Christy, my best friend!!!

I first want to start this post by saying Happy Birthday to my dear sister, Christy! :) I wish I could be there with you on this special day! Although, I know you're having a good time seeing how I called and you were headed to a scrapbook store! Wish I could be there!! :(

Well this post I want to dedicate to my sister who is and has been, truly my best friend! I don't think I have ever told her how much of an influence she has had on my life!!


Dear Christy,

I'm going to take you back a few years. I still remember when you stepped off the plane after being sent to Russia. Something seemed different about you. There was a special glow to your face. You were smiling. I don't know if you remember, but the first words that you said to me on that day was, "I'm sorry!" I was shocked! Was this the same person that just a month before built an imaginary wall in our bedroom so we wouldn't have to "share a room".

As the months went on after your return from Russia I continued to notice small changes in you. For example, at night time I always saw you sitting on your bed reading your Bible and writing in a journal. I always saw you at church worshiping with your eyes closed, instead of looking around and not paying attention. I saw you go to the altar and beg God for forgiveness. I saw you change... step by step, day by day, I saw you change!

I don't know if you ever realized how much of an impact those times had on me. I noticed that I started wanting to journal, and at night I to sat on my bed reading my Bible and journaling my thoughts. I didn't do this out of the blue, I did it because it was modeled before me! You were and are my role model!

I know that in High School I had some really tough years and you were the one that stuck closer to me than anyone else! I had a lot of disappointments and heartbreak! I even remember that you took one of my ex-boyfriends to meet his probation officer every Tuesday! What a sister!!

Another thing that I remember doing with you was shopping. You worked at Mikasa and after you would get your paycheck, you didn't go and spend it like most people did. Instead, you would pick me up (your little bratty sister) and take me shopping and tell me that I could get an outfit, purse shoes and all!! I thought that was so awesome!

There are so many good memories that I have of you I could basically make an entire blog about those memories. I just wanted you and everyone else who reads this to know what a good sister I had/have!

Thank you Christy, for being that person that stood in the GAP for me. Thank you for standing up for me (especially with that boy that you threw into the lockers). Thank you for being a Christ-like example for me! Thank you for showing me how to be a good mom! I still look up to you and you are still my best friend! I love you!!

Love,
Your little sis

Blessed!

Yesterday as I was reading my devotions I read a quote that said "Right now at this very moment all of my needs are being supplied." It took me a while to think about that and to really grasp the meaning and the significance of those words! Finally I realized how very true it was.

As I continue reading in my "Lord, Your Late Again" book, I discover more and more truths. One of those truths is that even though I may be waiting for something, at this exact moment God has supplied all my needs. How exciting!! That means that no matter what I think I need, if God hasn't supplied them than obviously it's not the right time! For example, I believe that God supplied me with a wonderful Christian husband at just the right time. Now do I think I would have died without Eric (well some nights I think that.. when I imagine there are robbers in our house.. haha).

I hope this is making sense. Sometimes I just get so excited and start babbling! HAHA Basically right now what I think that I need, God hasn't supplied yet and that just confirms that it must not be God's timing yet. I don't know why I find that so exciting, but I do!!

Simple Life Lessons!

I had a great weekend with my sister and her family! My sister and I got to do a lot of talking and catching up! It was so nice to have some "girl talk". We also got a lot of shopping done. We went to two thrift stores and to Good Stewards Books (discount Christian bookstore). We found lots of good deals. Ella had so many new toys that she didn't know where to start! We also realized that boys (Eric and Rhett) like to play with felt people! HAH!! Christy got a felt board that came with people and some accessories and every once in a while we would catch the boys dressing the people up in their pretty yellow party dresses!! :) (I may be exaggerating just a LITTLE)

After my sister and her family left that's when the discouragement started to set in. I think it started with a mixture of missing my sister and lack of sleep. However, even as I set through church last night and people around me gave words of praise to God and talked about how He is an awesome and a mighty God, I still felt discouraged. This morning when I woke up I thought the discouragement was gone until my feet met the floor and I got out of bed. Even as I did my devotions I still felt Satan trying to work his lies into my mind and heart. I felt him trying to distract me!

