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!!!