Gripped by the Sovereignty of God

Can you thank me for trusting you with this experience even if I never tell you why? -God.
After listening to Walk in the Word with James McDonald today, this comment sticks with me and causes me to contemplate this question in my life. I don't understand why we are in Fargo, why our house hasn't sold, why my mom is in heaven today and left this earth earlier than I wanted her to. BUT, can I thank God for trusting me to endure all these things?

No School?!

NDEA, otherwise known to us as, MEA weekend. Yippee. Four day weekend. TROUBLE. That's was that is. It takes us two days to get used to being at home together, one day to get along and one day to prepare to return to school. The only choice I had was to put McKenzie in charge and go off to lunch with a friend. We had a lovely time and actually, while I was away, the kids played very well together. Even spent most of it outside. Music to a mother's ears. All afternoon, we anxiously anticipated Sarah and Dorothy's arrival for a sleepover this evening. Of course the climax to this event is the debut of High School Musical 3 on Friday. I secretly can't wait to see the movie!
We had a fun evening as I tooked five children to a "photo shoot". There is a young women's event coming up at church and one of the ideas was to take pics of women of all ages with no makeup on. All natural. I think it sounds really cool. Sophia and Dotty Lou got in on the action too. Isaac had a melt down when he walked into the room full of estrogen. So, Hannah had to take him out and hide in the van. Where else could a boy go? Afterwards, we picked up five girls from Olive Garden. (Mckenzie and her friends) and brought the people count in the van up to 10. Yikes.
Troy is enjoying himself in Bismarck at the NDEA conference. I love how he ends up singing karoake and eating good food all night. Sounds like hard work to me.

Rainy days in Oct.

I am finishing what I started. I don't do that a lot. I get something going and then have a hard time completing it. My husband calls it abstract/random. I also refer to it as adult ADHD. I can be going along, with a task in my mind, and be completely thrown off by something else that catches my eye or enters my thoughts. Like today, I had no intention of trying to begin to blog again. I have things to do!! However, this grabbed my attention and I was off to the races. Call it random, call it whatever...

"Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitants of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel." Is. 12:5-6

He has been glorious in my life over the course of the last year. I have been pricked my the brokeness of the world and have lived through it to tell about it. There were days I didn't think I could go on happily ever again. I have learned how to live in the moment and savor the people in my life. I have learned that God is good, not matter the circumstances. There are many other truths that have been imprinted on my life that I hope I never forget. Learning things in the classroom is one thing, but going on a field trip will seal the memory forever. I don't like field trips, but if that what it takes to make me student of the Word, so be it.

I hope to share how this happens and how to trust God in difficulty.

Mayo Clinic....January 29th and 30th.
Can't help but walk through and think about all these sick people being made well by the only Healer that could change their lives forever. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. At that time, He will also wipe every tear from their eyes and remove the diseases. There will be no need for wheelchairs, chemo drugs and doctors for that matter! Praise God!!! I can't wait until that day!

Good intentions

I had decided early on today that I was going to run errands instead of attend bible study this morning. I had a couple of stops to make and Isaac was in preschool...seemed like a great opportunity! Sophia is turning 7 tomorrow and we are planning to celebrate both her birthday and Joel's graduation from fireman's training on Sat. Honestly, I was not really in "party mode" and feeling more like having a "pity party" than celebrating. I was determined to find firemen's hats so that we could all be wearing one in honor of Joel. I was actually feeling a little encouraged after finding a verse that the Lord led me to today. Is. 43:1-3. Trusting that God was walking with me through this fire.
After purchasing the hats, I was feeling thrilled that I found what I was looking for. Troy and I have been diligent about saving all receipts this month and I was putting just that in my wallet when BAM!! I fell off a step (did NOT see that there) and twisted my ankle severly!!! I was standing there crying wondering how I would get out to my van to sit down. I cried out to God for help and made it there, where I continued to cry! I felt like a kid, but I am telling you, it really hurt!! Long story short, made it home, sister in law Martha came to the rescue...my knight in shining armor also came home to watch Isaac and after an hour and a half vist to the walk in clinic, I came home with an Ace bandage, an ankle support, and a PT appointment. Third degree sprain. Ouch.
lesson learned here? Nothing yet...stay tuned. Could potentially be a great devotional.

Christ is most magnified when...

Christ is most magnified in us when we are most satisfied in Him when we lose everything but Him.


Christ is magnified by being preferred above everything that life can offer. His grace is sufficient for me. (Phillipians 1: 20-21)


I want Christ to look good in my life...

Suffering is Essential

The last few weeks have been a blur. I went from enjoying some sweet rest and relaxation with my husband in Nashville to learning that my mom was diagnosed with cancer. From there it only got more interesting as I quickly headed off to be with my parents in Mitchell, only to end up in the ditch after a slippery slide down the interstate. Through the kindness and thoughtfulness of relatives, we were cared for so tenderly as we waited to get to our final destination. I can't even begin to express my gratitude over the way God provided for us in this bad situation.
We finally made it to Mitchell on Dec. 22nd and celebrated Christmas. It was a special time together with mom, dad, Joel and all our family. Knowing that we were about to embark on a very scary journey into cancer, it made the time together very precious. For awhile, we didn't have to face the facts, but only cherish each other and live in the present.
Through it all, I caught of glimpse of what God was doing in each of our lives... in my mom, He was giving peace that passes all understanding...in my brother, He was raising up a true spiritual leader...in my dad, my hero, the armor was beginning to crack. Most all, we got real and focused on what matters most. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our relationships with one another. Why does it take a tragedy for us to tell the people we love just how very much they mean to us and how very much we love and treasure them?? I could never convey to my mom or to my dad how much they have impacted my life and how grateful I am that the Lord chose them for me. They are the best parents EVER and I love them more than I could ever tell them. When you love deeply, you feel pain deeply. My heart hurts...
We left Mitchell with the realization that surgery was just around the corner...Dec. 31st. I would come back alone and stay with my mom and dad as long as they needed me. Troy was going to hold down the house and play Mr Mom. We also had supports in place to give rides, take care of Isaac and provide a few meals along the way. God was faithful and good to all of them during this time. He also met us in a hospital room in Mitchell and provided us with a sweet time of laughter and tears. I saw the hands and feet of the body of Christ and felt His love through countless hugs and many meals. My mom was amazing and I was so proud to be her daughter and be there to encourage and support her. Again, there were moments that I was sure my heart would literally break in two and I could barely catch my breathe, but ultimately, the Lord's grace was sufficient for all of us.
What have I learned so far? Not to race ahead of today...I must live in the present. He daily bears our burdens. I don't have the grace for tomorrow yet.
I need to live and breathe God's Word. There is nothing else that will bring me peace or hope.
I will spend the rest of this life telling my mom how special, how wonderful, how amazing she is and just how much I love her.