It's been too long since I last wrote. I guess I got too caught up in my wedding planning and then my sister's wedding, and Thanksgiving, birthdays, work, and Christmas to remember. My apologies... I'll try to do better.
But don't I always say that? I wish I felt like there was a purpose to my writing here. Maybe someday I will find one.
For now, I guess I will give a snapshot into my life. It's what I usually do.
I am married, as of September 11, 2015. Yes, that day. But as much as I respect the remembrances of it, and as much as I hate what happened that day years ago, and honor those who died there, I don't believe that this day can be reserved forever as a day of mourning.
After all, Jesus took our mourning and turned it into dancing!
Well, married life hasn't only been dancing. . . . Joshua and I have more than our fair share of arguments. But it is good. God is good. And fail as we do, we still strive to keep Him central in this relationship. And Joshua and I are learning to love each other more and more as each day passes.
Aside from marriage, I work at Family Christian bookstore. Like any workplace, it has corruption, but I choose to see that I am blessed to work in a place where excellence is expected and correct hearts are appreciated; a place where you can go off and pray with a customer or with the lady taking care of inventory.
That being said, work takes much of the time I do not use for cooking, cleaning, and loving on my husband.
Joshua and I are also active in our church. It's a smaller gathering--only about 100 people. But these people love Jesus and desire to share Him with all the people working in the manufacturing center we call our home. We have just taken on the responsibility of leading a youth group for the middle school and high school aged kids in the church, and I believe we will find it to be a very rewarding use of our time.
I still love to see my family, and since we go to the same church and only live 10 minutes away, it isn't very difficult to do. My sister is a little farther away, but we still see her on occasion as well. Joshua's family lives in Jackson area, so that's about 2 hours from us here. We are spending Christmas with them, though, and when we go there our visits are always a few nights long.
Today, for Christmas, I baked more cookies. This time, a batch of gingersnaps. They're so good! I'm thrilled with how they turned out.
God bless, and I hope I remember to write again soon!
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Monday, June 22, 2015
The Second Wedding
I have a new-found appreciation for caterers. Last night I had a (very small) glimpse into what it would look like to do that. We had a nice kitchen to work from, and only served about 100 people throughout the night on a small buffet of cold appetizers. Even so, we were running like crazy to keep up.
Elizabeth, you were beautiful. Corey, you were beaming. I am so happy for you two and I wouldn't give away the chance we had to serve you on your wedding day.
After doing this wedding though, I sit back and think--I really hope it isn't 85* on my wedding day. And WOW--What on earth am I about to put my aunt and uncle through in the tiny staging kitchen that will be available to them? I now have seen a glimpse of the craziness.
Back to the wedding countdown:
1: Brittany and Dylan
2: Elizabeth and Corey
Showers:
1: Andrea (and Justin)
2: Me (:
3: Planning it this week....
And life goes on and days go by and soon we will be in a new chapter.
The sneak peak we received yesterday doesn't exactly put us at rest, but it is characteristic of how God has always seen to provide for Joshua and myself in the past. It will likely be the way he continues to provide into our future. (PS, I am not a last minute person and He is making me very uncomfortable.....) But I know he will provide. More on that later.
-Alainya
Elizabeth, you were beautiful. Corey, you were beaming. I am so happy for you two and I wouldn't give away the chance we had to serve you on your wedding day.
After doing this wedding though, I sit back and think--I really hope it isn't 85* on my wedding day. And WOW--What on earth am I about to put my aunt and uncle through in the tiny staging kitchen that will be available to them? I now have seen a glimpse of the craziness.
Back to the wedding countdown:
1: Brittany and Dylan
2: Elizabeth and Corey
Showers:
1: Andrea (and Justin)
2: Me (:
3: Planning it this week....
And life goes on and days go by and soon we will be in a new chapter.
The sneak peak we received yesterday doesn't exactly put us at rest, but it is characteristic of how God has always seen to provide for Joshua and myself in the past. It will likely be the way he continues to provide into our future. (PS, I am not a last minute person and He is making me very uncomfortable.....) But I know he will provide. More on that later.
-Alainya
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
The Second Shower
This weekend I attended the second shower of the season -- this one being mine.
I don't know how often I have felt so blessed. I left church with my parents' credit card and my wonderful fiance. We had been given instructions to leave immediately, go out and buy a dress, and have lunch together. Then we were allowed to come back AT 2:00. Not before.
So we went out and found a lovely white dress, had a delicious lunch at Applebee's, and came back to the church at 2.
