Elliott Happenings

Hey Y'all!  It has been so long.  It's not like I haven't had anything to do.  haha.  I have finally started to get my head out of the clouds and see clearly.  It has been a whirlwind few months for our family.  One thing that keeps going through my mind is how kind God has been to us.  We don't deserve anything  yet He has given us so many things that have been the desires of our hearts for so long. Matt is working alot but loving his job, training to be a manager for Waffle House.  I am finally a stay at home mom!  It surprisingly took some adjusting but I am happy and thankful.  We love our new church.  I even had a few ladies over to swim yesterday with their kids.  How is that for branching out and meeting people!   Here are some pictures of events that we have done over the last few months. (I actually downloaded them in backwards order so if you want to see them in order, start at the bottom.  Sorry!)

Ivy starting 1st grade.

                                                          Making cinnamon rolls.

 Potty training Lucy.  She is doing AMAZING!  Not one accident in over a week.  (We just started last Monday!)

                                                                   Swimming

                                               Unpacking....then unpacking some more!

                                     Our cute town.  Spring Hill,Tennessee......I'm so in love!

                                             Road trip to Tennessee. 4 ten hour plus days!

                                      Seeing Friends long the way.  Mick and Terry Pagach

                                        Hanging out waiting for them to change our flat tire. :(

                                                Saying goodbye to Washington friends.

                                                      Packing it up in Washington.

                                        July started with Hollie getting married in California!

 Lamentations 3:222-23  " The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

Far More Abundantly Than All That We Ask or Think

Ephesians 3:20 " Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us."


This verse keeps going through my mind over the last couple of days.  If you have read my last blog post, you know that Matt and I have been pretty down.  I don't even know where to start.....but I will start with a little background.

Most of you know that I am a singer.  I grew up wanting to record Christian music and heard that Franklin, TN. was the place to be if you wanted to record.  I even tried to go to a college and major in Contemporary Christian Music.  Thankfully, in God's Sovereignty, I went and majored in Music at The Master's College, married Matt, adopted 2 beautiful children and the rest is Elliott history.

 THEN, one of my best friends moved to Franklin.  I was like...get me and these girls on a plane so I can see this place.  (AND Kelli and her family of course!)  Well.... I loved it there but more importantly, I knew Matt would L.O.V.E. it.  I came home and told him and we started to pray about looking for a job there,etc. Fast forward a year, Matt losing his job, we frantically tried to find a job there but the Lord was clearly moving us to Washington to live with his family and find work.....somewhere....anywhere.  By this time, I had surrendered to the Lord, leaving my friends, church family, my sister, my own home.  I was at the point where I was praying, "Lord, I will move where ever you want us, just please give Matt a job."  I was really starting to feel like Matt was never going to get one.  He had been diligent to apply for jobs for 15 months straight.  I saw him humble himself in ways that no man wants to, but my man was doing all that it took to find a way to provide for his family.  I saw a side to Matt's character that made me love him even more.  I respected him more.  He never gave up.

Last month we had talked about Tennessee with some sadness.  Both saying that it was clear that the Lord had closed the Tennessee door.  Then the NEXT DAY changed our course of life.  Matt found out through Facebook of all things, that the restaurant chain Waffle House was looking for people with BA's to be a manager of their restaurants.  There is a lot of room to move up to District Manager,etc...  Matt applied, had an interview on Skype by the end of the week and flew out to work with another manager for 3 days to make sure that it was something that he wanted to do. ( This was unheard of because they have never hired anyone that did not live in the South.)  While this job is really "thinking outside the box" and not in his purchasing field, I knew he would love it. Who wouldn't want to work with/ for Matt?  I like working for him!  haha. It is really hard work, but nothing for a man who hasn't worked in 15 months and is ready for a job.

God has answered so many prayers along the way.  Answers that we thought were too much of a blessing that we didn't even ask for them but God is working ABUNDANTLY more than we could ask or think. My cup is beyond full of God's kindness.

During all of this excitement, my heart is still aching for some people who are still out of work, some people that I know even who want to move to Tennessee themselves.  I am begging the Lord on their behalf.

