My Favorite Water Sport

Ahhhhh, FINALLY, out on the water again! July 31-August 8, 2010

Daxx and Beaux

Just had to upload some picture of my boys. I get to babysit them quite often...and they are soooo fun and good!

Look at those muscles, dude! :D

Beaux (22 months) right after a bath.




















Beaux and I...picture by Daxx (3).

More Pictures from Kanakuk

The entrance to K-Kauai. To the right is the office to the left is Hana Bay, The Reef (an outside sitting area), and the ropes course.


The Hammocks (Where the staff stayed. Guys on bottom, girls on top.)

Every morning I walked past this play ground on my way to Plank.















My bed. It was usually quite a mess by the end of the day. The only place we had to dry our clothes and towells was on our bed. Thus my bed was a mess.

K-Kauai- My dear friends!

Sweet Emily and I. Wow what an encouragement Emily was to me. She is engaged to one of the guy staff members. It was so encouraging to be able to talk with her about their relationship and their desire to honor God in everything they do!


Sam has such a sweet, God honoring heart. She too was such an encouragement to me. Keep on loving on God's people, Sam!!


Ahh, Alyson, where do I start? Alyson came early for boat driving training too. I will never forget meeting her for the first time...we hit it off right away. While we were planting flowers we talked about churches, shared our testimonies, and talked about her desire to work for a ministry that helps women involved in human trafficking. While we were there she found out she will get to do just that this fall. Praise God!

Then during one of those first nights Alyson and I went on a walk down on the lower fields together. We were both able to share our hearts. It was her first time being away from her twin sister Emily and my first time being away from home for that long. She quickly became a sister to me, and I have no doubt God sent her to Kauai just for me. What a blessing she was in my life the whole time I was there. I got continual hugs and encouragement from my dear sister! I miss you so much Alyson and hope to visit you soon!



Laura and I life guarding!! Love you girl!


Roomies!! Corrie, Lori, Sam, Alyson, and I. Everyone was about ready for bed. Haha oh our (or should I say their, I was always attempting to sleep...lol) night discussions. Haha too hilarious!




My dear friend Corrie and I! On one of our 2-4s we were going to go jet skiing together. Unfortunately, that didn't work out so I took her to Table Rock's Moonshine Beach. She is from Florida, so it was nothing like her beaches. I had to convince her that there was absolutely nothing dangerous no sharks or alligators or dangerous fish in the water. :D

One of my favorite memories from kamp is picking rocks out of the mulch with Corrie during one of the work crews. We started teaching one another scripture we had memorized. A task that could have been boring became anything but boring. I love you Corrie and especially your heart for the Lord!

We were able to go pick blueberries together on the Saturday after we were done. It was so good to be able to spend time with Corrie reflecting on our time at Kauai before returning home. Before I headed home Saturday night I dropped Corrie off at the Branson Airport. It was so hard to leave such a good friend!

K-Kauai Family Kamp- ILife Night

Techy night and dressing up as a "techy" person was not my forte. LOL!

Favorite quotes...

"I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I Life"
"Cosine, ______, Tangent, Sine, 3.14159....Gooooo Tech!"

Giant IPad














Waiting for it all to start.















Corrie and I looking techy. :P

Kanakuk-Staff Training Week

Staff Training week was very busy. I don't think I have ever been so exhausted in my life. During our Purity Talk, a couple days after we arrived at camp, my head began to feel heavy and I seriously had to hold my head up. God was my strength though and always gave me just enough strength to get through the day. A normal staff training day looked something like this...

8:05-Plank
8:30-Breakfast
8:45-9:15- Quiet Time
9:15-10:00-Leadership Speaker
10:30-12:30-Work Session
12:30-1:00- Lunch
1:00-2:00-More Training
2:00-5:30- Work Session (During which we planted many flowers, sealed steps, painted, weeded, spread mulch, cleaned cabanas)
5:30-6:30-Clean up for supper
6:30-Supper
7:00-11:00- I don't really remember what we all did during this time, but one night we played a game called East vs. West (like Ultimate Frisbee just with a ball) (it was way intense!!!). Another night we went to K-Kountry's Party Barn for a concert with Thist'le and Ben Rector.

Anyway, we had super busy days and as I told my family, I did not even have time to think about being homesick. :D

We had two nights off while I was there. The first was exactly a week after I got there on Wednesday and the second was that Saturday. During the first one I went to the Stark's house to do laundry and they fed me a wonderful home cooked meal. Also, Rebekah and Bethany were down visiting them so I got to see them too. I really wanted to jump into their fluffy King Sized Bed and sleep for forever, but I had to be check back in at Jamp by 12:45. I was too tired to stay up that late, though, so I returned around eleven.

