• Faith,  Life,  Marriage

    All About Me

    September 1, 2016

    Oh hello there. I wanted to get back into blogging so what better way than to do (read: attempt) the Blog-tember Challenge! Bailey Jean at Brave Love Blog has been hosting the #blogtemberchallenge for the past 3 years – talk about dedication. I wish I could be that disciplined. Anyways the point of the challenge is to blog every day in September. I attempted last year, but definitely didn’t touch even close to every day. Let’s see how I do this year!

    Today’s prompt is simple – introductions. So hello again, I’m Ashley Zinhobl. That’s my brandy new last name – yep I’m a newlywed. Being married is so much fun and I am learning so much. We got married on May 22 and my life is so incredibly different that I don’t even recognize it but it’s definitely a good thing.

    Speaking of different I also switched jobs in March when I got laid off of my first real job. I took a temp job after that and I foresee a post about what it’s like in the temping world in the near future. I am also just about to accept another job (but shh don’t tell anyone yet) as a Document Imaging Specialist. This is what I did at my first job and LOVED it but more on that later.

    Hmm what else to tell you.. I am a Christian and try (but fail) to live my life like Jesus did. That is actually what the point of my blog is and why it’s named Set My Heart On You. I pray that I grow closer and closer to God and that He will transform my desires into His more and more. My desire for this space is simple. It’s to share about my every day life and struggles and things that God is teaching me through those to hopefully help you to see how good He is or to help you along with your struggles as well.

    But anyways that’s the important stuff. Gotta go now, I’m off to finish packing because my husband and my family are headed to the beach for the next 5 days. (My favorite place ever.) Can’t wait to spend all the time relaxing, reading, and tanning on the beach. But don’t worry I’ll be back tomorrow with prompt two! (Or so we hope 😉 ).

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  • Life,  Marriage

    What Have You Been Up To?

    August 11, 2016

    Hi friends. I’ve been thinking a lot about wanting to write a post for the past couple of weeks but watching Netflix or sleeping normally win. I guess since it’s been a while I’ll do sort of a “life update” post.

    I mentioned that I was struggling with anxiety in my last post and since then it has gotten SO much better. I did a lot of reading and growing and realized that I need to (try) my best to let go of control of my life and just let God do what is best for me. (Not like I can stop him anyway lol.) I just try to remind myself that He IS good and that He has brought me this far and cares about me so I do not have to worry. I’ve been consistently reading my bible the past two weeks also and this probably has helped with this a ton.

    I started reading She’s Got Issues and I can already tell that it’s going to be amazing. I have already grown from just reading one chapter. I have learned a lot about myself. If you don’t already know, I am currently working at a temp job and it has been really trying me. I’ve been expected to do A LOT and am not getting compensated for doing any extra and it’s probably all just for them to let me go at the end of the project. I was working up to 47 hours a week sometimes, trying to gain approval and in turn have them hire me permanently AKA controlling the situation. I also think this had a lot to do with my anxiety as well. I was over working myself. This book helped me realize that I needed to let go and let God control the situation and after two weeks of not doing any overtime and still feeling very stressed out from the work demands, I have decided to look somewhere else where I am permanent and have room to grow in the company and have my hard work pay off. Your prayers would be much appreciated. 🙂

    Also, my cousin and her boyfriend came to church with us this past Sunday and it was awesome. Her boyfriend has never really gone to a church like we go too and it as really excited to bring him there. My cousin also hasn’t been to church in a while either so I was so happy. I’m praying that the things that they heard will take root and grow.

    I think I am finally “used to” being married. I can’t believe that it hasn’t even been three months yet though. I sort of feel like we’ve been married for at least a year. We’ve gotten to know each other so well and it has gotten a lot smoother than when we were first married lol. It definitely takes time to get to know how someone is when you live with them. For example, sometimes since I am an introvert I just need some me time. I get home from work after Tommy so there isn’t any time when I am just in the house alone. Tommy had to get used to the few times when I would just not want to talk or wanted to read and realize that I wasn’t mad or upset with him but really just didn’t have anything to say at that time. It’s really new living with someone and can be challenging at times but if you keep in mind that this person is yours forever and you have the privilege of living and serving them for the rest of your life then it puts things into perspective when they leave their clothes on the floor again. You can see those things as an opportunity to love and it helps so much.

