Praise you in the storm

Well, the weather is a little rough in our house these days. Lately I do not see eye to eye with my teens. Especially one in particular. I know it is a phase. I know this is life. I know I was horrible to my mother at one point in my life. Yet it does not make it any easier. I try to keep my focus on Him rather then the disappointment, discouragement, and hurt. I try to remind myself that the things I give up and do I do because I love them so much, and not because I expect anything in return. I just wish they would affirm now and then that they know that I love them, and that it means something to them, and that they love me too. I wish the fruits of our labor would show a little in their behavior, when right now we feel like total failures as parents.

So, I run to my Savior for strength and wisdom. I lift my children up to our Father even more then usual. I ride out the storm and rejoice that He is refining me and I praise Him in the storm.

Disney

Has it been a month already? I need to get a life that moves slower! A month ago we were in Florida visiting the parks at this time. We had a great time. God's fingerprints were evident in this entire trip. I've shared how I felt like a disobedient child by not praying about our decision to take this trip, and stretching beyond our means. Yet he was so good to bless us with a wonderful vacation! Before we even left home, I was rummaging through some papers, and I found a $50 tucked in them! It was the strangest thing! Blessing #1

The flight was smooth and uneventful. It was J's first time flying, and he loved it! The girls bus made it safely to Florida. Traveling mercies were ours. Blessing #2

The weather was absolutely beautiful! 70s and 80s almost the whole time with brilliant sunshine to bask in! It didn't rain a drop until we got on the plane to go home. Blessing #3

The first morning there we went to get our Disney and Universal Studio passes. We ordered a 3 day pass to Disney and a 2 day pass to Universal and they upped them both to a 7 day pass for no additional charge. Blessing #4

Even though it was Spring break with lots of people, for some reason we kept getting in a line that promised to be a long wait, yet it would take 1/2 as long as expected! God was on our side! Blessing #5

I was so worried we would not get to see the girls very much, that they would be so busy with their friends and performing for the band. We met up with them several times at the parks and got to ride some of the rides with them. One night we were able to "kidnap" them and bring them back to our condo for awhile. Then on the last night there we got to eat dinner with K and her friends at the Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant. I was thrilled to be able to spend so much time with my kids who were there with their class. Blessing #6

We love Univeral Studios the most. They had so many movie themed attractions. We were able to be in a movie and see how it is filmed and all comes together. We shot at aliens on the Men In Black ride and got chased by Jaws on the Jaws attraction. The ground beneath us shook like crazy as we took part in the Twister experience. We got to experience 4-D (smell and touch as well as 3-D images) shows like Bugs Life, Shrek, and Terminator. We saw the Little Mermaid show. We ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and were quizzed on our Forrest Gump knowledge the whole evening. We rode the Mummy roller coaster and saw the Blues Brothers perform. It was so cool, and if we ever go back to Orlando, we will definitely do Universal Studios again!

I LOVED the Tower of Terror at Hollywood studios. You climb into an elevator when everything goes wrong and your elevator drops several stories and then goes back up and then drops again - several times. It was awesome!

At Animal Kingdom we went on an animal safari and saw real live animals walking about as we sat in our buses.

At Epcot we got to experience how it feels to take off in a Rocket and see the moon. We also walked through many different countries and got to take in their culture.

We would leave in the morning by 8 or 9 a.m. and not get home until 10 p.m. in the evening! It was A LOT of walking, A LOT to take in and see, and A LOT of good memories. Finally on Saturday I said to B to just go ahead without J and I because I needed some down time. So the 2 of us went down to the pool for a few hours, then back to our condo for lunch and a nap, and then B came back to get us at dinner time to head back to the park. He went and met up with K and got to spend some quality Father/daughter time with her.

If we changed one thing about our vacation it would be a little more down time sprinkled in with our running. I love to lounge by the pool and soak up the sun. Mental note to self.

So all in all we had a blast as a family. We enjoyed each other, enjoyed the parks, and enjoyed the weather. We have a God who loves us and has blessed us. Thank you Father above!!

P.S. I LOVE palm trees! The end.

Spring

Spring is here. My flowers are poking their heads out from the earth. The dirty snow is nearly gone, and green grass is evident. Spring is a time of new beginnings. I feel the Lord working so much in my life lately - and calling me to so many changes in my life. I have a strong desire to get into shape and be healthy. I long to be a good steward with our finances. I want to be better equipped to share the gospel with those who don't know the Lord. I just feel like He has this awesome plan spread out and ready for me, and I'm so excited to be a part of it.

Thank you Father for working in my life. You are so good to me, right down to the smallest details of my life. I have been blessed and look forward to the blessings to come. I pray that I grow more like you each day Lord. Equip me and give me the strength to be a better steward, to have self control over my health, and to share your love with those who don't know you. It is my desire for you to work in and through my life. Thank you for who you've made me to be. Thank you for Spring and all of your creation. For new beginnings. For the chance to spend eternity with you. You are so good to me. Amen.

Just a short piece of my heart for tonight. Hope to blog about our vacation soon. It was awesome!

What's new

Just wanted to update before we head out on vacation. I'm finding it harder and harder to get in here and journal, with all that life entails. Plus, I'm addicted to Myspace and Facebook - since I'm such a realtional person, I love to communicate that way.

These last few weeks have been a blur. Usually at least 2 nights a week are committed to the teens at church - whom I love dearly. They are my second family! The other nights are spent running errands such as shopping, kids activities, helping my mom, etc.

