Behind the Name : For Such A Time

I love a good story. I love when things have meaning to why they became. It's fun to hear what the reasons were behind someone naming their child, their dog, or their business.  Often, I am asked where the name of my shop came from; For Such A Time. And, if I am being honest, there were times towards the beginning that I often wondered if it would be a name that would prove itself and become something great. I doubted it. I thought to change it. And now, after proving itself time and time again, I know that my shop was destined to be named For Such A Time. 

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews 

will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. 

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position

 for such a time as this?" - Esther 4:14

The story of Esther from The Bible has always been a favorite of mine after studying it with a beautiful group of woman the Summer right after I was married. When I thought of opening an Etsy shop, the name For Such A Time kept coming to the front of my mind and nothing else would stick quite like it. So, in an informal, yet strong kind of way, it became the name of my shop.

It always astounds me how Scripture can bring about different ideas and lessons to different people. Every so often I will get an email from someone sharing a story of how that name just stopped them in their tracks and brought about a time in their life that they remember that verse from. I love when that happens and love how the name of my shop does that to people. 

However, there is an even deeper meaning to my shop name that 

brings SUCH JOY to my heart. And I want to share that with you.

First and foremost, I am not saying that I think I am in a "royal position" in a royalty sense. But, I do feel that I am in a position that allows me the opportunity to be trusted by people, a leadership type role, that causes the details of their life to come through in our discussion. 

I feel as though I have been given a job, even beyond stamping spoons and forks for the various events in peoples lives... I have been given moments. Moments to serve. Moments to reach beyond the product and the transaction, and to reach into peoples lives when I feel it is appropriate to do so. 

I think of a time that I was partnering with SkinnyTaste 2 years ago and I was reading through countless comments on what their favorite thing from my shop was. One comment hit me hard. A woman talking of her father, whom had since passed, but was her hero. She wanted the Dear Dad, I Love You spoon, so that she could remember him every time she used it. As a woman with an amazing father myself, my heart ached for her. I wanted to do something. So, with the best intentions, I managed to find her online and got an address that I was sure was hers. I made the spoon with a note and sent it on its way. About a week later, I heard from her and she sent me the most beautiful letter, that I still have to date. It blessed me to create something so meaningful to her.

Fast forward to 2013. Another situation of a husband and wife wanting desperately to bring life into this world together. There have been a few failed attempts. And I have created flatware for each announcement that they have made. I recently shared on Facebook, asking for prayer for this couple and so far the baby is healthily growing inside of this beautiful woman. I am blessed that she keeps me updated and I am able to walk along side her as she goes through these moments. I feel like For Such A Time, her life is something that I am called to. I was given an opportunity to love on her and be there for her as best as a "stranger" can. I absolutely LOVE that my job allows me to move beyond the business and create friendships with people of whom I probably never would have known otherwise. 

Lastly, I think of every conversation I share with someone. A moment. An opportunity to shine. To allow my heart to show grace and joy to each person who contacts me. I've said it before, it's more than a business to me. It's community. It is an opportunity to bring two different lives together for a moment to cross paths For Such A Time and my deepest prayer is that each persons life that I am able to cross paths with through my business would feel something different. That they would know that I truly care and am honored to have the opportunity to know a moment of their life. 

As my business is growing rapidly, I am facing pressing decision making on how to maintain my heart and passion for my business, while still keeping up with the demands. At times I get overwhelmed. I feel lucky and blessed that so many people love my product. It's a beautiful problem to have, but still a "problem" that I need to deal with as I continue to grow. I hope soon to add someone to the team to help me a few times a week to take some of the burden off of me with different things - though, as one follower said to me this morning, 

"hiring is hard enough, but I can't imagine how challenging it would be to find someone to help with something so near and dear to my heart!" 

And it's true. I want the person that I find to understand my heart and desires for my business and to desire to be a part of that! I am excited, though it's bittersweet not to be able to do EVERY portion of my business. But - it will allow me to focus even more on the things that I have written about above.

I feel lucky. 

