The Hollingshaus'

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

My Farewell to Arms...

The dawn is breaking,

a light shining through.

What are we doing?

Shufflin' to the new routine.

You see,

changes are happening around here.

Goals have been made,

written on the white board,

and are attempting to be conquered.

-take a deep breath-

everything works out.

it always does.

it always will.

Its sorta like being one of the

NKOTB.

And, we're back.

Back at it.

Hittin' the books.

Am I crazy?

Does anyone recall,

with clarity, mind you,

how I act during the "school-season?"

I'm insane.

Forget living.

I live to study.

This semester,

I'm trying new things.

Working a full 7on/7off,

[that's old]

while going to school online.

Harmless, right?

hah.

SO.

Preemptive strike on stress:

1) Daily scripture study, personal + couple

2) Exercise 3x + a week

3) Set a routine

4) I started looking at the budget again

(the budget = as much stress as school)

5) Maybe plan out a meal schedule?

(enter wishful thinking)

6) Keep breathing.

7) Pray.

Remember that entire post I dedicated to faith?

Ironic that now its being tested?

I think not.

More, I think the Lord has a sense of humor

and a plan.

A plan that will make me stronger,

more balanced,

more faithful.

More diligent in His service.

More fervent in prayer.

And so it begins.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Glasses Case!

Isn't this a darling idea?

I love her blog, and her tutorials are awesome!

I found this little ribbon on a wedding invitation,

so I decided to always have it with me!

[weddings always make me happy!]

I hand stitched the ribbon, since I decided to add it

after

I had already sewn the entire thing.

haha

What do you think!?

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Painting Project!

I know I've been a big tease,

not posting my projects!

Well, I finally cracked.

Here is the first one!

I found this on the side of the road,

after midnight,

with Tyler and Paul.

We put it in the back of the Murano,

under the cover of darkness,

and away we went!

I should have taken a before picture,

but Paul has a before video that he might remember to send me!

It used to be black (on the metal pieces)

and the people before us did something...creative.

They took foam poster board,

spray painted it red,

and then sewed it onto the back of the frame.

I had to use my seam-ripper to get the dang poster board off.

I grabbed some cheap spray paint,

and painted over the black for the first few coats.

Then, I grabbed the Krylon white spray paint,

gloss finish I think.

And bam!

It looks so much better!

We sold our dishwasher (we never used it)

and then I rearranged my entire kitchen to make room!

Its so nice to have this piece.

Especially since its no longer red and black.

[my entire kitchen is white + wood for the moment]

Stay tuned for the sewing projects!

The Australian Takes America by Storm

My bro-in-law, Paul.

Remember how he came to visit us?

Well, he just happens to love Wal-Mart.

And he loves everyone there.

I'm sure this girl was freaked out. haha

But, Paul needed a picture with everyone!

He shook their hands,

he videoed their encounter,

and he told everyone, "Welcome to Wal-Mart!"

This guy loved Paul.

Maybe I'll find a better picture.

haha

For more information about why Paul loves Wal-Mart, get this:

In Australia, there's a 40% income tax. 40%! Are we serious?!?!

So, after you pay 10% to tithing, and 40% to the gov,

you're bringing home 50% of what you make.

Minimum wage there is $19 (about).

How crappy is that?

So, when Paul came to America,

we went to Wal-Mart everyday.

Can you blame him!?

Next, family game time.

Naturally, whenever Paul + Wendi + the girls come into town,

everyone gathers.

We'd better, considering its a 24 hour travel day.

Wade has to read the rules so Scott won't cheat..

haha jk!

Snorta was the first game that they played! So funny!

Next, they played Shooting Ducks.

Both are stellar!

Iris + Tiia

2 of my favorite nieces!

Tiia is such a great niece - she and I go shopping together,

because she is the fashion guru in my life.

I'm still rocking polos and birkenstocks.

Tiia puts me in cute dresses and tiny belts (via botiques),

etc.

You'd have to see her to believe it.

She's amazing.

Iris.

Need I say more!?

She was born 2 months before Tyler and I were married.

I've been working really hard since then to get her to think I'm the best.

I'm slowly succeeding!!!

This is my SIL Jennine.

She's my lifesaver.

I love her.

Tiia and Iris are hers, along with 3 others.

