just for fun...

Last week when it was perfect weather I got the chance to snap some shots of my sweet friend Amy... she took me up on my "i need practice who wants to go on a shoot" offer.  It was a blast! Amy is a sweet, kind, beautiful girl inside and out.  It was fun to hear stories and get to know her better as we traveled through the town... not to mention she has the most amazing blue eyes AND can laugh on command!  Thank you Amy for letting me practice with you!! I had a BLAST! Here are a few photo's from our shoot last week!

Oh, and if anyone else happens to be in town this summer and wants to be practice... feel free to contact me like Amy did. :) 

Over and OUT.
k

it's not how i imagined...

it's so much better.

k and i were driving home from an amazing weekend with our sweet, wonderful, amazing, loving families and i realized, this is it.  i am living the life i have always "wanted" without knowing i had even really wanted it (i dont know if that makes since, but it does to me).  i am so in love with my husband and i love our little family and our sweet little home.  i love my in-laws. my family loves their son/brother. God has blessed us immensely. we have real community family all around us in Manhattan.  we are being challenged and growing closer to Him daily.  we are learning what his forgiveness and unrelenting grace looks like as we experience living with each other daily.  we have finally learned that it doesn't matter how you load the dish washer, sort the laundry, or fold the clothes... its not worth a fight.  we are finally learning how to enjoy each other... and enjoy and find joy in Christ together. 

all that rambling to say... i am blessed, challenged, loved, and growing EVERY single minute of the day.  i would not have put those fights with loved ones, those moments of selfishness, the anger, forgiveness, and all the other "annoyances" into my imagination of my future... but i wouldn't change it for the world.

enough rambling.
happy monday.

t.G.i.b

THANK GOD, I'M BLESSED
that is really all that's new here... i am learning to recognize and thank God for the blessings in my life... so here is a short update for those of you (mom and sisters) that read this blog.
 
k and i are enjoying summer together.
there are always parking spots in aggieville.
i have the best job in the world.
our apartment has remained clean for almost two weeks now (that is a record).
i have been able to take pictures (i am far from good, but i am loving every minute of experience i get behind the lens).
we (k&i) are learning contentment in Christ and not in how big our apartment is isn't and how much stuff we can put into it. (aka: conviction about materialism)
we are learning how to "throw seeds" (see Luke 8) and do ministry together for GOD's glory and no one else.

i am realizing how amazing and incredible it is that i know people who are all over the united states world this summer who are all going in order to share the love of Christ with people (and that is only within my Christian Challenge family, think about all the other Christ followers doing HIS will)... it leaves me humbled to be a part of such an incredible story...living and serving such an incredible GOD because of this realization i have really grown to love the words of this song...

His love is deep, His love is wide
and it covers us
His love is fierce, His love is strong
it's furious
His love is sweet, His love is wild
and it's waking hearts to life

HE is waking hearts to life.. to eternal life, using his followers to complete His will.
(you should go listen to the song now... really all the lyrics are an incredible picture of God's will for this world).  

over and out.
k

p.s. here are some pictures i have taken recently... enjoy

test drive

i went to take pictures for the first time. :)
i loveee it!
here are some of my favorites. 

its almost SPRING! :)

peace.love.&.pictures
k

chocolate covered strawberry ice cream cake

I whipped this up for our Small Group last Tuesday night!

It was100% inspired by my Momma's ice cream pie.

Ingredients:

1 Container Chocolate Ice Cream (I used HyVee)

1 Small Container Frozen Sweetened Strawberries (thawed)

1 Jar of Hersey's Hot Fudge

1 Package of Fudge Filled Oreo Cookies (I used HyVee)

1/4 Stick of butter

*Optional 

5-6 Large Strawberries

Milk Chocolate Hard Shell

Directions:

 1. Place wax paper or parchment paper on the bottom of the spring form pan so that it hangs out the bottom of the pan. Pull ice cream out of the freezer to thaw.

2. Smash or use the food processor to crumble the package of Oreo Cookies.  Then split the crumbs in half.

3. Melt 1/4 stick of butter and add to 1/2 of the cookie crumbles. Mix well and press into bottom of pan to create crust.

4. Place crust in freezer for 3-5 minutes. 

5. Pull crust out of freezer and add 1/2 the ice cream to the crust.  Spread ice cream out evenly.  Place back in the freezer for 3-5 minutes.

6. Pull the cake out of the freezer and add fudge layer to the ice cream.  Once fudge is evenly spread out add the rest of cookie crumbles on top of the fudge.  Then place in freezer for 15-20 minutes. (NOTE: work fast, as the fudge melts the ice cream).

7. Pull cake out of the freezer.  Add thawed strawberries to the top of the cookies and spread evenly. Place cake in freezer for 10 minutes.

8. Pull cake out of freezer and place the remaining ice cream on top.  Spread out evenly and freeze for 10 minutes. Cover cake and let freeze for 24 hours.

OPTIONAL

Pull cake out of the freezer and add sliced strawberries and hard shell to the top of cake.  Cover and freeze for 24 hours.   

