Rings!

My new favorite accessory! For the longest time I wore two white gold rings on my left ring finger... and everyone always thought I was married. So, recently, I decided that if I'm ever going to get married, I may need to let people know that I'm single.

Thus started the ring phenomenon. First with the simple yellow ring, bought for a couple bucks at Forever21... one of the greatest stores out there! And slowly but surely my collection has grown. I now have enough rings, all worn on my left ring finger, to wear a different one each day of the week... and I love it! Of course I don't just wear a different one everyday, I match them to my outfits... because that's what girls do.




I realize that I took off the other rings so that people know I'm single, but I'm assuming that people also know that the kind of rings I'm wearing in place of the other ones would NEVER be engagement/wedding rings. It's just a super fun way to dress up any outfit!

I also wear a ring on my right hand. Its cool and funky and I consider to be my "Right Hand Ring" like the ones advertised in magazines(Zales, I think). You know, the end of the woman-power statement reads "Raise your right hand"... or something like that. Anyway... this ring of mine was a gift from my parents. It has a tiny diamond in the middle, and a sapphire(my birthstone) on each side. It's beautiful.


Check out the blog that inspired me to write about my rings... jeanierhoades.com (my linker isn't working, but just copy and paste this into your web address bar)

My Heart Is Sad.

I made it through Sunday... but not without crying. Or more like sobbing. It happened... and I couldn't stop it. I was saying goodbye to a couple girlfriends from lifegroup when Pastor Rob Kelly came over... and then I lost it.

This moving thing, which I've decided my parents instilled in me throughout my whole life, is no fun. I really LOVE change, something I also think is because of my parents, but i HATE saying goodbye.

Tonight, I will part ways with my beautiful fam here in Colorado. The Rhoades', Powers', and Kelley's. They have no idea how much they've done for me, my soul, and my mind in my time here with them. I will forever be indebted to them. They have changed me, and they are a lot of the reason I am being changed by the Lord.

To all of you: THANK YOU! (if I could I'd tell you in every language out there) I LOVE YOU! I OWE YOU! and I WILL MISS YOU ALL TERRIBLY!

Ribbons of Joy

The other day I had the amazing chance to "ketchup", if you will, with my dear friend, Mary Jean Powers. Now, MJ has played a large roll in my life here in Colorado, and I'm not sure she even knows that. She has challenged me, taught me, laughed with me, and cried with me. She shared Venezuela with me and Honduras with me, and I am forever grateful for every minute I've spent with her.

At lunch we were discussing some of the good times I had on my very first mission trip to Tijuana, Mexico. And somehow landed on the topic of tambourines, ribbon dancing, and that both go well when paired with interpretive dance. MJ is a little bit of an expert on these things... you should ask her about it.

Needless to say, our conversation was quite intriguing and I know for certain people around us wished they could have been a part of it. Thank you again, Mary Jean, for lunch and your company. I will miss you and the way you teach the Word greatly. And I will never forget your love for pastel colored ribbons.

Things I like...

... With ketchup on them.

I figured since my blog name has the word ketchup in it, I might need to explain it. I didn't mean for it to be anything other than a fun way to title what otherwise would have just been "Catch Up With Elise". But, look how boring that is. So, I decided to tell you some of the normal, and maybe some of the abnormal things I like ketchup on.

* Hamburgers
* Hot dogs
* Scrambled eggs (this may be one of the abnormal ones)
* Brats
* Tacos (this is maybe my favorite thing to put ketchup on, and the one that gets me weird remarks and grossed ou looks)

And even though tomato soup isn't ketchup, it's kinda like ketchup, and I like it with mac-n-cheese in it :)

Thats all.

Life... Lately.

I feel like life has been crazy. I'm all settled in Brighton, and it has been so nice being closer to everything I'm involved in up here.

So... above is a blog I started a few weeks ago. And I feel like life has been WAY more crazy this last weekend.
Friday at theMill, Pastor Brady Boyd spoke. He titled the message "Five Questions", and it was SO good! He said that the first four questions should be answerable in your twenties, but that the fifth question, for most people, can't be answered until your late thirties. I believe these five questions have changed my life...

1) What are my purposes(the reason(s) of my life)?
2) ... I missed this question b/c I was in the bathroom :)
3) What are my passions(what makes my heart come alive, and causes me to be at my best)?
4) What are my values(my non-negotiables)?

...

5) What is my life message(my personal thesis statement; something I could speak or write about with little preparation; something you could communicate passionately and clearly)?

I believe I aleady know the answer to number 5... and seem to be having a harder time answering the other ones. All I know, is the Lord knows my future, has a plan for me, and loves me enough to get me through it all.

Girl Scouts

Tonight as I was going through things, preparing to move, yet again, and start a new chapter in my life, I had the Girl Scouts theme song come to mind.

Make new friends, but keep the old,
Some are silver and the others gold.
The circle is round, it has no end,
That's how long I want to be your friend.

But the thing that struck me odd, was, to me, all my friends are gold. They hold some characteristic I want in my life, or they've taught me something new, or they've counted on me to be a listening ear. And hopefully not to sound too 'Outsiders'-ish, they really are all golden... and will always "stay golden" to me. No matter where I live... even if I haven't talked to some of them for a long time.

There are so many things I'm going to miss terribly when I move away from Colorado. My last year here has been something so good for me and my life, that I don't even think I can put it into words. My roommates have been there for tears and laughing... going out on the town and staying home to watch Friends. I made some good friendships with new people, and improved a friendship with a childhood friend.
"The Fam", as I usually refer to them, has been my backbone throughout my year. They've been there to support me, and lead me really. I've learned countless things from them about how to truly live a life glorifying to God. I will take the times I've spent celebrating birthday's and all the "just because" family dinners, with me for the rest of my life. And hopefully be able to be such a great example to the people I meet in my life. Thank you Rhoades', Powers', and Kelley's for letting me be a daughter, sister, cousin and friend to you :) and for taking me under your wing, Aunt Jeanie, and always thinking of me when there's leftovers!
I am also SO thankful for my part-time roommie. Remember that time you started none-date dating a guy from your work? Then you started for-real dating, and we would stay up a little later just so I could be filled in on how things were going?? And then, remember when you came home, and I got to be there for you to announce that you were engaged??? Thank you for letting me be a part of your life, yours and Jake's lives... it means so much to me.
And to all my church family- I love you and have been blessed over and over by your overwhelming kindness towards me! Thanks for looking out for me... my parents really appreciate it!
Phipps's... YOU GUYS have blessed me more than I deserve. Your servant hearts in everything you've done for me has been such a great example in my life. Thank you for Nella By, she's been a true blessing. And for letting me live with you in June... that hasn't happened yet... but I already know how much it will bless me.

All of your crowns will be beautiful... now in abundance, simply because you let me in. Cared. Loved. Thank you!

My Plea To Weather and Seasons.

Today is gross. Snow. Sleet. Snow. Sleet... ugh. Weather, Seasons, please make up your mind. Is it Spring or Winter... because I can't take this much longer. Really, I can't take it any longer. I had things I wanted to do today, guys. Why did you have to ruin those plans? I might need to have a talk with your Mother... nature. Please, please, please, let Mr. Sun come out tomorrow! I can't promise I will love you if you do let him out, but I did say please... :)