I have listened to a sermon by my future, soon to be pastor Byron Yawn, so many times that I have parts of it memorized.  He said that the only way out of a trial is through it.  He also said, "Good will come, God delivers!"  I honestly thought that might not happen for us in this lifetime, it had been so long.  He has deliver us.  It brings tears to my eyes as I type.  He is so faithful to hold our hands through it.  Byron is right, the only way out is through it.  But praise Jesus that I am coming out on the other side.  Can't wait to blog to Y'ALL about Tennessee.  Kel, I'm coming!  The Kelli's will be together again!

What God Expects of You in a Trial

     Well, it's been a little while.  Things around here have not changed much.  Matt and I have hit our one year mark of him being with out a job.  Let me first say how proud I am of my husband.  He has been so diligent in trying to find a job...FOR A YEAR.  He has humbled himself, put himself out there like no man wants to do.  He is not satisfied or comfortable to be living with his parents.  While we are so grateful they have opened their home, I am thankful I have a man who wants to live and provide for his family and is not content with anything different.   He has been diligent and consistent with nothing to show for it.  When I have been weak, he has been strong.  Also when I have been strong, he has been weak.

The last couple of days have been hard.  We are both down, weary, we've both had enough. Now it's me just being REALLY honest..... People always say to me that Matt and I have been through more trials than anyone they know, that we have been such an example of waiting on the Lord.  Well, lately I have been at the point where I am like, "OK Lord, when are you going to let up?  When will Matt get a job?  I have left everything , everyone I love and I am still in this trial and I am starting to really not be happy about it."  I know that I am beyond in a pity party but this is being real.

God gave me a gift of being in a women's bible study, in a church that we are starting to love.  We are going through 1 Peter that talks about being in trials.  Today was so good, I tried not to cry sitting there.  Our teacher, Leslie, talked about what we need to be doing going through a trial (because they WILL come!)  I felt like Jesus was nudging me, knowing that this is all hard but reminding me of my responsibility in this situation.

1Peter 4:1 " Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin."

1. We are to arm ourselves, be ready, prepared.  We are armed for anything that will happen to us in this world.  We have direct access to Jesus if we need Him!

1Peter 4:7 " The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers."


2. The first thing to do in a trial is to spend time alone with God.  He commands us to be self-controlled  and sober minded (this comes from God, ask Him to give you the right mind in this trial.  These are for the purpose of prayer.)    By spending time with God, He wants to explain it to you and provide for you.

3.  ( v.8) God wants us to be others centered in a trial.  Keep love for others earnest.  (hospitality, even as it's uncomfortable for you.  It's more that entertaining.  This is not about what a good hostess you are, it's about meeting a need)

4. (v.10) Use your spiritual gifts to enhance the body.  Focus on loving others.

Things to remember in a trial:

(v.13) There is a command to rejoice in a trial.  We can rejoice that Jesus is coming again and we can honor Him with our behavior.  We are going to live with Him forever and reign with Him!

(v.14) We are blessed.  Jesus is with us in this trial.  He will give us wisdom.

(v.15-16) don't sin but glorify God in the trial.

(v.19) Entrust your soul to God

I know that some of these points are not typed out all perfect but I don't feel very organized and perfect right now.

If you think about it and want to pray for us, pray that I will be all of these things.  That I will have the right mindset.  That I will endure for as long as He wants me to.  That Matt and I both will be what God wants us to be.  I pray earnestly that Matt will get a job that provides for us.  I pray that we will hear about how much we owe on his medical bills and that we will have enough to pay them.  Deep down, no matter how sad, lonely, frustrated, uncomfortable I get, I really do want to be faithful to the Lord.  Pray that I seek Him even more, Knowing Him more, loving Him more.

Thank you friends!

Happy Easter 2012

Ivy age 6, Lucy age 2

Scheffer/Parsons Cinnamon Rolls

I feel a little funny being the one to post this recipe. I kept hearing about these cinnamon rolls that my friend,Sara, had the recipe for. I'm a die hard Pioneer Woman cinni lover so I had to try these out. I asked with a pretty please and she gave me the recipe. When I started posting pictures on Instagram, people started asking for the recipe. I asked Sara if I could share it and she was so nice about it. Blame Sara's mom for the extra 5 pounds you will put on after eating these pups. Here is Sara.Here we go! 2C. flour, 2t.salt, 2T yeast (2 packs), 2C. quite warm water, 1/2C. potato flakes (Betty Crocker potato buds), 1/3C.butter(softened), 1/3C. sugar,2 room temp. eggs

Place all of the above ingredients(EXCEPT THE EGGS) in a bowl. Beat for 2 minutes until smooth. Then add the 2 warm eggs, beat until mixed.

