We spent the first week of our road trip with Brandon's family. We always have so much fun at their house and this year was no different. We got to see both of Brandon's grandmothers, all of his cousins, several aunts and uncles etc. We had SUPER meals and great memories made. Brandon and I really enjoy filling the van and traveling to visit family. We always have a many good laughs. Sweet Baby A is getting bigger every day. I will post photos soon. I am not on my computer so I will have to switch computers with Brandon at some point so I can post them. I watched the latest Love Come Softly movie with Judy, and I also read the Duggar book. I really like that family and it was so interesting to read more about how their family works. I gained several ideas for our future family!
The second leg of the journey was traveling to Fargo/Moorhead to see our friends from college/Crusade days. We stayed at "the Sabin farm" and had a great time with the M family. They are pretty much like family to us so stopping at their home during our travels is a must. We were able to attend a church thing on Wednesday night and visit my college on Friday morning. Our time there was short but special.
Last night we made it to my hometown. It feels great to be "home" surrounded by family and memories. We are going to a special local pageant tonight featuring something this area is known for **hint hint.** The books and TV show is very special to me and I am excited for Brandon to see the pageant! I will try to write as time allows and hopefully post photos soon!
We are so blessed by your friendship and prayers! We are thankful for God's provision as we have traveled. We just recieved word today that dear friends of ours were in a serious car accident while traveling. Life sure can change in an instant. Please pray for them if you think of us!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Getting the house ready! #2
After our busy weekend at the church we headed home to prepare our townhouse for the market. Before candidating we had our carpets cleaned so we came home to total chaos. Our entire first floor was in our kitchen and things we stacked over ten feet high on our dresser (seriously we have vaulted ceilings). The first day I was so tired that after calling family and friends I crashed and did not get too much work done. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were filled with prep work to get our home cleaned and staged for the market. We were hoping to leave for Brandon's family early on Wednesday, but didn't end up leaving until 5:00pm. We made it to Brandon's parents house before midnight but it was a long day.
Brandon's finger:
As things seem to go, each project at our home took much longer that we estimated. One reason for the delay we a trip to the urgent care. Brandon, being a super husband trimmed dead branches from a shrub right off our patio and somehow caught his index finger in the trimmers. I looked out side and saw him running around and thought he had stumbled upon a wasp nest. I went outside and quickly realized this is a big deal and I am not the one to fix it. Brandon was of course much more relaxed. We live close to the walk-in urget care and were there within 15 minutes of the injury. Two hours later we left urget care with Brandon's finger in stiches and a wrap. We got home just before my youth group girls arrived. I had a super super super time talking with them on a deep level about our Great God! The hours flew by quickly and before I knew it a whole afternoon slipped by without any of the work done.
Even though it was not my perfect timing, God's timing was perfect and by the time we left the house it looked GREAT!!! If you are my friend on facebook you can find a link to the house, otherwise you will have to take my word for it!
Please pray that the house would sell quickly. We know we serve a big God who can do BIG things. We are boldly praying that the house would sell while we travel. It has been shown a couple of times already and we are hopeful!
Brandon's finger:
As things seem to go, each project at our home took much longer that we estimated. One reason for the delay we a trip to the urgent care. Brandon, being a super husband trimmed dead branches from a shrub right off our patio and somehow caught his index finger in the trimmers. I looked out side and saw him running around and thought he had stumbled upon a wasp nest. I went outside and quickly realized this is a big deal and I am not the one to fix it. Brandon was of course much more relaxed. We live close to the walk-in urget care and were there within 15 minutes of the injury. Two hours later we left urget care with Brandon's finger in stiches and a wrap. We got home just before my youth group girls arrived. I had a super super super time talking with them on a deep level about our Great God! The hours flew by quickly and before I knew it a whole afternoon slipped by without any of the work done.
Even though it was not my perfect timing, God's timing was perfect and by the time we left the house it looked GREAT!!! If you are my friend on facebook you can find a link to the house, otherwise you will have to take my word for it!
Please pray that the house would sell quickly. We know we serve a big God who can do BIG things. We are boldly praying that the house would sell while we travel. It has been shown a couple of times already and we are hopeful!
