Luke is sweet 16!

How did my little brother turn 16 already? I guess I'm getting older just as fast as he is.

Our family celebrated on his birthday, which was in May. Uncle Tom & Aunt Carol joined us and also the Fritz's.... his second family. :)

I made Twix cupcakes for his dessert. They didn't turn out as well as I would've liked, but they were still good. It was a pinterest recipe. If you ever make them, I would do a different kind of frosting. It didn't taste the best which ruined the whole cupcake. But they were a fun thing to make. :)

Birthday Boy

 

Apparently the frosting didn't matter to these kiddos! They enjoyed every bite of it!

 



Luke has passed up Adam in height!!

 





Luke and the Fritz girls.... So sweet. Summer loves Luke. Actually all little kids love Luke... probably because he's so goofy!

This wasn't at Luke's birthday... but look how much taller he is than me!! He just keeps growing taller and taller. He is an extremely tall and slender gentleman! :)

Love ya Lukerz. :)

Gabe's Birthday

I am a tad bit behind on posting pictures, so bear with me here as I try to catch up.

In May, Mary had Gabe's 5th Birthday party.

All the boys with Aunt Elisabeth

Gabe quite excited to be the center of attention :)

 DQ cake... can't get much better than that!

Gabe got everything to play baseball for his birthday. So there was a family game of baseball. So cute with little kids playing. It was a beautiful evening to be outside which is what we did.

 I sat on a blanket with Jodi & Letty and didn't play...not sure why not! But Letty is just too sweet :) Have I mentioned that Fred & Jodi are expecting another little one in November? Oh I am so excited! :) A new little baby to hold in church!

Daniel helping Gabe out

 Sorry these are poor pictures, but here is Mary!

 Shiloh & Daniel

Elisabeth with all of her nieces and nephews.

4-wheeler rides!

It was a wonderful evening. Thanks Robert & Mary for having us all! 

Summer Update

So just a quick overview on our lives... in case you're interested.

Our lives have slowed down a little bit more compared to our first few months of marriage. Living closer to family and church has definitely made a difference.

Daniel finished up his first semester of nursing school. The following week, he started a new job in the Emergency Department! He loves it, and honestly I love to hear the stories he has to tell me. The only downfall to the job is that we have opposite schedules... so I don't see him very much, and our evenings together are few and far between. I normally call him on my way home from work, and he's on his way TO work. It was really hard on me at first, but I am getting more used to it. I'm a lot more productive when he's not home, actually. :) So yeah, tonight is actually Daniel's last night of orientation and he's on his own! So if you ever need to go to the ER.... Daniel just might be there! :)

Daniel has the summer off as far as school. It's so nice. So during the day, he usually goes and works for Brian(his cousin) on the farm, comes home to clean up, and then goes to work at the hospital. Such a hard working man I have. :)

Nothing has changed for me! Just working 5 days a week at Gorenz. The summers are a little slow, so some days can get long. But I am thankful I have a job. Brittany and Alyssa(a friend from school) are here full-time now, so they usually make my day pretty exciting. We at least almost always eat lunch together.
I still teach lessons usually about 1 evening a week. Sometimes they are sporadic, but we've been pretty consistent lately.... a lot more consistent than I was during tax season. :)

Other than that, we've been busy with our house. I've had so much fun working on it, trying to make it look cute. I finally got a piano which I am SO thankful for. It's not ideal... a lot of the keys like to stick... but I have a piano. I was so desperate I got less and less picky as time went on.

I will announce that I had my first cooking/baking fail since I've been married.... I attempted to make a Strawberry pie for Fathers Day... and it did not set up correctly. Which made the crust a soggy mess. Yuck. I threw away about half of it, because Daniel said he couldn't make himself eat it. :( Ugh! I think that's the worse experience I've had baking so far.

So that's about it. We go on vacation at the end of July with my family... I cannot wait. I can't wait to be out in the sun, and I can't wait to have a break from work and come back refreshed. And I can't wait to be with my family for the week.
Oh and speaking of sun, I look like I've never seen the sun before in my life. If you see Daniel and I together, you might even think we're from different countries...
Every Saturday is rainy.... so do I ever get a chance to sit out there? No, never. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait until July...

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

Shopping in Chicago

Last Saturday, a group of Knapp ladies went shopping for the day. When I say the Knapps, that's Daniel's aunts... along with some of their daughters. It was for Elisabeth's 18th birthday, but it was also Marisa's birthday too.... or basicaly those were just excuses to go have a ladies shopping day. :)

We went to Schaumburg and left at the bright and early hour of 7am. We shopped for a while and then went to Olive Garden for lunch. Hmmm soup, salad and breadsticks. My favorite things at that place!

