I have been unfaithful
I have been unworthy
I have been unrighteous
And I have been unmerciful

I have been unreachable
I have been unteachable
I have been unwilling
And I have been undesirable

Sometimes, I have been unwise
Ive been undone by what I'm unsure of
But because of you, and all that you went through
I know that I have never been unloved

I have been unbroken
I have been unmended
I have been uneasy
And Ive been unapproachable

Ive been unemotional
Ive been unexceptional
Ive been undecided
And I have been unqualified

Unaware, I have been unfair
Ive been unfit for blessings from above
But even I can see the sacrifice you made for me
To show that I have never been unloved
(Michael W. Smith)

"You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you'll win, no matter what the outcome...They want to have a fabulous listener, they want sweet tenderness and no sense that you are in a hurry" (Patch Adams)

Alright, it's been a month plus...I guess I could update again!

Since I've last blogged I have:

- Gone on an AMAZING Valentine's Day date. Mike wouldn't tell me what we were doing until we actually got there, but told me that I had to wear my fanciest of fancy dresses and pack a suitcase. (I love to know things, but being surprised was so much fun). So I wore my little black dress and he wore his suit...and we drove to our friend's house. When we got there, I saw 4 other of our couple friends there (all dressed up). Turns out, all of our husbands (5 guys) decided to go in together and plan a Valentine's date for us. They rented a limo (LOVED IT) and we got to drive all around Grand Rapids and then they took us to dinner at super fancy restaurant. It was so sweet. After that we all went our separate ways and Mike told me that he had gotten us a hotel room. It was SUCH a nice room, with a hot tub and a nice pool. I felt like such a princess. :-) He did a great job...it was so wonderful.

-Finished decorating the bedroom. We got our end tables (I looked for a long time and finally found them...however, we ended up having to drive an hour so that we could get 2 of them). I love it...and will have to post pictures eventually. What I'd like to do now is figure out how to use the sewing machine that I got for Christmas, so that I can make duvet covers for our comforter so that I can change the colors, look, and feel of our room without having to re-paint or spend a lot of money. Turns out I have my "crafty-pants" on as of late...spending as much time at Hobby Lobby as possible.

- Have found that when making banana bread, margarine works better than butter. It must be something in the oils of margarine that makes it turn out better. With butter, it didn't rise like it should and was much more dry. Who would have thought...

- Become addicted to "Lost". If you haven't watched it, you totally need to start. Mike and I have watched the entire first season in a week and have started the second. Originally, I borrowed it so that I could have something to watch while Mike was working or in a meeting...however, it way to suspenseful for me to watch by myself so I asked him to watch with me and he got hooked too. I believe that's what makes a good marriage...the "if I fall you're going down with me" attitude.

Okay, I believe that is enough of an update. Here's to hoping the sunshine stays around...even if it doesn't get warmer right away.

Charity flew out to NIH in DC on Monday...this is the update from Charity's CarePages...please keep praying. God is bigger than cancer and is the giver of peace.

Charity had her appointment at NIH with Dr. Lanier and Dr. Kammula on Tuesday. Her CT and MRI from Monday had shown that most of her tumors are stable. There is one spot on her brain that has Edema - swelling around the site where she had gamma knife radiation. Therefore the melanoma team believes it's best to wait another four weeks to see that the swelling dissolves before they would start her protocol.

The surgery recovery from her intestine looks good. The lab was able to get a TIL from her tumor sample to infuse with her T-cells - This is great news, because it will be used in her protocol with chemotherapy to fight the cancer and reduce her tumors.
Charity continues to be strong and keeping her weight stable (but she'd like to gain a few more pounds).
She will see the sights in Washington for a few days before heading back to Detroit, then back to DC in February for more scans and review with her doctors.

Pray for:
The Edema to dispensate. The are two tumors on her back stay in check while waiting to start treatment therapy. Her strength and energy to continue to grow. And for all of us to stay healthy through the cold winter. You are all a blessing to Eddlemon, Patyna, and Slanaker families. Thank you for being soldier with Charity on her journey.

My husband says that I should title my blog entries...

This guy is frickin' amazing...it not only deserves an "amen" but it deserves an arm-pump in the air, "heck yes", and then an "amen". Both men and women should watch this and then agree.



Beautiful_02- Single Guys Outtake from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

Hi friends...this will be a short post. I wanted to ask you all to lift up Charity in your prayers. She had a tumor the size of an orange removed from her intestine Saturday and this morning the doctors found 4 spots on her brain that were not previously there. Please pray for healing...for peace...for encouragement for her...and for wisdom for the doctors. She will be undergoing the Gamma Knife surgery again, since that worked very well for the spot that was removed from her brain a year ago. She is one of the sweetest women I know and I know she greatly appreciates your prayers and love. Thank you.

The only blog entry that I will title...

