My Dad

My father passed away the last week of April. He was 69 years old, which seems entirely too young.
It was sort of sudden, but then again, not.

He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease almost 10 years ago, around age 60, and had gradually declined. We had been losing him for quite some time, even though his body was still relatively healthy. He had gone into a nursing home in mid-January of this year.  My mom had cared for him at home until this point. We thought he might be in the nursing home for several years since his health was generally good, but it was only a few months.

My dad's final two weeks went fairly quickly. People around him starting noticing a change.  I am thankful that the nursing home staff prepared us that the end was near, and we were able to be with him the last two days of his life.

He left this Earth with his loved ones surrounding him. In his last hours, we held his hands and prayed over him. We visited among ourselves and talked with him--my mother told him we would all be ok without him, giving him permission to go.  My brother played my dad's guitar, filling the room with the sound of music that had been such a huge part of his life.

As he took his last few breaths, his eyes flew wide open, and they were clear and shiny. They seemed to look at something beyond the room. I believe that he saw his Savior--the one my dad first came to know when he was in his late 30s.

We were sad to say goodbye, but rejoicing that he was finally free of his Earthly body. No more suffering or frustration, pain or heartache.

Thank you, Jesus, for preparing a place for us. Thank you for the hope and promise of Heaven.

One of our favorite pictures of my dad...

May 2012

College--the power of a praying roommate

This story was posted on Facebook by a friend--I reprinted here with his permission.

It is a story of random roommates and the power of prayer.

Both of my college-student kids have had random roommates as freshmen. This is so inspiring to any Christian who has prayed, only to feel like their prayers will never be answered.


IT'S MORE THAN A GAME! HOW GOD COULD USE THE 1985 IOWA STATE vs. IOWA GAME AND A "BAD" COLLEGE ROOMMATE, FOR HIS GLORY.

With the upcoming IOWA STATE vs. IOWA game, and the stories I've been hearing about new college students and their "bad" roommate assignments, I just can't help but sharing how God used those 2 things in my life. I too had a "horrible" dorm roommate matchup 30 years ago at ISU. Yes, they put me with the most geeky, nerdy, non partying Christian on the whole floor! You couldn't have found a more opposite pair of kids on that dorm floor. Scott R. and Scott T. He wasn't who I desired in a roommate and I wasn't the roommate he had prayed for. And I know the situation was most difficult for him. He courageously even gave me a bible at one point, but my ears were deaf to God's word. We made it through one semester somehow, and then we parted ways.

I ended up in a treatment center about one year later. Coming out of there all "cleaned up", I felt a bit of remorse towards Scott R. about the way I may have treated him when we lived together. So I located him, still at ISU, and took him to the ISU vs. Iowa football game in Ames, 1985. He was appreciative of the gesture, and we parted ways again.

About 23 years later, 2008, by the grace of God, I was given the ability to believe in Jesus for Who He really is. To come to understand that our relationship with God was severed the day we were born due to the sin we inherited from Adam and Eve. That Jesus truly is God...Who came down to this earth...as a man...born of the Holy Spirit..to be sacrificed for the forgiveness of our sin so that we can be reconciled back to God. That Jesus is the ONLY allowable sacrifice for our sin, and that He rose from the dead back into God's presence in heaven, as an example that we can be raised too....to Gods heavenly Kingdom!...only through a belief in Jesus!  And without Jesus, hell is the alternative.  Ok, I digressed, it's just impossible not to get caught up in the moment typing the gospel!! Oh it is sweet!! Back to the story......

