Finally Home!!!

Well, after 36 hours of flights, layovers, and lost baggage I finally made it home EARLY Saturday morning. I cried like a baby when I got through those doors and finally saw my family. God truly blessed me on that last flight. Everyone made sure I was the first one off (since the stewardess announced to everyone where I was flying from and how long I had been gone.) I think there were people from the plane that were crying too. It really was wonderful.

Now I am trying to get over the jet lag. So far there have been some major issues with it. I tend to be awake from 3am on, no matter what I try. That's no big deal though. I now it will all get back to normal soon enough.

I have so much I would love to share, but for today I'll just share this one point. India has definitely changed my heart and my life. 1/5 of the world's population lives there.....and VERY FEW know the Lord as personal Saviour. What a mission field. I won't be taking little things for granted anymore after seeing what I saw over there. If you are reading this and you live in America, you are more blessed than you probably even realize. Take time today to thank God for His goodness.

20 More Days Until I'm Home!!!!

I can definitely say I have learned a lot on this trip. What is one of the biggest things I have learned?????? I AM A HOMEBODY, NOT A WORLD TRAVELLER. A few days of travelling and sightseeing is good, but then I am ready to be in my own home, in my own bed, with my own family, and in my own church.

I am travelling with four other people and I am very thankful for their company. Today they all went to a forest to see monkeys, elephants, and tigers (in the wild) and then after dinner they were going to see a snake charmer. I stayed behind to work on my classes and write a humongous paper (that still isn’t done...maybe tomorrow.)

It has been quite an adjustment, in many ways, here in India. I wish I had time to share them all but that would take days. One thing that is very strange for me is how they wait on me hand and foot. As I was writing this I had to stop because they were bringing me my laundry – washed, folded, ironed the whole nine-yards! And they don’t want tipped for it. I have discovered that they will take American chocolate though. A good friend from work told me to bring a lot of that when I came and now I know why – they love it and think it is the biggest treat in the world.

It is just odd not doing anything....no cleaning, cooking, etc. You may think, “How great!!!” but no, I don’t know what to do with myself. Thankfully, in 20 days I will be home!!! Here are a few pictures. I’ll try to do some better ones tomorrow.

These are two little children I see walk by each morning on their way to school. This is from my balcony window.

Also from my balcony window, the "house" with the blue tarp is where these children live.

This is kind of hard to see. I will try to get better ones later. The buildings you see in the background are the buildings we drive by as we go to and from work each day. About a half mile past this you enter what is known as Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley is where I work. It is the high tech industry. Other than the people looking different and the guards surrounding the building you would have no idea that you were outside of America.

This is another view from my balcony. This is our pool, which is actually located on a roof. It's hard to believe that looking one way I see this and looking another way I see a shack with a blue tarp.

This is the last view from my balcony. It overlooks some of the other highrises that are in the area.

Day 6 - Now in India

I can’t believe I’ve already been gone for 6 days!! It has gone by very quickly. I’m writing this at 1am on Sunday morning (India time) and that is because my body is NOT convinced that it is night time. Yesterday I finally went to bed at 4am and slept until noon.

Thursday and Friday were pretty long days with working and trying to adjust to a different culture. It really is a different world here. It make me realized just how blessed people in America really are.

One thing that amazes me here is the people. They would do anything in their power to service you. I asked one gentleman if they had any magazines in the hotel and he told me he would bring some to my room. I found out he ran down the street and bought them for me, just because there wasn’t any here. They service your food, dish it up on your paper and when they see that you a re almost done they are right there ready to dish you up seconds.

I am trying many different things – food wise that is – because I will probably never get another opportunity like this again. Here are a few pictures – but I have some others that I will share later.

This is a typical street that we drive by on the way to work each day.

Driving here is an experience in itself. I am going to actual video our drive to work one day for that you can actually see the whole trip!

Traffic got held up one this day because a cow decided to lay down for a bit to rest. When this happens you just wait for him to get up or try to find another way to go.

These were school children getting a hot lunch served to them.

Day 3 - London sightseeing

There is no way to describe London!!! And no way to see even a touch of all the beauty in a day.....but we sure did try. Today was a day of sightseeing. Here are just a few of the things we saw:

The gates of Buckingham Palace

The back of one of the castles (I'm tired and don't remember which one)

London Bridge

Beautiful statues like this are EVERYWHERE!!!

Another gorgeous fountain

Part of the changing of the guards

This was our tour bus. We sat up on top in the open area part....even when it was sprinkling!! It was a wonderful experience that even the rain couldn't mess up. We had a terrific tour guide that shared SO much information.

