Thanksgiving at the Roten's

So we had our first Thanksgiving as a married couple. I started out the week with a fever and bad cold. I quickly recovered and by Tuesday night felt better. So I was surprised when I woke up Thursday unable to speak - literally. While this might be considered a blessing to some in my family (HAHA) it was not very good timing. Despite not feeling well Michael and I put together big meal complete with pumpkin and apple pie. Michaels folks came down from millers creek and spent the day with us. My in-laws are so sweet, she cleaned the kitchen after dinner and let me nap on the Couch and my father-in-law got me some home remedies from the store (lemons and honey) to help get my voice back. All this to say, we had a great Thanksgiving and Michael and I never cease to be amazed at how God has blessed us - not just with material things, but if sending Christ to die on the cross was the only thing God ever did for us that would be more than enough to be thankful for! And to all our family and friends we love you and are blessed to be a apart of your lives.

Big weekend!

Well Michael and I had a big time this past weekend. He surprised me by taking me out to the movies (a treat for us!) and we went and got a digital camera! We were so proud of ourselves because we saved some of our wedding money and money from garage sale to get it. What a great investment it was! We are so excited to have it for the holidays! So enjoy the pictures we took of our big night out on the town!

Titus Kitty

Our little boy is growing up. He now has access to the whole house. We have a cat walk (appropriately named) between our living room and kitchen and the other night we were rudely awoken by a large thump. The plants that we had on the cat-walk well one Titus had so kindly rearrange for us on the floor. Needless to say we are now contemplating ways to keep the plants intact on the cat-walk. Our little man keeps us on our toes. In some remote way, he's a little prep work for when we are blessed with little one's we can't spray with a water bottle. Honestly, we are truly blessed and I was reminded of this as I heard a sermon on God's generosity. What a great reminder that God is wildly generous. After all he sacrificed His only son for us. Enjoy the picture of our "boy" giving us the "what do you mean get off the counter, I own this counter" look.

October update!

See I told you I would update my blog more often. So in october we have finally slowed down the latter part of the month. The first weekend in October we went up to Millers creek to visit michael's parents, Hickory to visit a friends. And finally to Blowing Rock to go to Tweetsie Railroad to ride the Ghost train (and all of that was in the span of three days!). Going to Tweetsie railroad is a bit of a tradition with my dear husband who enjoys many things halloween. Tweetsie is a amusement type park that is themed around the train and around halloween the train is decoarated quite scary and takes you through a series of scarry scene's culminated in men with chain-saws (chains removed) jumping on the train and running down the isles. Also another tradition is that I close my eyes and cling to my dear husband during this and when we walk through the haunted house.
The following weekend we went to a wedding in Winston-Salem. I danced the night away and my husband sat back and laughed at me while I got jiggy-with-it! It was fun to get dressed up and go to a fancy dinner with candle-light, and of course share a slow-dance with Michael. We also had a yard sale that morning that left us with a whole 2two hourse to recover from getting up before the crack of dawn and get ready to go to the wedding in winston. Needless to say we were glad to come home and crash that night.
Anyway, enclosed are some pictures of our house. We are enjoying working on it and getting things exactly the way we like it and continuing to get settled in. God has definately blessed us! I'll keep you all posted (pun intended)!

Fun times in August and September

Ok so I have been chastised by my family for not blogging so here I am again! I'm just going to give the rundown of the months of August and September in the roten household. In the first week of August Michaels parents came down and we had a great time showing them around wake forest. AC Moore craft store, wendy's and walmart were the highlights (you can see why I love these people - their favorite activities involve food and shopping!) I have really been blessed with wonderful in-laws. The following week Michaels best friend (along with wife and 4 children between he ages of 4-15) came over and stayed with us. Who knew a 1,000 Sq. Feet could hold 8 people! We took them to the mall, watched movies and they came to church with us on Sunday. Life then calmed down a bit until the beginning of September. My brother and his family came over from Switzerland Labor day weekend and we had a great time hanging out with them. The boys played basketball and teased each other mercilessly about their jumpshots and us ladies just laughed and chased around the plethora of children that were running around. It was great seeing them again. They shortly left later on that week up to Connecticut for my brothers job. The rest of September was busy with Michael starting up the new Sunday school year at North Wake church but that has since smoothed out and all is going well with the new teachers and classes. Overall, while there have been stresses and changes, goodbyes and crazy busy weeks God has reminded me of his faithfulness and love. One verse my mom gave me back in June comes to mind "When my anxious thoughts consume me thy consolations delight my soul" - Psalms 94:14. Look for an October update soon!

New addition to the Roten Household!

OK OK so we are not expecting a little human bundle of joy. We have a little furry bundle of joy! His name is Titus Leo Roten III. Big name for a little kitty. We went to the grocery store and someone was giving away these kittens and we could not resist. He is energetic (just like his mom)and adorable and sweet (like his daddy). He's too cute and makes us laugh, a lot! He will all of the sudden take off across the room for no reason. We found a ball of yarn for him to play with and it true kitty fashion he loved it! Well, it's impetuous and spontaneous, but he sure is keeper! Enjoy the pics of our little one!

