A Whirlwind of year 2013

Well I realize we are almost already a week into 2014 but I thought I would recap some of my favorite moments from 2013. I am so thankful for all that the Lord taught me in the past year, the friendships he allowed me to gain and the many blessings he showed me.

January 2013:
This began my adventure to St. Louis where I made some of the best friends and gained life experiences I am so blessed by. Lets start with the friends. First there is Julie Curran. This woman was my supervisor during my practicum and we just became kindred spirits. I could share anything and everything with her and probably have. Then there was my small group. Specifically the Oros family that showed me so much love and acceptance. Then there is Renee who I had not imagined I could love so much! She is one of the sweetest women I know. I wish I could have stayed in St. Louis a little longer to get to know her better. Then Betsy, Alyssa, Stacie, and Julie who all made sure I wasn't too lost in the city.

Then there was the blessing of my internships. These truly equipped me for my career and I am grateful to have had such amazing connections to my supervisors.

April 2013:
My first cardinals game. It was to celebrate Daka's birthday. The first birthday I would spend with him. It was also one of the last times I would see Shelly before she shipped off to Africa. Hanging out with Brock, Brian, Daka, and Shelly was great....even if it did rain for most of the game.









June 2013:
Daka Proposed. I really don't think I need to say much more than that. It was just wonderful to know I would be spending the rest of my life with him.

August 2013:
My first Real Job.

October 2013:
My Birthday. Daka came to visit and we went on a picnic(he got me a basket as my gift) one of my favorite things to do on a date.

December 2013:
Daka and I said "I do" on the 13th. We spent and amazing honeymoon in Venice from the 15th-22nd. Then there was Christmas eve with my parents. Our first Christmas as a married couple at home together. Family Christmas/new years with the Wiedeman Underwoods.

All in all this year has be splendid. I'm honestly most thankful for the relationships God has given me. I am such an incredibly blessed woman.

1 Month to go

As stress filled as this engagement journey has been I can honestly say I am thankful for it. We are constantly having to trust that the finances, the means, the workers and supporters and everything else will be provided. We have been showered in love and support and I am so overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends and family.

Today I began to move a few things into our new apartment. It was a bit nostalgic packing the things that have been stored at my parent's house. Though I was so sure I would never live here again after college I have be so grateful to have this last 6 months to reconnect with my family. Plus the ability to throw large amounts of money at my loans because I did not have rent or utilities to pay was pleasant.

It's all a bit like a dream. I still often feel like a teenager and that this is just my day dream romance. But the realness of life and the stress of working and planning reigns me back into reality. Setting up our home, making our budget and other preparations can even be surreal at times. All of this planning and imagining can't compare to what is to come. For better and worse we'll be together forever starting in a month.

Admittedly I'm nervous about it all. I frequently depend on my own strength rather than leaning on the Lord and I can never live up to the standards for marriage on my own strength of will. I could never repent or forgive or love in a way that is honoring to God without his spirit alive in me. I tend to over play the fantasy that everything will be peachy keen once we take this step.I think that has me even more nervous. What will I look like when I'm caught in my sin. Fortunately I can lean on the truth that I am already forgiven and no longer a slave to sin and death.

It's a huge journey we will soon embark on and I am excited, though perhaps unprepared, for what is to come.

Product Review

I don't normally write blogs like this so bear with me.

So yesterday I splurged. 

Big time.

I spent a whopping $65 at Walmart for a gel nail kit.

Ever heard of Shellac?

Well this is the less expensive (but still expensive) at home version.

I paint my nails constantly. And I'm pretty good at it if I do say so myself. 

I have a steady hand for french manicures and friends often ask for my help.

Seeing as my wedding is coming up and I wanted to paint my own nails for it, I wanted a manicure that would last through our honeymoon.

I purchased the cheapest version in Walmart. SensatioNail.

See it here: http://www.sensationailgel.com/

The starter kit as well as an additional color.

Walmart also sells a Sally Hanson version for $64 for the starter kit.

Ok now to the review, I'll list pro's and cons based on my experience and you can judge from there.

Lets start with the cons:

Expense: The initial cost of this system is not quite double what a shellac job at a salon runs(about $39) but forking that over was not pleasant. Then you have to factor in that each individual nail color runs at around $10 a bottle claiming it provides 20 manicures. And the starter kit comes with the essential base/top coast, cleanser, gel primer and LED light. All of which, save for the LED light, will have to be repurchased at the end of my 10 uses.

