You are Beautiful.

I don't know about you guys, but I love being told I'm pretty.

I'm pretty sure you do too.

What's not to like about it?

The point is that we love compliments.

For me, words of affirmation is my most prominent love language. I don't need people to tell me good job, or that I look nice, but it means the world when they do say these things.

Something I realized a couple years due to the help of my good friend, is how little we actually share words of affirmation with others.

How often do you walk around thinking, "oh that girl is really pretty" or "I love her makeup" or "I want her hair." I do all the time, and I know you do too.

Now I'm not saying be creepy.

But if you think to yourself, "hey, she has a very pretty face" or "I love how she puts together her outfits" TELL HER!

Why are we so shy to compliment people?

I don't know, but I know I keep a lot of compliments in my head.

Let's learn to share!

In my opinion, the saddest thing to see is a beautiful girl with zero confidence.

I know we sometimes get it in our heads that we are all against each other!

That we are competing for who can be the prettiest, skinniest, fittest, most stylish.

That's why we worry most about what other girls will think about us.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when I hear a girl say "I hate her, she's so skinny" or "I wish I had her body" 

The truth is, she works for what she has.

We don't need to "hate each other" or be jealous, we need to love them and tell them that we're proud!

Our job is not to lower their self esteem, but to build it up with words of encouragement.

And trust me, even the "prettiest" girls need to be affirmed.

Don't compare yourself to others.

Seek the individual, unique beauty that each one of us have and embrace it.

My challenge to you this week--and beyond if you have the guts--is to share these words of affirmation to the people you are thinking about!

Then share with me what you've told people.

Share the love, not the hate.

Love and Beauty,
xo/Austin

Wedding Update for the Weekend!

My bridesmaids have been selected!

I mentioned last week that I made a fun project in order to ask them, and here it is.

I borrowed the idea from Bethany at Rinse. Repeat.  {By borrowed I mean I took it and don't plan on giving it back!}

These were the project. {above is hers}.

The plan with the box is paint the box the colors of your wedding day, pop the question on the box, and fill the box with wedding excitement to give them an idea of what the wedding will be like, why you chose them, and of course what the dress situation is going to be.

{above: my boxes}

In my boxes I included an array of pictures I found on the many wedding blogs and Pinterest of course that I though gave the right idea of the feel we were going for for our wedding day.

Some of the pictures I included in the box:

I want the girls to be able to pick dresses that they like and that they would be willing to spend money on. I don't want them to get stuck with a dress they hate and have to buy because that's just what I say. I included some of these pictures to explain what I was thinking for dresses and for the theme, and this was one of the dresses I think is really cute for an example for them to go off of.

 This was to show what we were kind of thinking for the guys. We're not at all set on the men yet, so I also asked my girls for their input!

 This picture is to kind of show them what I am thinking with mismatched dresses! I don't want my wedding to be all uniform, I want them to be able to pick the color and style of dress that flatters them. (Because lets be honest, not everyone can pull off coral)

 This is another way to show them the mismatched idea!

This was to show them kind of the color scheme. Also I think you can tell so much about a wedding simply from the bouquet. This to me says vintage, rustic wedding!

So those were some of the pictures I included in the boxes. 

I also included a hand written note to each of them explaining why I chose them for what role. 

Bethany typed out different parts of the wedding that her girls might be curious about and I thought that was a great idea, so I did the same.

A uniform, why we chose them.

I made one for the dress.

The details.

What their "Requirements" are.

I also included a bliss dark chocolate piece to represent the "bliss" we were all to experience through our wedding day! ;]

And I included large hole punched dots from paint chips of the colors we are thinking of our big day.

It was so hard to pick only 5 girls for my wedding party, and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt anyone's feelings. I am so close to so many people, and I just had to choose the 5 that made the most sense for Matt and I for our wedding. 

I am so thankful to have so many amazing girl friends, and I love that we get to experience our wedding day with all of them whether or not they are in the wedding party!