Lucky that I have had so much success with this business I have created that it allows me to serve people and be a part of their life. And, for anyone reading this,.. I feel lucky that our paths have crossed and invite you to continue along the journey with me. My Facebook page for my business is one of my favorite places and I try very hard to create a place of community there. I hope that if you are not a follower already, you will join the others there and enjoy LIFE with me.

with love,

Aly

GRACE

"There, when you stand firm in the Home of Glory,

And all life's path lies open to your gaze,

Your eyes will SEE the hand you're now trusting,

And magnify His love through endless days."

"God Meant it unto Good" - Freda Hanbury Allen

I began this morning with my iced coffee and my 4 different books, along with my Bible, I am currently reading. Yes, I said 4...because, when you come out of one of the driest times of your life thus far, you need to dive back in. 

No matter how far away you feel, no matter how numb, bitter, hurt, shamed, you feel,

...you need to run back home.

 Back into the arms of the One who will ALWAYS take you back. 

In March, I posted about how I felt I was "Forever Changed" and had an experience that fueled my desire for change in my heart. And, it was true. However, after about a month, I ended up slowly failing at that. I wasn't actively working at my relationship with God and I slowly began to decline. But, instead of realizing it was my fault, I began to blame God and accuse Him of not "helping"me. This began to cause my way of thinking to shift and I lost sight of my goals...

- - -

Have you ever sat before someone and had to tell them something painful? A mistake you made.

Have you ever found yourself so lost in lies, rebellion, and deceit that you felt like you had no other choice but to continue down that road because you couldn't face yourself in the mirror, or anyone else for that matter?

Have you ever felt so passionless and without vision that you didn't care what choices you made next?

Well, this has been me.

When I got back from vacation, after spending a week in the desert and mountains with Andrew, I can honestly say, though I had fun, I had no joy and peace in my heart. My heart was so numb and burdened by who I had to look at in the mirror everyday, that I felt hopeless. 

I was suppose to open up the shop right when I got back, but I couldn't. My heart needed more time and I am just not the kind of person who likes to pretend and paint a fake picture before people....Or, I should say, even if I try to paint a different picture, I can not do it for long. 

So - I took more time, a few extra days and I spent them forcing myself to pick up my Bible, read and look inside my own heart. Look into the darkness and ugliness that had been welling up inside me for several months. It took hours and hours of forcing my heart and my mind to focus on the task at hand... because I was so ashamed of choices I was making and I felt alone in them. Though I tried reaching for help from a few people, it never seemed to actually help. I had once again, pushed God away so that I wouldn't have to open up.

But, on Friday night after a week of pursuing and pushing myself beyond my emotions, feelings, and the lies that were in my head, and as I lay wide eyed in bed, with my husband beside me... I felt a pull. An ache in my soul and I knew that in order for Andrew and I to rekindle our marriage and get back to a place of beauty between us, that I needed to confess some of the ugliness of my heart to him.

I went into the living room and prayed and then, I woke Andrew...

Tears. Heartache. Pain. 

And then...

Grace. Forgiveness. Love.

I married a man of great strength. A man with self-control. A man with love in his heart. 

A man who shows me the grace of God. 

And best of all, I married a man, who could bring me closer to God. 

Though the things that I needed to bring to light were painful for me to share and reveal... He held me close and gave me hope. He gave me grace. He gave me love. 

He gave me God.

- - - 

Marriage. Oh, how much I have learned in 2 years. I angrily wrote to a friend last week as I battled with myself, "Why didn't anyone tell me how difficult marriage was before I got married!!" And, why doesn't anyone talk about the difficulties of marriage. We all paint a picture before the world that we are happy, that nothing goes wrong, that we don't argue and and we don't act like children. And because of this, we find ourselves alone, because we are too scared to tell people that we are failing at the commitment that we made on our wedding day. The commitment that before hundreds of people, we promised FOR BETTER OR WORSE, GOOD TIMES AND BAD, SICKNESS AND HEALTH. 

But when the WORSE comes, and the BAD, and the SICKNESS... we crumble. We think..."this isn't the life I expected!" and "this isn't what I signed up for" and "Well, because of HIM or because of HER it is this way and if they don't CHANGE then this just isn't going to work."

One of the books I began reading is called, "What's it like to be married to me?". 

And have been slammed in the face with conviction and I am only about 20 pages in. One of the biggest things that has hit me is when I was asked me to consider my funeral someday...and the speaker, would be my husband.

What would I like my husband to say about me?

What character qualities would I like him to have seen in me?