Shortly after this coming to faith, I was following a 30 day prayer journal that our church put out. One of the days it asked me to write down the names of people I'm thankful for and pray for them. To my surprise, I found that Scott R.'s name was high on my list. It had been 25 years since I've had any contact whatsoever with him! Why was he on my list!!?? All I remembered was that he gave me a bible, he stood out as a CHRISTian, and I was thinking of any such people over the course of my life. 2 years went by and this still puzzled me. So....I went to Facebook to try to find him, no luck. Then I just googled to try to find him and finally found an email address that was his and we reconnected! He replied and confirmed we were roommates, was hoping all is well, and that he's "been praying for me for years". Thinking to myself, SERIOUSLY....praying??!! for "years"!!?? I could maybe imagine praying a bit for me after we parted ways, but for 25 years!!?? Well, we then talked and I let him know about how I had recently truly come to know Jesus and his name came up on my prayer journal, and that was why I was contacting him. To tell him how thankful I really am for him, the simple gesture of giving me that bible and just being a Christian presence in my life. Then about the "praying for years", he wasn't kidding, HE STILL HAD THE TICKET FROM THAT ISU vs. IOWA GAME WE WENT TO 25 YEARS AGO!!....IT'S IN HIS BIBLE AS A REMINDER TO PRAY FOR ME! Wow....was I humbled! And would you believe that about one week before I contacted Scott, he just happened to be talking to his pastor about unanswered prayers by God. And specifically like his prayer when he headed off to college and just asked God for a nice Christian roommate....why didn't that happen...he got about the opposite. Well, Scott got the answer the following week from me...God had a different plan for Scott! Scott told me he's wondered for all these years just what that first year at college was all about..."but now he knows". Scott R. was an awesome servant of God! And in God's time....he found out how.

This story is certainly not about me, but God, and how He can use any situation or person to His favor. I hope it's helpful to you. God bless, Scott t.

* Never stop praying for people.
*Never doubt your situation, and if you're not getting exact answer to prayer that you desire.
*God may be using you and you don't even know it.
*Pray feverishly for the Christians in your life that have had any bit of an impact on your Christian life.


(Go Clones! Oh....and never mind googling the score of that 1985 game. 

College--she flew from our nest

A few short weeks ago we dropped our oldest daughter off at college.

This was my Instagram post that day. It said, "She's ready to fly from my nest...we will miss her so."

Our son started college two years ago, but he is only 15 minutes away. Ellyn's college is two hours away, which isn't terribly far, but we'll see her much less than we have been accustomed to the past 18 years.

In the weeks prior to her moving, I tried not to let my mind spend much time thinking about her absence from our home. Instead, I tried to enjoy each day with her and remember that this is what we raised her to do. I am so excited for her to grow and mature in her passion for life and people.  I won't pretend that tears were not shed on multiple occasions. Her fun and fiery presence in our house is huge, and I knew all along that she would be greatly missed by our family.

We took the whole crew along to move her into her dorm room. After assembling the futon, unpacking her boxes, and getting her settled, we took her out for supper. Then it was time for the hugs, tears and goodbyes.

In these first few weeks of the semester, we have spent a lot of time keeping in touch with our phones. I am grateful for the option of hearing her voice and seeing her "selfie" as she heads off to class. She sends random pics that make me smile and feel connected with her.  It is fun to hear her excitement as she experiences college life for the first time.

Or this one that said, "I miss my pets."
She is adjusting really well, like she always does with anything new and exciting. She is making great friends and getting plugged in with a church and campus ministry. We are super proud of her!

I miss her like crazy and count down the days until I see her again, but there is no doubt--
she was born to fly!

Our Birthright--some thoughts

I am in my second year of Bible Study Fellowship. We studied Acts last year and are going through Genesis this year. Digging into God's Holy Word feeds my soul like nothing else is able. I am so grateful for the many who study the Bible and put together the lessons we go through each week.

As much as I love learning more about the Bible, I still spend more hours a week on Facebook, reading blogs, books, or magazines, Pinterest, etc. than opening my Bible.

The past few weeks have included the stories of Isaac and Rebekah and their twin sons Jacob and Esau--beginning with Genesis 25:19. The story of the birthright being given to Jacob, rather than firstborn Esau, is a tangled web of lies, trickery and deceit. All four of them chose to move along with their own plans rather than allow God to carry out his plan--and they sure paid the price later!

While still pregnant, the Lord told Rebekah that the birthright would go to Jacob, the younger of the twins, rather than to Esau, which was the traditional practice of giving it to the firstborn. Esau showed his indifference to God and the family birthright when he sold the birthright to Jacob in exchange for a bowl of lentil soup. Genesis 25:34 says "Esau despised his birthright."  He deliberately rejected God and His promises for something as temporary as a bowl of soup.