Lately we've been getting ready for our trip. We leave in 2 days for Florida to watch the girls play in band at Disney!! They will go down with the band, we will fly in and meet them. I'm soooo looking forward to getting away from winter and into the sun! Just when it was starting to feel like Spring around here, we got hit with a big snow storm yesterday. 15 inches in some areas! So much for an Easter egg hunt.

This trip has been a little bit stressful for us. For one, we didn't consult God before deciding to go. Big mistake. We should of prayed about it first, and that is the biggest lesson learned. It has been a little bit of a financial strain for us, and we will pay the consequences of it for awhile, but I feel that God will still bless us through it with an enjoyable time with our family, and some rest and relaxation!

So much goes into going on vacation. The kids outgrew most of their summer things, so we had to buy new. All of the toiletries and sunscreen and necessities. I was at the store 3 times last week, and we have to go again today. One night I was out until 11:30! There are the lists and and the confirmations, the forms for the girls, packing, making arrangements for the pets and the house. There has been so much going through my head these last few weeks. Sometimes I will just sit in a room and not be able to do anything, because I don't know where to start!

I'm excited to see Disney. I've never been there. I'm a little worried we won't have any down time - which is my idea of a vacation - but we'll have to make sure to squeeze in a day or two of lounging by the pool.

Other then that, we've been spending time with some missionary friends. They are from the Philippines. The 2 teens have been spending a lot of time at our house. B has been teaching my son J guitar. C has wrapped herself around my heart. I call her bug, cuz she is such a snuggle bug. Well they leave to visit other churches around the U.S. this weekend, so we had to say goodbye. It was tearful. I get so attached in my realtionships. Hopefully we were an encouragement to them. Perhaps some day our youth group will take a missions trip to the Phillipines to see them!




Speaking of missions trips, this July the teens are going to New Orleans. I've been praying about whether or not to go, but so far I haven't heard back from God. I feel very neutral about it at this point. K is going to go - she's excited. It won't cost me anything but an occasional restaurant on the way there and back (youth leaders don't have to pay). I would have to use a weeks vacation, and I would have to leave my guys home alone. I've never been on a missions trip though, and I hear they are life changing. So if you think of it, please pray about my decision.

Well I can't end without notice to the holiday weekend. Good Friday has passed and Easter is here. This holiday is always bitter sweet for me. I think about the pain that Christ suffered on the cross, and it hurts my heart. But I rejoice that He rose from the dead, and I get to spend eternity with Him! I really do look forward to eternity. I can't wait.

Tonight we will watch The Passion again as a family. We try to do it every Easter now. I usually sob, but that's par for the course. Tomorrow we will have church, but no real celebration after, as the girls leave for Florida at 5, and we have to prepare for our flight on Monday. I plan to make a cheesy potato/ham casserole. Something quick and easy. I'll have to think of a dessert too.

On that note I'm going to wrap up. Wishing each of you a blessed Easter! He is risen!!

18 years

Monday (3/10) is our wedding anniversary. 18 years already! We met when we were 15 and 16, so we've been together longer then we haven't. It's scary how fast time goes. I still remember every year of our marriage and our courtship. I think about our first dance, our first kiss, all of the stupid things we did as teenagers. I remember our first apartment and the many to come after that. The pets that we had, the friends that we made. The jobs that we've had. A lot happens in 22 years. Some may think that ours is a marriage that doesn't fit. I know within my soul that it was a marriage designed by God. The love I have for my husband can only come from up above. Though I don't always agree with his actions or words, I always have an indescribable love for this man. I wait patiently for his spirtual growth. He loves the Lord, and for that I am thankful and blessed. My desire is to see him grow and mature in the Lord. This is where the patience comes in. I mean no derespect in sharing this with you. If anything, it is to show how I believe the Lord has a plan and is doing a work in him. Though I don't recommend a marriage that is unequally yoked, I married an unbeliever. I prayed for him for years, believing that the Lord would get his attention, and he did. About 5 years or so after our marriage, he became a believer! It is with that same faith that I believe the Lord will grab hold of his heart and set it on fire for Him. God knew we would be married. He planned it perfectly. Tonight was a sweet reminder that God affirms our marriage. Our "song" is Forever by Kenny Loggins. Not a very common song, one we rarely heard in the 80s. While we were out to dinner tonight, it was playing in the restaurant! It was awesome! I'm so thankful for a husband who loves and provides for us and our family. God is good!

Wisconsin

This must be why I still live in Wisconsin!!

An appropriate Wisconsin poem

It's winter in Wisconsin
And the gentle breezes blow,
70 miles per hour at 52 below!

Oh, how I love Wisconsin
When the snow's up to your butt.
You take a breath of winter air And your nose is frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful,
I guess I'll hang around.
I could never leave Wisconsin,
'Cause I'm frozen to the ground.

What is it?

What is it about you Lord,
That makes me want to love you more?
Is it the beauty in your creation all around me?
Like the smile of a precious baby?

There’s something about a sunset
That drops me to my knees in praise.
I feel you in it Lord. I feel you in so many ways.

What is it about you Lord,
That makes me lost in love with you?
Is it the way you reveal yourself to me in so many things?
Like the way you draw a friend into missions
Or the way you make my heart sing!

How do things always fall in to place when you are consulted?
I know the answer Father, I’m sorry if I ever doubted!

There’s something about seeing your own children grow in faith
That reminds me that you are yet at work again-
A gift beyond measure that my child wants to be your friend.

What is it about you Lord,
That makes me want to love you more?
Is it the fellowship of believers,
Or you knocking on an unsaved friend’s door?

What is it?
There is none like you Father
No on else makes me feel the way you do.
What is it about you?