Use: For the most part use is simple. There are videos online for those of you who are more visual and instructions in the box. However, if you do not already have a steady hand, trying to have a pretty finished look will be difficult. Also there is really no room for mistakes because this stuff is plastered on your hand for the next two weeks. And removal is a pain.

The Lamp: Well I don't have any big complaint with the LED drying/setting lamp yet, but it did feel really strange having my hand baked under a powerful light for reduced dry time and hardness. Though I did like the reduction of dry time, I must say. My fingers definitely felt tingly while setting under the light for 30-60 seconds(depending on what coat I put on the nail).That was a weird and slightly unpleasant sensation.

On to the Pro's:

Expense: Ok I realize I listed this as a con, but let me explain. Initial cost is a major bummer, but when you think about how I get 10 manicures out of the starter kit ($65) and 10 in salon manicures would have run me around $390 it seems a little more worth it. Also this system boasts that the manicure will last for up to two weeks. This means I'm not running through nail polish because it chipped while I was working with those cutie preschoolers of mine. again the cost of additional colors is about 4 more dollars than a typical nail polish color, but it's lasts sooo much longer.

Dry time: I LOVE THIS. having to paint 3 coats of anything is not my favorite but knowing that once I've popped my fingers under that blindingly blue light for a mere 60 seconds I can now touch anything without fear is amazing. I did dishes right after my first application. I am such an impatient person, so dry time is big for me.

It's at home: I do not have to carry on a conversation about who I'm dating/marrying/in to with a random Asain woman(or more often now man). I do not have to make time to go get my nails done at a salon. I also do not have to wonder where those nails tools have been and if they were sanitized properly.

It's pretty: It just is. painted nails are pretty and I'm a girly girl so I love to paint my nails. 

Ok. Thats all I can think of for now. I'll add pictures of my nails at week two to let you see how it held up.

My memory box treasure

Today as I cleaned out beneath my bed in my old room I found a box of "cherished" things. Most of it was silly junk but then I crossed this. It's a paper my brother wrote about me his (I believe this to be true) first year in college.

"I have known my sister, well, for all her life. When I was four years old, Keeley Janae Stelzer entered my world. I had always wanted a sibling but she might have been a little too much to handle. She had a set of lungs that could produce those bloodcurdling screams only heard in horror movies when someone was about to be dismembered. Her cries annoyed me so much that I often tried to silence her, which in turn, only made her scream louder than before. I had these great plans to gag her with a sock, but my mother always had a way of knowing when trouble was brewing, and she proceeded to spank me and send me to my room.

Growing up with my sister was an unforgettable experience. My sister and I fought constantly over stupid things like who got to sit where at the dinner table or who got to watch their favorite television show. A few years ago she was in the kitchen doing dishes while I was minding my own business when I 'accidentally' splashed water on her. She got one of those looks on her face that seemed to say, "Do that again and you will be eating through a straw," as she proceeded to threaten me with a spoon! Even though the expression on her face was dead serious, like that of a vicious Rottweiler preparing to attack, it only scared me as much as a Chihuahua's bark. She held the spoon high like Excalibur, preparing to strike me down. I scoffed, "A spoon, ha! Maybe if you threatened to stab me with a spork I would be scared," which caused my sister to look up at the spoon with dismay and embarrassment. As we realized the humor of the situation, we both burst into laughter.

My sister and I fought so much it was hard to keep track; yet a day finally came when the fighting ended for good. She was riding around on her "high horse" that day and I guess I was too. What the fight was over is not important--how it ended is. Our fighting became so elevated that I practically threw her through a wall. The whole house rumbled with the impact of her body, and created a sound like a violent thunderclap. Because our parents were used to the fighting, no one came rushing to see what happened. As she got up off the floor uninjured, we both looked at the wall and saw a hole about the size of a grapefruit. When my parents found out what happened, they very calmly grounded us both for a month. I was sixteen then; we haven't fought since.

Ever since the day the fighting stopped, my sister and I began to develop this strong bond. Since we were grounded and not able to hangout with our friends, we got to know each other better during out time together. I started to see talents and abilities that I never noticed before, such as her amazing ice skating ability. I would sometimes go to the ice rink and just watch her skate. She was very graceful, gliding on the ice as if her skates made brushstrokes on the icy canvas. She also love to sing and play guitar. She is not that great but I still enjoy listening. We enjoyed playing video games together. I always won, but she played them with me anyways. We developed the ability to talk to each other about anything. Sometimes at night she would come into my room and we would just share our thoughts about the problems of the day. She would tell me about the boys she liked and the songs she was writing. I listened intently because I knew that I would be leaving soon.