Matt has chosen the guys too, so I guess we officially have a wedding party! {Not that our wedding was ever not going to be a party ;]} 

So just another thing to mark off the list!

I love planning for our wedding, and I love that I have so much help from so many people! 

Thank you all who are helping!

Love you so,

xo|Austin

God's Chisel.

They showed this video in my Evan class today. I have seen it before. But every time I see it it gets me!

How true is this? Don't we all have baggage God has to take care of for us?

I know I do. I think I get to a point where the baggage is all gone, and God opens my eyes to something else I have to give up to him.

I love that every time Tommy tries to tell God something, God already knows.

That is the truth. We forget that sometimes I think. We think that we need to hide something from God.
Because we are supposed to be all put together. Or because we have to live up to what other people tell us we have to live up to.

The truth for me and I think for all of us, is that we can't live up to perfection. God calls us to be perfect, but only to show us that it is impossible for us to be perfect on our own.

We may think we can take care of our baggage on our own, but it just starts to weigh us down. It takes over our lives and tells us that we are too messed up for love and for redemption.

In the video Tommy kept trying to control the situation.
Is that something you do? I know for sure it is something I do.
Every day I need to remind myself that I need to give up control of my life to God, who is the only one who can actually control effectively.

My favorite part of the entire video is whe God tells him "You can't let me down. You were never holding me up. I hold YOU up in this relationship."
So simple.
So true.

Thank God. Because if it is up to me to hold any kind of relationship together, I will fail every time.
I am broken, you are broken. We are from a broken world.

So thank God that he is the one who holds us up.

Thats all,
xo/Austin

When God Writes Your Love Story.

Matt's best friend in the whole world came out to visit us this past weekend. Because of this I have been thinking a lot about Matt and my story. Why? You'll understand in a second.

This is Matt and Austin's love story... As told by me... Matt's story might look different

It all started with a good-looking red-head.

[that's where Scott comes in]

Our Junior year of High School my fastpitch coach came up to Mimi (my best friend) and I after practice one day. He knew that we were both Christian, and so he asked us "Would you guys like to go to a Christian School Prom with one of my Basketball players--he's a worship leader, 3 sport starring athlete, and student body Vice President--and his buddy?" (Matt was planning on bringing Scott as his date until Mike intervened.) Without hesitation we said yes.

A week or so later his basketball player came to one of our games to meet us and watch us play. We were playing the weakest team in the league that day, and I was sitting the bench. (Thanks a lot coach.)

While I was in the dug out, Eckhart pointed at Matt and said, "that's your date, good enough?" Then so kindly, he told me that since I was riding the bench and Mimi wasn't, I got first dibs. How kind.

After the game we went out to meet him. Well we tried, but on the way the entire softball team was also trying to work their way in to "meet him." When we finally introduced and such, we all exchanged numbers and went our seperate ways.

Matt left up the decision of who goes with who to Mimi and I. We couldn't decide, so we finally just decided to draw names out of a hat. So at 1 am, in my bedroom I got out of bed, wrote an M on one paper and a S on the other. We crumpled them up, put them in a random hat and drew names. Mimi got the M and I the S, so those were our dates.

Prom was a blast (well, after my dress and hair fiasco.) I had so much fun with Scott, and Mimi and Matt really hit it off.

For awhile after, Mimi and Matt kept talking. After a few weeks though, things died down and they decided they were better off as friends.

And that was the end-- or so I thought.

In the middle of that summer, Matt asked me to go to dinner with him. I said I was busy. So he asked if I wanted to float the river with him. I said I had to work. So he asked me to hangout at his house. I don't even remember that excuse, but there was one. After 4 or 5 times blowing him off, I decided to just go ahead and hang out with him.

We went to Panda Express. Afterwards, we went back to the house I was house sitting at the time and watched a movie in their home movie theater. We had a blast! But I was still feeling something was just not quite right.

The next morning I had to go to the Eckhart's house to babysit Gabe. Matt was also meeting there in the morning because he was working with them for the day on the house they were performing construction on.