That's when I realized that Satan can TRY and attack me all he wants, but I have someone who is so much stronger than him!! If anyone walked past my door today, they probably thought that something really weird was going on. I was inside laughing and yelling at Satan (out loud). I just realized that my God is so much bigger than the silly lies that Satan tries to plant in my head. My God thinks that I'm a beautiful and wonderful person and He has a purpose and a plan for my life!! I'm amazed at how God helps us discover things and continues to teach us simple life lessons over and over again!!

Here are some pics from the fun weekend!!! ENJOY!

Rhett and Eric playing Lord of the Rings

Lucas enjoying his new toy (it was a boston terrier)

El in her jammies

The girls enjoying Donatos!!!!

The Felt People!!
Sisters

New findings!

Today I realized that there are two new things that I really enjoy. The one thing is green tea. This week I have had a glass of hot green tea for breakfast. I've noticed that this week I haven't felt as stuffy and sneezy! Maybe, it's because of the green tea, I don't know!!

The other thing that I rediscovered that I enjoy is Pandora Radio. You should check it out. It's really cool. Basically it's a free radio station and they pick the music that they think you would like. For example I have a station called Norah Jones. On this station they play all the music in this genre. It's really cool!!

Well nothing really new today. I have been kind of busy. I had to go to the laundry mat to wash something that was too big for our dryer! :) I also went to a cool store called New Uses and got a few things, than went to good ole faithful Sams Club! I love that place... especially the free samples that they give out in the back! :)

This will probably be the last I'll post this weekend. Rhett, Christy and Ella are all coming to visit us this weekend! We are really really excited! :) Everyone have a great weekend!!

(hope you enjoy my Moses cartoon I found.. hehe)

You're Late Again, Lord!!

So I got this book called, "You're late again, Lord!!" and it has been really good and very insightful. For some reason I couldn't sleep, so I woke up really early and felt the need to start skimming through it. My skimming eventually turned into actually reading every sentence word-for-word and trying to understand and apply it's meanings.

One of the first quotes that stuck out to me was, "We live therefore we wait". There are so many times that I feel like I am the only one of earth waiting for something and I realized that EVERYONE waits.. or at least everyone who is living!

Another one of the quotes was, "Wait with a purposeful patience". This was probably my favorite quote I've read so far. This basically means that all the times that I have been sitting around inactively waiting on God, I have wasted my time. Waiting means you are being active. It doesn't mean to sit around and "wait" for something to happen. It means that you may be praying and waiting for an answer from God, but life is continuing with or without you. Don't let life pass you by, as you sitting waiting!

In November (or maybe it was December) I quit my job hoping to be a foster parent. Since than a lot has happened! I sit here today with no kids in my home and not knowing if there will ever be. That has been 3 months of waiting, and what do I have to show for it. A LOT!! I decided after the first month that we had no kids, that I wasn't going to sit around and wait for the phone call. Instead, I have spent the time reading God's word, catching up with friends, scrapbooking, sewing, traveling, reading, praying, and starting a new hobby (playing my guitar). All those things were accomplished in my time of waiting. I may not know what God has planned for Eric and I right now, but I know that I'm not going to inactively wait. Instead I'm going to wait with a purposeful patience.


I know I'm not the only one that feels like they are waiting on something. Just remember that God may be using this time to draw you closer to Him!

Love you all! Thanks for all your support and prayers!! :)

Shell

I miss my Olivet friends!!

I had a really great weekend! My friend Denise from Olivet came and visited. We had fun going to all the Half Price Bookstores in Columbus!! HAH :) We even got free animal crackers at one of them! We also stayed up until 4am talking and catching up! The thing that I love the most about the friends that I've made at Olivet is the closeness of the friendship! It seems like it doesn't matter how long you have gone without seeing that person, you still always have so much to talk about and it's never awkward! I love that!! I was thinking about it and even if I didn't get the "best" social work education at least I was able to make lifelong friends!! These are friends no money can buy!!