What kind of love relationship would I want him to describe?

What kind of love would I have wanted him to have received from me during all those years?

And as I considered these questions, I was also encouraged NOT to compare with what HE does... but only what I have done and what I am responsible for. Because, really, when I got married and said my vows, I did not say, "for better or worse (AS LONG AS HE LOVES ME), in good times and bad (AS LONG AS HE TREATS ME RIGHT AND TREATS ME LIKE A PRINCESS), in sickness and health (AS LONG AS HE ISN'T SICK FOR TOO LONG OR AT INCONVENIENT TIMES). 

NO!!! I said... NO MATTER WHAT, I commit to LOVE you. Forever. No IF, ANDS...OR BUTS! 

And for the past several months, I found myself saying, "Well, this isn't what I signed up for and you weren't like this before we got married." and I was again, slammed in the face with a quote in the book that said, "So, are you saying that he is like this because he's been married to you then?"

Proverbs 14:1, "A wise woman builds her home, 

but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands".

I have a responsibility. 

I have a calling. 

I am a wife. 

And because I have made the commitment to be a wife. I need to wake up each day and consider...

how am I actually doing as a wife? 

Am I loving enough? 

Am I giving enough? 

Am I spending daily time with God so that he can strengthen me to be able to love this man every day to the best of my ability?

And, above all else, will I love, give, and serve my husband, even if I am not getting anything in return?

These are hard questions.

And these are the VERY questions that caused my soul to dry up.

I felt I deserved more.

I felt I wasn't being filled up and loved enough.

I started to compare what I had to what I didn't have.

I let lies creep in and the world tell me that I could be happier.

And I was NEVER more wrong.

My name is Alysha Rene' Nickerson. 

I am the wife of Andrew Paul Nickerson.

We were married on April 3rd, 2011.

We aren't perfect. 

We have our struggles.

We fail.

We lack the ability to love some days.

We are selfish.

We get angry.

We loose sight of our calling.

But it is an HONOR to be committed forever to this man. 

And I pray that I can hold tighter  to this truth that I have been as of late. 

I pray that all of us who are married can hold tight to this truth.

It is an honor that we have committed ourselves to another. 

That we decided we found the one our hearts loved.

and that we would forever promise to make that love work... no matter what.

So, as I leave behind year 23 of my life and press on to year 24 next Monday (MY BIRTHDAY!). I pray that this year be a year full of love. A year filled with Christ as the center and a servants heart towards my husband.

This year...I am going to take back all the enemy has stolen from me last year.

I ask that you hold me to that. and join me.

Road Trip 2013 : No Internet, Long Recap

Well, I should have realized that when you are driving through the desert, internet service isn't going to be as strong as I am used to. This is the reason why I have been MIA with the updates the past few nights. We also have been doing a lot more hiking than I was expecting. The past 2 days we have hiked more than 14 miles. Its been amazing and such a good workout, also allowing us to see so many things. But, by the time we get to our hotel at night... I am WIPED OUT and do not have a ton of energy! 

For all of you reading this that live out in the west near these places... I am officially jealous of you. I am SO in love with everything out here. As if I was meant to live out here and somehow just didn't get the memo!! Maybe someday... :) 

The Grand Canyon. We took a 7 mile hike around the South part of the Grand Canyon. 

It was perfect weather and truly just so amazing. 

There weren't a ton of people on the trail that we were on, which made it really peaceful and more real. However, that meant we were not able to get a ton of pictures of both of us. This photo above was at the very end...we finally got someone to help us out!

Our next destination was Lower Antelope Canyon! Absolutely stunning! The walls of the canyon glow with the light and it seriously was unlike anything I have ever seen... I mean... LOOK AT THE PICTURES!!! 

Isn't it just AMAZING??! God's creation is just unexplainable! I couldn't get enough.

Next stop was Zion National Park. 

We ended up hiking up to Angel's Landing, which had me face some fears of heights and being close to the edge of cliffs. We then did a bunch of other little hikes. 

We ended up hiking to the top of that rock mountain!!! 

and made it up and back down in one piece!!

After hiking all day, we stopped for a quick lunch and then jumped in the car and headed 

to Bryce Canyon National Park.

The ride and views just blow me away... literally, I feel like my photos look fake! And they aren't!!

