I will persevere!

Today I realized, that I really enjoy playing my guitar. With a lot of stressful things going on in my life lately, it has been a nice way to relieve stress. I suppose music in general has helped me out a lot lately. Last night I bought the song, "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter. That song is so inspiring for me. I don't know why, considering it keeps reminding me that I've had a bad day. That just proves that the way my mind thinks is very very strange.

So the past week or so I feel like I've been in this constant low. Sort of like I'm stuck in a ditch and waiting for the tow truck to come pull me out. I feel like I keep trying to get out of the ditch, by spending time with God and reading more and learning more about Him, however I'm still stuck! I know that in our walk it is normal to experience these low times or times of feeling stuck! It's just so hard to believe that and to remember that when you are in these times. I read a quote today from the book, "Prayers of a God Chaser" it said:

"When you say you are "still in the struggle" that means

"still eligible for victory." If you quit, it is impossible to win!"

I think this is an awesome way to look at our struggles. It says that there is still hope. It also asks, what are you doing to bring victory to your struggling. It reminds me to continue to persevere in times of trials to reach victory, and if we aren't persevering than it is impossible to ever win! This is my goal today. To not just quit and give up in my times of struggle. Instead, to believe that my struggles are still eligible for victory.

There hasn't really been a lot of excitement going on in the Slonecker house! I got my hair cut today.. well really just trimmed! I love my hairdresser! She is amazing! It looks like a blizzard outside! Other than that.. I don't know anything else! :) Sorry this post is so lame.. I guess it's better than nothing!

Oh yeah.. one thing that is exciting is that my friend is coming over tonight to play some games! We are hoping to kick Eric's butt in Phase 1o!! Well everyone have a wonderful evening! Enjoy the snow.. and if you don't have snow.. please don't tell me, because I don't like you! HAHA :) Just kidding!!


Ps.. here is a really really sad video that Eric showed me yesterday! It's about a dog named Skidboot!!!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5249518974978628334

1. Be Cool 2. Don't Be Greedy and 3. Stay Alive!

Here is some helpful advice that Eric and I came up with from our date tonight:

1. No matter how funny it is to run into the window at Barnes and Noble and than proceed to lick it... it's not funny! It's gross!! (some girl did that while we were sitting there reading)
2. Even if you are really hungry and you love Cold Stone Creamery... go for the smallest size of ice cream!! (I got the medium of cake batter.. and needless to say, it sits in my freezer half full as I type. Also for everyone who knows me, I can't eat ice cream, well really anything, w/o sprinkles!)
3. If you love to head bang and you feel the urge to put your hood up and rock out, resist the temptation!!! Not a good idea!! (Eric and I almost died because he was trying to head bang with his hood on and it somehow covered his whole face.... OH yeah did I mention .. while he was driving!!

I hope this advice is as helpful for you as it was for us!! :) Remember:
1. Be cool
2. Don't be greedy
3. Stay alive!!

Pruny.. is that a word?

Today has been a good day! :) I got sick of sitting in the house and needed some fresh air so Lucas and I packed up and went on a little adventure. We ended up getting lost, but it was fun! We got to drive through some old towns and I love discovering new places! Lucas just sat on my lap and looked out the window. He loves going "byebye" with his mommy! HEHE (I spoil him so much, sometimes I forget that he isn't a person)


I know I haven't written in a while and lots of things have happened since the last time I wrote.. some things more important than others. One cool thing is that I got a new phone last night. :) I really like it so far... and it's pink!! HOW FUN!! I also have really been enjoying my early bday present Eric got for me (a guitar). Although, my fingers feel and look disgusting from where the skin has peeled away and left them looking pruny! :)

Some of the others things that are going on I'm not ready to share yet, but I would greatly appreciate your prayers. Eric and I are starting to get excited and nervous about the direction that we feel that God is guiding us toward. Thank you to all our family and friends that we have talked to about things! You all have been awesome! We could not do it without your love, support, and prayers!

On a lighter note, tonight I am taking Eric out on a special date. We are trying to understand that there are more things to do on a Friday night than go out to eat, to a movie and than walk around Meijer for two hours! HAHA :) Not that we don't enjoy doing this, cause we DO!!

Well Eric is going to be getting home soon, so I should probably get out of my pj's and actually look like I've been awake for longer than 5 hours! HAHA Just kidding! Eric gets so mad when I call him at noon and tell him that I just woke up! HAHA :) What a good husband I have that lets me stay home and sleep till noon!

Have a great night everyone. :) I will try and post on a more regular basis... TRY!!