I really debated on whether or not to post this...simply because it's a touchy subject right now, especially to some of the people that I know read my blog. However, I'm thinking about it and thus will write about it (and probably hit that little orange "publish post" button at the bottom".) That's the joy of having a blog with my name on it! These are my thoughts and my opinions.

I'm really really frustrated at some of my brothers and sisters in Christ right now. Here are some of the "status'" that I'm reading on Facebook right now:

"so disgusted with this nation that just voted our country to HELL!"

"shame on America. What you sow you shall reap. Oh beware!"

"Jesus, please save Obama!"

"praying for his country as it has elected to walk deeper into darkness."

"moving to Canada!"

"it's the end of the world as we know it..."

"Obama won. SHOOT ME NOW!!"

"i weep for the future."

Are you guys kidding me??? Have we forgotten that our God is COMPLETELY TOTALLY 100% in control? Or is that just something Christians say "out of love" to those around them that are going through a hard time because it makes them sounds "holier"? Is God not sovereign anymore? Did that somehow stop last night? Where is this fear coming from? Does the Lord not specifically tell us "Do Not Fear"? Since when was American going to Heaven? I've got news for you...our country was dark to begin with! Do you truly believe Canada will be a better place to live? It's the end of the WORLD? Get real!!! And (in response to my personal "favorite") I would gladly shoot you now if that is the Christianity that you are going to portray to those around you for the next 4 years with that temper tantrum. (Not really, but I thought I would jump on the Drama Train for a second just to fit in...I promise I will not shoot anyone).

Please stop this. I have no doubt in my mind that if the outcome had been different last night, this morning the general statement would be "God appointed McCain and we must respect and support our leadership". I voted for McCain...I believe he would have been a great president...but he didn't win. The sun rose this morning, it is shining as I type this actually - it's a beautiful day!

I will be praying for our new president-elect...as I hope you will too. I hope that you would have been praying if McCain won too...although I think prayer for our government would have been easier to forget if McCain had won because he is "safe". Please stop being so hateful and angry...that is NOT what Jesus was about. I understand that this is not the outcome that a lot of you had wanted...I understand the concern and heartache for the unborn, for our economy, and our nation. But please, check your attitudes and remember Who you are representing and the view of Christianity that you are giving to those around you.

I know you all won't agree with me...that's fine. But I want you to know that I don't like to argue...so feel free to post your comments and thoughts, but I'm not fighting with you. You probably won't change my opinion and I obviously wouldn't have changed yours. Just be still and know, friends.

Found this on Rachel's blog and wanted to share...

Today was not my day. Last night, I neglected to look closely at what schedule I had for work and accidentally checked last weeks schedule. So instead of showing up for work at 8am, I was there at 7:15am. So I got to hang out for 45 minutes at work, when I could have been sleeping in longer and hanging out at home. When I put my coffee down to sign something, I didn't look at what cup I picked up again and ended up drinking someone else's coffee (which was definitely NOT as good as mine). After that, I dropped the paper I signed and when I reached down to pick it back up, I railed my head against my boss' desk. Then I tacky glued my fingers together trying to put together a mobile that I made to go over the changing table. Seriously? I (with the help of my ever-so-caring co-workers and boss) have laughed it off...because what else can you do?

I think the following video is all kinds of creepy (but kind of cute at the same time) and I can't tell if it's real or not - but I can't stop watching it!

At church, we have "community groups". They are basically a group of 3-5 people who keep one another accountable, pray for each other, and each group reads 30 chapters of the Bible per week. In my little group (we call ourselves the "Nitches") we have been reading Esther and Ruth. I'm in the minority with a lot of Christians because I like reading the Old Testament much better than the New. I just think the stories are so incredible - those amazing things really happened to real people just like me...and how in each story, you learn something about Jesus. Anyway, while reading Ruth today I decided that I would have liked to be her friend, had I been born in Biblical times. Her story is filled with so much sorrow in the beginning and even through her broken heart and her uncertainty, she still shows tremendous faith. She shows humility as she works hard to provide food for her mother in law and herself. She shows determination and she shows a quiet sort of strength.

I think I've always liked Ruth the most of all the women in the Bible...and I really hope that in the situations in my life I can show faith like Ruth. I desire the faith and trust that she showed...even though I'm sure she was scared, angry, broken-hearted, and wanted to run a lot of the time. It's encouraging to see another woman who wasn't quite sure of the future, but trusted and just followed. Maybe in Heaven, Ruth and I can grab a coffee and share our stories...