What is my birthright? 
Do I despise it, along with God's promises?  
Am I like Esau? 

Some thoughts from my BSF notes:
We do have a spiritual birthright and a choice about what to do with God's generous gifts. 
Contemplate some of the things you may have "inherited"...

• knowledge of the way to God
• a Christian home
• opportunity to worship and hear Christian teaching
• knowledge of God Himself
• the written Word of God

As believers, many of us (in the U.S.) have as our "birthright" an open Bible, freedom to read it, and no political persecution for believing it, yet we still choose not to make time to receive and apply every word of this precious revelation of God's character, God's will, and God's enabling. Instead, we choose to "sell our birthright" by cluttering up the hours of our days with our own brand of chosen emptiness.

I am going to spend some time thanking God for my inheritance.  An inheritance that I take for granted and often dismiss. Yes, I am like Esau.  I fill my belly with lentil soup, rather than the richness God has gifted me with. I am grateful that His mercies are new every morning, and that TODAY I have a chance to respond correctly. 

Ellyn's Speech about Siblings

Ellyn found this speech written in an old notebook. She read it out loud to us today. I think I'll save it forever.

I want to post it in honor of sibling-love for this week of Valentine's Day.

written by Ellyn a few years ago:

I can honestly say that I don't know what I would do without my brothers and sister in my life. They are my best friends, entertainment, biggest cheerleaders, partners in crime, and they have shaped me into the person I am today. Although this comes somewhat naturally because we share the same blood, my siblings are people that I have had to learn to truly appreciate and embrace. My heart breaks for kids that don't have siblings, or maybe those who just haven't learned the true meaning of a brother yet. But I believe that the key to this is having a grateful and loving heart for all that siblings provide us with.

One of the biggest things that siblings provide us with is a relationship and friendship. With multiple kids in the family there is always someone to talk to whether you want them there or not! They are a wonderful source of entertainment. A younger sibling's first steps, the fighting that occurs between two brothers, the jokes that a sister cracks. What would you do without those moments and memories?!
A sibling can be your friend-for-life because the relationship is not easy to escape.

Having siblings provides a person with so many different opportunities. The only way you can have nieces or nephews is through a sibling, and the only way you can be a bridesmaid at your sister's wedding is if you have a sister! Siblings also give you lots of activities to go to and be their biggest fan. I can't even describe the moments at state track when my brother crossed the finish line, being able to say "ahh, that's my big brother!" Or going to my little sister's softball game or my younger brother's 5K race. Besides these heartfelt moments, siblings can sometimes share clothes or go in on a gift for your parents. They allow you to do and experience things that would be impossible without them!

I often like to refer to my family and siblings as "my team." Just like a team, everyone has different strengths and roles that help them to com out on top. An effective team supports one another no matter what, and without relationships like that, a good team often becomes unsuccessful. Teammates learn from each other and make each other better people. Siblings can be just like a teammate! They teach us how to solve problems and differences because we can't easily run from them. Through siblings, you learn how to share and be generous and tolerant and selfless.

Siblings know you better than almost anyone, and because of that, they are the perfect advice-givers. They see your flaws and call you out on them. When you so something well, they react and make you want to be even better! I believe that all families have the ability to work as a team, you just have to be grateful for each other.

Many of you may be thinking, "well yeah, but siblings are so annoying!" This may be true, but so are you. If you show a thankful heart to your siblings, they're bound to show one in return. There is no bond deeper than a brother, if we choose to appreciate each other.

New Year Reflections--2013

I have struggled to celebrate the new year.

The past year, 2012, was a hard year. Not the first hard year and sadly, not the last.

The holidays were also hard this year, because of the death of my father-in-law. I have learned that you can never prepare yourself for the devastation of losing a parent.

Christmas distracted me from grieving for him, and his death distracted me from Christmas. It all seemed wrong. Mostly just sad. The blizzard on the day of his funeral was like another kick in the pants--one more distraction that took our thoughts and energy captive.

