where I am right now.

When Jeff and I were first married, we both worked. I had really never thought about staying home and taking care of the kids. And most of all, think about home schooling the kids. So about a couple of years ago, God directed Jeff to bring the kids home and I would home school them. I have to say I was not to happy about this, but in time with prayer and direction from God, that is what we did. I was still working third shift full time and home schooling the kids. Then eventually God directed us to have me quit my job and stay with the kids full time. So, here I am a stay at home mom home schooling my children. Now, I am facing another bend in the road. Jeff's job had laid Jeff off at least two days during the month, Jeff works twelve hour days and that leaves us loosing about four hundred dollars a month. Less than we are used to. Jeff and I have looked at our finances, what we can get rid of and what we can be without. Food also has been a problem, so we are using the areas necessities. Jeff and I even talked about me going back to work. This is an area that I never want to focus on, but if we have to then I will obey.

So, why do I share this with you? Well here is my answer, faith, I have realized during this season of our life that God said that he would provide all of our needs. And he has done just that, the house is okay, we are not at the point where there is a foreclosure. We do have clothes and God has provided what we need. And food, there is food coming at us in all directions. As far as finances, Jeff has gotten more day at work and he is making more than we would of even expected. I believe that when I let all control go back to God and just trusted that he would full fill his word, He was able to work in our finances. My faith is really growing through all of this and I would like to share a scripture that God showed me the other day in my daily reading that really touched my heart.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them the diligently seek him." Hebrew 11:6

I diligently seek him in my life, I may not be perfect, which everyday I strive to be. But I diligently love him and seek his word everyday. That is all I need to have faith, and I want to please him, I love him so much. This has meant so much to me. His word is such a comfort for my heart.

I know that we are not the only ones going through this, but I assure you that He will get you through this season, and most of all be opened to what He asks of you. God bless all of you.

A beautiful day with family

Today Jeff's family attended their family reunion in Corning, Iowa. We went to the American Veterans building and had a wonderful lunch with family. These are wonderful people and they take their family very serious. Here over in the glass is a Nazi uniform and a American bomber jacket. It was really awesome.

This lady sitting next to Jeff is a great aunt, her name is Ada. She does all the genealogy for the family. She has mounds of paper work and pictures. And she tells the most fascinating stories about the family. She is really interesting and she has told Jeff's sister Teresa and I that she will put a book together for both of us about our specific family. That will be awesome.


The man in this next picture with the blue shirt and the beard has an interesting story. This is Jeff's cousin Mr. Dillinger. Yes, I said that right, we are related to John Dillinger, the mobster. John Dillinger married Duane's aunt Fern. That was really weird. But you never really know your family tree.





These are pictures of Icaria in Corning. This was the first time that I have ever been to the lake. It is the most beautiful lake that I have seen. It really made me feel homesick. The two ladies walking away from me are Jeff's mom and sister. They were walking hand and hand. It was really neat to see. The wind came up a little and the lake looked like a million diamonds on it. It was beautiful and it was a great day. I hope that all of you had a wonderful weekend.

I have been intrigued by my friend Lori, she has shown some awesome pictures off of her blog. The other night I made a slide show full of pictures of my sister in law and brother in law. They celebrated their 18Th wedding anniversary and I wanted to give them something to cherish for times to come. It turned out so awesome that I could not believe that I was even capable of making one. I already have an order from my parents to make them one for their twenty fifth wedding anniversary. So, thanks Lori for the inspiration. I also like to thank Lori for her idea with the magazine pictures. I have been writing more in my journal.




Well, the point of this post is to tell you that since I read about Lori's gift of photography, I have been looking at the way I take pictures. Last night Luke, Mel and I went for a walk and I took these pictures. I did some in black and white and some in colored. I love the picture of these flowers, do not ask me how I did that. But it looks really cool.

We have a town square, and around this time of year it is full of flowers. This is off one of the light post that surround the water fountain. I was lucky to get this shot with the kids. They are always in such a hurry to go no where. I really loved the smell of the flowers and the look of them.

These are blacked Susan's. I love yellow flowers. Especially sunflowers. I took pictures of them in color and then in black and white. They turned out really good. I am so blessed to be able to walk in the town and take pictures. Creation surrounds me every where I go. I hope that you enjoy these pictures. God bless all of you.

Give all the glory to God.

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." III John 2

My family and the fair.

This week the Pregnancy Center is at the fair. I was faced with some personal challenges this week and I felt fear come upon me. I was not sure that I could do this. I sat down one morning and just prayed to the Lord and gave him the task of bringing helpers my way. And I was so blessed by all the people who have come to me or have said yes when I have asked.







Most of all, I was blessed by my family. I feel so secure and loved this week by Jeff and the kids. We all set up the both and then Luke has taken some of the time slots to sit at the booth. I am so blessed that my family has just as much conviction in this ministry as I do. It is awesome.






I love this picture of my children. They are the best of friends. They love each other and they take care of one another. Luke is a great big brother and Melanie just adores him. I am so proud of both of them. God has awesome ministries for both of them.

At the end of this week, I will post more pictures and let you know maybe some awesome testimonies from young women. I am so blessed to know Jesus and be his servant. It is amazing to me the women who come to me with awesome stories of courage and strength. I am amazed. God bless all of you, and happy fair week.

"The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living Soul." John Calvin

I have been doing training for my certificate in counseling. I guess when I walked into the study I did not realize that it was going to penetrate my heart. I have been going through some major break through just by doing this study. The writer of the curriculum is really hitting the bible with an arrow to a target.

See, what I am trying to tell you is this. You can not council someone to save them. You counsel with intent to let God lead. If you are not right with God, you will be nothing to that lady. I need to let the Holy Spirit clean house for me. I need him to go into places of my heart that I have let cobwebs and dust build. I need to be humble, having unconditional love, being genuine and be full of empathy, not humanly but Godly.

"And herein do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence towards, God and man." Acts 24:16

And most of all, I need to have a clean conscience. If this does not happen, I am already defeated. See, these women who come into the center need me to listen, to feel their pain, to understand in a Godly manner, what they are going through. If I am hung up on personal things I am good to no one. My mind has to be hung on the Cross, focused on the one who hung there for me. I have to eat, feel, touch, see the works and blessings of God. This is really important and this has placed me in an area of my life that has me wondering how far God is going to take me if I sit back and let Him.

"counsel in the heart of man is like deep waters; but a man of understanding will draw it out." Proverbs 20:5

"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Proverbs 23:4

God is always with me, as long as I place Him first in my life and heart. It is not a matter of my life any more, it is a matter of another. Where does God fit in your life right now?