i love, love, LOVE my mama.

Today has been one of those long tiring days... that actually felt more like two days (The Jerk reference for my daddy). I've been up and at it since 7:00 am; went to the dentist to get teeth whitening trays, went to my classes, worked on projects (three different projects today!) and had an all-area RA staff meeting, and I'm on call tonight. It just feels like a lot. It reminds me of being eight, and my mom and dad shuttling all three of us to baseball, softball, basketball, football, swimming, volleyball, theatre, choir... you name it, they did it. Another good reason to wait a while for babies!

Tomorrow, I'm going home to see my mom. She's having surgery Friday at 7:30 am, and I can't begin to understand what she is thinking, feeling, or going through. My prayer for my mom has been a quick miraculous recovery, and that God would be her shelter and her strength. Now, I'm praying that the chemo is done forever, and that she is no longer in danger of something so threatening. I'm excited to see my parents this weekend because I know I only have a good couple of months left here in Houston with them, and I value my time with them so much! I rarely went home as a freshman in college, but I go home almost every weekend now... Partially because my life changed and so did my attitude, and partially because my mom is sick, and I like to see my parents! They're also a haven from the storm-of-a-dorm I live in... but that isn't one of the main driving factors here.

My mom is amazing. She is on chemotherapy, she is teaching a new curriculum, she and my dad are putting me through school, they are paying for our wedding, and they are supporting Austin and I 100% in our relationship. I don't think that a person can be more blessed than I am to have a woman like her as my mom. Although she is going through some really emotionally, monetarily, and physically challenging times, my mother is still my godly role model, pushing me to get over myself and remember that God has a purpose for me, no matter how hard things are. I love you mom, through thick and thin. You are amazing, and I know that God is doing something great in all of this, even if we never fully understand it.

On a slightly happier note, here is my countdown breakdown (yes, I just sat and counted the days on my calendar. It's exciting though.. and that's just my personality!):

2 days until Mom's surgery

3-4 days until she is released

8 days until I see Austin again

16 days until I go to Las Vegas!

14 school days left (not including tomorrow, taking a personal day)

-- somewhere in here, Mom starts radiation--

32 days until my last assignment is due and all tests are done!

36 days until Dad's birthday

37 days until I graduate & Austin comes home again!

39 days until I move home

41 days until I turn 22

51 days until Austin is home for Memorial Day weekend

59 days until the bachelorette party!

64 days until Sam is 24 and the rehearsal dinner

65 days until I AM MARRIED! Whoo!

66 days until we leave for Paris (even better!!)

Just thinking of where I was 66 days ago is really exciting. I can't believe things have gone by this quickly, but at the same time, it seems as if every second is slower than the one before it.

I trust that my God is in control, and that He is taking care of it all. I'm not going to sweat the small stuff, because it's all small stuff... for Him.

Love,

Elizabeth

what is love?

I don't think I'll ever stop learning about love.. especially since God IS Love, and I'll never stop learning about Him! Anyway, I've had a very trying week at the dorms. My mom had to remind me that I'm there for a reason, and that Jesus promises us persecution. And, there were all these clear signs of spiritual warfare - something else my mom pointed out. (I have a wonderful mom, btw).

So, I have different verses from all over the Bible all over my dorm room, cut out like cartoony speech bubbles (think comic strips). To be honest, most of the time, I hardly notice them. But, there are times that one catches my eye and I read Acts 2:42 right when I need to, when God is speaking to my heart about community. Or, I'll read Luke 6:32-34 right when I need to remember to love those who seem to hate me; when I'm covered in self-pity (selfish self-pity!); when I'm sulking and thinking only of myself.

What else is going on? Well, the love of my life leaves in two days to go to Ohio for two weeks, then to po-dunk something-or-other in Arizona for four weeks, and then back to Ohio until the wedding. Luckily, he'll be back between all those destination changes, and for Memorial Day. I am NOT excited for him to be gone for ten weeks! That's twice as long as I was in Uganda, but with better communication and visits. I seriously can't comprehend how much my life is going to change without him here all the time. It's going to stink! ... but then we get married!

Anyway, here's some Good News for all of you this morning. I've loved this passage since God showed it to me in Uganda to show me how much of a stupid sheep I can be, and what Love is all about.


Luke 6
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.





Love,

Elizabeth

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!