Last week, the thought of 2013 made me tired. Usually a new year is energizing and filled with optimism and hope. I usually love fresh starts. I have always liked Mondays. I have not had a good feeling about my attitude toward the new year and my negative attitude about the previous year.

The past few days have offered a quiet beginning to 2013, and it has been good. The quiet has allowed me time to ponder things and refresh my weary soul. I am beginning to feel a stirring within me that maybe 2013 will be ok. The fear of "what if 2013 is not ok" is starting to wane.

I thought I would pass on some of the things that have helped me these last few days, in case someone else is also struggling.

The book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.
I bought this book when it was released in February 2011. I started reading it and never got past the first two chapters. This week it is just what I need, and the words are soaking into my soul like rain on dry land. It has helped me turn my focus from negative things to everyday blessings.

I read through my journal of inspiring scripture and quotes. I have written "special things" in it for the past few years. I really needed this one and it ties in so well with the message of One Thousand Gifts.
"The unthankful heart...discovers no mercies. But let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings." --Henry Ward Beecher

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

My Bible Study Fellowship lesson today focused on the Lord being our shield.
These verses are very comforting in a time when I feel vulnerable to pain and hurt.

Psalm 3:3
You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.

Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Psalm 119:114
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

Thank you, Jesus, for being hope and light in a dark world. Help me bring the hope of You to others who need to know. I pray that you will use me and change me to be more like You in 2013 and that I can be transformed by being thankful.

The Last day of November

I am glad to see this month go. Sometimes November can feel so desolate.
Not that I couldn't find reason to give thanks. There are many blessings in my life that I am so grateful for; but the honest truth is that the thought of counting my blessings this month made my mind stray to the things I am so sad about.
The things I struggle to understand and accept.
The things I am not thankful for.

I read in scripture to "give thanks in all circumstances" and I will choose to do so. (It says IN, not FOR...right?)  However, it does not come naturally to me.

Weighing heavy on my heart...
our fathers' failing health--one's mind is failing, the other's body is failing
a friend who has cancer--with three children and a wonderful husband who still need her
a friend who just lost her husband in a terrible tractor accident--how does a mother with four young daughters go on?

I am grateful for this verse that I have prayed, cried, whispered, memorized, printed, shouted, and shared:
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

The hope I have is in Christ...the promise of joy to come to those who know and put their trust in the work He did on the cross.

Pray with me, a prayer that December helps us all turn our hearts to Him.

That we can anticipate His coming and rejoice in a Savior.

That I can be a LIGHT in a dark world, and share a bit of Jesus in my words and love towards others. "That I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Random thoughts

1. I feel grateful every year on Memorial Day: grateful that I live in this country of "the land of the free and the home of the brave." I am also so grateful that I grew up going to the country cemetary down the road from my house, where so many of my relatives are buried. My parents would take me to their graves, we'd deliver flowers cut from our yard, and talk about how everyone was related. As I get older, I realize that not every one has those very important experiences and memories.

2. School is out and summer is upon us! This is our first summer following a school year with all the kids in public school. I'm not quite sure what it will bring, but it definitely feels different than prior years when the kids were homeschooled. Looking forward to more free time=less homework. I hope we have a summer with a good balance of work/play/serve.

3. My Bible study just ended last week...I was in Bible Study Fellowship this school year. We studied Acts and the life of Paul, which took us through a dozen or so other books of the New Testament. It was exactly what I needed this year! Studying Paul's life was such an encouragement to me. Each week I would be spurred on to sacrifice more. Paul literally laid down his life so that other's could know Jesus. I want to be more like that!

4. Dance recital week has arrived. Pictures are all day today, then next week is full with rehearsals and performances. This has been part of our life for about 13 years. It seems weird to think that we might only have two more dance recitals--Ellyn will graduate next year and Meg will probably not continue with dance much longer.

Gotta run...enjoy the three day weekend!

Meg's Poetry

Meg wrote these as part of a poetry unit at school.
I love them so much and wanted to share.