 

use a warm wet knife to cut the cake.  the fudge layer will start to squish out, i haven't found a solution to that yet... but now its time to dig in and enjoy! 

note: i am not a professional recipe writer, so i hope you can understand this one.

favoite things

once upon a time...

i was simply walking around looking for things to match my 

cute "grown up" pillows and i saw these...

and i immediately fell in love

however, my budget did not like the price 

(that happens every single time i walk into and around Pier 1)

SO... i went to Hobby Lobby and found a lantern that was 50% off

i then headed to find some glass paint so i could paint the glass

only to find that glass paint is $5 a color, way to much for this budget

SO...i got some clear tacky glue instead (approx. $3) and headed home

i colored my tacky glue with food coloring and panted the glass panels in my lantern

all my hard work paid off and this was my FINAL PRODUCT...

i love my lantern... 

i put Christmas lights in my lantern instead of a candle and use it as a lamp. :)  

i also made my glass six different colors that matched my one "fun" pillow. 

so easy. so pretty. 

you should go make one.

yummmmy

(dream #1 be an amazing BAKER- i don't like cooking meals, only sweets!) 
so, i host life group at my small little apartment.
because i am the host and well i love to bake things i make snack every week.
this week i was running a little behind, but still wanted to make something great...

So these were the result- k's barely homemade...
Cinnamon Frosted Sugar Cookies
I made small 2 inch sugar cookies with the help from Betty Crocker.
The frosting was made with Jiffy white frosting.. I whipped up the frosting and then added cinnamon in until the flavor was perfection.  (If you know me, you should know by now I am a "guess and check" kind of cook.)

introducing...

MR. & MRS. STUTHEIT
yes, finally.  we said I do.
we made promises to each other.
that was my all time favorite part of they day...
they went something like this

I promise to love you second only to God. 

I promise to love and respect no matter what comes our way.

I will be an encourager in the hard times and celebrate with you in times of joy.

Whether we are rich or poor; whether you are healthy or sick I promise to stand beside you all the days of my life.

I am so excited to begin this journey with you.  I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for our marriage as we continue to trust Him completely with our lives. 

I am so blessed to have finally found the one my soul loves and I cannot wait to serve God together, forever.

It has been a blast to live these out thus far, I can only imagine how wonderful, challenging, hard, rewarding, joyful, and humbling the rest of our promise will be as we live it out.

my real life toy story

i love the movie toy story. 

i love it because it is a simple picture of an incredible truth.  those toys know exactly who their owner is, they are marked by him, ANDY.  buzz, woody, bo peep, etc. they are all valued by their owner.  they are proud of their owner's mark.  even for the toys that did not have the owners mark wanted it because others had it.  the new toys, jesse and bulls-eye were adopted into the family because of woody's love and pride for ANDY. the toys are marked by their owner, but not always safe from SID or the evil robot. not only did the toys love being marked by their owner, but their owner noticed when one small toy went missing and he was sad until they were found.

this truth grabbed my heart as i realized that i am marked by my owner, the God over everything.  i am loved by Him, known by Him, valued by Him. just like the toys my heart wanders towards sin and my marking gets warn off. but my God is always faithfully persuing me and my heart; he will re"sharpie" it.  i want my life to be so visibly marked by my owners love and story. 

Lord,
thank you for your mark on me.
thanks for placing your name on my "shoe." 
help me love like you love and boast only in your story.
i am quieted by your constant pursuit of my heart.
and in awe of your forgiveness for me and open arms. 
i love you.

2 Timothy 2:19
..."the Lord knows those who are his," and "All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil."
John 10:14
After he has gathered is own flock, he walks ahead of them and they follow him because they know his voice.

my hearts dream

when i was little i dreamed about being a bride. i would dress up and imagine every little detail.  into my older years i was obsessed with watching Say Yes to the Dress or Who's Wedding is it Anyways?  i imagined that someday it would be my turn to wear the beautiful dress.  have a huge party all for me.  it would be my turn to be valued and adored, known and loved, treasured and beautiful.

it's crazy to think that right now i am planning that day.  however, that day looks much different in real life than it does in my little girl fairytale.  dont get me wrong it will be a fairytale day for me, but it will not be because i am wearing a white dress or having a huge party that is all about me.  it is because i get to stand up next to my best friend.  the man that my parents have been praying for, the man i had dreamed of meeting.  i get to stand next to him and say "I DO."  not just "I DO" to taking care of K, respecting him, loving him, serving him (these are all important, dont get me wrong!)... but i get to say "I DO" to partnering with him for the rest of my life in sharing the Gospel.  the one thing that has guided our relationship and will continue to guide our marriage.  i can't put into words how much excitement and joy it brings me to think about where the Lord will lead us together for Him in the future!

i love to think about how the Lord has placed this dream of a wedding on my heart.  he has drawn me into him and shown me more of how he loves me through my engagement and relationship with K.  my Lord knows me intimately, he knew that he would be able to reach me through my little girl dream.  show me that HE is enough.  that HE adores me, values me, celebrates me, treasures me, knows me, and loves me.