They're the only grandkids here in the States.

And we love all of them!

ps - i'm in a current love-hate relationship with my hair.

too long? too red?

blah.

And, I didn't really get ready. Don't look too close. haha

Jennine and Lauren attempting to feed Ryan, Jennine's youngest.

She's redoing their basement while taking care of 5 kids.

She knocks down walls,

re-plasters,

paints,

etc.

How. Does. She. Do. It?

Ryan, loving veggies.

Or, something. haha

Tiia + Gus-puppy.

He looks like an Ewalk. (how do you spell that?!)

And, he loves me.

Every time we come to see Ty's parents,

he just jumps all over me!

Ah, I love attention. haha

1. Ryan tries to grab Paul's ear... Micheal-Lee loves it.

2. Attempt number two....

3. Got him!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ty's Birthday Dinner - Rodizio Grill

Paul + Tyler = hilarious

How awkward is that picture?

bahaha.

The boy + I

Trio.

Paul.

We wish you guys still lived here!!!

We miss you!

Hope to see you in January!!!!

Love, Krista + Tyler

Monday, August 29, 2011

Recently, a friend asked me some questions about faith. I thought a lot about it this morning as I made preparations for dinner/treats/etc, and my morning was a lot better for having started out the day by pondering the doctrines of the gospel. I thought I would share with you what I discovered this morning.

I listened to most of the General Conference talks this morning from April Conf. to help get some ideas rolling.

One talk, by Steven E. Snow entitled, "Hope," caught my attention.

Our hope in the Atonement empowers us with eternal perspective. Such perspective allows us to look beyond the here and now on into the promise of the eternities. We don’t have to be trapped in the narrow confines of society’s fickle expectations. We are free to look forward to celestial glory, sealed to our family and loved ones.

In the gospel, hope is almost always related to faith and charity. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has taught: “Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time” (“The Infinite Power of Hope,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2008, 21).

I really like this passage, because I think it does a great job in explaining why we need hope (because it couples itself with faith, etc).

Also, Alma 32 is an entire chapter about faith.
Alma 32: 21 states, "And now as I said concerning faith - faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." I thought to myself, "What do I have a perfect knowledge of?" And, I couldn't find one thing that I have a perfect knowledge of - I have some knowledge about certain principles of science, of religion, of life even. But, none of my knowledge in these areas are perfect. Think about why we attend the temple. I definitely do not have a perfect understanding of that, which is why I need to return often - I can return and be taught by the spirit, so that my understanding and knowledge of God's plan of happiness will grow.

So it is with life - I need to return to my Heavenly Father often in prayer and in the reading of my scriptures. This will help me to exercise faith by asking Him questions about my life - faith without works is dead, right? So, faith without action is unprofitable. I can have faith that the church is true - but to know for myself, I must act upon the desire to know that the church is true. Faith needs to be constantly exercised. It may be small steps that build our faith, or large, intense spiritual experiences.

Elder David A. Bednar also talks about this last principle, in "The Spirit of Revelation." He mentions that those largely spiritual experiences are rare, and that those of quiet and ever gradual whisperings are more common. So it is with faith. Building your faith doesn't happen in one largely spiritual experience (for most people - see Paul in Acts for such an experience), but it comes little by little - line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little. Why? Well, I think it helps us to set a pattern of returning to the Lord - if we start while we are young, a pattern of turning to the Lord for guidance, forgiveness, and other such blessings, we will build our faith because He will send His holy spirit to testify to us that the things we learn from such experiences are true. As we gather these experiences, we can look back on our lives and see how our faith in Him has richly blessed us. Ultimately, it takes faith to seek the Lord early.

Faith is also a crucial element of the armor of God, "...take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day. Taking the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit." (Ephesians 6:13. 16-17) Just a quick lesson here. Notice the elements of the armor of God. Most of these are defensive weapons, to protect us against the adversary. Faith is used here to defend us - defend us from what? Perhaps from wavering in the gospel, perhaps from doubt, etc. The only offensive weapon, however, is the sword of the Spirit - which means our testimonies. Our testimony is the only piece of the armor of God that we can use actively to combat Satan and his evil forces. How do we build our testimonies? By exercising faith.

Anywho, I think I have also gained a testimony of why starting your day off with the scriptures is so important.