*Add 3 1/2C. more flour. Stir with a rubber spatula. Then with your hands, place dough on the counter with a lot of flour underneath. Cover the dough with the bowl and let rest for 20 minutes.
Roll dough out into a rectangle, roughly 18x6 (Sara does it bigger to get a tighter roll with more goodies....trust me...do as Sara does). Spread butter over the dough (1/3C. or more)
*Mix together 1/2C. brown sugar and 2t. of cinnamon (Sara does more...so I did too.) Sprinkle evenly over the dough.
Roll the rectangle (lengthwise) and pinch the seam.
Cut about 1" slices and place on a greased pan. Cover with saran wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight. (Sara says you can bake them the same day but give them a good amount of time to rise.) Take out the next morning and let them rise for 20 minutes.

Bake them at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. (until lightly golden on top.)

Makes 18-20 rolls(roughly)

Frosting- 1/2C. melted butter, 1t. vanilla, 1lb. powdered sugar (roughly 4C.), 1/4C. milk, pinch of salt. Beat together until smooth. Spread over warm rolls.
Sara....AMAZEBALLS! Thank you for letting me share.

Sizzling RoundUps

Every Sunday morning we are called to the breakfast table at 7:30 sharp! It is Sizzling Round Up day. They are so good that Ivy asks me if it's "church day" so that she can have the round ups. This week my Mother in law asked me if I wanted to learn how to make them. I wish that I would have taken a picture of every step. But here it is.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Take an 8oz. ramakin. Spray it with Pam.

Put 1 piece of turkey bacon around the rim.

Make a layer of crumbled bread or seasoned roughly crushed croutons to fill the bottom.

Cover with shredded cheese and lightly press down.

Pour an egg on top. Use a knife to spread the white on top. (don't break the yoke.)

Bake 22-27 minutes. (Ramakins may vary.)
Take a serving spoon and wrap it around the round up and pop it out onto a plate.
So yummy!
Enjoy!

My Love Story Part 1

I have a couple of things to blog about but I haven't taken the time to take pictures. So... I've blogged about both of the girls' adoption stories and family life, but one thing that I have always wanted to blog about is Matt and I.

I have thought about him so much lately (Hope so since he is my husband! haha) I have thought of ways to encourage him. In a couple of weeks it will be one year since he has lost his job. I have seen him humble, working hard, trying everything he can to get a job, never giving up but still having that desire to provide for his girls. I am beyond proud of him and so honored to be his wife. Any company would be blessed to have him. I have seen him work hard to get his wrist in shape after breaking it and he has tried to be a strong leader, living in a house right now that is not our own. I love him. I am so proud of him! Next month we will have been together 17 years and this summer we will have been married 15 years!

So let's go back to the beginning. At times it is awkward, not easy, uncomfortable, romantic, exciting, and fun.

I came to The Master's College as a transfer student. I could write a whole blog how much I love The Master's College. I came in the fall of 1994. I was a 21 year old music major. (Yes, it took me a long time to graduate college.) I picked music because I was a singer. I wasn't that smart with music theory and I was in the beginner class. Matt Elliott( a new transfer student himself) was in the theory class above me and they would always we walking out as we were walking in. ( He was a really good trumpet player) So....Matt and I never met, we just always knew who each other was.

I was really struggling with some of my music classes. Easiest the least smart (nice way of saying it)person in my class and I needed help. I got out my chorale phone list and started calling people in the theory class ahead of me to help me with my homework. Random people that I didn't totally know but I was desperate. The name I never really called was Matt Elliott. He was kind of nerdy ( there I said it) and shy. One day I had no other choice. I don't know why but I just didn't want to ask him. He was gracious. I walked up to his dorm and he was standing outside with his roommate and someone's mom and dad. I DID NOT want to meet parents! haha It is so silly but I had a feeling that Matt would start liking me and I didn't want to encourage him, I just needed theory help. I politely said hello and then told him that I would go sit and wait for him. As I was sitting there, he walks in with the parents! Oh no! It turns out it was his roommate Greg's parents. So I met Greg, Rick and Jeanne Wells that night. Matt was such a nice guy and was so kind to help me. That was it. I said thank you. He didn't even know my last name. That was my first memory of Matt Elliott. Matt, being kind, gracious, helpful, the guy he still is to this day.

TBC