Gorgeous views!!

thats Andrew walking down there to give some perspective. 

The sun began to set on our day and we headed to our hotel...where I am now finishing up this post and will be shutting off the light. We are getting up at 7:30am tomorrow and heading on our 5 hour drive to Arches National Park. 

Have any of you visited these places? Share your stories in the comments!! 

Road Trip 2013: Sedona

Ahhhh... VACATION!!! We woke up yesterday and made our 6:15am flight to Phoenix and arrived at 6:20am! Only missed 5 minutes of time because of the timezone difference!! Though, I was exhausted due to the fact I had finished packing up final orders at 11:57pm the night before and then packed up my suitcase and did not go to sleep until about 2am(to then wake up at 4am!!) All to say, I was running on fumes!! 

But, I am loving being on vacation and being free to just sit and not think about anything!! I am debating taking a few extra days off when I get back, just to make sure I am geared up and ready to go for the summer months, as we have another break for a dear friends wedding back home at the end of August!

The views around here are amazing! I am in constant awe of the creation around me. This morning, I was able to wake up at 7:30am and went for a nice long run soaking in the views! I came back to the room after and made Andrew do some extra workouts with me...pushups, crunches, jumping jacks, and squats. He was a trooper and joined me. Even though, I was pretty determined and he, hesitant to what I was going to make him do. Below is what we did after my run...

50 jumping jacks

50 crunches

45 jumping jacks

45 pushups

40 jumping jacks

40 squats

35 jumping jacks

35 crunches

30 jumping jacks

30 pushups

and on and on and on until we had only 5 of each left!! 

One of my favorite things about the trip so far is that we have a 2013 Convertible Camaro that we are driving around. We have had the top down EVERYWHERE we go. I am just hoping I do not get addicted to it and feel the need to beg Andrew to buy my one for my birthday next month! ....though, we could never afford that!!

Today was filled with some good food at The Wildflower Bread Company and then an Indian restaurant, along with a great hike to the Devils Bridge and a few other spots that we found. I am looking forward to staying active on this trip, as its been my goal since March 5th to EAT CLEAN and put in more effort for working out... less ice cream and thinking I can eat whatever I want! So far, so good!

I am pretty tired tonight... from the run, the hike, and all the sun we are getting being outdoors and in the car (since the top is always down!!!). So - this post is going to be ending now with some pictures to give you some visuals and then we are going to probably take a little walk down the street to unwind & enjoy our last night here in Sedona!! Next stop.... GRAND CANYON and a 6 mile hike tomorrow! See you in the next post!! 

Now I can cross "get picture with a Convertible Camaro" off my bucket list.

Its gonna be a windblown hair kind of trip.... and I am LOVING it!!

Gorgeous view from my early morning run!!!

I love just sitting and looking around... I can't believe these views are actually REAL!! 

Yup... thats me...looking over the edge!!


Thanks for stopping in and following our trip! 

Guest | Erin of Dusty Daylight

I am beyond excited today to be introducing you to a girl who started off as one of my customers and now I consider to be a friend! Though we have never met, she has quickly become someone that I admire and think the world of. 

This is one of my favorite things about owning an online business. I get to meet some of the greatest people. Someday, I swear I am going to throw a big party and invite EVERYONE I have met! And of course, I will have Katy Moran of KATHERYN MORAN PHOTOGRAPHY to take all the pictures because she is just amazing! 

Erin is the owner and creator of Dusty Daylight. Through talking with her, she had told me that she opened up her shop a while back, but really as of late, was inspired to really take it to the next level. She sent me her link and I fell in love with her Elizabeth Lace Journal. So, naturally...I had to have it!! Not long after, it arrived in the mail and I opened up the mailing envelope to find this...

Aren't you in love??? Her attentional to detail is amazing. The journal is such a piece of art. Now the question is, what will be deemed worthy enough to mark the pages of this with! I might be mulling this one over for several weeks before I touch my pen to the pages. This journal is worthy of some professional calligrapher out there! 

I asked Erin to answer a few questions so that you could all get to know her a little better!

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The most darling little shop ever: Dusty Daylight

What inspires you?