I still can't believe it! #1
I know it has been WAY too long since my last post(almost 2 weeks yikes!), but our life has been quite busy since the big candidating weekend! We continue to be in awe of God's faithful leading through the call process and we are so excited to start this new chapter with the church. In the years to come I am sure I will talk a lot about "the church" and our ministries there. I will not mention its name or location, but I will say the location is wonderful and we will be moving to a community that is truly beautiful!
I still keep pinching myself and wondering if it is all really true. God allowed the process to go so smoothly from our end that it all seems too easy. It has actually been a good lesson for me on trust and obedience. The whole job situation was one that we have been praying about for several years. We surrendered it to the Lord so many times, and we really had peace about it. If only I could have that attitude of surrender in all things... God is still working on me friends! I am so thankful to be renewed by Him day by day!
I still keep pinching myself and wondering if it is all really true. God allowed the process to go so smoothly from our end that it all seems too easy. It has actually been a good lesson for me on trust and obedience. The whole job situation was one that we have been praying about for several years. We surrendered it to the Lord so many times, and we really had peace about it. If only I could have that attitude of surrender in all things... God is still working on me friends! I am so thankful to be renewed by Him day by day!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
THANKS BE TO GOD!!!!!!
Coming to you very quickly from the free Arby's internet as Brandon blows through his sandwich... The votes have been counted and we are in!!!! Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. Sometime I will give you more details, but now we are just in awe of our GREAT GOD!!!!
Yesterday was great... the BIG DAY is here!!!
Saturday was wonderful!!! I do not have time to give many details now, but we saw God's fingerprints in ways FAR beyond what we deserve. At one point I told Brandon that I was sure some dear friend had prayed for such things without them being requested and now God was answering those requests. I feel overwhelmed with care from the people of the church, with each f your love through prayers, but even more from the loving embrace of my SAVIOR and KING!!!
Brandon will most likely be preaching from 9:30-10:05 CST. If you have a chance to pray at that time please take a moment. Pray for clarity of preaching God's Word and for Brandon's voice to remain strong after a weekend with MUCH use. Continue to pray that God would be glorified and that His perfect will would come to pass. The vote will be right after church (10:15 or 10:30ish). We will come back to the hotel to pack then go somewhere near the church wait for a phone call!!! We are hoping to get to update you after all has taken place from some local place with internet.
Thanks and Praise to our Great God!!! We surrender this into your care LORD!
Brandon will most likely be preaching from 9:30-10:05 CST. If you have a chance to pray at that time please take a moment. Pray for clarity of preaching God's Word and for Brandon's voice to remain strong after a weekend with MUCH use. Continue to pray that God would be glorified and that His perfect will would come to pass. The vote will be right after church (10:15 or 10:30ish). We will come back to the hotel to pack then go somewhere near the church wait for a phone call!!! We are hoping to get to update you after all has taken place from some local place with internet.
Thanks and Praise to our Great God!!! We surrender this into your care LORD!
Friday, July 10, 2009
day two is done... please pray for our sleep!
Day 2 was filled with some adventure and drama of sorts.
We both got very little sleep last night, but are hoping for a better rest tonight with the help (thanks friends) of a fan (white noise) and a humidifier (dry hotel air).
This morning I took all my vitamins like usual, and like usual felt sick until I ate my apple which was just as we were heading out the door to visit shut-ins. Well, if you know me you know that motion sickness can really take its toll. After the 30 minute car ride I felt horrible. I whispered to Brandon that is was by far the most motion sick I have ever been. I thought my apple would reappear at any time. We got into the woman's room and it was SUPER warm. The woman had some major coughing and gagging issues which combined with my tummy made a horrible mix. Suddenly I really thought I was going to be sick so I told someone I was heading into the hall. Once in the hall my line of vision became less and less and I quickly sat and laid down. I am not sure if I fainted or not, but when I opened my eyes SEVERAL nurses were surrounding me and giving me water and a washcloth as I was drenched in sweat. Eventually they wheeled me into a place with a couch and I rested. When it was time to leave Brandon walked me to the car and then I experienced a not so good ride home. I spent the afternoon in the hotel room trying unsuccessfully to rest while Brandon made more visits. The visits went really well.