To all my Olivet friends that I haven't talked to in a while: I love you and miss you dearly! I hope you are doing well! Shoot me an email or call me sometime!!

Here are some pictures of a few of my friends! :) Enjoy!!

Marcus' Story

I've been sitting here for almost 2 hours looking at story after story on Marcus Fiesel. I still remember when one of my co-workers called me and said, "Shelly he's dead!" I seriously almost passed out! I almost had to pull the car over! It just blows my mind that someone could be so cruel to anyone.. and especially a child! Here is one of the videos that I found that tells the entire story from day one (just in case someone doesn't know what happened). Marcus' Story

On a lighter note I'm excited that my friend Denise is coming to visit for the weekend! :) We are planning on doing some shopping and than just catching up! I haven't seen her in quite a while! I hope that everyone has a great weekend!

Randomness..

This morning I was ticked because I woke up at about 5:30am to people chopping away at the ice that was on their windshields. I tried to fall back asleep but I kept thinking about Eric's alarm that was about to go off in 30 minutes! Finally once he got up, I just stayed up and did some reading! I'm in the process of reading about 5 different books right now. This weekend when Eric and I went to the marriage conference I wanted to buy all of the books! For some reason I have really gotten into reading lately! (I wish I would have gotten into reading during the 4 years I spent at college.. haha )

Oh yeah Happy Valentines Day everyone! I think tonight Eric and I are celebrating by getting some take home Chinese food from our favorite place. Since we went to the marriage conference this weekend we are counting that as our Valentine gift for each other. We actually got to stay in a really nice hotel downtown Cincinnati! It was great.. it overlooked all of downtown! Our room was really awesome too.. it even had an iPod alarm clock/radio!

Well I should probably get off here and go chisel away at the ice on my car so I can pick up our dinner! I hope everyone has a great Vday!!

Peace Out!! (Rory said this last night on Gilmore Girls, and she is one of my role models!! Not really.. but I think she is cool!!!) <><

ps. sorry this post may seem random! also the picture of the man scraping his car, i found on the Internet and have NO clue what he is talking about!

The Luckiest!!

This weekend Eric and I went to the Family Life Marriage Conference. It was amazing! I highly recommend it to engaged or married couples! I learned and laughed so much! On our drive home last night Eric and I were talking about what we learned. We realized that most of it we already knew, we just weren't putting it into practice.

Last night Eric and I were reading from our couples devotional book and it asked for the husband to rate himself on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the highest) in the three following categories, Leading, Loving, and Serving. This questioned was designed for Eric (the husband) to answer, however, I just couldn't keep quiet. I started thinking about these three areas and the ways that Eric leads, loves me, and serves me.. and WoW! I couldn't keep quiet! My husband is an amazing man! He's my best friend! I'm not trying to boast or brag and make myself look good! I'm just writing my thoughts! Let me just tell you the ways that I think Eric is so amazing!

Leading:
I think one of the major features in a leader is their motivation and discipline. When I first met Eric, at college those were the two character traits that really stuck out about him. He was always so motivated to strengthen his relationship with God, that it was contagious. I noticed that after I started hanging out with him more, my relationship with God deepened. Eric was also so disciplined. Every morning he would (and still does) wake up and do his devotions. He goes into the spare bedroom and spends 45 minutes in their talking with God and learning. Ever since I have known Eric he has done this. That takes discipline!! How many times have I gone days even weeks.. without even opening my Bible (except for at church).

Loving:
Eric has really shown me what it's like to love someone unconditionally. Growing up, I never really made the best choices when it came to guys! In fact, I have a lot of things that I really regret about my past decisions. The thing that really blows me away, is that with Eric knowing all that... he still chose and chooses me! Everyday, Eric expresses his love for me. It's in ways as simple as, kissing me before he leaves for work or writing me notes and leaving them on the counter or emailing me throughout the day telling me he's thinking about me or smiling at me when we're in a large group. He is always doing things that show me that he truly loves me and that I'm the girl on his mind!