In terms of design, I tend to gravitate towards things that are clean, pretty, and have great detail. Floral fabrics, textured linens, and delicate laces are a few of my favorites to work with. Hand bound books have become somewhat of a lost art and I love creating something new with a nod to the past. There is something so lovely and personal about a handmade book and I love mixing that with a slightly old-fashioned, dainty design.

What are some plans you have for your business in the future?

My plan for now is to continue expanding on journal designs. I'd also love to begin working with brides to create customized journals as bridesmaid gifts.

What types of things do you do in your free time when not working?

Hang out with my husband, coffee dates with friends, read, eat dark chocolate, play violin, watch White Collar (the best show!).

When did you start creating?

I don't know if I can pinpoint a specific time that it began, growing up I was always making something. When I was 7, I was selling painted rocks (yes.. rocks.. and people really did buy them!). When I was 9, I was selling beaded hair clips and head bands at a consignment shop down the road. The desire to create things with my hands started long before these 2 business endeavors, and hasn't stopped since. I suppose it's in my blood! As for book binding, I tried it for the first time in October 2011. It didn't turn out very pretty, but I loved the entire process and the potential there was for a lovely end product. I kept at it, and I still love it.

Tea or Coffee? I like both!

Favorite meal? Artichokes. Or white pizza.

Favorite dessert? Rhubarb pie! Also, anything involving dark chocolate.

When did you get married? Our wedding was October 21, 2012! So we'll have been 

married 6 months in a few weeks 

What is the best quality about your husband? 

I know this is going to sound cheesy but I'm sitting here trying to choose just one and it's really hard! He has a lot of great qualities. Can we go with top 3? or 4? Okay. 1) He loves God. 2) He is incredibly patient (which comes in SO handy when we're driving somewhere and I'm in charge of directions.. and forget) 3) He hardly EVER has anything negative to say about anyone. If he has a negative impression of a person, I know to pay attention. 4) When he commits to do something, he truly commits to it. He's a man of his word. Added bonus: Sometimes he makes wonderful, fresh mozzarella cheese. Right in our kitchen. It's fantastic.

What is the biggest thing you're learning right now?

That no matter what, pleasing God trumps pleasing people in every situation in my life. If I live my life and make my decisions to please people, I'm ruled by their opinion. If I live my life and make my decisions to please God, I'm ruled by his opinion. Honestly, people don't always have your best interests at heart, but God always does. "I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for" Jeremiah 29:11 (the message).

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Erin wants to give one lucky person a chance to win a journal of choosing from her darling little shop! Yes, I KNOW!!! Exciting!! 

Go ahead...do a little happy dance! 

The giveaway will run from today 4/8 until Monday 4/15 at 12:00am.

Winner will be chosen at random using Rafflecopter (below). The winner will be notified by email and the name will be displayed on the widget below. 

Good Luck! And make sure to give Dusty Daylight lots of love for being so awesome!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Simple Recipe, Simply Amazing

I have had several people ask me for the recipe for the salad that I posted on Friday(which was a recreation of the salad I had for our Anniversary dinner last week!

Below is the picture that I took before I indulged.

MMmm.. My mouth is watering just looking at it!

So - In an effort to get this goodness in my mouth again. I decided to go to the store and pick up the SIMPLE ingredients to recreate it. Of course - the grocery store was out of pomegranates so I had to go without. TRUST ME... you will want them. It adds such a pop of flavor!

And with all good recipes. Of course, you need a good hand stamped utensil to accompany it. This is a salad recipe I hope to ALWAYS be friends with... (I know, lame joke). 

Recipe:

-Bibb Lettuce 

(I used a Spring Mix because the grocery store didn't have it, but it's better with the Bibb Lettuce. It is much softer and has a smooth taste. Really good!)

- Red Ruby Grapefruit

- Avocado

- Poppy Seed Dressing

(the one shown in the picture was good. I might try to make my own soon. The one at the restaurant was out of this world!)

- Sprinkle with Pomegranate seeds

And thats it!! I used half of a grapefruit and half an avocado, but you could totally use more than that depending on if you are having it for lunch or dinner. ENJOY!!