Good Weekend!

Hey there! Greeting back from Virginia Beach, Virginia! Michael and I just got back from the beach where my brother, sister-in-law, and three blonde bomb-shells (nieces)live. It's a tough life living three blocks away from the beach! We got there Thursday night around 10 and chatted a bit with Dean and Chris and then the next day I woke up and peaked out the door to see three little girls lined up on the couch down-stairs with all eyes on our door, patiently waiting for me and Michael to come out! So cute! We took them to Target that morning (I forgot my swimsuit!) and then off to the beach that afternoon. The weather was good, some spotty showers and slightly overcast but overall great beach weather. The little girls love hanging out with Michael and found someone who loved the waves almost as much as they did! So sweet watching them play in the waves. I did jump in there a fair share although I am a sun-goddess at heart when it comes to the beach. A few things that always amazes me when we go to visit the beach is how amazing God is to create such an incredible sight as the waves and sea. Also, my precious nieces, the love they give so freely, their laughter, tears and joy are such a blessing to my heart. And then there is Dean and Chris, the hostess team extrodinare! Well, that is it for now! I'm off to recover from the tough day of beach fun!

Life Goes on!

Well, as I always say, I will try and get more consistent about updating more often. It's rather funny, in the midst of adjusting to marriage, settling into a new house and getting adjusted to my life as I now know it life just keeps happening. I thought that life would slow down and be almost down-right boring, but alas, it has been anything but boring! Don't get me wrong, there has been much more relaxation over the past two months than I have since December 2004 -June 3, 2005 combined. Yet life marches on it doesn't stop while I adjust to whatever life-change I am going through. Not just marriage but, whatever life holds for you, I have learned to not expect it to stop. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, my goodness, I had a friend of mine who is dealing with the death of a sibling and I can't even imagine. So in retrospect, bills, work, and learning to chill about being a wife is small potatoes! I was reading the book of Numbers in the Old Testament about how the Israelites were complaining about not having any meat, and they complained so much and were so disrespectful and ungrateful for the provision God had given them already that he gave them so much meat they were literally, sick. So many times we trust ourselves and think we have a better plan just because God doesn't provide in the way we think he should. My life would be a lot less dramatic if I chose to rest in the fact that God has a bigger, better, clearer perspective than I will ever have! Sorry if that was a bit random, but it's getting close to my bedtime!
Michael and I are heading up to see my brother, sister-in-law and my three blonde bombshells (nieces, all three blonde w/blue eyes) in Virginia Beach, VA. I will write about that next week! Keep you posted on the life and times of an aging drama queen!

Getting settled!

Wow! Today Michael and I will have been married for five weeks! Thanks to so many people,the wedding day went off without a single major glitch (as far as I know and I would prefer to stay ignorant if there was a major problem). My mom, sister, sister-in-law, out of town family and my mom's "ladies" from Providence Baptist kicked some serious tail, preparing for the wedding. Things were taken care of that I'm sure I didn't even think of. My sister's dear friend Dana did a killer job on the pictures and Michaels friend Billy is putting together video of the wonderful day, and both volunteered their services out of the kindness of their own heart.
All that to say that God is so good and He looked out for Michael and I and provided for us in so many ways, ways we were not even aware of I am sure. I am still overwhelmed at the outpouring of love, time and support that Michael and I received from those around us. To God be the glory for sure! He is the only one that could have pulled of a day so glorifying to Him.
We are getting settled into our house and that is going well. You can now walk into one of the two spare bedrooms! YEAH! We are slowly but surely getting settled into a routine, but that will take time. Figuring out who does what around the house and figuring out how we want to our weeks to look like as far as schedule time with friends, family and church responsibilities and activities. But all those things I am sure with work themselves out in time. Meanwhile, I know we would both appreciate your prayers as we learn what it means to glorify God in our marriage.

Gaining Sanity

Well, the Lord really humbled me this past week during my quiet times. Again, this Andrew Murray Abide in Christ devotional is wonderful! One day last week I was reading about how we need to abide in Christ strength and His alone. Wow, did I need to hear that! I had been trying to handle so many things in my own strength, and not rest in the strength of Christ that is in me. God is taking care of so many details. How many times do I take on in my own strength what I was never intended to take on at all. Resting and relying totally and completely on Christ and Christ alone is something I have heard so often and thought I was doing until I took a look at my life and realize I was trying to do it all myself. Admitting that I can't do something in and of myself is hard (particularity as the youngest of four, "I can do it myself" was heard often from me, and still is, just ask my Fiance). God repeatedly humbles me and keeps me close to him,what a precious place to be.
Here I am 19 days before I get married and I am trying to get ready for the whirlwind! My life will be a blur for the next few weeks and so I am already praying that I will remember to come back to Christ and abide in Him in the midst of the craziness.
It is wild to think that the moment I have been hoping for, praying for, crying over because it wasn't here is now here (and I'm still crying because it's here!). God is so faithful to bring me a godly man who seeks after God and strives to love me as Christ loves the church, what an incredible blessing Mr. Michael Scott Roten is in my life. I know we "refine" each other through our differences (yes, that is putting in nicely) and cause each other to be wholly satisfied in Christ because each of you is reminded that the other is not meant to satisfy your every need or even make you happy all the time. Marriage is meant to draw you closer to God and glorify Him in living a life as one, seeking after Him.
Michael and I would greatly covet your prayers in remembering the peace, joy, and strength that is ours through Christ, as we go through these next weeks!

