During my college years–which I spent living in a house with three dozen other Christian girls–I decorated my dorm room walls with paper flowers from the Michael’s clearance rack. Each flower cost only 50 cents. After graduation, I packed the flowers into a box and forgot about them.
While moving into our rental home after our wedding, I was surprised to find my 50-cent wall decorations. How exciting! Using sticky tack, I carefully placed the flowers throughout our kitchen, which instantly made the room seem brighter and more cheerful.
For those who are wondering, I have not been able to find these flowers for sale online. Perhaps check the clearance rack at your local Michaels. 🙂
Hi, Ellie (and everyone else reading this who has gone to college)! I was wondering what advice you have for someone deciding where to apply to college? I'm in the process of that right now, and am seeking some Christian counsel on the matter. 🙂 I want to go where God is calling me, and study what He is calling me to study, so I can be most helpful in His kingdom, but, as far as I can tell, these dreams are just mine. How do I know for sure what He wants me to do? Should I take steps toward this potential calling and ask Him to close doors if it's not where He wants me? How do I decide where to apply to college, and then how do I choose which one to go to from the ones I'm accepted to? How did you choose your college?
I would also love some advice about how to thrive and grow closer to God while I'm in college! I appreciate all the help I can get.
Blessings,
A sister-in-Christ 🙂
Hi there!
What an exciting time of life! But I know that the process of finding the right school can be quite daunting. I would encourage you to stay close to home (if possible). I went to school three hours away, and I definitely would not have wanted to go any further. Try researching the campus ministries that each school has to offer. You can even go so far as to email the current leaders of each group to learn more. Most importantly, be in constant prayer. If you seek the Lord with your whole heart, He will reveal what the next step is for your life.
I went to a large state school but was fortunate to find a strong Christian community early on. Try asking older gals at your church where they have gone/are currently going, and find out what Christian organizations they were/are a part of.
Hope this helps! I'll be praying for you. 🙂
Ellie
Thank you so much! With the location I'm in, it's a bit more difficult to stay close to home. There are two colleges (one of them is very small) within a half-hour of where I live, and the next-closest one is a six-hour drive away! So I have been looking at colleges a little further out. I really appreciate your advice and prayers. 🙂
God bless!!!
That is difficult, but I know that God will reveal His plan in His perfect timing. 🙂
God bless!
Ellie
I would like to add to this advice the comment that being a Christian should be paramount to anything else. Just as Jesus was tested in the desert a Christian will face all sorts of temptations and do not be surprised who the enemy uses. Really it is not necessary for a Christian youth to pay a lot or any thing at all, to further study the precepts of their faith. And that is something that should be done for certain.
Maybe this young woman is interested in the medical field. I could give more guidance to this woman. Mostly I would say get that New Testament and read it through and through and through because you are a new person in Christ. Anita Fuentes has done an excellent free Bible school which is archived on her website home page. She points out in the first few lessons that education outside if Christ ois often a concoction of anti Christian teaching which is a bad environment and a waste of time and money. Stick to gaining essential skills and learn your Christian teachings through the many Christian sources which are comprehensive and done to grow people into Christians so you should not spend your life savings to get this information, it is available free.
With distance education one can stay home and do courses!
Looks kind of tacky. Not very elegant…
Great idea and this could be some kind of craft project (obviously!), thanks for keeping us in your loop Ellie!
Oh I love the look very happy
Kim
Ps do you still blog about the Willis Family?
Hi Kim,
For the time being, we are not continuing our blog about the Willis family. Our other blogs take up all our time, and we don't want to sacrifice quality.
Thanks for being a loyal reader. 🙂
Ellie
Is The Willis family still on TLC?
Hi there,
The Willises told us a couple months ago that TLC is planning to bring them back for another season. Doesn't sound like the network has announced at date yet, though.
Blessings,
Ellie
Very nice…
You said you have bible verses throughout your home. I was wondering…. Which is your favorite bible verse??
Hi there,
I have a lot of favorite Bible verses. 🙂 I have enough to fill an entire notebook, which is organized by category. Some of my all-time favorites include: 1 John 4:4, Matthew 19:26, Romans 8:31, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 27:14, 1 Corinthians 13:8, Revelation 12:10, Ecclesiastes 7:10, Psalm 27:13, and Philippians 2:3-4.
Ellie
You have lots of cost savings ideas…. Do you have a job outside the home or is this your "job"??
I work from home doing freelance writing, and I am also starting the process of writing a book. I love the flexibility of my job because it allows me to be a devoted homemaker and to find creative ways to save money. 🙂
Ellie
What is your book about?
I wonder what your book is about?
I am still working on the outline, but the book will tell my grandmother's WWII story.
Blessings,
Ellie
I like that, it is preserving a memory! This summer I met a 94 year old war vet with some stories to tell. One is in an oral memory bnk online….you could look that up and maybe you will find it in your Google search.
why do you have your bikes in your house?
That's a good question. We live in a rental property that doesn't have a shed. We considered buying one, but our kitchen is large enough to fit our bikes, so we decided to wait on the shed.
Ellie
My husband and I also had our bikes in the exact same place as you. Our place was small too
It looks like you are ready for a disaster anyway, you would not lose much of anything of value. Smart thinking.
I politely ask, are you volunterily living with a tight budget and if so, why do you do that? I thought dentists earn nicely everywhere.
Hi there,
Right now we do need to live on a tight budget because my husband has only been working for a few months. We were just talking this morning about how we plan to continue to live frugally, even if we don't have to. We want to have a large family, so we figure penny pinching will always be a good practice.
Blessing,
Ellie
Since you not yet have the large family, why don't you work outside home? you could earn a second income.
I'm sorry, but when I saw the bikes in your kitchen all I could think about was how dirty you're making your kitchen with having them in there. I couldn't see past the bikes to notice the decorations.