    Welp this post has been pointless but I hope you guys have like hearing about my boring life these past two weeks. What have you been up to?

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  • Coffee Dates,  Faith,  Life

    Let’s Have Coffee || Vol. 1

    July 11, 2016

    If we were having coffee I’d share with you about how since becoming a wife I have learned how therapeutic it is for me to make dinner at night. It’s just a great way for me to be able to serve my husband in a way that I really enjoy. Tonight I made chicken cutlets and mashed potatoes YUM.

    If we were having coffee I’d be drinking this delicious stuff. We got a small pack from Tommy’s cousin in a pack of stuff for the wedding and it is absolutely the best coffee I’ve ever had. I wish coffee didn’t have so much caffeine because if that was the case I’d be drinking it all day long.

    If we were having coffee I’d share that we just bought a new bed this weekend and it has been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Hahah just kidding. But really. New beds are the greatest thing ever. I’ve never had one before so I am just on cloud 9.

    If we were having coffee I’d confess that I feel like I’m going to be struggling with this rededication of my faith and bible reading. I am still going to try to commit to reading as much as possible but I just can’t seem to keep my desire up like I used to. It makes me sad because I know I need to stay close to my Father’s loving voice. I just wish it wasn’t such a struggle lately.

    If we were having coffee I’d also confess that I’ve been struggling with anxiety lately. It may sound silly but I struggle with hypochondria sometimes and every ache and pain I get worried is cancer or something else that is going to kill me. I think this is partially because I have realized just how much God is in control and sometimes I struggle that He is really good. I’ve made some progress this weekend though and I’m hoping my rededication to reading my bible and staying close to God’s voice will help a lot.

    If we were having coffee we’d probably end up talking about work because that seems to always come up when you hang out with someone that you care about. I would let you in on what is going on lately – that I am still working a temp job and haven’t worried about whether or not there will be a job for me come the end of the contract because I know that God has my back. I know that He will take care of me one way or another.

    If were having coffee I’d love to know what’s new in your life, what your current fav drink is, and what your struggles are currently and where you’ve made progress because that’s what friends are for.

    PS I have my wedding pictures back and I will be posting soon, can’t wait!!

    I am linking up with Amber and Erin for a monthly coffee date. Join in with us.

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  • Faith

    Rededication

    July 9, 2016

    For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9

    I have a confession. I do not know what my spiritual life is supposed to look like now that I’m married. Everything feels different. I don’t feel like I can connect to God as easily as I used to. When I pray I don’t hear His voice as easily as I used to. This could just be a dry season for me – before we were married I was consistently seeking God and desired to spend so much time with Him. I don’t feel the same lately and I know we all go through phases and some seasons it is easy to connect with God and others it is harder but being in a new season of life and not being able to connect with God well has been really tough.

    Sometimes I even feel like it’s my fault. Like maybe I’m doing something to keep myself from connecting with God (besides the obvious, not spending as much time praying and reading my bible). Maybe I am living too much for others opinions or maybe I just got lazy because I finally “got what I wanted” being married and all. But I still do desire God and wish to connect with Him like I have before.

    I also think part of it might be because I am not used to having to connect with Him while other people are around. I used to read my bible and pray in my room behind closed doors and now my desk that I normally read at is in our living room so this makes it much more difficult to be alone. Or maybe God is just trying to teach me to try to connect with Him with my husband now. We just bought 30 day devotionals for married couples. I linked the book in case anyone is interested.

    I wrote the bible verse above because this verse convicted me a lot today while I was reading my bible, but also encouraged me as well. Friends, I don’t feel as though my heart is “fully committed to Him” although I do desire for it to be. Like I mentioned in my post yesterday I feel lost and I guess I’m not sure what having my heart being fully committed to the Lord in this season should look like. I am excited to find out though. Especially because this verse says that the Lord strengthens those who are fully committed to Him. I am praying for an increased desire to know the Lord and praying for obedience and discipline when it comes to reading my bible.

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  • Faith,  Marriage

    Lost At Sea

    July 8, 2016

    This is the part of marriage and moving out and starting a new life that nobody warned me about. I was one of those naive enough to believe that it’s mostly just happy things when you get married. And I don’t mean happy things as in bad things never happen to you because I read enough to know that that is just not true. But what I mean is I thought the general state of my life would just be happy because now I’m married and my old problems were gone.