This is Wanda - the very sweet lady that I am traveling with. She is in front of the gates at Buckingham Palace.

One of the many pictures I have of Big Ben. What a remarkable sight!!!

I wish we would have had more time. There are so many museums and churches that I would have loved to have toured. I took over 200 pictures and video taped and I still missed so much.

Dairy of my trip – Day 1 and 2

I am going to try to keep a daily dairy for my kids while I am away – and I thought what a great way to share it with my friends and family too.

I am currently in London. We arrived this afternoon and came straight to the hotel and slept for 3 hours. I can’t believe how tired I was.

I left Sunday at 1:15 pm, flew to Denver and then SAT for 8 hours until we finally boarded our plane to London. The flight was great. I slept for most of it (so why was I so tired when I got here??) I still feel like I could sleep some more, which is good because it is 10:00 pm here. Tonight we ate at the hotel restaurant and now we are spending the evening relaxing in the hotel room.

Tomorrow we are doing an all day tour on London. I know we’ll be exhausted when we are done, but we only have one full day here so we want to take advantage of it. I’ll try to get pictures posted each day.

Here is one for today......

I Think I'm Melting!!

I cant’ believe how hot it was yesterday and again today!! All-in-all, this summer hasn’t been nearly as hot as usual, but all of a sudden yesterday that changed. Yesterday at 3:00pm it was 101 degree and the winds was blowing like you wouldn’t believe. Today it was already over 85 before noon....and that hot wind is still blowing.

Today was one of those days at church that we weren’t just refreshed from the preaching but also from the cool temperature inside. We had a wonderful message on the grace of God. There are so many times I take for granted all the grace that God gives me. I don’t deserve the wonderful life He blesses me with, yet He continues to bless me and allow me daily opportunities to serve Him.

I hope each of you take some time today to thank God for all He has, is, and will continue to do for you.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!!!

Rambling thoughts...

Do you every have those moments when you ask, “Are you sure I can do this, God?” I do. As a matter of fact, I’m having one of those moments today. I’m feeling kind of overwhelmed. I’m not panicking or anything – I’m just feeling like “WOW, you are CRAZY!!!” Does that make sense?

I know a lot of this has to do with my classes starting yesterday. I don’t know about you, but the word THESIS has always been a scary word to me. Now, my final term is under way and I have to write a THESIS ~ and do you know what.....that still sounds scary. I keep asking myself if I think I ready to do this, if I think I can do it, if I want to do it. I must have a million questions going through my mind right now.

On top of that, I leave for India in 9 days. (For those who don’t know.....I’m not much for flying. As a matter of fact, I haven’t flown in 19 years.) On September 7th I am going to spend a total of 20 hours flying. I won’t count all the layover time that is in there too. There is a part of me that is excited, but then there is a part of me that is saying, “YOU ARE CRAZY!!!!!!”

Having said all that, the one important thing I have to say is that God has given Jeff and I complete peace and confidence about all that I am doing – and because of that, I know that I’m not crazy......I am blessed. God is allowing me to finish my education and in the process allowing me to travel to India and use that trip as the basis for my thesis. Not only will my trip become my thesis, God have lined everything out so that all my expenses are covered. We really do serve an awesome God!!!!! (And as if that wasn’t enough, God is even taking my trip is such a way that I get to spend 2 days in London – just because.)

I'll Never Understand

As a preacher’s wife you would think that I would get used to certain things after a while, but I don’t. Every time I see someone return to the vile world that God saved them from I cringe. It literally makes me sick to my stomach. Why? After breaking free from the pain and heartache that was brought on by the live they were in, why would they go back to it?

That is something I will NEVER understand.

As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

Proverbs 26:11

The Start of Another Week

Another weekend has come and gone and summer it that much closer to being over. It is hard to believe that we are almost 8 months through the year 2008. I sure don’t remember time going so fast when I was a kid!!!!

Today my brother, Jason, is flying back to Iraq, where he works as an independent contractor. He has been home for 10 days, due to our Dad’s funeral. It was great to see him and his family last week. He will be coming back tot the states October 9th – the day before I return from India. We are going to try to get our families together again during his 6 weeks home.

PRAYER REQUEST: Elisabeth isn’t feeling well. I think she may have another sinus infection. She has been up most of the night just feeling miserable. We will be taking her in today to check.

VERSE OF THE DAY: It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2 Take some time today to search out the treasures God has for you in His Word.

How Time Flies

Today is the first Saturday since the middle of May that I have not had either company here, school work that was due, or just plain wasn’t home. It is wonderful to just stay home with my kids and not worry about who was coming over or what had to get done.