 Marisa & Elisabeth

 The whole group at Olive Garden: Lisa, Marisa (& Marie), Elisabeth, Susie, Jennifer, Me & Lori

 Lisa & Marisa... mother/daughter photo

We headed to the mall for the rest of the day, and then went to IKEA. I didn't have as much luck as I would have liked, but I guess I went under my budget that way. :)

 Waiting in line at IKEA

 Little miss Marie... so sweet. It was fun to have a baby along for the day.

 We stopped at Portillos on the way home for supper. Oh how I laughed with these ladies... they are so much fun! They asked me a couple of times if I was glad to be in their family... the answer is YES! :)

 Portillos is known for their chocolate cake.... the birthday girl gobbling it up. :)

Such sweet girls.

It was a fun day, but exhausting. We didn't get home until around 10pm, so it was long! It was nice to have something fill my day though since Daniel was working anyway.

I bought a few good items! It's amazing how tired I get from shopping.. I'm more tired after shopping than I am when I work all day and/or run!

But thanks ladies for a wonderful day! 

The rest of the story...

Tues, May 8th

I felt as if I did when I was repenting. So convicted I couldn't think about anything else. I prayed for continued guidance. I prayed that the Word would give me clear direction.
Tuesday afternoon was the day that I was offered a full-time job at Gorenz. This was a complete answer to prayer. Having this job that I had prayed for gave me so much more confidence to answering yes. I felt like I could never say no at this point... God had answered every prayer that I had prayed. But I continued to test God anyway.. I prayed that I could see Daniel just one more time. (Even though I had already seen him twice...)
That evening after accepting my job, I opened up to a lot of scripture that just continued to give me peace. It wasn't anything that really stood out, it was just comforting scripture and reassured me that this is what I was supposed to do.

Wed, May 9th

All day I kept thinking that my answer would be a yes. In my previous days I felt anxiety when I would think that. But I truly felt peace all day. I remember reading so much scripture and praying. One of the verses I opened up to was:
Romans 15:4 Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

I truly felt so much comfort from the scriptures within those last few days. My soul was flooding with peace; I had finally humbled myself and given it ALL to God, instead of thinking about my thoughts and ideas.
I continued to pray that I could see Daniel again. I wanted and needed it so badly for one last assurance.

Thurs, May 10th

Thursday I took off work early to study at school. I was studying for my Thursday night final, when Daniel came walking down the stairs in the library. My heart skipped a beat. We made no eye contact...I totally turned my head away as soon as I saw him. After he left, I sat there trying to study... but feeling like I needed to go to the next step. Ron had told me that I could meet with him if I needed to, since I didn't know him at all. Instead, I just emailed Ron and asked him if I could have an email from Daniel on his convictions and beliefs. After all, that was the most important thing to me.
After I got home from my final, I poured my heart out in my journal to God, and also doubted a bit that I should not have taken the next step. An excerpt from my journal:

This isn't the ideal timing of our lives. Yes, life would be a bit rough with him still in school, but I still feel peaceful. No, I haven't liked him or had a crush on him for years, but I feel as if I could love him. I wasn't at that point at first but I feel like I am now. Is he what I always thought for a husband? I'm not really sure what I thought, but I read the other day that he doesn't have to meet my expectations just GOD'S. Am I worried what other people will say? Yes, I am a bit, but I know as long as I'm pleasing God with Thy will that is what matters. Lord, I hope this wasn't too quick to ask for more information about him. I really do want to know where he stands spiritually. Lord all the guidance I have received so far I have felt it should be a yes. Please disrupt this peace that I am feeling if I am not following Thy will.

I opened to many scriptures, but one that stood out:
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

This verse didn't just stand out to me because it spoke of a bride and bridegroom. From my journal:

I thank God that my soul is joyful and that I am covered and clothed in His salvation, just as a beautiful bride/bridegroom is on their wedding day. I love how this give me HOPE for heaven and assurance of where my soul is.