Laugh or Cry I'm not sure!

Well, the stress of all the planning and preparation for a serious life change all came to a head when I realized I forgot to stamp the RSVP cards in the already sealed 182 invitations. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
This past Friday Michael and I were happily plugging along putting invitations together and I ran to target to get "little stickers" to dress up the invitations, obsessive I know! I arrive back home from my successful shopping trip rather proud of myself and excited about my pretty invitations, and then panic overwhelms me. I realize we have forgotten the stamps on the RSVP cards. All of the sudden life is bleak and nothing short of eloping to Hawaii would have made me fell much better. I break down, multiple times, and my sweet Michael just lets me cry and tries to follow my every whim of "get the invitations done" and "forget it!".
So, a few lessons. God has a sense of humor even when I don't. And the important things are really not that important.
Then to add insult to injury, I totaled my car on Thursday by ramming into a FedEx truck on my way to work. Yeah, it's been an interesting week.
Yet, God is faithful, sovereign and in control, especially when I am not in control. Actually when I feel most out of control is when God is most in control, and the power struggle, if you will, is only one way. And that is me trying to take what is rightfully Gods, not mine to hold on to.
I am reminded of the Psalms "your mercies are new every morning", and that is so true. God blesses us with new mercy and grace to meet each day with it's joys or trials or both and see it as opportunities to cling to Him (not invitations or cars, because trust time they will let you down every time!).
Michael and I are grateful of the continued prayers and support we have received during these wild times!
And as far as whether to laugh or cry, crying is acceptable, as long as you can laugh at yourself after.

Published!

Well, as published as I will ever be. I wrote and article for a student website called www.deeperdevotion.com. We met this couple at our church and they moved here with this ministry and they found out I love to write and have a passion for youth so it was all down hill from there. So, check it out and let me know what you think!
Just as an update though, all is going well and relative are booking flights like mad to make it for the wedding (in 62 days, but whose counting!;-) ). But life is good, my sweet husband-to-be even voluntarily took me last weekend to run wedding errands, so incredibly adorable! You can see why I'm marrying the man! I get my bridal pictures back this week, so that is exciting, and lots of other details are coming together! God is truly blessing Michael and I with wonderful family and friends to help us out during this crazy, but wonderful time!

As always, I promise to write more soon!

I'm Back!

I know it's been entirely too long since I have written! I have let life get away with me and run me a little crazy. I was telling a friend the other day that if she and her boyfriend's family were ok with it, she should just elope if they ever decided to get married!

I look back on that and think it is a little sad that I have let myself get to that point, but from now on I am choosing to enjoy every moment! I have even given my fiance permission to remind me, "Sweetie, this is supposed to be fun! Remember?!"

I have also been reading out of Andrew Murray's book Abide in Christ, and it is wonderful! The premise is that we have access to Christ's peace, joy, patience, satisfaction and all His attributes if we are a child of His and just let that life of Christ flow through us by yielding ourselves to Him. That has been a great comfort to me recently - that I can just rest in Christ and find my strength, hope, peace and sanity in Him. What a blessing!

Well, I have to head off to work, but I will hopefully write more soon!

New Year and already too busy!

How sad is it that a new year has just begun and I feel as if I have not recouperated from the holidays! Granted with all the excitement of the holidays and the newness of my engagement, going to work that monday was definately a bit of a downer and life as I know it continues. Yet through it all God has been reminding me that He alone is my sufficiancey, strength, hope, joy and the constant in my life. It is disheartnign that I let life so distract me from just taking those quiet moments with Him, and I alow myself to get frazzeled, bewildered and overwhelmed. I am commiting this year to do some scripture memory and increase my prayer time (which is fairly non-existant). I may not get much memorizeed and my prayer time may just be written out in my journal but I am seeking God's strength in this commitment to Him and myself. I feel I need to do this now because if I think that life is going to get less crazy and hectic then I am seriously delusional, so now would be a great time to get my arsenal of His word in my heart and the discipline of prayer in my mind and soul. Since just before the new year a verse has been ringing over and over in my head and heart

"For I have been crusufied with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith through Christ Jesus who loved me and gave Himself up for me" Galatians 2:20

I have moments when I don't want to spend time with God when I don't want to be a good steward of my time and not set up one more appointment trying to accomidate people's crazy schedules (I'm a receptionist) yet it is not Emily who lives but Christ who lives in me. I died a long time ago and am a child of God and need to act like it more often than not. So I pray that this may ecourge and remind us all that when lifes problems big or small come along it is Christ who lives in us, and will bring us through more sactified and Him more glorfied.