    And don’t get me wrong here there is much truth to that too, but I just didn’t expect the other side to it. Ever since getting married and moving out I just feel a sense of not recognizing my life and feeling very lost. I think some of it might come from literally not knowing what’s coming next. I’ve reached a huge milestone and don’t see the next huge milestone (babies) coming anytime in the near future. But I’ve been experiencing a lot of anxiety and fear about not knowing what’s next and not being able to just sit and enjoy where I’m at.

    I also think part of this is because there so much excitement and planning that go into being engaged that it’s a huge leap after getting married for everything to just go back to being normal again. (Someone please tell me what I’m supposed to do with all this time because I still do not know!) I’m a huge type A person and love having goals to meet and I thrive when there’s a lot of pressure to get things done. So since we we’re engaged for just less than 6 months, while I was still looking for a job, almost all of my life while being engaged was just pressure and making sure everything got done. And even though there was some crazy stress to that that I have never experienced before, there still was some normalcy to it because even before that there was a lot to do.

    Just 6 months before we got engaged I was going to school full time and working full time so again I was used to having a lot going on. Part of me really does enjoy that. And don’t get me wrong I really do love where I’m at now – being married and living with Tommy has been hands down the most exciting and fun thing that has happened to me. But it is has also been a huge adjustment that I just didn’t realize I would have to make. Who would have thought that finally having a stable home would cause someone anxiety lol? I’m still working through all of these strange new feelings and I think part of it might be that I’m afraid to lose what I have because it is so different and I really do love it so much.

    I’m learning to trust God at this new stage of my life and really lean into Him and believe that He is good always. There is no reason to believe that God would take this all away from me because He is the one who has blessed me with it in the first place. I want to be more diligent about spending time with God, reading His word and praying because I have been slacking a lot with this and I also think that this might be part of where the anxiety is coming from as well.

    What about you? Does anyone else know what I am talking about or has experienced this as well? Please tell me I am not alone.

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  • Faith,  Life,  Marriage

    Thoughts on being a wife

    June 26, 2016

    So tomorrow it will officially be one year of blogging and I think that’s just crazy. Time please slow down. But anyways it’s been just over a month since I got married and it’s been such a whirl-win but really has been the best time of my life.  It’s such a huge change that honestly nothing can prepare you for so I just wanted to write down my thoughts thus far on being a wife so that I have it to remember and also to slightly prepare anyone who might read this who is getting married.

    • There is never a time when something is not planned. Even rest needs to be scheduled in it feels like.
    • There is ALWAYS housework to be done. Always.
    • Living with your best friend has got to be one of the funnest things ever. Going to sleep and waking up next to them has to be the best part about being married.
    • Where do all the dishes even come from?
    • What am I supposed to do when my husband isn’t home? I am so not used to this lol he gets home before I do from work everyday so I rarely am home when he isn’t. Today is actually the first day that I am home without him for an extended period of time and it is weird. (Hope I’m not alone with this one lol).
    • Alone time is important but hard to come by sometimes.
    • Marriage is the most rewarding thing on the planet if you are doing it in God’s design.
    • Loving my husband by cooking and cleaning has been the most satisfying thing ever.
    • Nobody tells you how much you’ll miss your family. It is beyond exciting moving out and having a place with your best friend but I never realized how much I would miss my family too. It was definitely an adjustment.
    • Being responsible for dinner and cleanup when you’ve had a bad day at work is tough sometimes. I’m so thankful I have a loving husband who shares the household chores with me.
    • I need to learn a new way to connect with God. My life is completely different and I’m still trying to figure out when the best time is for me to read my bible and connect with God. This one has been tough.

    So I’m sure there are so many more things that I could say but I will stop there. Being married gives me so much joy, but please don’t fall into the trap like I did that once you are married that everything will be perfect. Tommy and I have so much fun together but we’re both still sinners and we still fight and get on each other’s nerves. Marriage doesn’t fix anything and you definitely need to be ready for it for it to work well.

    I’d love to hear from you though. What do you remember about how much your life changed when you first got married? Or if you’re not married what do you think will be the hardest/easiest thing adjusting to?

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