It's finally starting to feel like fall and I am absolutely in love with this weather. I love sweaters, the colors on the trees, pumpkins, apply orchards, the smell of fall, my autumn sented candles, and everything that encompasses this season (except Halloween...I find no joy in an entire season dedicated to people trying to scare other people....that is just not nice)

One of Mike's co-workers owns a apple orchard, so we went to visit today. She always lets us pick as many apples as we want...even providing the bags to hold them all in! This is the third year we've gone and I always leave with the feeling that maybe I missed my calling in life...that maybe I was meant to pick apples for a living...I love it. (Granted, my husband is probably right when he says that it would probably be fun for about an hour or two and then I would not love it so much). Linda (the owner) had a very severe stroke earlier in the year...they were not sure if she would be able to talk or even communicate at all after. But she is a fighter, and is walking, talking, writing, and even doing payroll for the orchard. She was such a blessing to be around...mentioning more than once that she is so thankful to be alive. She was talking about how priorities just change after something like that and when talking about the apples she said "Everything just tastes sweeter this year". :-)

On a completely different note...I cannot wait for this election to be over. As I've been sitting here, at least 4 commercials have come on endorsing the politician of choice. I think Comcast should make an entire channel dedicated to only political commercials. Does that make me a bad American that takes her political freedom for granted?

Happy October!

I just had an awesome day with Mikey. We slept in (LOVE waking up with no alarm), ran some errands (that included getting my engagement ring all cleaned and shined up), and got to look at a SUPER cute house!

I took pictures, but I'm not posting any until (if) something more happens with it. The house is foreclosed on recently and the bank is still assessing it to decide how much it wants for it. We were able to see the first floor of the house (which is SO cute...hardwood floors, that cool curved ceiling in the living room, lots of windows) but we couldn't go upstairs or downstairs (which is a finished basement) because the previous owners had dogs and the carpet has FLEAS!!! So gross. The Realtor said he will give us a call when it has been exterminated. We had to laugh..'cause it's kinda funny in all it's grossness. And at least the bank will have to take into consideration that the carpet will have to be replaced. Besides the carpet, it would need new paint (have you seen that Arm and Hammer paint that takes the smells of the room and absorbs it? Too cool!), appliances, and other maintenance things...but nothing (as of right now) that looks like too much to take on - granted, we haven't been to the second story or in the basement yet. If it keeps progressing, we'll have our Realtor look into things, get an inspector, and electrician and all that. And of course, we'll have to show our families...'cause it's very possible they will be helping us move in and we'd like to let them know what the task will be!

It's hard not to get hopes up because this house just seems so "perfect"...but we're prayerfully considering the situation...knowing that God might have another one for us. (But I kinda hope not...'cause let me tell you - this house would look SO cute with Christmas lights!) :-D

To end this post, I'll share my favoritest song of the moment...this song just makes me happy...and I like the video too. Happy Wednesday!

I think I'll update now. I'm currently hanging out in our living room with tonsillitis, double ear infection, and a fever that I have had for 24 hours now. I honestly do not think I've had an ear infection since I was about 7 years old. The doctor was a comedian, I guess, because he looked in my ears and said "Your ears look disgusting" and then he said "Sick, your throat is gross too!". Then he proscribed some $61 pill form antibiotic (thank goodness for health insurance, it only ended up costing $5). That leads me to wonder why they don't just give adults that thick, pink, bubblegum liquid. I'd be fine with that. So I've just been chillin' today...eating rainbow sherbet and watching ridiculous daytime tv shows. My boss told me that I could go back to work tomorrow if I promised to not lick the children, drink out of their bottles, and/or use their pacifiers. I told her that I could refrain from all of the above for the sake of the children, lol. :-)

Wednesday, September 17th, is the 3 year anniversary of our engagement! We both have the day off work too, so hopefully I'll be feeling better so we can do something sappy and romantic. Yes, we are ridiculous like that...I like it.

We have been looking for houses...nothing super serious, but keeping our minds open. The whole "house buying" process freaks me right on out. It's SO grown up. We found a few cute ones, one in particular that is especially cute. It's foreclosed on and the inside looks like it needs some work. I don't mind so much, having to put work into a house...it would help make it "ours". So we'll see...I'm sure if we dive more into the "house buying" I'll post pictures and update with more details.

Well I feel like I'm literally burning up, so I'm going to go take some Motrin and go to bed. Have a fabulous night.

Back from Mackinac! We had a great time camping with Mike's family. We went up to Sault St. Marie and watched all the ginormous boats at the Soo Locks, went to the Island and biked around it with Matt and Cheryl (and even got Mike to rent a tandem bike with me!), went shopping, and just enjoyed being up north. I've decided that I'd like to live on the Island for a year...just to see how it is. I think it would be so crazy during the winter months...no one else to seem to share my excitment for that idea though. We forgot our camera, so I stole some pictures from Cheryl to document the weekend. Here ya go...