My family and my bridesmaids had been busy the two days before, and still even before that working on details and food and decorations. When I left, I can only imagine the Radzicki parade that stormed through the building on a mission as they do... and in a flurry they created a beautiful space and amazing food displayed gorgeously. The games were sweet, especially the bubblegum... and the guests were amazing. Paper hearts garlands hung from the ceiling and photos of my wonderful man and I, along with quotes from him, graced the tables. I read a few and began to cry...so I stopped.
"Her desire for God has always made me adore her."
"Her steadfast love reminds me of Christ."
"Her love of adventure is contagious."
"One of my favorite memories is trying (and succeeding) to eat soup in a tree."
"I love how her eyes twinkle when she smiles."
"Her excitement adds a hop to my step."
"I am proud of how much she puts herself into her work."
"She's never as tender as when she's holding a baby."
"She makes folding laundry a good time."
"She always wins tickle fights."
"Her back rubs are the best."
"Without fail, if I've had a bad day, being around her makes it better."
"Knowing she has a surprise makes me count the days until she shows me."
"Her compassion for those in need melts my heart."
"Holding her hand, I feel home."
I am BLESSED.
Thank you to everyone who made my day beautiful.
I don't know how often I have felt so blessed. I left church with my parents' credit card and my wonderful fiance. We had been given instructions to leave immediately, go out and buy a dress, and have lunch together. Then we were allowed to come back AT 2:00. Not before.
So we went out and found a lovely white dress, had a delicious lunch at Applebee's, and came back to the church at 2.
My family and my bridesmaids had been busy the two days before, and still even before that working on details and food and decorations. When I left, I can only imagine the Radzicki parade that stormed through the building on a mission as they do... and in a flurry they created a beautiful space and amazing food displayed gorgeously. The games were sweet, especially the bubblegum... and the guests were amazing. Paper hearts garlands hung from the ceiling and photos of my wonderful man and I, along with quotes from him, graced the tables. I read a few and began to cry...so I stopped.
"Her desire for God has always made me adore her."
"Her steadfast love reminds me of Christ."
"Her love of adventure is contagious."
"One of my favorite memories is trying (and succeeding) to eat soup in a tree."
"I love how her eyes twinkle when she smiles."
"Her excitement adds a hop to my step."
"I am proud of how much she puts herself into her work."
"She's never as tender as when she's holding a baby."
"She makes folding laundry a good time."
"She always wins tickle fights."
"Her back rubs are the best."
"Without fail, if I've had a bad day, being around her makes it better."
"Knowing she has a surprise makes me count the days until she shows me."
"Her compassion for those in need melts my heart."
"Holding her hand, I feel home."
I am BLESSED.
Thank you to everyone who made my day beautiful.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Just 3 more Months
I haven't written anything in a while, and I have decided it's time to change that. As usual, it's probably a one-time thing, and I will forget to write again tomorrow for at least a month. It's what happens. Life is crazy.
I really do mean crazy. . . . I got a new job, at Walmart. God bless my boss... He gave me about 35 days off just after hiring me for all the weddings and showers I am required to attend, plan, or take photos at between now and September. I've been designing invitations and programs like crazy. Trying (as hard as I have time to) to get this photo business thing running. Planning my own wedding. Planning bridal showers. Planning and posing for my own engagement photos. Attending premarital counseling. And working Walmart on my "days off".
People keep asking what I do to relax, and I have to honestly say that I do not at the moment have any time for such things.
92 days. 3 months.
I honestly hope everything kind of levels out at some point... but I doubt that will happen before Christmas.
I have attended only 1 wedding -- Brittany and Dylan, it was a blessing to share your day with you. Brittany, you were a beautiful bride, and Dylan, you face just lit up when you saw her come out from behind the barn...
And 1 shower -- Andrea, it's been fun getting to know you a little better each time I see you. I am excited to follow you into married life just one month later!
You know, it's hard being so busy. It's hard getting ready to be married. I don't know that I am ready for this... I don't know if anyone really ever is. I LOVE Joshua with all my heart. But I show it so poorly sometimes. I'm frightened to leave home and comfort...to move on. I find myself shying away from change like a mouse...to anything.
But Joshua is good to me. He Loves me. He doesn't give up on me. He changes for me. He serves me. He is even learning to dance for me. He picks me daisies. He eats the food I burn and tells me it's just fine--even when it's tomato soup and he doesn't like it to begin with. He holds me when I cry and he is always there when I need him.
There isn't a reason I should be scared. I just don't like change. Joshua Loves me like he should... like Jesus says.
Now I just need to figure out that Jesus Loves me more than Joshua does. Somehow, that's even harder than trusting Joshua and even harder than change.