On my way to their house, my mom called and told me that our house was burning down. Apparently I was in shock, because I just told her that I had to go cause I was in line at Starbucks. I continued on my way to the Eckharts and acted like nothing was wrong.

After they left I called Mimi and asked her to come to the house so if my mom wanted me to come home Gabe would have someone to babysit him. She came, but my mom told me there was no home to come back to, so I stayed. About half way through the day I sent out a mass text and asked for prayer for my family in our time of confusion and need.

About 5 minutes after, Mike called and asked if everything was ok. I explained what happened but told them there was no need to come back, and that I was just gonna hang out there.

That day I told Matt that I didn't think things were going to work out between us. I still wasn't over my ex and I was just confused. I didn't realize this at the time, but he was devastated.

For the next few months, my life got shaken up.

I lived in the house I was house sitting for the next 6 months while our house was being rebuilt. I got back with my ex, but shortly after we realized why we broke it off in the first place, and we ended it for good. I even went kind of crazy for a month or two and did my fair share of drinking and partying.

But then it was like God grabbed me by the shoulders, shook me, and woke me up from my bad dream.

At that point I really began to lean into God and understand who I am in His eyes. He explained to me that I am not defined by who people think I am, what I've done, or the relationships I make. He told me that I am solely defined by Him.

Around this time I had started job-shaddowing Mike as a Basketball coach for my Senior Project. Not long after Matt and I started hanging out.

For the first month, I prayed to God "Change my heart from liking him." It sounds so dumb and so cliche, but I knew that if we started dating, that I would marry him. It wasn't that I didn't want to marry him, but there were some factors that I saw could play a hard role on our relationship.

1. He was going to school in Virginia and I didn't want to go through the long distance relationship.
2. Mimi and he had sort of had a thing before and I didn't want to be that girl who went after my best friends ex.
3. I just really didn't think I was good enough for him.

God kind of just laughed at my prayers. I can just imgine Him up there thinking "Are you sure you don't want this? Do you realize what you will be missing if I change your heart from Matt. Just trust me, ok?"

So I gave in and I trusted Him. And not only did he not change my heart, but I fell for Matt hard and fast. Within two months I was madly in love with Him. And by the time he left for school, I  had day-dreams about marrying him.

I could go on for days about our story. About how God was constantly working the timing for us and about how he was working in our lives seperately so we could have a life together. I could tell you everything that happened before, during, and after this all happened.

But if I were to tell you our entire love story, it would never end.

Because we are in the middle of God's love story for us.

He's still writing every day, and I am just enjoying the ride.

love,

xo/Austin

You are Being Used.

Since I left home and came to Virginia, I have been questioning a lot of things.

Why am I here?
Should I be in this major?
Am I as strong as I thought I was?

You get the idea.

Yesterday I had the coolest realization, that has just been reinforced over and over again in the past 48 hours.

My Question: Am I being of use to the Lord?

I am taking a New Testament Survey class. In which we are to read the entire New Testament by the end of the semester, and read corresponding text with it. Currently I'm in the gospel of Mark.

In my reading of the text also assigned for the class, the author is giving an overview of information that he believes we should know in order to understand the writings of the New Testament.

Throughout the text, the author is talking about different historic events in which different rulers controlled Israel. They are talking about different courses of events in which languages changed for the land, and other factual evidence like that.

Reading the text, I realized something. God had a purpose for each and every person in these historic stories. Even the worst of the rulers, God used for His purpose. Even what seemed to be the worst possible events, God knew they were coming, and He knew exactly how to use them to better His Kingdom.

This arose the question in my heart:

If God can use the most wicked of people to better His Kingdom, why couldn't He use me?

This thought process continued. I thought about all that I had just learned and all that I read about, and this question came up:

If we are saved, if we choose to give our lives to God, and know that we are going to heaven, why doesn't God just snatch us up from earth right then? Why keep us down here?

