation!

Love,

Elizabeth

love songs I'm lovin' right now!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Love,

Elizabeth

the engagement party!

I can't express how amazing Saturday was. Mike & Laura's house is amazing to begin with, but when it is filled with fabulous food, family, and close friends, it just hits another level. Everyone in our families and groups of friends got to meet each other, mingle, and even see who is what role in the wedding. And Laura really did make one exceptional party!

When it came time for the toasts, I immediately began to cry. My dad gets this look in his eyes - which I know very well, because I've seen it so few times - and I know he's going to be very sentimental and probably cry. I lost it! I just lost it. He said that Austin was a great guy (so did everyone else, because he truly is) and that he's enjoyed getting to know him, and at the end wished us lots of tall babies! I'm telling you, when that man walks me down the aisle, I have no idea how I'm going to keep myself composed! I am so blessed. After Austin toasted, we got to hear wonderful, sincere things from all of our friends and family, and it just left me with a warm, blessed feeling.

We went home that night struck by the love that our family and friends have for us. They came from near and far, and came just to show us that they love and support us. It's nights like that that I know that God is blessing what is happening here. And we are just prayerfully seeking where the next step will be, waiting patiently. Please seek that with us, because we don't want to try to blaze any trail that isn't exactly what God wants.

Love,

Elizabeth

PS - Mom's surgery is scheduled for April 8th, so please keep praying with us!

another new year, another new blog.

I seem to make a new blog each year... I have one from 2009 when God revolutionized my life and broke me free from bondage. I have from from 2010 when God sent me to the other side of the world and I wanted to keep you all posted on my Ugandan adventures, and now I'm here in 2011, being prepared by Jesus for one thing I knew He had for me all along: wifehood!

I never understood God's timing. I still don't. It is astounding though. I looked back at my blog from 2009, when I didn't even know Austin existed, and just want to go back and tell me from almost two years ago to wait and be patient because good things are on the horizon. Some things were pruned away in a painful way, but it's all brought me right here, living in this dorm, getting ready to graduate, and get married. This is such a transitional period, too. And to be honest, I don't like it. It's the waiting, but also feeling like nothing is going on sometimes. Like I am seriously just rolling through the days and weeks and wondering when it's going to be June 10th. And that is 1) so, so selfish! 2) completely silly. If there is anything I should have learned by now, it is that God has me where He does for a reason. I think of Esther, when she was just being primped in the palace for a year before Xerxes made his decision to be queen. In the VeggieTales version of the story, she doesn't want to do it. And who would? Every little girl dreams of her gallant knight sweeping her off her feet... not being shoved into a "relationship" because of her beauty. But, God put her there for a reason. Something bigger than her, something bigger than right now, and something that definitely involved waiting. God put Esther there "for such a time as this."

So while I wait, and make silly decisions like plastic or china, and cake flavors and party favors, I know that the places He puts me and the time He gives me are not to be wasted or taken lightly. Every moment is precious.

"We care for one thing: Does the Jesus Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth, approve of what I am saying and doing?"

-John Piper

Just something to think about... and mostly a self-reminder.

Love,

Elizabeth

P.S.- mom's hair is growing back, it's just peach fuzz. She's really cute with such little hair! And it is so so soft!

P.P.S - 110 days until I am a Haynes!