I really do mean crazy. . . . I got a new job, at Walmart. God bless my boss... He gave me about 35 days off just after hiring me for all the weddings and showers I am required to attend, plan, or take photos at between now and September. I've been designing invitations and programs like crazy. Trying (as hard as I have time to) to get this photo business thing running. Planning my own wedding. Planning bridal showers. Planning and posing for my own engagement photos. Attending premarital counseling. And working Walmart on my "days off".
People keep asking what I do to relax, and I have to honestly say that I do not at the moment have any time for such things.
92 days. 3 months.
I honestly hope everything kind of levels out at some point... but I doubt that will happen before Christmas.
I have attended only 1 wedding -- Brittany and Dylan, it was a blessing to share your day with you. Brittany, you were a beautiful bride, and Dylan, you face just lit up when you saw her come out from behind the barn...
And 1 shower -- Andrea, it's been fun getting to know you a little better each time I see you. I am excited to follow you into married life just one month later!
You know, it's hard being so busy. It's hard getting ready to be married. I don't know that I am ready for this... I don't know if anyone really ever is. I LOVE Joshua with all my heart. But I show it so poorly sometimes. I'm frightened to leave home and comfort...to move on. I find myself shying away from change like a mouse...to anything.
But Joshua is good to me. He Loves me. He doesn't give up on me. He changes for me. He serves me. He is even learning to dance for me. He picks me daisies. He eats the food I burn and tells me it's just fine--even when it's tomato soup and he doesn't like it to begin with. He holds me when I cry and he is always there when I need him.
There isn't a reason I should be scared. I just don't like change. Joshua Loves me like he should... like Jesus says.
Now I just need to figure out that Jesus Loves me more than Joshua does. Somehow, that's even harder than trusting Joshua and even harder than change.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Some Musings on Excitements
I spent last night sitting up in an assisted living facility to keep watch on possible excitements that might arise from a certain room. With all the not-so-probable, though apparently highly possible, excitements around the Slakes home in the past two months, and especially in the past two or three nights, the excitements here seem as nothing.
It is strange to me how, no matter how tired one was or should be, one comes to a point where sleep is no longer pressing. No, not a point necessarily where the tiredness falls away, but instead one at which it loses to whatever is at hand.
A few nights ago I was sick. I will say it was a migraine... I have no other clue. It kept me up nearly the whole night. I thank God that I have the most wonderful man to call my fiancé. Forgoing his right to sleep, and forgetting his need and desire to, he was at my side providing everything I needed, often before it was needed.
Sunday night, a few rascals decided it would be fun to abuse some drugs and cause mischief in my neighborhood. Their footprints entered and walked about, going to each mailbox and several garages. They then made their way into one of our vehicles and drove it off. Someone called when they robbed a grocery store later that night and we were awakened to realize our car was missing. And so "excitement" ensued. All were gotten from bed and questions asked and sleep broken. The car was found finally, and the troublemakers taken care of, but they had smashed it into snowbanks and treated it carelessly.
Days before this, our black car was totaled. The stolen car had just been purchased to replace it. Now it will never drive like new again and insurance payments, from both incidents, are crazy.
This coming weekend I will be driving with my family to Detroit for my great-grandma's funeral. As if there wasn't already enough going on, we needed to add more emotions... I believe she went to Jesus, but no matter what, it is hard to let go. I don't think I ha e fully realized her passing yet, but my mother and grandmother have...
I wonder sometimes why bad luck, if you can call it that, seems to hit one place so hard, in so many places, all at once. I know that we are all human and all have free will, and therefore all make mistakes, but I guess I just expect that things will space themselves out. It feels like we have had enough drama to last all year if it were spread nicely.
Praise God for the good favor that has also come in bunches since the beginning of the year... I am engaged to the most amazing man. My sister is engaged to the next most amazing man (I'm biased...). We were each gifted a vehicle. We were each given a job. God is good, and He is still blessing us.
I wonder how they do it... People who don't believe. I wonder how they get along without being consumed by the "bad luck" that simply comes with living. I wonder if they can see the good things as blessings or if they are simply taken for granted. I know how easy it it to take them for granted and I know the Giver. How much easier if you did not?
I'm still sitting here with the client I was asked to spend the night with. I wonder if they know. The "bad luck" of life has hit them hard too and I can hardly blame them for their actions. I hope they know the Giver of good gifts. I hope they see that there is a positive side to things.
It's 6:00am. My client is sitting up. Musings will hold until tomorrow.