My answer to that question is this:

God doesn't need you. He doesn't need me. He didn't even need Moses or Paul or Peter. God can do it all by himself. He created us not because he needed us. He created us because he loves us and because he is the definition of love. He wanted relationship, just like we so desire relationship. God doesn't take our free will just because He is our Creator. He loves us and wants us to love him back, so he leaves the choice to us; Do you love me? Loving God means we give up our own Kingship position in our life, and set God in that position. It means we no longer are in control. It means we are not the most important thing to our life, but God is.

When God is the most important part of your life, your life should reflect that. Following his will and is word. The reason God doesn't take us the moment we decide to love him, is because we are here to be his warriors. We are here to fight the battle on God' side. He uses us to better his Kingdom and to fulfil his plan. If it were up to us, we would say, "Take me to heaven now." If it were up to me, I would want to be in heaven. Not down here with the cancer, and pain, and sadness. I would want to be with my Creator who loves me more than anyone on this planet ever could. But thats why it's not up to us. Life isn't about you or me, it is about the Lord. It is about his purpose, and his Kingdom, and his plan being fulfilled.

So next time you question, "why am I here," remember that you are here because you are useful to God.

I am useful to God. I am helping God fulfil his purpose.

Everyone want's to be a part of something bigger than themselves, right?
You are a part of God's plan--doesn't get any bigger than that.

Be confident in who you are.
Be confident in why you're here.
Be confident in the Lord.

Don't take this mission lightly, allow God to use you.

Chao, loves.

xo/Austin

ENGAGED!

Matt and I are ENGAGED!!

And I could not be any more excited.

How did it happen?

[Matt told me he wanted to take me to a nice dinner before we go to school. So we both got dressed up and went to Issaquah for dinner at the Flat Iron Grill. Dinner was so good! We shared a dish that had steak, jumbo prawns, chorizo, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans. During dinner, I kept mentioning how I thought we should get one of the amazing homemade desserts from The Flat Iron Grill. But Matt just kept saying "No we have ice cream at home." So finally after he convinced me that ice cream would be the best, we left the restaraunt and walked back to the car. We had a nice walk back to the car by the train tracks in town and gardens and pretty little shops. When we got back to the car, we headed home.]

Now just imagine how I'm feeling.. The entire time at dinner and in Issaquah I have a little hope that he's gonna ask. Then nothing.

[On our way home Matt was flying! So we finally get back to the house and nothing. No extra cars there. No one is waiting. No extra lights on in the house. Nothing. So we get out of the car and are about to walk inside.. Then Matt goes "wait, I wanna show you something." So we walk around the side of the house and there is a path lit with tiki torches going down the hill onto the patio. On the patio, there is tulle hung from the sides so there was a wall to walk through. Inside, there were candles, and lights strung from the celing, and chandeliers, and rose petals on the ground, and an electric fire pit, and music playing, and picture frames hung from the celing with pictures of us, and a table set up with a picture of us, and a letter framed to me from Matt, and chilled sparkling cider, and champagne glasses, and flowers, and chandeliers hung over it.]

It was pretty much the most perfect and beautiful thing I've ever seen.

 

[So we walked over toward the table, and Matt got down on one knee, and held out the ring to me, and asked me to marry him. I said "Yes, yes, yes" and we put the ring on my finger! We hugged and we heard "I think she said no..." And Matt, my ever so subtle fiance, yelled "SHE SAID YES!" And then about 20 of our closest friends and family came out of the woods cheering and yelling! It was so great! I loved having all of our amazing friends and family there to celebrate with. It was such a joyful night. We all hugged and laughed and cheered with bubbly and ate ice cream!]

Matt did such an amazing job, and I am loving being his fiance, and cant wait to be his wife! He's such an incredible man, and so caring. I love calling him my fiance and love telling people about how blessed I am to have such a great guy. He is more than I could have ever imagined and more than I deserve. He is such a strong man of God! He loves people so much better than I do and has already taught me how to love like Jesus. I love the conversations we have. About everything. I feel like I can talk to him about anything. He is truely my best friend. And I really cant believe I get to spend the rest of my life with him!