Serving:
I just discovered last night that I believe this is my love language. Luckily, Eric is really good in this area too!! He is always trying to find different ways to serve me. Whether it be dropping me off at the door when it's cold outside, letting me rest while he does the dishes, making me Ramon Noodles, getting me a refill, opening the door for me and there are so many other things that he does for me.

I am so grateful and thrilled that God has shared Eric with me. I am also so excited that I get to spend the rest of my life with this man! How lucky!!

Lucas

Today I realized that Lucas is a pretty smart dog. In fact, so smart that sometimes I think I should act a little more like him. Not, walking around with a bone in my lap or running up and down the hallway chasing a ball. I mean his obedience to me (his owner). He desires to listen and do everything that I say. When I call his name, he is right there looking at me, waiting for me to tell him what to do. He also constantly wants to be with me. When I'm sitting on the couch, it's not good enough for him to just be sitting beside me. He has to have his paw on me, or be sitting directly on my lap. Also, when I leave the room, within seconds he is trailing behind me and walking so closely that his head hits the back of my shin.I started thinking, what if I acted that way toward my Owner. If only I wasn't content with just sitting beside Him, but I had to literally be touching Him. If only I would listen every time He calls my name. If only I would sit expecting Him to talk to me! If only I would follow Him so closely that my body touches His.

Tubthumpin' & Martha

Two things that I have learned this week:



1. I'm sure you are all familiar with the song, " Tubthumpin'. " Well this song has been kind of my motto lately for life (only the chorus).

The Chorus says, "I get knocked down, but I get up again, you're never going to keep me down!"

I sort of feel like there are a lot of things that have happened lately that have knocked me down. However, with the help and strength of God I have been able to get back up.

2. In the story of Mary and Martha, I believe a lot of times I take on the role of Martha. Here is the story for those that don't remember it. Luke 10:38-42

Martha was so concerned and focused on the details of everything that she forgot to just sit at Jesus feet and let Him teach her. How often do I forget to do that? It seems like with everything that's been going on lately, I have totally neglected to sit and listen to Jesus. I have become so concerned with doing as much as I can, that I haven't taken much time to listen.

Cake, Little People, and Family

As soon as Eric gets home we get to go and have a weekend full of cake, Little People, and family! :) I am looking forward to getting away from Ohio for a while. We are going to visit my parents because little Ella (my niece) is having a Birthday party! Eric and I got her the Little People airplane set! It's really cool! You press the little pilot down and he sings and stuff! :) I have to admit that we have ulterior motives for giving her this specific Little People set. We are trying to get her to like airplanes now, since her Daddy hates them!! HEHE :) :)

Well I hope that you all have a great weekend! I won't be posting again until probably Monday!

(just so everyone knows... the gift that we got ella is in fact actually called "little people", i'm not prejudice or anything against people that are small. if you don't believe me here is the website... http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=10&e=lplanding )

Peace.

This morning after Eric left (which is at 7:30am) I could not fall back asleep. Normally I don't have a problem doing that and I usually don't wake up until like 11! :) Today was different. After Eric left I couldn't sleep and Lucas was staring at me through his cage so I got him out and he came and laid in bed next to me. He kept trying to nestle under the covers to keep warm! It was so cute! :)

After laying there for a while I started thinking of everything going on and that's when it happened. Peace. It was like God sat next to me in my bed and I laid my head on His lap and He slowly ran His fingers through my hair and whispered in my ear... Be Still My Child. It seriously gives me chills thinking about it and writing it. I'm so thankful that I serve a God that brings peace to His children in the midst of their storms! My mom also talked to me today about some pretty cool things that God showed her last night at her Bible study. I'm so thankful that I serve a God that still talks to His people.

What a MIGHTY God we serve!

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!!!!