I am amazed at how fast time goes by. It seems like just yesterday I was a child, now I have children that have children!! I have sisters and brothers that are all grown up and have children of their own.

Last night Braden got to spend the evening with Jeff and I. As he fell asleep in my lap I sat there marveling at the whole event. It didn’t seem like it was that long ago that I was doing the same thing with Braden’s daddy.

Some many things have changed over all those years, but the important things never have – the love God have for me, the love I have for my family, and the love they have for me are things that are constants in my life. Who could ask for more?

Don’t Blink – By Kenny Chesney

I turned on the evening news

Saw a old man being interviewed

Turning a hundred and two today

Asked him what's the secret to life

He looked up from his old pipe

Laughed and said "All I can say is."

Don't blink

Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you

Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don't blink

You just might miss your babies growing like mine did

Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"

Of fifty years is there in bed

And you're praying God takes you instead

Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think

So don't blink

Nick before he graduated

Nick - 18 and growing up fast


Dec. 5, 2008 - Nick has a son
Braden Lee

Braden is 3 months old - and a truly happy baby


My baby holding his baby (and his cousin Tristan)


Braden at 7 months - he's growing too fast!!

NO REGRETS

For years and years I have always told people (especially my family) to think carefully about what you say to each other, because you never know if those will be the last words you ever speak to them.

Last week I talked to my Dad. We talked about the kids, about him possibly coming to visit and about him being there when I got my Master’s Degree. We even talked about my trip to India. It was a nice conversation. His last words to me that day were, “I love you Babe” and my last words to him were, “I love you too Dad.”

Those were our last words with each other. Yesterday afternoon, while at a friend’s house, my dad took a deep breathe and passed away. No warning, nothing.....just gone.

Family and friend’s who truly know about the relationship that my dad and I have had over the years, know that to say it was strained would be an understatement. But there was never a time that I didn’t love him. There has never been a time in my life that I can remember not yearning for my dad to be in my life.

I am thankful that I can cherish that last conversation we had. I am thankful I took the time to witness to him even when he didn’t want to hear it. In those areas I can say I have no regrets.

Please take my advice – never leave angry, whether it be in person or on the phone. Take time to tell those close to you how you feel. And above all, learn to cherish the moments because before you know it they are gone.

IT'S A GOOD DAY

SUNRISE OVER THE MISSOURI RIVER

Sitting here this morning in the quiet of my living room I am reminded yet again why I love North Dakota. I love the peacefulness and the beautiful. I love the safety and security. And the more I think about it – what I love is being right where God wants me to be, do exactly what He wants me to be doing. I am content.

I think it is heartbreaking to see so many people that are not content with what they have – whether that be in their family, their friends, their church, their jobs, or their possessions. They are missing out on so much. They spend so much time wish for “whatever” that they miss the beauty of the day they are living.

Each day is a gift of God and I am not going to ruin this gift by worrying or fretting or trying to change the future (that I am not even promised.)

So, as I sit here looking out my window I am counting my blessings and enjoying the day....with whatever it holds!! I pray that you take time to do the same.

Random Thoughts for the Day

I have a lot of random thoughts running through my head this morning....

1. As my trip to India gets closer I am starting to make a list of what to put in my carry-on bag and what to pack. As suggestions?????


2. Thanks to Terri and Gerda ~ now I can start getting some music put on my IPOD!!!!

3. Jeff was preaching the other day and he used this verse:

Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.


I have been thinking about it ever since. “Occupy till I come.” Occupy means:
1. To take possession.
2. To keep in possession; to possess; to hold or keep for use.
3. To take up; to possess; to cover or fill.
4. To employ; to use.
5. To employ; to busy one's self.
6. To follow, as business.
7. To use; to expend.

God wants us to occupy till He comes. He wants us to take possession of what He offers us and to busy ourselves with it. He doesn’t want us to just sit there and do nothing. In other words, he doesn’t want us to be idle.

If you have the time, look up what the Bible says about being idle....not a good thing.

SHARING A THOUGHT

Think about this...You may soon forget those with you have laughed with, but you will never forget those you have wept with.

When we experience sorrow, we take comfort in knowing that someone else has gone through a similar trial and has felt the same kind of sadness we feel.

In such times, we tend to cling to those friends who have been where we are. Jesus is one such friend.

He experienced the death of a very close friend, watched as His disciples betrayed Him, and kept silent as He was unjustly beaten and hung on a cross. Needless to say, He was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief," and can relate when we are dealing with pain and grief (Isaiah 53:3).