This one is about my brother, Meg's beloved Uncle Jason, who died six years ago. You can read more about him in these posts.

His Laugh
His laugh,
makes me smile,
makes me laugh,
I said,
makes me smile,
makes me laugh,
the thought of never hearing it again
brings tears to my eyes
I said,
the thought of never hearing it again
brings tears to my eyes,
he is gone,
not to be seen,
ever, again.

This one is about how her brother Brandon reminds her of Jason:

See Him
I look at you
and see him
his eyes
smile
cheeks
even his shaggy beard
all of it
I love you
just as much
but we have ups and downs
you are one of the few things
I have left of him

Because he is gone
FOREVER.


and this one about the redheads of our family:

Red
I look at old pictures
in the family photo album
I look at all the RED heads
1Ryan 2Ellyn 3Angie 4Steve 5Jason 6Norman
so many
so pretty
so handsome
I love my family
sadly I am not a red head

Do what it says...

Having spring arrive early has been good for my soul. I'm guessing the same is true for everyone else. It has helped me feel renewed after the demands of hosting Levi for six months. Those six months were filled with both challenging and rewarding moments. The stress level was higher than we were accoustomed to, and the emotional demands were consuming most of the time.  However, God showed Himself in new ways with each challenge we faced. My faith was deepened as I looked to Him to get me through the tough days. It became more "normal" for me to do hard things, and I learned to trust God more even when I wasn't sure where the path would lead or how things would end. God had a plan to accomplish something and He was letting me be a part of it. What a priviledge...to be part of God's work in someone else's life.

In March, our family was presented with another opportunity to help someone from Rosebud Indian Reservation. A single mom and her two young children wanted to leave the reservation and start a new life in Iowa. They moved in to our home three weeks ago. Again, it has brought challenges and rewards. Babies require a lot of time and attention! The laundry, food, bedroom space, transportation and childcare needs of our now bigger family have been consuming. There is not enough time in each day to accomplish all that needs to be done. It is easy for me to complain that this is too hard. It is easy for all to see that it is not convenient. It feels MUCH more natural for me to desire my days to be fun and easy.  Then I open my Bible... God's Holy Word.  The Book I want to orient my life around. I can't find anything about fun and easy days; I find these words instead:

from Jesus, John 6:27
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him, God the Father has placed His seal of approval.

from Luke, Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

from James, James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Ephesians 5:1
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

It isn't that easy to try to live like Jesus. He was never selfish. He never complained. He was not lazy. Instead...He was always patient, giving, thinking of others, serving, encouraging, loving...LOVING with his words and actions.

So in my effort to do what it says, these words are my prayer...

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Eph. 4:29

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12: 1-2

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as you ever can.

John Wesley

Broken

Broken...
lives, hearts, homes, relationships, this world.

It is so hard for me to write this post. Last week was rough. Things have not been well with our Native American exchange student for some time. Levi is no longer with us.

Our hearts are hurting. He is filled with regret. Life is so complicated. Commitment is a challenge. Trust is hard to earn and easy to lose. Peace is not always present. Battles have to be fought and victories are not always won.

We pray that Levi can return to our home. His future is unknown...unknown to us, but not unknown to our Lord.

God knows the plans He has for His child, Levi. I used to tell Levi that his theme verse was Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

We are praying that he will believe and remember the Truth that he heard while he was with us, and that he will battle every day to make a better life for himself.

I am choosing to think on these truths:

• with Jesus, we can have peace in all circumstances
• God pursues individuals...He knows where and how to make Himself known to Levi
• because of my belief in the power of the Holy Spirit, I can expect the unexpected
• God overcomes opposition through the prayers of His people
• God orchestrates opportunity through prayer
• Even though I feel that time is running out, God has more than enough time to accomplish His plan

Please pray earnestly with us.

January craftiness

I haven't done much crafting in January, but the months not over...right???
I hope to get at least one scrapbook page done. I know if I do one, it will lead to more.
And there are always Valentine's to be made. January is the best time to make homemade Valentine's, because there's no rush yet.
Today I made something I pinned on Pinterest quite a while back. I thought it was perfect to have on display in my home in January and February. Fortunately I had picked up a shadow box frame at Hobby Lobby last fall--half price. :)

It took under an hour to make this. I especially love the words on each of the hearts I cut out.
 (I photocopied the antique hymnal page. I can't bear to cut up my old books.)