...on that note, only 98 more days until i get to stand next to my best friend and say
  I DO. We'll GO. Lord send US, together for your KINGDOM.

a picture is worth a thousand words

no words can describe my love for 834.

my amazing best friends.

 oh, and i am excited to be this man's WIFE!

blog barf

blog barf- extremely random unedited thoughts from my head thrown into a blog post
    
i am back. no guarantees that i will be back for long, but for a little while i am back.
my life has consisted of school, wedding plans, work, friends, and cleaning (living on your own is hard work).  this semester has been so different than any other semester.  i dont have any of by best friends down the hall (for the first time in 2 years).  i dont even have them close.  i am learning that as you get older friendships take more and more effort.  its not a bad thing, just that we have less time to see each other and a greater longing to spend time together leaving us with two options: 1) find time and be intentional with each other (never had to schedule my friends before) OR 2) just stop seeing each other all together... that is NOT an option.  
things are different, that means change. i have never been a fan of change. i am learning that the Lord uses change in our lives to grow us into people who reflect His character more and more each changing day and as much as i dislike change, i want to know His character more.  i want Him to teach and lead and grow me. i think that is going to be a theme of my year as i continue to experience big HUGE life changes in the next 5 months.  so here i am ready and so excited to embrace CHANGE.  
i wont leave you with more scattered thoughts, although i know there are some in my head... dont worry they will come on the next blog barf day.

hello 2-0.

goodbye teens. i am the big 2-0.
but dont worry i am stilll as silly as can be!
this is how i feel about being 20.

excited for what this year will bring. :)

pretty white dresses.

this weekend = bliss. 

sisters (BOTH). family. fiance. friends. in-laws to be. home cooked food. wedding stuff. dance. the nelson. chocolate fondue. and more.

PLUS shopping for WEDDING DRESSES. i have been waiting my whole life for this day. :) 

now, if this snow storm junk could just clear off the map i would be good to go!

Enagement

A fun little Animoto project that we had to do for Technology class.

oMA word.

this was my weekend:

sat by my bed with the widow open and the sun shining in...

 water colored a picture (exercised my creativity)...

drank about 10 to many cups of tea...

sat around and laughed with this awesome girl...

i guess i could call this a somewhat uneventful but great weekend.

i love my life.

also this coming weekend...
1. i get to go home WITH kv (this is a big deal)
2. A will be home from TX
3. i get to go wedding dress shopping
two good weekends in a row.

"fake" shape & friendship

DISCLAIMER: not every blog will be this long!

today was beautiful outside.  seriously, sunny and 65.  so J, my sweet roommate being the athletic and motivated woman that she is asked me to join her for a run.   i tried to decline her offer multiple times, but she insisted and said she was out of shape to it was no big deal.  you see i am what they call "fake" shape.  definition- looking in shape but not being in shape.  all that being said, i proceeded at J's request to put on shorts (only to show off my ghostly legs) and a tshirt.  i grabbed my iPod and we were off.  the beginning was not too hard, i mean i am capable of running BUT slowly as she persevered i could not run any longer. she continued, because i am convinced her definition of "out of shape" and mine are totally different. i walked. she insisted on walking with me.  so the cycle continues.  she pushed me, harder than anyone ever has, and we walked/ran for awhile.  when it was time to turn around i had no option but to walk, my legs wouldn't have it anymore.  i told her that she needed to run running for her is the same amount of exercise as walking for me.  she ran ahead, quite gracefully.  i walked behind. 

all this to say, it was humbling.  i was pushed, struggled, humbled, encouraged and i know through it all she still loves me.  i am not sure she knew what she was getting into when she asked me to join, but i know that it was the perfect depiction of J and my friendship.  (more generally what any friendship should be like.)  this is what Christ wants our relationship(friendship) with him to look like, it is also the model of friendship He has set for us here on this earth.  i needed that reminder. i have been blessed with amazing friends and lately i have forgotten about how much i need those friends to PUSH me, STRUGGLE with me, HUMBLE me, ENCOURAGE me, and LOVE me.  my prayer is that i will continually learn to be a friend like that.

hello, college snow day.

so, i recently started a blog for my technology education class.  i really liked the idea of writing, sharing, and processing.  i did not really enjoy doing it for school, but i have been pondering it for awhile, so why not.  here i am entering the blog world.  this year has been so much of a challenge already.  so many BIG changes that will happen within 2011.  things that i am so excited, nervous, and giddy for. 

for starters a recap of this year month:
    
i finished 2 books (i am not a reader but would like to love reading, so i am actually reading)

started the professional program for the College of Education, ekkk.

reading through Esther, the Lord really put a longing in my heart to know the old testament stories (more than just the veggie tales version).

i started a new journal. i love starting new journals.

i am currently experiencing my first college "snow" day.

.... here is the highlight.

my best friend got down on one knee and asked that one little BIG question...

i said that one little word, YES, and now we get to serve the Lord, together, FOREVER.