Let me know if you try it! Feel free to share pictures on my facebook page.

with love,

Aly

Forever Changed

The Internet is a funny thing. It allows us to share what we want to with the world. Screening the things that we don’t want to share. From the Internet you would see that I am a girl (obviously!), 23 going on 24 in June. I am a sister, daughter, and a wife. I run and own my hand stamped flatware business called, For Such A Time Designs and I live in Austin, TX. I have an adorable chow-lab puppy named Baya. I love to sing. I enjoy being outdoors. I adore long chats with good friends. I have a passion to serve others.  The list I am sure would go on and on from what I may choose to share on the Internet…

However, what you may not know is this.

I am full of sin.

I have a very big heart, but with that, if I am not careful, I allow my emotions to get the best of me. I get angry easily and cannot control my tongue. If I watch a movie with too many curse words, I show a lack of self-control and they come out when I am upset. I hold onto bitterness. I yell at my husband. I get very stressed out sometimes and crumble into a ball of tears on the floor (please tell me someone can relate????).  I complain, I gossip, I am jealous. I am fearful. I am fearful of many things. I struggle with a lack of self-confidence and I stare at myself in the mirror and think of all the things wrong with me. Shall I go on… or do you see my point?

Are you starting to think maybe you don’t really know me that well? Have I done a good job of sensoring you from the side of me that I wouldn’t want you to see?

You see… for the past 2 years, I have struggled to be the woman I know that God intended for me to be. I tell Him, and myself that I will change. That I want to change and then I fall back into my ugly ways of thinking “this is the way it is… I am messed up and I can not turn back, there is no HOPE for me.” But I have been wrong. I have not had full faith in God. But really, I wasn’t even ready to believe that God could change me.

Something happened a few weeks ago.  Something that fueled my desire for change and  it stuck. I cried out to God… and He met me.

March 10^th, 2012

Andrew and I woke up, got ready, and headed to Church. The service was wonderful, powerful and I felt quite convicted for some change in my life. We left church and Andrew said something to me that I took the wrong way. I let myself feel my anger and didn’t stop it. The flicker turned to a flame and soon we were in an argument over nothing. We drove home and by the time we walked in the door I was so ashamed and embarrassed of my behavior that I grabbed the keys and left. I had no idea where I would go. I didn’t even say a thing to Andrew, nor did he chase me (understandingly so).

I turned the music real loud. I cried. I yelled. I cried some more.

I yelled at God asking Him why He made me this way. Why He never helped me to change. It went on like this for a while until I finally started praying instead, “ Lord, I am tired of living like this. I can’t keep treating Andrew like this. I don’t like myself and I am sure you are not looking down on my with a smile….Change me. I am serious. Change me.”

So I drove. I drove and drove and drove. I ended up in a town about an hour away from our house. The town is called Burnet. I saw an antique shop and decided I would take a look and see if I could scoop up any silverware and get my mind off of things.

I walked in. JACKPOT. There were tons. I spoke with the shop owner and we agreed on a price and I started filling a box. She asked what I did so I started talking about my business. Then from behind, I heard a woman asking for a business card. I turned around and chatted with her for a bit and then she walked out of the store. I must have been about 10 minutes more and then left that antique shop in hopes to find a few more.

As soon as I walked out the doors, that same woman who asked for my card came up to me out of nowhere. She said, “So glad to have met you. The next place you should check out is just down the street, then take a right, the man inside is really nice”. I thanked her and decided to go where she was directing me, thinking it was funny how she waited just to tell me where to go next!

I made it to the next shop and again, met another antique shop owner, who said he had tons of flatware for me, but to come back the next day. I agreed and before I left he whipped out a map! He said, “next you need to check out the new shop just across the street. But, make sure before you leave Burnet, you check out the shop called “Finds…of all kinds.” I smiled. Inside thinking…”okay God, sure seems like you are taking me on a little journey here.” I thanked him, told him I would be back tomorrow and left to go to the next shop.

Walking into the next shop, I was immediately greeted by a woman exclaiming, “oh my goodness! You are just radiant! You are so beautiful! Do you know how beautiful you are?” I stood there thinking, “Lady. No. No I am sorry you are very wrong. I am ugly. I have been crying for an hour, embarrassed because of my ugliness. My eyes are puffy, my hair is a mess from the windows being down and no… I am not.”

I looked her in the eyes and said…”thank you. But, I sure don’t feel it today.” She smiled, laughed and said, “Well believe it. You are.” We continued to talk and I stayed for about 20 minutes. She continued showering me with kind words the entire time I was in there. I felt as if God was speaking through her reminding me of His love for me, even though I often fail.