"I Love to Tell the Story"
"...because I know 'tis true"
"...listen to the story"
"I will sing to you of Jesus..."
"...of Jesus and His love."

Praying that I have lots of stories and songs about Jesus.

He will do it

I am so grateful for Bible Study Fellowship. It is my first year to be a part of this Bible study, which includes groups all around the world studying the same passages of scripture each week. Being part of an organized Bible study has helped me be more consistent about reading the Bible. I really need that.

Today all six kids who were in my house slept late, and I was able to catch up on a few days of this week's lesson. I read through 1 Thessalonians and was spurred on by a couple of passages.

1 Thess. 1:3
Paul was talking to the church...
"We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
I need to focus on these things...it seems like it should be simple. :)
faith -->produces work
love -->prompts labor
hope -->inspires endurance

1 Thess. chapters 2 and 3
 Paul is such a great of example of how we are to love others; especially those we are shepherding. I really want to work to be more like Paul.
1 Thess. 3: 12-13
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones."

1 Thess. chapters 4 and 5
These chapters are loaded with so many instructions on how to live a life that's pleasing to God. I needed this reminder...
1 Thess. 5: 16-18
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

And this final nugget. My favorite of the whole book:
1 Thess. 5: 23-24
"May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it."

Happy New Year 2012

Time, the cradle of hope...

Wisdom walks before it, opportunity with it,

and repentance behind it.

He that has made it his friend

will have little to fear from his enemies,

but he that has made it his enemy

will have little to hope from his friends.

Charles Caleb Colton

After Christmas

Christmas is wonderful--one of my greatest joys in this life. I love to spend time with family, hang greenery and decorations, do extra baking, make homemade gifts, listen to beautiful Christmas music, and plan ways to offer gifts to the needy in my community. All these things bring richness to my life, but I sometimes find that they fail to satisfy my hungry soul. My soul longs for Jesus. He is the One who can satisfy. So I read books, listen to music, and open scripture to help me anticipate the coming of a Baby--the Savior of the world. What a gift He was for mankind! What joy Christ brings to my Christmas!

Unfortunately, most of us experience the other side of Christmas as well. The days after Christmas can bring gifts that don't fit, time spent with family that caused hurt or disappointment, exhaustion due to the busy season, more shopping for returns and exchanges, the list goes on and on.

In these days after Christmas, my mind keeps returning to the same thought: I am so grateful for what Jesus offers us AFTER Christmas. He didn't stay a baby in a manger. He became a man--a man with a purpose.  His purpose to redeem us changed my life forever. He loves us more than I can comprehend. He is life and light, hope and peace to me. During these days after Christmas, I hope you can join me in receiving a gift that doesn't end with Christmas. Thank you, Jesus, for the gift you brought us as a man. The promise of heaven to those who know You, and the hope You bring to each day is what truly satisfies the soul.

May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace

as you trust in Him,

so that you may

overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 

A Prayer for Our Homes

I read this prayer at Life in Grace today, taken from the Lutheran prayer book.

Lord God, our home is among the most precious

gifts we receive in this life.

We realize this all the more as we remember our Lord Jesus.

He set aside home and family.

Having no place to lay His head throughout

His ministry, He chose to sojourn among those

He came to save.

We prayerfully invite Him to dwell in our earthly abode

even as He continually invites us by Word and Sacrament to dwell

forever in our heavenly home, which He prepares for us.

Make us ever grateful for this shelter from life's storms.

Keep this house always the home of comfort, joy, peace and forgiveness.

According to Your will, protect this home from the spiritual assaults of Satan,

but likewise make our home a fortress against the calamities of nature

and the wickedness of sinful man.

Grant us the virtue of hospitality, the joy of harmonious living,

and the blessing of gathering around Your word

and bringing our families' prayers before You.