On my second night off Hayden, Hannah, Bekah, Bethany, and the Langemeier family met me at Kamp. After showing them around we drove down to the Branson Landing. Since it was Memorial Day weekend, Mr. Langemeier and I walked around for forever trying to find a restaurant where I could eat and everyone else could have dessert. Unfortunately, every restaurant had at least an hour wait, so we finally settled for a small coffee shop that wasn't nearly as busy. It was so good to be able to spend time with my dear friends, the Langemeiers. After I ate, Langemeiers left and Bekah, Bethany, Hayden, Hannah, and I went back to their house. We talked for a while and then Rebekah took me back to kamp. As I went back into the gates and shut off my cell phone, I struggled for the first time with feeling like I was trapped. I am so used to living in a big, wide open area where I can go wherever I want whenever I want. God showed me the importance of being content with wherever He has place me...including in a gated community. As I poured my heart out before my savior, God was so faithful and continually renewed my peace.

June 1st finally arrived....BRING ON THE FAMILIES!!


Hayden, Hannah, and I at the Landing!




















My sissie Bethany and I enjoying a night out!

A Weekend with the Geyers!

Rebekah's Graduation

Rebekah's graduation party was absolutely beautiful. Our family was blessed by the help of so many people!!!


Granny and Bethany

Bekah and Grandma!

Our Family!

All of the wonderful helpers who greatly blessed us!

Merry at the top, Mrs. Baker to the left, and Amy and Kristy on the bottom.

Franklin talking about Rebekah...bringing glory to God!



Little Liana hanging out. :)

Arranging the wildflowers before the party.

Dad, Mom, and Rebekah

Rebekah and I before her party!

Sisters!

Pressing On

Today I completed my first race…a ten mile race. Completing a race has been my goal since I started running about four years ago. I signed up a couple of weeks ago and didn’t think much of it until last night. As I worked to get all of my running gear organized last night, I began to get nervous. What if I was last? What if I can’t do it? What if I get sick? All of these questions filled my mind.

Running is something that God has used in my life to bring me closer to Him. It’s a form of worship for me. There is something about pushing myself beyond what I think I can do that brings me closer to my Savior. During most of my runs I pray, memorize scripture, or listen to either music which glorifies God or the sounds of His creation.

When I signed up for this race a couple of weeks ago, I prayed that God would give me the strength to do it. Although I have invested much time in running over the last couple of months, those doubts still filled my mind. As I prayed and spent time in The Word last night, God began giving me peace. He showed me that I must trust Him, that He would give me the strength to do overcome this obstacle, for His glory.

I meditated on Psalm 18. Though the whole Psalm was so encouraging, I will write down the verses that really encouraged me.

“I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.”

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, because He was angry.” My God is so personal!! He will move heaven and earth for me! How Humbling!

“He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters….They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.” Indeed the Lord is my support. Again, I am on my face before Him…He delights in me! In me, when there is nothing beautiful about me, except the blood of His son which covers me!

“For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop. By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” It’s all about His strength!

“For who is God,except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places.”

“You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip.”

“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

This morning was rainy and cloudy. As I drove to Lincoln I continued to give God my fears and doubts. At nine I found myself in a mob of people lined up and ready to run. Finally, the gun broke through the noise of many voices and slowly I moved forward with those around me. Mile one was great. Mile two was okay, though the trail was very soft and muddy making the difficult task of running ten miles just a little more difficult. By mile three I began wondering if I was sane. “Give me strength, Lord.” was my constant prayer. Around mile four I found a lady who was running about my pace. Around mile eight I was convinced I was going to die. It was then that God showed me that just as I must keep press on toward the finish line in this race, so I must also push on toward the goal He has set before me.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~Philipians 3:12-14

Oh how I wanted to quit or even to walk. God reminded me of the verses He had given me the night before which gave me the strength to still press on. For the first part of mile nine I slowed down. I knew that the last ½ of the race was all up hill. When I finally reached the uphill part, God gave me a new strength and I gave everything I had left until finally I reached the finish line. After stretching, rehydrating, and watching more runners finish the race, I left. It wasn’t until I was about fifteen minutes out of Lincoln that I realized what God had just allowed me to do. Seriously, I think after being so focused on the race, it was difficult to “unfocus”. I just praised God, knew that just as He had stood by my side this morning, He would always stand by my side, giving me the strength to do what He has called me to do, for His Glory.

