In the Beginning

It's been awhile!! I'm heading towards the end of my "winter break" so you can expect some posts from me this week(end).

Now that I'm home, I've been hearing a lot of the same question, "what are you doing after you graduate/get married?"  I've been asking that question a lot myself.

Eventually you come to the point in your life where you have to learn that the words "I don't know" are actually ok.  There will come a time, however, when "I don't know" isn't very appealing at all.  That's my situation.

I've always heard stories from older established couples that begin with "back when we first got married and we didn't have anything" and I thought they were cute.  I didn't realize that they really didn't have much of anything at all.  For reals.  I should have paid more attention because I'm exactly at that point now, where we really don't have much of anything. Except blessings.

Just to back up a second, I've always been subject to what others thought I should do with my life.  It's not always a bad thing because people have good advice, but it's been a struggle to create my own expectations and not have to live up to someone else's.  When I was at Elim, I was constantly hearing from adults in the community to "make sure you go get your degree after Elim or you're wasting your life."  Now I'm about to finish my degree in Religion and Philosophy and I'm getting a whole lot of "what in the world are you going to do with that?"  I don't know.    I mean, I do know.  We want to go to Asia to be missionaries, but for some reason not many people are impressed with that.  Which they shouldn't be because I agree with St. Paul when he said that if he was in the business of impressing people, then he wouldn't be a Christian.  I have, however, found myself taking on the disappointment of others and I shouldn't because this is just the beginning.

We may not have some fancy business or engineering degree, but we're doing what we love.  We would like to go back to school (possibly business for Jude and nursing for me) so that we have a skill when we leave the country.  We may not have any idea of where we want to live, but we have applied for a job at the camp that I have worked at for the past three years, BMCR, and we are hopeful.  That will give us 3 more months to pray and work things out.  We may not have any money, but we have been abundantly blessed.  Truth of the matter is that in the beginning we may not have much.  I'm learning that that's ok.

A few weeks ago on Valentines Day there was a presentation at school where couples of different ages gave advice.  I found it cheesy, but there was something that the one lady said which hit home.  She made a statement about how she found herself disappointed at the beginning of her marriage because she didn't have all the furnishings that her parents house did.  Her advice was that we can't expect to have everything right away and we shouldn't let other people create those expectations for us.  This was great advice. Great.

This may just be the beginning, but it's certainly not the end.

Monday Monday

I don't like Mondays. Most people don't.  Yesterday, however, was wonderful.  Why you ask?  Because Sara and I crafted together :)

One of my new favorite things is scrap-booking my electronics based on the season.  Next Monday is valentines day so I'm in the mood for pinks and hearts, birds and cupcakes. I recently discovered that if I put a clear case on my computer, phone, and ipod then I can insert my design behind the case and it will stay intact while looking beautiful!! Last night Sara and I scrap-booked our ipods (found clear cases and screen protectors for $5 on ebay!)  and it was so much fun!! Hers had stripes and snowflakes along with "Berk."  Mine ended up more simple, but I love it.

yes, some of the stripes are glittery!

The other thing I did last night was start working on valentines.  Many people know that I love valentines day and I used to make elaborate cards.  I haven't had the time or energy these past couple years but I found a really cute idea online and I love it!

I am a HUGE fan of the little color strips found in the paint section of your local Walmart or hardware store.  I use those little squares for notes, cards, scrap-booking, anything!  They're free and so versatile!  I found paint color strip valentines online and fell in love!! I didn't own stamps for the project, so I went to Michaels but I didn't find any that I liked. Then it hit me- make your own!! I used to make stamps from foam sheets so I bought one and went to town.  My Valentines turned out great!!

Aren't they great??

In the spirit of the season, if you haven't voted for me and Jude's engagement video yet, please do! We want to win a honeymoon :)


p.s. I got my Tae Kwon Do uniform today so be looking out for a picture coming soon!!

My Hero

Well boys and girls, its been a while.  Life has been hectic!! Brief update, our invitations have been made!! We still have to make up the rsvp cards and they will be mailed out the end of February.  Thank you so much to RJ Printing for helping us print the invitations (and blessing us!), Sara Berkemeier for helping put them all together (she's got patience let me tell you!), and the Lovall Family for letting us use their table :)
Also a thanks to the Merriam Family for passing along some sweet paper for the rsvp cards and always being there!

Today I want to share a little about my heros.  Lately I feel like I've gotten a little off track, like I've been thrown off my groove.  I want to take this time to remind myself what's important and to share these awesome people with you :)

Hero 1: Jesus

Need I say more?  (If so, please talk to me :) )



Hero 2:  My Mom!! 

Most people say that one of their parents is there hero but my Mom really is mine. Now that  I've grown up a lot its hard for me to understand how she put up with me for so long and all of the sacrifices that she's made, and still makes.  She's the most caring person I've ever met and she will literally give someone everything they need.  She makes forgiveness look like an afternoon snack and is in the business of seeing the best in people.  I love my Mom.  She makes me want to care about other people more than I care about myself and one day I hope that I can be as good a mother as she is <3


Hero 3: Jude!  

This may seem like a no brainer, but I really respected and appreciated him even when we were just friends.  Hearing his story about how he came to the states and has been living on faith is really  inspiring.  If it wasn't enough that his life is like an adventure novel, he's a hard worker.  Right now he's working between 15-35 hrs a week and carrying a 19 credit hr load finishing his undergrad AND taking care of me.  Just that last part makes him a hero.  On top of that he's incredibly generous and he loves justice.  He's never afraid to speak up when someone is being wronged and really has a heart for people.
Best part: I'm marrying him :)


Hero 4:  Sara Berkemeier! 

Yes she's my best friend, but I really admire her.  She's the hardest worker I've ever known...ever.  I would chalk that up to being a farmer's daughter, but even since she left the farm she's been persevering.  She works non-stop, she's a student, and now she's leading a homeless ministry in downtown Rochester.  She's the real deal.  She loves people. Not just nice people, the unlovable kind.  She loves those that have been abandoned by friends and family and really have lost all of their hope.  (It must make loving me easy! jk jk)  She has the heart of Christ and while being a crazy nut, she is actively bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.

Hero 5: The Moravians 

They were a religious group out of Germany and Switzerland that started one of the greatest missionary movements to exist.  They did 100 years of prayer straight by using vigils and their fervor is unmatched.  When they traveled to remote locations to become missionaries they would pack their belongings in coffins because they knew that it wasn't just a vacation and they would be giving their life for the gospel.  One story tells of two men who sold themselves into slavery so that the slaves would hear the gospel.  Their motto was "to win for the lamb the rewards of His suffering."  I can't say that I have their same strong faith, but one day I will.  For more info on these awesome men and women just google it!

Lastly

Hero 6: YOU!

If you're reading this, theres a good chance you've been there for me when I needed it.  Not only that, but reading this simply makes you awesome :)



One last thing before you hit that little x in the corner and close this window.  Jude and I are in the running to win a honeymoon. This would be a HUGE blessing to us because as college students our budget is extremely limited.  Please take a moment to click on the link below and vote for us :) make sure to sign in through facebook and pass it on!!!!


www.tinyurl.com/twowin