If you are in a time of sadness and sorrow and feel that no one understands you, remember that Jesus understands because He has experienced pain too. You can trust that He has been wherever you are and will walk with you through your darkest hour.

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who have chosen to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand.

Thank you to my friends that I know I can weep with.

Just Call Me Pinky.....

Here is my pretty pink cast....and yes, my toe nails match!!

And this next one is Braden. (He is almost 8 months old now.) He was trying to eat the camera. My sister's little boy, Tristan, is in the background. She was supposed to send me some better pictures that were taken that day, since my camera batteries died. (HINT, HINT!!!!)

It seems like forever since I’ve posted a blog – and so much has been going on. My classes are over for this term, so that is a huge blessing. Also, I think pretty much all the rounds of company are gone for the summer too!!

I did get rid of the boot on my foot...but only to exchange it for a pretty pink cast. That will be one until the 18th. (I’ll try to add some pictures this evening – not just of my cast.)

So much more to share, but I’ll do it in bits as not to overwhelm anyone. I’ve really been working on losing all this excess weight and I have a goal to lose 25 pounds by the end of the year. I don’t think that is too unrealistic. I know I have to do it without exercise, due to my foot, so I as going to be keeping a very detailed food log each day. I am also doing my Bible Study each morning and am focusing my studies around my goal. I will share things here as I go along.

Well, our daily (at least they seem daily lately) thunderstorm has passed and my coffee cup is empty. Time to start to the day!!!

I’M ALMOST THERE

This has been the longest 8 weeks of my college times. These last weeks made getting my Bachelor’s degree a piece of cake. I can honestly say if it hadn’t been by the grace of my Lord and the love and patience of my family I wouldn’t be able to say that on Tuesday I will be done!!

I really think God has showed me so much of these 2 months. He showed me just how wonderful my family is (not that I didn’t know before.) I showed me that I cannot do this on my own (as my sister so lovingly tells me....I am not Super Woman – and no one but me excepts me to be.) He has reminded of His love and concern for me with each assignment I complete.

On December 19th, the day I am completely done, the first person that will get the thanks for this will be my Lord, then my husband and family. There have so many times that I have wanted to quit – but God reminds me that it was His will I do this. If I were to quit I would be quitting on something that God had for me. So, I continue – and am so much closer to victory!!

Thank you to each of my friends that have been patience and supportive of me through this all. I know that phone calls and emails have been few of late, but I want you each to know you are always in my thoughts and prayers.

This is what is left between now and Tuesday:

** A 25 page paper on International business practices of 5 separate companies (which I haven’t even started yet)
** A Power Point presentation to accompany the paper I haven’t written yet
** A final exam for International Business
** A final exam for Strategic Management
** A visiting missionary and his family
** A 3 game volleyball tournament on Sunday evening (that I can’t play in because I still have my pretty black boot on my foot)

See you all Wednesday – when my summer break truly begins!!!!

I knew this day would come

I have a box of “special Steven stuff.” To be honest, I haven’t opened the box since a few months after the funeral – that has been almost 9 years now. I just haven’t been able to bring myself to do it. I took comfort in knowing it was there, in case I ever wanted to go through it.

Over the last few weeks Brett has been asking hundreds of questions about Steven. Today he asked if I had anything other than all the pictures he has seen. I told him I had a special box and his face lit up. He wanted to see the box.

As I write this Brett is sitting at the table going through everything in the box. I went through part of it with him, but honestly – it hurts more than I expected. I want Brett to go through the box, to know the brother he never got to meet, but this is a lot harder than I ever would have thought it would be.

There are things in that box I had forgotten about – reports he had written, letters to me, pictures he drew. Just tons of memories.

I would love to call someone, but I don’t want Brett to know how much it hurts me....so I write. He needs to see those things, he needs to bring me things and have me read them out loud. He needs to know who wrote the letters and the poems. So I write.

Toto, we're not in Kansas any more....

I would love to be a storm chaser!!!! My sister, Margaret, and I used to day dream about it as we watched the storms out of our living room window. Well, if I still lived in Minot, instead of Bismarck, I would have gone chasing last night!!!! Here are the ones that went through Rolla and Belcourt last night. I'm not smart enough (or just too tired) to figure out how to put the slide show on here....but if your interested check it out.



http://bismarcktribune.com/shared-content/story_tools/slideshow/?id=73

And I know this picture of Braden is old (he's 7 month's old now) but it is one of my favorites!!!

YEP....I'M STILL COUNTING

This term is over on July 23rd...that is 19 days from today. In those 19 days I still have 17 assignments to turn in. I guess that let's you know what I'll be doing from now until then!!!!!