Though my only real goal was to finish the race (and not last would be nice), I finished the race in 1:35:17, a 9:32 pace. In my division (Females ages 20-24) I placed 24 out of 54. Which isn’t bad, considering the last time I ran ten miles (last June) I ran it at an 11 minute pace. God is so good! Truly, when we step out of our comfort zone, He is faithful to be our provider, protector, and strength.

More Pictures of Liana

The beautiful flowers our family gave them.

























Truly babies are a blessing straight from God. What a miracle little Liana Rose is! I am so grateful her parents allowed us to come and see her so soon after her birth.

God Has Answered

Though this week was difficult, God allowed the week to end on a very sweet note. Bethany and I were able to visit Liana Rose on Saturday afternoon. What a sweet baby she is!

LIviNG LiFe =)

Can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted. Much has happened in that short amount of time. It's not all been easy, but God has been faithful!

Classes...

Classes have been great! Never thought I would enjoy going to school, but I am! In Art Exploration we have made something fun each week...a self-portrait, a color wheel, a fish, a crayon resist painting, and two abstract paintings. I must say I never thought I was an artist, but watch out I just might be the creator of the next coloring book you buy your child...HA! I can draw to save my life, but ONLY to save my life. ;)

In Music Methods we have been using Nursery Rhymes to create transition songs for our future classes. One song I created...

Time for History (Sang to the tune of Ring Around the Roses)

Now its time for History,
Dates, people, and places,
Get your books out,
And get ready to learn!

I must admit, I never thought I would be singing silly songs in front of a whole bunch of college students, either! :)

Piano...

Currently, I am focusing on two songs...Lord Be Glorified and Sonatina Op. 36 No. 2.

Lord Be Glorified is a beautiful song mixed with the Canon in D. I am working on memorizing it for a recital which will take place in April or May.

FCA...

Its been great, definitely where God wants me. I have been pushed out of my comfort zone several times now. Near the beginning of the semester I gave my testimony and shared the gospel. This last week I spoke again, along with two of the other adult leaders. I spoke on the power of the Gospel of Christ. Truly, God's power is declared through the Gospel of Christ. Why then do we not constantly share it with others and preach it to ourselves? Is it not important to constantly be reminded that it is only by God's grace and Christ's sacrifice that we are righteous?

Kanakuk...

After much prayer and after totally leaving it in God's hands, God gave me a summer job at Kanakuk. I will leave May 21 and return on June 25. I will be working at K-Kauai their family camp! Looking back I can totally see how God's hand was in it the entire way!! If you want all the details you will have to let me know, its a long but great story. Waiting on God is not easy, but it is totally worth it.

Rebekah...

In January Rebekah found out that she is once again in need of the surgery. Her surgery will take place on March 3. I can't imagine how hard it must be for her, but God has given her a beautiful strength and steadfastness of heart.

LIvING LiFe is great, especially when you have the blessing & joy of knowing that this life is temporal. Because of Christ's sacrifice, I can look forward with confidence to that day when I will be able to eternally worship my Savior. But until then...may my life bring Him glory........

Blizzard of December 2009, Part 1

Pictures from our first snowstorm. Since the snow all blends in, it is difficult to see just how tall these drifts were. Some were at least ten feet tall.

Let it Snow!!!

Our third snow storm of the winter hit during the first full week of January 2010. Although, we didn't get much more snow, once the wind started blowing the roads quickly drifted shut. Drifts like these are why I was snowed out of my home from Wednesday to Saturday afternoon.

Contra Mundum

Tomorrow, I will begin my fourth semester at Peru State College. As I look back over my experiences thus far, I praise God for having used my time at college to strengthen my love for Him.

Because I believe God has called me to be involved with various activities this next semester, I am only taking twelve credit hours.

Introduction to Special Education
Introduction to Art
Art Exploration
Teaching Music in Elementary and Middle School

Outside of school, God willing, I will be helping with the local FCA group, attending Omaha Bible Church, taking and practicing piano, working ten hours a week at American National, working a couple hours a week as a secretary, and babysitting.

While I may have a busy schedule, I have already started praying that God would bring opportunities for me to minister to my classmates. If God brings opportunities as He did last semster, as I believe He will, I know I will often be forced to stand alone for my Savior. Though such a choice may bring trials, I will choose to live a life contra mundum, rather than a life as an enemy of God's (James 4:4).

Certainly I am looking forward to this next semester with a little bit of anxiousness; yet, at the same time, God has bestowed upon me a gracious amount of peace & joy.