She gave me a big Texas hug before I left and I was onto my last stop, “Finds…of all kinds!”

Feeling a bit lighter. I walked into the shop with a smile and was greeted by Cheryie. I felt right at home in her shop. It was perfect. The vintage, antique, southern feel was all around me. And she… she is just the nicest, most friendly, and genuine person you will ever meet. Much happened during the hour and a half I was there! I met some amazing town folk. Sat up front with Cheryie as she shared a drink and pizza with me. Her shop was suppose to close at 6pm and she stayed longer with the doors wide open until 7pm when I ended up leaving.

For a while it was just Cheryie and I in the shop. I don’t even know how we got on the topic. But she got me talking. I shared with her why I had gone on a drive and how Andrew and I had gotten into an argument. I talked about my struggles. My fear. My Anger. My emotions. My turmoil with myself.

And then she said something. Something that I will never forget.

“Aly. You have two choices in life. When something happens to you, you can judge it or you can forgive and let it go. If you judge it, you are letting your emotions in, thinking on it, thinking on how it hurts you, angers you and then in turn, you will fall into sin. Or girl, you can forgive it. Forgive that it happened, because the world is full of disappointments and hurt, and you can rise above it ...and let it go.”

Everything I needed to hear was in those two choices. And for all this time… I have been judging. Judging why these things were happening. Judging everything that Andrew says to me. Judging what has happened in my past. And with that…holding onto hurt, bitterness, rage, anger and disappointments.

I cried.

We sat and talked for a while more and then I said it was time for me to head back home to tell my husband of the journey that God had taken me on and of course, to ask for his forgiveness.

She gave me a big hug before I left and said, “Now remember those two choices Aly. And don’t forget them.” I promised I wouldn’t.

The car ride home…was magic. I felt new. Renewed. Changed.

The windows were down, the music was loud, and I was singing in praise to the One who can change and heal. I had to stop on the highway, as police were guiding cows across the road. The sunset… oh the Texas sunsets. It was daylights savings time that day, so the sun was just setting and it was so much different than it had been all the times before. The light and the glow from the setting sun wrapped around the sky from every direction. Beautiful.

It was this day… Exactly 5 months from the day we moved to Texas that I fell in love. I fell in love with Texas and the journey that God was taking me on. 

I made it home and Andrew and I sat and talked. He said he wanted to be different too. We entered into forgiveness. I promised him that I was committed to change this time. That it wasn’t like all the other times I had said I was fed up. That this time… was different.

Andrew went away this weekend to celebrate, with some of our friends, the engagement of Andrews best friend, Josh and his new fiancé.

Today I was reflecting on how different I feel. Several months ago, I would have been too fearful of Andrew leaving me. Jealous that he was having fun and I was stuck at home.

But I am not. I am content. I am happy. I am in love with my husband and excited for the time he is having! Him and our friends went to a pizza place we had gone to on our honeymoon and my heart skipped a beat that he would be able to taste the goodness again…even though I wasn’t there.

I am changing. God is changing my heart. He is making me new.

I sent my mother a text today saying, “ You know what is an amazing feeling?” Of course she responded with, “What?” I then wrote,

“When you come to that place where you tell God that your fed up living in the flesh…that you want to leave your sin behind for good…that you want him to change you and that you are serious about it this time and there is no looking back… and he meets you there. He meets you and He shows you He is changing you in a real, vivid, and detailed way.  You can feel it in the deepest part of your heart. I have been longing and trying for change for 2 years now and by no means have I arrived…But HE IS FAITHFUL and He is changing me. And I love it.”

She then sent me this picture...

She said that RIGHT BEFORE I sent the text she had opened up one of my Bibles from childhood and saw this handwritten letter to God. So funny how 15 years ago… little 9 year old Aly on March 5^th, 1998…asked God to change her. And in March of 2013, 23 year old, Aly, is doing the same. I am sure He was just as faithful then as He is now.

Today, as I sit here getting a Pedicure…YES!! A PEDICURE!! I am amazed at how detailed my God is. How I love when He takes me on a journey and how He stepped in and used strangers to direct me to something that would forever change my way of thinking for the better.

- Aly