Trust and Obey

Sorry I haven't written in a while. This week has been pretty busy. I got to spend time with my parents on Monday. They decided to come and visit and I had a really good time with them. Even though, I tried taking them to several different places and they were all closed on Monday's!! GRR.. Then on Wednesday my mother-in-law came over and she showed me how to use my sewing machine. We had a really good time and I actually made pajama pants! I was super excited! :)

Well recently, I have had a lot on my mind, perhaps that is the reason that I haven't blogged in a long time. I didn't know where to start!! Without going into too much detail I ask that whoever reads this please offer up a prayer for Eric and I. We are going through some really challenging times right now. I know that God is on the brink of revealing something huge to us.. and so we are just trying to trust and obey Him! Actually today while I was doing some reading the good ole hymn "Trust and Obey" popped into my head. So I grabbed the hymnal (yes we own a hymnal.. haha) and looked it up. The last verse is the one that I really like. Here is what it says:

"Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do; Where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus tut to Trust and Obey."

What an amazing song. This is exactly what my hearts prayer is today! That I will simply do what God says to do, and I will go where God sends me!!

What do you desire?

First I have to start by saying God answers prayers. They may not be the answers that we want, but He does answer prayers! I secondly want to say that I am learning to desire the things that God desires. We all know the verse:

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

However, I think what many of us don't know.. is that when God says, "He will give us the desires of our heart", that does not mean that we will get whatever we want. It means that when we desire the same things that God desires for our lives.. he will acknowledge those desires and give them to us.

I can really relate with this verse. Ever since I was little my one true desire and goal in life was to be a mom. Seriously, ask my sister, my mom, my friends, my husband.. anyone! :) That is the one thing that always fascinated me and when I saw someone that was a mom.. I would say to myself.. "that's what I want to be."

Now, since I've been married for a year and a half, I told God, "Now is the time to give me the desires of my heart." There are a few problems with that statement! First of all, how selfish do I sound. God does not owe me anything. I owe Him! Secondly, I can honestly say that my motives for wanting to be a mother were all selfish. I wanted to know what it felt like to have a baby kick inside of you. I wanted to know what it felt like to give birth (I know most women would probably punch me for saying that). I wanted to have a baby shower. I wanted to see a child and pick apart his features and say... oh he/she gets that from their dad/mom. These were all things that I wanted.. not what God wanted.

I am now working on wanting the desire that God has for my life.. not the desires that Shelly has for my life.

Silly me.. to think that my desires would be better than God's! If you are reading this, please pray that I would whole heartedly want the desires that God has for my life!! :)

My Condolences

So So sorry to see the Buckeyes play the way they did last night. Now, I'm not a hard core fan or even really a fan.. but because Eric is I try to be. It was sad though. Actually, we went to a funeral home downtown and watched the game with friends! It was a good time, except the atmosphere totally changed from the first half to the second half. Not going to lie, it was kind of weird being in a funeral home and hearing people yell and watching them jump up and down when a good play was made. I felt more comfortable the second half when people were sitting around isolating themselves from others in fear of the language that may come out of their mouths! HAH :) My friend Jen and I sat in the back on the couch and watched people as their demeanor totally changed! It was interesting!

For real though, thank you to my friend Jen who invited us! We had a great time!

Freedom Writers

So this weekend I managed to see the movie Freedom Writers twice in one evening. :) It was great!! I saw it first with my friend Alicia.. and she totally laughed at me because I practically had tears coming from my eyes the entire movie. My second experience seeing it was a little different. This time I saw it with Eric and we went to the "ghetto theater". Let's just say my neighbor in the ever-so-close movie seats stood up and booty danced during the middle of the movie! :) It was so funny! :) It was still so good though!! I highly recommend it!!

So in my efforts to educate myself about the Freedom Writers, I decided to reserve the book from the library. Much to my dismay... there were 40 others who had the same idea before me! So... needless to say, in an effort to expand my knowledge on the subject I will now be "free-loading" and reading the book at Barnes and Noble, while sitting in Starbucks sipping my Tazo Black Iced Tea!

1300 miles!!!

Eric and I had a really great Christmas and New Year!! :) We enjoyed being with all our friends and family!! I think we went to a total of 6 Christmas celebrations this year and drove over 1300 miles!! :) We spent some quality time with our family and friends in Ohio, Indiana, Tenny, and Michigan!! :)

We also went to our friends Jon and Annie's for New Years which was really fun!! We played some Guitar Hero (well I only played once.. and everyone said I sucked, so I quit), SNL Trivia, Catch Phrase, and we stayed up until 4am. :) It was a good time!

Well I hope everyone had a great Christmas!! I will try to post more now that I am finally home! :)

Also... this is for Eric, Tim, Trina, and Christy... KILL KEMPS!!!!