19 already?

Happy Birthday Caleb!!!

Happy 19th birthday Caleb! It is hard to believe that 19 years ago, you entered this world at a whopping 10 1/2 pounds. You have been growing ever since then, both physically and spiritually. You now stand close to 6'4" and tower over your dad and I! This past year has been a huge year of growth for you. You started college thinking you were going to be a Forensic Chemist and God gave you a change of course. In a month you will be at a new college following God's call to ministry. I am so excited to have a front row seat to your life to see all that God has in store for you! As long as you keep your eyes on Him, He will direct your path!! I love you son!!!!!!

25 years!!!!

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; 

I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Genesis 2:18

I am so glad God created marriage!! I am also so glad God put Brian and I together to be husband and wife. I seriously can't imagine life without him. God allowed me to marry my best friend and our life has been a pretty amazing adventure. Today marks 25 years of marriage, those years have truly flown by. It still feels like yesterday that I walked down that aisle towards him; I can still remember the butterflies I had that day. 

So much has happened in the past 25 years; we now have three grown children, two amazing sons-in-law, and  a grandchild on the way. We have had our share of tears, heartache, and disappointments; but those have only made us stronger. All of our experiences, both good and bad, have shaped us into the couple we are today. We are not perfect by any means, but God knew we were perfect for each other. As we begin our next 25 years, I find my self still experiencing those same butterflies. My love for this man is stronger than it has ever been and I am excited to see all that God has in store for us! The adventure continues....

 

 

Scripture and A Snapsot...rejoice...

May we always feel the joy of the Lord...like that of a couple on their wedding day! 

As I go to worship this morning, I go with a heart ready to rejoice in the Lord!!!

Two down...one to go...

One week ago today, our daughter Abby married Josh. It was a very special day, filled with so much joy, lots of smiles and some tears mixed in as well. Abby glowed the whole day...it was a day she had prayed for...the day she became Josh's wife.

My heart is full as I think of the day and how special it was. The wedding was outside on a lake in Wisconsin. Thankfully the rain held off until after the wedding, we of course were a bit nervous as we could hear thunder during the wedding! (We had an emergency umbrella up front for the bride and groom...just in case!). 

My husband performed the ceremony, I have no idea how he was able to that for a second daughter! He did a great job and made the day even more special. His object lesson for them was a violin. He told Josh how valuable a Stradivarius violin is; he then told him that Abby is far more valuable than that. He gave them a bow from a violin keep in their home as a reminder of that and he attached his four main points to the bow as well. The four points all start with the letter L which is the first letter of Josh and Abby's last name.

Lord...God is to be number one 

Love...next is their love to each other

 Legacy...as they raise their children they would leave a Godly legacy

Labor...that they would work for the Lord and follow His calling

The day began with prayer, the bride and groom were prayer over individually before the wedding, they were prayed over during the wedding and for us the day ended with prayer. I know Brian and I will continue to pray for them; as will Josh's family. God has big plans for these two and I feel privileged to get to uphold them in prayer!

In just a short time Abby and Josh will be having their first big adventure as husband and wife. They will be spending five weeks this summer in Haiti at an orphanage called The Ruuska Village. What an amazing opportunity for a married couple to get to spend the first summer of marriage serving God! I am excited to watch all the plans God has for these two unfold!

Following is a slide show of pictures from that day. The song playing is the song Abby walked down the aisle to; it is Beloved by Tenth Avenue North.

This video is the surprise dance that Josh and Abby did at the reception.

This is the back or our car...it got decorated at the wedding as well! Watch out Caleb!!!!

Lenny made me cry...

I knew it was bound to happen. I didn't know for sure when or what would trigger it; but I knew tears were inevitable today. I wondered if it would be when she carried her last suitcase out of her room or when the number of the countdown changed from 7 to 6. The thing that triggered them was not anything I expected. Lenny made me cry!

Who is Lenny you might ask? Lenny has been Abby's companion for more than 10 years, he came to her one year for Valentine's Day. Lenny has been almost everywhere Abby has traveled, he is looking well loved from years of attention. Abby left today to prepare for her wedding and this is one event Lenny will be missing. He is sitting on her bed...alone.

Both Brian and I realized the significance of this event. Seeing this simple stuffed animal left behind put tears in both of our eyes. We know how much she has loved Lenny, this seemingly small event is truly big, it is our little girl's way of showing she is grown up. She is ready for this new adventure...marriage!

She may be leaving some of the things of her childhood behind, but thankfully the one thing we prayed the most for her is going with her. Abby's faith is rock solid, Jesus is truly her number one love!!