College came too quickly. I was ready, but I knew I would have to leave my friends, my family, and my sister behind. I did not want to lost this great relationship I was developing. There was still so much I did not know about my sister, and unfortunately just as I finally began to understand her I had to leave. Maybe I should have tried to throw her through a wall sooner. Maybe I could have learned a little more."

Marriage advice

It seems to me that the people around me view my engagement as a reason for them to give me tidbits of information on life, love, money, and marriage. I have to say that unfortunately I am frequently warned about what I am "getting myself into". I'd probably have a lot of fear with that if it weren't for the simple fact that Daka constantly reminds me of truth. We openly acknowledge that marriage will not be all love notes and roses. One sinful person added to another sinful person does not equal perfection by any means. However, I am just over flowing with excitement for our pending nuptials. Tonight we discussed how marriage is a reflection to those around us of the relationship between Christ and his bride, the church. Then Daka brought up a point that we, as the people inside the relationship looking outward, should have an even better understanding of that relationship.Our love for each other is a small reflection of Jesus' love for us. We will be called to make sacrifices for the other person. Asked to put away our pride(even when we are right and could be proud) for the sake of our love. It's so easy for me to forget the gravity of what Christ did for me on the cross. I am counting my blessings tonight as I reflect on his love for me. Daka can never fill my heart in the same way that Jesus does, but he is my reminder of a greater and more true love. So I say,to you who feel called to warn me away from the commitment of marriage, that I recognize the trials that will come but I will not fear them because I am made new. As a follower of Jesus with the holy living Spirit living with in me I relish the opportunity to show God's love to my soon to be husband. I hope that through our relationship I become better equipped to love those whom I would not normally make a choice to love. I alone can not cause my marriage to be a good one, no matter how hard I purpose that in my heart, it is only through Christ who gives me strength.

An ordinarily blessed day

I don't know what this post will bring, but I'm feeling inspired to write. Perhaps the inspiration comes from the loneliness of this apartment, or my lack of ability to entertain myself, no matter the reason I will type. Today I kept feeling so blessed to have such a bright future ahead of me. I kept thanking God for blessing me with an amazing Fiance. Then it hit me. I thank God for the things he gives me. Objects, people, happy moments in life, but I rarely thank him for his sacrifice. I rarely reflect on the gospel. Today isn't an extraordinary day. I read at the park for a bit, packed a box of clothing, facebook stalked, you know the norm. I forget to remind myself of the gospel. I live a happy life. I complain about my life too much, because really I am blessed beyond measure.As I prepare myself to become a wife in less than 5 months, I get nervous at how selfish and ungrateful I can be. But as I had my quiet time this afternoon I was reminded that I'm "perfectly imperfect". I'll never measure up. I'll never be holy enough, deserving enough of the gospel. My weakness is how Christ's light can shine. I'm lucky to know the savior personally. He is my portion. If everything was taken away from me (though I'd likely go through a devastated period) I would still have to give thanks. So today is my ordinarily blessed day. I am blessed daily. There is nothing extraordinary about it except the fact that I know the one true God and he cares enough to bless me daily.

Wedding planning is stressful and expensive and EXCITING!

No one told me wedding planning could be so stressful or that budgeting would feel impossible. But I have learned through this process just how blessed I am to have Daka in my life. I'm such a type A personality and everything stresses me out. Even when things are going well I have this unmerited fear that things will not go my way. Fortunately things rarely go my way and God humbles me. I don't always thank him in those moments but I am thankful for them. Today is a day where the stress is gone and I'm just enjoying it all. Due to the limited budget I am making a LOT of stuff myself. And while that may sound like a chore to some, I absolutely love it. I love knowing how much time and effort I put into the details. I am especially fond of the sweet ideas Daka has for the wedding. He is also so supportive when I feel the weight of the financial expense. Honestly I'm super excited to have a special day to look back on and remember through our years together, but kinda wish I could skip the whole planning thing. Things are not really going my way as far as budgeting. I feel as though I'm cutting so many corners and then another expense crops up to deplete the funds I thought I was saving. Food is the huge issue right now. I have no idea how we will feed our guests. It's no small feat to get a caterer willing to work with the budget I set apart for that. I'd love to put some of my love into cooking a meal but that is definitely impossible because well I'll be a little busy. Oh well. I feel so blessed. All I know about this process is that it has given me a greater love for the man that will soon be my husband. I can not imagine a life without him by my side. Hurry up December because I'm ready for the I do's already!