Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get ma-a-aried...

That's right, world of blog readers! This girl is gettin' hitched! Did I honestly think it would happen this fast? Not in a million years. But it did. And I am so excited to be saying that God gave me someone that truly makes me a better woman. We're not sure when yet, but sooner rather than later. Thank you all in advance, for praying for ourmarriage and supporting us in our decision to get married.. pray God's wisdom, grace, faithfulness, and love in our relationship. He is the One who brought us together and we definitely owe all our thanks to Him. Pray for wisdom on what to do as well: whether we should stay here (America) or go into the missions field. Thank you all for supporting us in prayer.

Elle.already.has.a.father.

I have come to a recent discovery... Made, with the help of one of my dear friends. I have said on this blog, more than once, that Elle needs a father. And I have made reference to the fact that even if she doesn't have one on earth, she does in heaven. Well, I just wanted to clear the air about that. What I means was that I am not married to anyone. So when she is with me (5 out of 7 days) she doesn't have that security she needs.. But, indeed, Elle has a father. An earthly one. And he is the best father anyone could ever be to her. That is why God chose him to be Elle's daddy. To Grant Arneson: Thank you so much for everything you have been to Elle and myself. You care so much about her and I know you do. You show it daily. You had to grow up quickly when we had our precious little girl, but you have become a better man because of it. You are such a light in her life. Please keep loving her and giving her the security she needs in a father. you have become a best friend to myself, and a better person since having Elle. I look around, and I see so many children whose fathers aren't even in their lives. You, Grant Arneson, are such a wonderful father. You not only spend time with her as much as you can, but you fill her with joy and laughter, hugs and kisses! The kinds of things a child should have from her dad. Thank you for loving Elle as much and thoroughly as you do.
Love,
Kelsie Hultberg

Let's get this train -a- movin'!

Today as I was sitting in my car with a dear friend, I was thinking about life; how short 80 years actually is. I mean, I have already lived 21 of them and am currently living my 22nd year. And based on the average lifespan, I am already over 1/4 of the way out of this world.

What have I done for this world? For Jesus?
Who have I affected?
Has it been in positive or negative ways?
What am I currently living for? This world, or the world after death?
Who am I teaching Elle to live like/for?
Who am I showing love toward?
Am I maintaining relationships with my family?

As I am sitting here on my bed writing this, I am still pondering these questions.
It is hitting me: I am ready to move on to the next phase of my life.

I want to get married. Have my own little family unit. And then make that family unit bigger. I also want to finish my degree. But mostly, I want to teach my children to love Jesus and others. I want to be an awesome example as a mother. This is the next phase, as far as I am concerned. Settling DOWN. Unless God calls me to something totally different, this is the general direction I am headed now. I mean, as a single mother, my desire is becoming more and more to have a hubby there every night to spend time with and for Elle to be with. So? What am I waiting for?

I only have about 60 years left.. Let's get rollin'!

TOOT TOOT!

My Future

I've really been thinking a lot lately... And I have been praying about what I want in a future husband and father for Elle. And here's what I came up with:

I want someone who is random and loves adventure


A person who has freckles and dimples


Someone who can be an amazing father to Elle


A man who will write me random, ridiculous love notes


Someone I have known since forever


A guy who wants a big family in the country


Someone taller than I am


A GENTLEMAN

who will ride dirt-bikes with me


and will help me with the household chores


and who will exercise with me



... Have I found him yet?

Quarter-Century Lovers

Today marks the 25th wedding anniversary of John Michael Hultberg and Lori Georgina Weichelt.

Congratulations, parents!
God has blessed me so much with the best parents anyone could EVER ask for..

My parents.
Wow. That is a loaded word. Parents. They have done so much for me. They have taught me so many things. They have done so much more then the average "parent" would do.

Tonight I asked their advice on a happy and healthy 25 years of marriage.

My mom said find someone you are in love with who you trust 100% with no doubts. Someone with God as numero uno in their life. Have fun.

My dad said find someone not grumpy. Referring to himself.
Bahaha
I love my parents so much and Here's to another 25 years of marriage for them!

Protective mama much? Think about her FATHER!

Tonight as I was telling my family about my upcoming travels to Chicago to see a friend, they warned me about the south side of Chicago. My first instinct was to drown them out... But then I started thinking... And thinking... And I thought about the cold hard truth that someone there could easily take my daughter and me and separate us.I could be raped and killed and not able to protect my darling Elle. The rage inside me started building.. And building.. And then all the sudden I realized how insignificant my life is to the world. I mean, another human could easily take my life and have no compassion for the daughter I would be leaving behind... They could go as far as hurting or even killing her.

It made me think really hard. And thus fed my need to cry out to God in anxiety..

God embedded this protective-parent thing into us when He made us. He created me to want to save Elle from any harm that might come upon her. But when it comes down to it, I am NOTHING in comparison to Him. His comfort, His protection..
He loves Elle so much more than I ever could! I can take comfort in knowing that no matter what happens on earth, He is watching over us. Things that are seemingly out of control, He understands fully and is keeping watch over them.

What would I do without my Lord, Jesus Christ?
I'd be even more of a basket case. That's what.

To a 17 year old girl

I have been going through some things the last four years or so that have been way beyond my maturity level. I have made a lot of decisions that have swept me out of my teenage normalcy into a whirlwind of stressful months and a lot of hurt feelings made by me and happening to me.

After birthing my child at age 17, I engaged in many destructive decisions in my life. I made commitments I did not keep and I gave up on my faith. I made choices that affected Elle and me in a negative way. And for the past four years I have been battling through. I have learned so many things- the hard way.

This blog isn't intended to be a "downer", but I am just stating reality. Of course, amidst those terrible times I have had a blast being a mom and raising my daughter to her fullest potential. I have enjoyed late night giggles and morning coffee with her. I have been so blessed to grow WITH her and learn to parent her as she needs it. I have had a blast figuring out what exactly it is to be a mother and I am so happy that I get to be a mother to Elle.

Along with the blessing of becoming a mother, I have had to give up things in my life that a normal teenager would easily take for granted. I mean I am a MOM now. I can't go through that party stage. I can't go through just making decisions for myself. When I dress in the morning, I not only dress myself, but Elle as well. There are so many sacrifices I have made when I chose to be a mother at 17. I don't "date" just for the sake of dating. (Which I am very happy about) When I find a mate, he needs to be approved, not just by me, but Elle too.
..After reading the last paragraph, I think that maybe Elle "saved" me from all that stuff. It was turned into a huge BLESSING that I am not making decisions for myself, but for another life. It's a blessing that I am not able to go through a party stage or date just to date.

If I were to talk to a 17 year old pregnant girl, I would probably say something like this:

This is going to be the HARDEST thing you ever will have to endure. Whether you see it or not right now, you will have to give up so many things in your life. You will make endless sacrifices for your little baby. Day and night, you will need to be thinking about what is best for your child. But- if you keep the right mindset, these things won't seem like sacrifices. They will be blessings.
Keep your head up, there. Make your family a priority.. Not just your child, but your immediate and extended family as well. If you don't have a supportive family, then find friends you trust and who build you up. Keep God at the very core of every relationship you have. Look to Him for EVERYTHING and HE WILL follow through, meeting your every need.
This will be, BY FAR, the toughest and most rewarding thing you will EVER do in your life. Period. Savor the moments you are up at night with a fussy baby. Because there will never be another "tonight" with your child.. Time continues and they grow older. So enjoy the time you have and work hard at it every day. Congratulations on becoming a "mommy"!!!