Fri, May 11th

I am not sure what happened on Friday during the day, but I do know I was extremely peaceful. Friday night I went to a young group thing, and I just remember being so peaceful and happy, and especially enjoying the singing more than usual. When I got home, I had an email from Daniel. I read it and was in tears. It re-assured me with everything I had been feeling. I knew I could respect him. I knew he would be an extremely supportive husband. And ultimately, I knew that together we would strive for Heaven.
I am not going to post what Daniel wrote in his email just because it is pretty personal. But here is one little paragraph he wrote to me:

I would like to mention my convictions on the spiritually role of a husband. I believe that the spiritually responsibility of family belongs to the husband. I have always been convicted that many of our problems today stem from the fact that the husband or fathers of the homes have not been the proper spiritual guide that they were supposed to be. If the man of the home can keep his house together spiritually then I believe he has done his God honoring duty.

A bit of what I wrote in my journal that night:
Oh my Lord. I am in tears right now. I just received my first email from Daniel and I can't tell you enough how much that made me respect him like no other. I feel so convicted right now, yet so peaceful, thankful, and assured. I couldn't agree more than what he wrote to me. Just continue to help me with upcoming decisions I pray. I am so amazed and blessed with Thee, Lord!

I opened up to a lot about marriage after I read his email:

• Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body.

I really felt like Daniel could be my head, and lead me to heaven, even though I barely knew him. I had the faith that he would.

• Ephesians 5:33... and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

I believed I could respect him as well, even though I didn't really know him.

• Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

God had truly directed my paths. I was so thankful. I was thankful to be in the situation I was. I had never grown spiritually so fast in my life. I went to sleep excited to see what would happen in my life next.

Sat, May 12th

I woke up early because I couldn't sleep. I showed my mom the email I received from Daniel first thing. Later in the day, I sat down with my mom and dad, and poured out my heart to them and what I had been thinking/feeling within the last couple weeks. I told them I would truly feel like I would be disobeying God if I did not say yes. My parents both felt very peaceful. However, they wanted to meet with Daniel before I said yes just for their own sakes since they didn't know him at all.
An excerpt from my journal:

I just feel incredibly peaceful, blessed and thankful. I feel rather emotional this morning just because of where you have brought me, how you have strengthened me in the last week.

That evening I began to worry what other people would think. I opened up to one of my favorite verses:
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

I also opened up to Psalm 128:1; Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
I felt that God would truly bless us as husband and wife as long as we feared the Lord.

There's so much to pray for, I can't believe I'm taking the next step. Just continue to give me peace and assurance. Especially with thy word. Provide for us as I have no idea what will come in the coming months/years. Just bless us and help us to continue in faith all the days of our lives.

Sunday, May 13th

Sunday was Mother's Day. I knew I was going to say yes, I was so peaceful, and so excited. I remember going to Busy Corner for dinner, and seeing some of Daniel's aunts and uncles there... it made me even more excited.... future family. :)
That evening, I talked to Ellie(my only friend who was married...) and it helped me so much. I also opened up to John 14:27; Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Lord the peace I have received in Thee is amazing and I thank Thee for it. It is the most wonderful thing you can give to us in this world.

Mon, May 14th

Monday was my first day as a full-time employee at Gorenz. I had a meeting scheduled for that evening with Ron, but in the mean time, I was waiting for Daniel to contact my parents to set up a time to meet with them(because they wanted to before I said yes). Monday was a looonngg day at work. I remember texting my mom all day to see if she had received an email or phone call from Daniel.

While we were eating dinner that night, Daniel called my parents and they had decided to meet at Daniel's elders house at 8:00pm... and I was meeting with Ron at 9:00pm. So my parents left before me.... and I was a little nervous. Nervous and sort of jealous that they got to meet with Daniel before I did.
So I went to Ron's at 9, told him my whole story... but I had to wait until my parents got done meeting with Daniel to yes. I of course wanted to give my answer that night. I was literally sitting at Ron's house, texting my mom asking, "can I say YES?" She called me and said that they felt very comfortable with it. :) So I said yes, right then and there. I couldn't wait any longer.
And before I even got home from Ron's house.... Daniel called me for the first time ever.

The funny thing is, when my parents met with Daniel they did not give him any inkling of what I was thinking or feeling. So to say the least, Daniel had NO idea that I was going to say yes that night.

We talked on the phone for a couple hours. Then I had to go to work the next day, and then meet him for dinner for the very first time the next evening. It was another long day at work, a long dinner conversation with Daniel, and then we went to my parents house and THAT is where our first picture was taken. :)

To say the engagement was easy, wouldn't be entirely true. It was fairly short, we were apart for 10 days after knowing each other for a week, and the wedding plans stressed me out. Plus I had started a new job. But I can say we have truly been blessed. I know I say that a lot, and I have said it a lot during this engagement post. But it's the truth. God has blessed us. If he was this faithful during our engagement, I know he will be for the remainder of our lives.