It is strange to me how, no matter how tired one was or should be, one comes to a point where sleep is no longer pressing. No, not a point necessarily where the tiredness falls away, but instead one at which it loses to whatever is at hand.
A few nights ago I was sick. I will say it was a migraine... I have no other clue. It kept me up nearly the whole night. I thank God that I have the most wonderful man to call my fiancé. Forgoing his right to sleep, and forgetting his need and desire to, he was at my side providing everything I needed, often before it was needed.
Sunday night, a few rascals decided it would be fun to abuse some drugs and cause mischief in my neighborhood. Their footprints entered and walked about, going to each mailbox and several garages. They then made their way into one of our vehicles and drove it off. Someone called when they robbed a grocery store later that night and we were awakened to realize our car was missing. And so "excitement" ensued. All were gotten from bed and questions asked and sleep broken. The car was found finally, and the troublemakers taken care of, but they had smashed it into snowbanks and treated it carelessly.
Days before this, our black car was totaled. The stolen car had just been purchased to replace it. Now it will never drive like new again and insurance payments, from both incidents, are crazy.
This coming weekend I will be driving with my family to Detroit for my great-grandma's funeral. As if there wasn't already enough going on, we needed to add more emotions... I believe she went to Jesus, but no matter what, it is hard to let go. I don't think I ha e fully realized her passing yet, but my mother and grandmother have...
I wonder sometimes why bad luck, if you can call it that, seems to hit one place so hard, in so many places, all at once. I know that we are all human and all have free will, and therefore all make mistakes, but I guess I just expect that things will space themselves out. It feels like we have had enough drama to last all year if it were spread nicely.
Praise God for the good favor that has also come in bunches since the beginning of the year... I am engaged to the most amazing man. My sister is engaged to the next most amazing man (I'm biased...). We were each gifted a vehicle. We were each given a job. God is good, and He is still blessing us.
I wonder how they do it... People who don't believe. I wonder how they get along without being consumed by the "bad luck" that simply comes with living. I wonder if they can see the good things as blessings or if they are simply taken for granted. I know how easy it it to take them for granted and I know the Giver. How much easier if you did not?
I'm still sitting here with the client I was asked to spend the night with. I wonder if they know. The "bad luck" of life has hit them hard too and I can hardly blame them for their actions. I hope they know the Giver of good gifts. I hope they see that there is a positive side to things.
It's 6:00am. My client is sitting up. Musings will hold until tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Too Much, Yet Too Little
I don't even know what to write. I try one things and I wonder why anyone would care to read it.
Life is crazy. I'm engaged! So exciting. He is the most amazing man in the world and I am incredibly blessed.
I am in America! It's so good to be back, but I do envy the Aussies their heat.
I'm looking for a job, though that's only half true. I found a job I want, and I am trying my hardest to convince them that I would be a good fit. It's something I have been interested in for years and that I would love to do for a very long time.
YATEC is done this time around. My small group was over just last night and drama ensued.
This one really great guy I was nearly engaged to came back and decided we can be friends again. It's good, but there's this fine line to walk between too close and completely cut off again.
My sister is engaged! She has the second best guy in the world (: I'm so happy for them. We are getting married 6 weeks apart, so wedding planning is taking every free minute. Her wedding will be in October, mine in September, and there will be showers in June, July, and August. I tell you, it's wild.
I guess I no longer know how to do this blogging thing. Somehow writing is always easier when things other than life are going on. Life does an amazing job at filling time and giving one absolutely no time to think of interesting things to write.
So... I guess I'll leave it at that. Maybe I'll think of something better soon.
Life is crazy. I'm engaged! So exciting. He is the most amazing man in the world and I am incredibly blessed.
I am in America! It's so good to be back, but I do envy the Aussies their heat.
I'm looking for a job, though that's only half true. I found a job I want, and I am trying my hardest to convince them that I would be a good fit. It's something I have been interested in for years and that I would love to do for a very long time.
YATEC is done this time around. My small group was over just last night and drama ensued.
This one really great guy I was nearly engaged to came back and decided we can be friends again. It's good, but there's this fine line to walk between too close and completely cut off again.
My sister is engaged! She has the second best guy in the world (: I'm so happy for them. We are getting married 6 weeks apart, so wedding planning is taking every free minute. Her wedding will be in October, mine in September, and there will be showers in June, July, and August. I tell you, it's wild.
I guess I no longer know how to do this blogging thing. Somehow writing is always easier when things other than life are going on. Life does an amazing job at filling time and giving one absolutely no time to think of interesting things to write.
So... I guess I'll leave it at that. Maybe I'll think of something better soon.
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