This year is about to be crazy! New school, new home across the USA, and planning for a wedding. So many joyful things about to happen! I feel so incredibly blessed, and I am just so thankful.

To My Love

To spend the rest of your life with someone

Is knowing that they love you for you

They trust you with all their heart

You love the little things they do for you

That always make you smile

You are willing to listen when they need someone

And be by their side when life is hard

Being 3000 miles away doesn't change the way you

feel about them

But makes your feelings stronger

You know they are the one because they value your

relationship with Jesus most

And you look forwad to growing with them

While enjoying every moment of the present

To spend the rest of your life with someone

Is the biggest decision of your life,

And I've made that choice

I am forever yours

by Matt Huston

Expect many wedding updates.

xo/Austin Jean



You are here.

"Today, you are older than you've ever been--and the youngest you'll ever be."

Enjoy where you are.

Enjoy the season you're in.

Whether it's the worst of your life, or better than you ever imagined.

Whether you're moving forward at 100 miles a minute or feel like you're standing still.

Wherever you are, it's changing you into the person you will be tomorrow, next year, 50 years from now.

Don't speed to the end. Enjoy the ride.

Thank God for where you are now, and for who you are becoming of this exact moment.

Love where you are. Love where you're going. Love your life.

Xo/ Austin

Summer Faves.

I don't think I am the only girl in the world who loves to shop, and I wont appologize for it!

I feel like every season a new list of "wants" come to me. Am I alone here?

This summer I have been obsessed with a few items..

1. These Salomon Trail Runners. I'm obsessed.
2. Chandeliers. Why? I really don't know. But anything that has a chandelier involved quickly becomes something I like.
3. IPhone. I got one finally--and I love it.
4. My brand-spankin-new Maui Jim Palms.
5. Braids. Basically any kind. But I am especially Impressed with the Waterfall Braids currently!
6. Garage Sales! Such a wonderful world of surprises :]
7. Journaling. For any reason at all. And I love new journals, so I tend to make a new journal for every different occasion I possibly can. But come on, there's no better feeling than finishing with your last page on a journal!
8. HIKING! We leave for Beyond Malibu in about 2 weeks! And I cant wait!
9. Healthy Recipes and workout plans! I've officially lost 15 lbs this summer! And It just makes me want to keep going!
10. Doing things I never thought I would. <3

Since I haven't been around to keep up on updating, here are some pictures from my summer so far

I love summer. Whether we get any sun or not! So many amazing more events to come this summer. I cant wait to tell you all about them <3

xo/Austin

Second|Corinthians 4:18.

This morning during my quiet time reading my bible, I was reading in 2Corinthians..

This was the verse what really stood out to me today--

"...because we look not at what can be seen but what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal."

This really got me thinking. This specific verse is referring to heaven. This chapter of Second Corinthians is a lot about looking toward eternal life with God. But beside that, how many things can you think of that are everlasting that we cannot see?

1. The Lord.
2. Heaven.
3. Love.
4. Memories.
5. Hope.
6. Faith.
7. Integrity.
8. Compassion.
9. Joy.
10. Trust.

These are only ten of the hundreds of unseen treasures we are blessed with, but I don't think anyone would arugue with me when I say these are some of life's biggest blessings.

They say "The best things in life are free.." In a way, yes, I agree. The best things in life don't cost you money a lot of the time.

God loves you for free, but it's hard to give love freely--unconditionally.

God promises to be faithful--but its hard to have faith in someone other than yourself.

God provides you with compassion--but you must learn how to have compassion on others.

I could go on forever. The thing is, life itself and the afterlife--aren't completely free

They are offered to us freely, but like anything in life, we have to act to recieve these free gifts.

You aren't going to take a beautifully wrapped present from someone and then set it in your closet and never open it, are you?

Life is never a stand-still. With any of God's greatest gifts, you don't have to do anything to deserve it. But you do have to act on it.

You have to take the gift, and open the gift.

"...because we look not at what can be seen but what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal."

Open the gift.

xo/Austin