Tonight we both went to the youth event and Brandon really enjoyed playing Ultimate with the kids while I cheered! We were able to get to know them later in the church to share testimony and pray. They are so sweet and so young, mostly junior high.
So... even though the day started hard it ended well and we are feeling blessed, encouraged, and excited about where it seems God is leading. We have another big day tomorrow with a men's event, a women's event, time with young families, and then a concert of prayer event.
Today more than ever I was carried by your prayers. Please keep praying as my tummy is still quite confused!
We both got very little sleep last night, but are hoping for a better rest tonight with the help (thanks friends) of a fan (white noise) and a humidifier (dry hotel air).
This morning I took all my vitamins like usual, and like usual felt sick until I ate my apple which was just as we were heading out the door to visit shut-ins. Well, if you know me you know that motion sickness can really take its toll. After the 30 minute car ride I felt horrible. I whispered to Brandon that is was by far the most motion sick I have ever been. I thought my apple would reappear at any time. We got into the woman's room and it was SUPER warm. The woman had some major coughing and gagging issues which combined with my tummy made a horrible mix. Suddenly I really thought I was going to be sick so I told someone I was heading into the hall. Once in the hall my line of vision became less and less and I quickly sat and laid down. I am not sure if I fainted or not, but when I opened my eyes SEVERAL nurses were surrounding me and giving me water and a washcloth as I was drenched in sweat. Eventually they wheeled me into a place with a couch and I rested. When it was time to leave Brandon walked me to the car and then I experienced a not so good ride home. I spent the afternoon in the hotel room trying unsuccessfully to rest while Brandon made more visits. The visits went really well.
Tonight we both went to the youth event and Brandon really enjoyed playing Ultimate with the kids while I cheered! We were able to get to know them later in the church to share testimony and pray. They are so sweet and so young, mostly junior high.
So... even though the day started hard it ended well and we are feeling blessed, encouraged, and excited about where it seems God is leading. We have another big day tomorrow with a men's event, a women's event, time with young families, and then a concert of prayer event.
Today more than ever I was carried by your prayers. Please keep praying as my tummy is still quite confused!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Quick Sentence
The first day went very well! We are both very tired and have a big day tomorrow too so I can't write much! We can feel your prayers. Honestly, as soon as we arrived here we both felt a great peace! God is SO GOOD!!!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The BIG weekend is HERE!!!
Often just the thought of a weekend gets the average person excited. This weekend could be one of the biggest our little family has ever had! Brandon and I will be leaving for the candidating weekend bright and early tomorrow morning. Yes, the weekend actually is a long weekend starting of Thursday. You can read a previous entry to see a schedule of our weekend events. This email is mainly to share our prayer requests. We can not thank each of you enough for your prayers for us throughout this process and throughout our lives! There is power in your prayers! I intended to write out verses for you to pray for each of these requests, but we have small group tonight and I am not going to get each one typed in.
~Pray for our times speaking to groups and Brandon’s time preaching
Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”
~Pray that we will be great listeners to the needs of the church and to each others needs!
James 1:19b “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”
~Pray that we will recognize our calling and reject all self-doubt.
Ephesians 4:1b “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
~Pray for calm and peaceful hearts with the power of the Holy Spirit!
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understand, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
~We know the LORD’s will will prevail (Proverbs 19:21) Pray that we would trust Him!
Psalm 20: 7-8 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.”
~Pray that we both will remain healthy. That Brandon’s voice will hold out and that I will not have any food related issues or reactions!
~Pray His Will be done this Sunday when the church votes for the pastor. We truly feel that the LORD is leading us to the church. I will try and update each night from the hotel, but if it doesn’t work for some reason, please pray esp. on Sunday morning between 9:30 and 10:15 for the message Brandon preaches and after 10:30 for the church meeting and vote!
~Please pray that God will be glorified through us this weekend
Thank you all for getting on your knees for and with us!!!