May all who dwell in our home be blessed

by your presence and your peace,

and may all who go forth give thanks for the grace

they receive from You,

through us, our dear children.

We receive your loving kindness in our home

as a reminder of the eternal home we inherit through Your son,

Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.

Amen

Giving Thanks

There are so many things I'm grateful for right now...

Having Byron as my partner as we parent 4 teenagers and 1 preteen. It's hard work and he's really good at the things I'm not so good at. I am thankful for 25 years of marriage with him!

Brandon is enjoying college and has made new friends who have so much in common with him.  I am especially thankful that he is close to home and we still get to see him often.

Ellyn is such a great sister and friend. She values the people God has placed in her life and makes relationships a priority. She's a good student and works hard to do her best.

Levi is learning so much at school and about life. I am most grateful that he recently made a decision to put his faith in Christ. We are missing him now, since he is spending Thanksgiving break back in Rosebud.

Ryan is growing tons and healthy. After our scare this spring/summer with his stomach cramps, I am so grateful that he is completely well. He's doing great at school and likes learning.

Meggan is also doing well at school. She has such great friends in her grade! She is always willing to go with me to run errands or help in the kitchen, so I get to talk with her a lot. I'm proud of the girl she is growing up to be.

All the kids have really great friends!

Byron and I grew up in families who loved us, provided for all our needs and gave us so many opportunities in life.

I am so thankful that Jesus changed my life one summer 30 years ago, and that He is still changing it today.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

more learning...

Just as Paul and Timothy prayed this for the Colossians, and I pray that it will be true in me.

Colossians 1: 9-14
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

I was bought for a price. My life is not my own. So thankful for Jesus.

I am as flexible as a garden hose in July...

Flexibility is a requirement in my life right now. Byron's sister said the words in my title to me one time and I thought it was so funny! I am learning to be more flexible.

Some of you might be wondering how things are going with Levi, our student from Rosebud Indian Reservation. He has lived with us for exactly three months now. These months have been some of the most intense I have had. Some days are great, some days are stressful, some days are stable.

Levi is respectful, cooperative, and helpful. He has made attending school a priority and is working hard on homework. He is interested in life and asks questions all the time. There are so many things here (everywhere!) that he never experienced on the reservation. We have enjoyed having him with us and consider him part of our family.

He has had a few rough events in these three months. We have tried our best to work through them with him, helping him learn that he can trust us to look out for his well-being. We have shown him that we (and others) truly care about helping him make a better life here. We are excited to help him with plans for his future. It has been easy to come along-side him, since he is working so hard to do what it takes to succeed. It hasn't been easy for him, but he is making lots of good choices.

When we agreed to have Levi join our family, I could not have predicted some of the experiences we would encounter. I was prepared for things to be hard. For a while, just after making the final decision to have Levi live with us, I even had a day of panic. The unknown of what was coming filled me with fear. I believed the lies Satan fed me that said I needed to be completely available to parent my own four children, and no others. I believed the lie that said my children needed me too much for me to take on anything new, since three of the four were beginning public school and college for the first time. I was afraid to take a risk! We had arranged our lives to be predictable and safe. I knew that whatever came my way on a daily basis was likely something I could handle without problem.

Fortunately, God spoke truth to me and calmed my fears. He showed me all of the many people who have invested in my children over the years--friends, family members, teachers, coaches, church leaders. I realized that they would be just fine in their new educational experiences. He showed me how much my KIDS had to offer someone coming into our family. It wasn't just going to be my husband and I investing our time, energy and resources, they would be "givers" too. I realized how wonderful it would be for our family to do something for someone with no expectation of receiving anything back in return. God showed me that He would direct my paths.

I am learning not to plan for what the future days are going to look like. God is teaching me to take each day as He gives, and He is also providing what I need to get through what that day brings. I once said that hosting a teenager from Rosebud would keep me in God's word and on my knees. I didn't know the truth of my words at the time I spoke them. Thanks to God for providing for our every-single-day needs. I will try to let Him direct where we're going and I'm just going to keep working on being as flexible as a garden hose in July!