I woke up about an hour and a half early today...so I decided to be a domestic goddess and bake banana bread. (Actually, I was getting tired of looking at the bananas on the counter and this seemed better than just throwing them away). ANYWAY, I realized, halfway through mixing all the ingredients, that I didn't have baking soda. So I just kept making it and threw it in the oven...and hopefully it won't be too awfully flat. But seriously? Who runs out of baking soda? Isn't that something that you buy once and just use for the next 10 years? I mean, you only use like a teaspoon or a two at a time and you can only buy a big 'ole box so it should last at least a decade. I'm sure I didn't use all of it...so the only logical conclusion I can come to is that it was stolen by David Drake in the attempt to rectify the alleged stealing of Libbie's dustpan.

Today is my Granpa's birthday! And tomorrow my amazing husband turns 25! I'm a big fan of birthdays...in my family, they were made to be more special than Christmas Day. (However, I think that was because I was born so close to Christmas and my parents never wanted me to feel left out). So I'm super pumped about Mike's birthday. I've learned, though, that I cannot buy his present before the actually day of his birthday because I get so excited about them that I make him open them early. So this year, I'm putting off buying his gifts until tomorrow after I'm done with work. Last year, I think I begged him to open them a day early. I love my Mikey...and am very glad that he was born. :-)

I supose I should go check on my baking soda-less banana bread...I'm a little nervous, it's definitely not the color it normally is. We'll see...happy Sunday.

For some reason this really makes me laugh...

"A cheese in a person in your neighborhood"

It's Monday again...but it's a Monday that's coming off a great weekend, so it's a little better. Meghan and Denny got married Saturday, so I drove "home" early that morning and spent the entire day there. It was so wonderful...I got to catch up with some friends that I haven't seen in awhile, and got to see some that I haven't seen in years! I also got to spend some time with my family, which was amazing. I am so thankful for such a great family. My grandparents are such an incredible example of faith and I love that when I hear them say "We pray for you daily" that I know they actually do. They are so supportive of Mike and I, and that means so much. Aunt Cheri and Charity are also so amazing...they have such hope and joy, even in the midst of the hardest part of their lives. I love being able to share what's going on in my life with them and have them listen and encourage. And my parents...I ended up sitting in the living room talking for over 2 hours. They too are so encouraging and supportive. They let me cry when I need to and are willing to just listen when I'm frustrated. I feel SO blessed with the family that I have that I can't even find the right words for my thankfulness. (If you're reading this, please know how much you mean to me and how much I love you. Thank you.) It's really awesome to see how far my family has come and how much they have grown closer to each other and to God.

I got an exciting phone call today, followed by an e-mail!! Becky sent pictures of my new "niece" or "nephew"! The doctor wasn't able to tell the gender today, but there's another appointment scheduled for the beginning of September so hopefully they'll be able to tell then! The pictures made me all teary and emotional...see how sweet it is?? I love him/her already!!!


::edit::
I'd like to give David Drake a shout-out...you made a good choice in a wife.

I don't even care that this makes me the biggest dork in the world, or that my husband (ha - I even linked him!) shakes his head at my love for this, but I love the Oak Ridge Boys and this song!

Today, I heard a 5 year old girl singing "I kissed a girl and I liked it". Seriously???

Mike and I are watching a TLC special on "Hoarders" and it is making me want to clean out every closet and drawer and just throw things away. Just watching this is making my heart feel a little panicked and overwhelmed. It's exhausting to just view!

This weekend was such a great weekend...Mike had yesterday off so we got to just sleep in and spend the day doing whatever we wanted to do (minus laundry...that was the only thing we had to do). Then he preached this morning and did an absolutely amazing job. He's so passionate about preaching and I love to watch and listen. (And, let's just be honest - I think it's hot when he preaches). I got a lot of good reading time in too...I'm on book 3 of the Twilight series and am totally obsessed. I've read over 1,500 pages since Wednesday. This kind of passion for reading would have come in handy during my college years...

On Saturday, Meghan and Denny get married! I'm pretty excited to be able to go "home", even if it's just for a day, and see everyone. Mike has to work, so Sarah is my hot date for the day and I'm happy for the chance to catch up with her. Hopefully, I'll get to see my grandparents, Aunt Cheri, and my Charity too! It's been way too long and I miss their hugs. This month marks the 1 year anniversary of Charity's cancer being diagnosed...she's still fighting strong. Lots has changed in our lives this past year...the frailty of life has been realized and God has shown us how persistent He is in His desire for us to be focused on Him - because there have been times when there has not been anything else do to. Sometimes, stopping to breath and focus is the hardest thing though. Even now, a year later, I'm still angry at times and scared...and broken-hearted at the unfairness and cruelty of it all. A lot of the time, my prayers are just "Just please hold my heart...'cause it hurts". But from the beginning of all of this, God has shown us that He is both good and sovereign....and that's what we have to cling too.

I'm opening tomorrow, so I'm gonna go to bed early...(but let's just be honest, going to be early is a great excuse to read some more.) :-) Much love.