To God alone be the GLORY!!!
~Pray for our times speaking to groups and Brandon’s time preaching
Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”
~Pray that we will be great listeners to the needs of the church and to each others needs!
James 1:19b “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”
~Pray that we will recognize our calling and reject all self-doubt.
Ephesians 4:1b “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
~Pray for calm and peaceful hearts with the power of the Holy Spirit!
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understand, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
~We know the LORD’s will will prevail (Proverbs 19:21) Pray that we would trust Him!
Psalm 20: 7-8 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.”
~Pray that we both will remain healthy. That Brandon’s voice will hold out and that I will not have any food related issues or reactions!
~Pray His Will be done this Sunday when the church votes for the pastor. We truly feel that the LORD is leading us to the church. I will try and update each night from the hotel, but if it doesn’t work for some reason, please pray esp. on Sunday morning between 9:30 and 10:15 for the message Brandon preaches and after 10:30 for the church meeting and vote!
~Please pray that God will be glorified through us this weekend
Thank you all for getting on your knees for and with us!!!
To God alone be the GLORY!!!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
This is what I can't stop singing...
Have you ever had a song stuck in your head and it WON'T leave????!!!!
Inside Out
A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out
Job Update... we are almost there...
Brandon will be Candidating for the pastor position starting next Thursday 7-9-09. Please read previous post if you are not sure what I mean by this...
Yesterday Brandon had the cool blessing of spending the day with the church in WI. It was sort of a pre-candidating time. He feels it went really well and we continue to stand in awe of a GREAT BIG GOD!!!!!!
Here is the schedule for our weekend with the church:
Thursday 7-09: Time with Seniors of the church in the afternoon and an ice cream social in the evening. This is when the people of the church will be able to ask questions.
Friday 7-10: Visiting Shut-ins (don't really like that terms at all) during the day and then spending the evening with the high school students!
Saturday 7-11: Men's Breakfast and Women's fellowship in the morning, time with young families in the afternoon, concert of prayer and another fellowship night
Sunday 7-12: Brandon will preach the message for the 9:00(CST) church service and the congregational meeting with the vote will follow right away... so Please Pray that morning!
Stay tuned for a large list ofprayer requests right before we head up to WI! Until then, please pray for my darling husband as he prepares the message he will be preaching!
Yesterday Brandon had the cool blessing of spending the day with the church in WI. It was sort of a pre-candidating time. He feels it went really well and we continue to stand in awe of a GREAT BIG GOD!!!!!!
Here is the schedule for our weekend with the church:
Thursday 7-09: Time with Seniors of the church in the afternoon and an ice cream social in the evening. This is when the people of the church will be able to ask questions.
Friday 7-10: Visiting Shut-ins (don't really like that terms at all) during the day and then spending the evening with the high school students!
Saturday 7-11: Men's Breakfast and Women's fellowship in the morning, time with young families in the afternoon, concert of prayer and another fellowship night
Sunday 7-12: Brandon will preach the message for the 9:00(CST) church service and the congregational meeting with the vote will follow right away... so Please Pray that morning!
Stay tuned for a large list ofprayer requests right before we head up to WI! Until then, please pray for my darling husband as he prepares the message he will be preaching!
CDYC 2009!!!! God is faithful!!!
Yes, I have been away from my computer, but for good reason!!! I have been at CDYC 2009! Our church's senior high youth group takes about 100 youth and we join several other youth groups for an amazing retreat/camp thing. It is 5 intense days of prayer, praise, worship, study, sports, arts, food, fun etc. God did some WONDERFUL things in the lives of the students from our church. I was blown away. Because I need to protect the identity of the students, I can't say too much, but I saw: wounds healed, friendships restored, faith commitments and recommitments made, chains broken, hearts humbled... Friends, I saw things that honestly I didn't have enough faith to believe could happen. Pray for these dear youth now as they leave the cozy Christian bubble and go home to broken families, horrible "friends", addictions etc. It is easy to be in awe on the Mountain, pray that they would not be infatuated with God when it is convenient, but that they would realize the beauty of a lifelong love affair with their Creator!!!!
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