Hello

Well, Brad and I have been talking about blogging a little lately, so I just decided to go ahead and make us one. We cannot commit to blogging at any frequency, but I hope that on occasion we (yes, Brad too) can provide some incite on our struggles, thoughts, lessons, etc. in hopes that the Lord will use our words to move in the hearts of whomever might come across our blog.


For anyone who might stumble across this blog and have no idea who we are, we are Brad and Elise Welker. We are very much newlyweds, being that we were married about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I think one of the things that excited us most about getting married is simply that we finally have a companion to be by our side to do life with every single day. We love our friends and families deeply, and strive to love the God of the Bible, with His help, more every single day.


All of that said---here's a little taste of this past Saturday:


We went to Ikea this weekend and got some stuff for the apt. Both of us, having always lived with other people and not being shoppers, pretty much hate buying home stuff because we just would rather spend our money another way. Also, the fact that we've always lived with other people put us in the position of having virtually nothing by which to stock our apartment...thus the need for shopping. Because of the immense kindness of our friends and family through wedding gift-cards and money, we actually have money to spend on that kind of stuff.


That said, we found ourselves at Ikea on Saturday....overwhelmed at the site of it, and uncertain that we would actually make it out alive. I actually really enjoy going to Ikea, especially when it's with someone else, and i know that i have no money to spend. In that situation, i don't get overwhelmed, but gather ideas for "future furnishing and decorating". Basically, i like it when i don't have to make actual decisions. This was not the case on Saturday...hence the hyperventilation on both our parts upon our entrance to the store.

I digress...

We have a huge list of stuff we'd like to have for our apartment, so that it will feel more like an actual home, rather than a few rooms with white walls. The problem with Ikea is that they have almost everything on our list, and multiple options of those things. As we began our trek we would see something we liked, ask the other, who would say "oh yeah", and write it down. Then we would see something we liked better than the last thing, write it down, and cross out the last thing. By the time we got to "The Marketplace", we had an entire shopping list filled with about 3 options of several things, most crossed out but still visible enough on the list to remain an option for purchase. Thankfully, our family had planned on going to see a movie at a time that didn't enable to actually purchase anything right then, so we both got a break to breathe, focus our attention on something else, and then go back...decisions made...with a purpose.

And we did: We utilized the shortcuts of the labyrinth that is Ikea, stared longingly at the Cafeteria as we passed it, made a few decorating decisions in "The Marketplace", picked up our end tables from the warehouse, and paid a lot less money at the register than we predicted. Overall, it was very successful, and we left Ikea with only minor mental and emotional wounds.


End tables and lamps put together, decorations hung. yesssss.
now we just have to go back w/ a truck to go get the dresser and bed frame we've picked out... :)



Now, if you've made it this far down the blog, i'm impressed. Hopefully posts in the future will have much more substance than this, but nevertheless, i have officially blogged for the first time in 9 months. Ashley, be proud :)

Love you all.

~Elise

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works" Hebrews 10:23-24