An update!

So I have really been enjoying myself & I have also been told by several sources that I really should update my blog. Thus you see the following.:)

                I 've enjoyed having these wonderful cousins for "sisters" in the past week & a half.
 

I will really miss these 3 little people.

 

                       Last night there was time for a photo-shoot. Here are a few of my favorites.

 I told Allison that I didn't think I would like Alabama as well as I did & she was convinced that the only reason I liked it was 'cause I got to be in a studio every day. she is probably right though I must admit that I liked the southern accent, hospitality, friendliness etc. It is quite different then the nice North though:)   Well, I really ought to go now... so we will until next time:)      Hopefully you all have a good weekend...

Catching up on all the things that should have been posted....

Hello everybody! In a way it feels like I have been far removed from this blog for a little while now, maybe I really have been or perhaps it's just because a lot of things have been going on...? one can never tell...  Anyway, Wes & Sara were here over July fourth which was great! And as of  last Friday I am once again a new aunt! Joseph & Anna now have a girl and 2 boys, I am so happy for them! Her name is Haley Nicole. (I do really like that name:)    
   On Sunday, My aunt Karen & Victoria & Teresa came for a day (& some hours :) it was what one might call "short but sweet"   *winky face*  --So on Monday us girls went to a coffee shop, an antique mall & a little fudge shop. we had great fun & we missed Naomi ('cause she had to work)so we took her a white chocolate frappe to make up for it....   

the coffee shop. a kind lady took the picture for us...

Rhoda, Teresa & I.... (Teresa named her drink Marvin, she was so proud of him:)

Victoria & Dorcas

We thought it was so cool to find a "Bontrager" banner in Warsaw!  (even though we are Schrocks & Millers, our moms were Bontragers)

our mothers......:)

...these two are one of a kind, enough said.

my dear aunt Karen.... it is highly entertaining too hear her tell her & Uncle Tim's love story *laughs*

Victoria & I,   I love you girl, your heart for God inspires me.

Sooo... there you have all that... I have also started working at the bulk food store (that my brother Jon owns) about 2 days a week & I really enjoy that. Speaking of the store & my brother it reminds me that Jon is coming tomorrow for 2 days.:) I must add that Dorcas got her long & patiently waited for camera! now can we do a photo shoot? CHEERS!    This weekend both Dorcas & Rhoda will be leaving for a week. We will miss them. :)   And in 2 weeks I will be leaving to travel with the Bontragers. (namely my uncle, aunt, & cousins:) I will be with them close to 2 weeks & I am very much so looking forward to it! It will be a new experience & I like those.:)   Well I really must go... Hoping you all have a wonderful rest of the week!

Untitled.

Hello everybody! This is real quick....I just read a good article on femininity/womanhood, if you wish to read it, go to this blog.
Hope you all have a wonderful day!  

Micah

I am so glad to have you for my brother...

 

some things I like about you... 

• Your love for flying,(you're becoming a wonderful pilot!)
• Your passion for God & His will in you're life
•  All little children love you
• You always take time for people
• You make wonderful brother
• And.... you're favorite verse :)

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.  

Isaiah 40:31

                                               

The beginning of a story written by God's hand...

 Yesterday was a normal day, we were doing the things that needed to be done, I had just finished trimming the row of bushes in front of house, Rhoda was mowing, Micah & Dorcas were at work, Naomi was in town, Mom was working in the garden.... And then the phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number but without a doubt it was Dad's voice, there were sirens in the background & he asked to talk to Mom, he said he was in the ambulance on the way to the University in Iowa City, & that he thinks he had a stroke. He couldn't talk long 'cause he felt it coming back again.... Mom was crying when she called the children to tell them & Rhoda & I sat on the couch looking at each other not quite sure what to think or say. Being 6 hours from your Dad in a time like this is hard!   Those sorts of things always seem to happen to other people, and it seems really close home when it's your own Dad. Every week when he leaves I always take for granted that he'll be back in a few days. It makes me more grateful then ever for Him.
Me being the sort of person that thinks there is a song for every situation was having all manner of songs running through my head at once....  I'll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands...    be still, there is a healer, His love is deeper then the sea, His mercy it is unfailing, His arms, are a fortress for the weak, let faith arise....   strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord....  our God is greater, our God is stronger.... what if your blessings come through rain drops, what if your healing comes through tears.... I'm strong in the strength of someone else, trusting a hand that never has failed...
 Already we can see God's hand  in all of this. With Dad's job he could have easily been in Minnesota where there was no family, it was such a blessing that he was only an hour from both his & Mom's families so they could go up & be at the hospital with him... when he felt it coming there was a place for him to pull off right away, & most of all he is basically back to himself again! Last night Micah & Mom left around 7:00 for Iowa & we are so grateful for the friends that called & said they were praying for us & also the gifts of money to help pay gas etc. We are forever grateful to you! 

 (the rainbow is kinda faint but you can see it a little right above the trees)

 Last night it rained a soft gentle rain for about 5 minutes, just long enough to bring a rainbow, it felt like a gift from God.  Us girls  went to  Sonic to get supper, then we took it down to the lake to eat it & watch the sun set, soon we heard that Dad was looking/doing much better... I think I am learning all over again about answered prayer! 

 Even though there are still some uncertainties (like, will dad be able to keep his truck driving job after something like this etc.) we know that even though the story isn't finished yet, God will continue to take care of all the details like He has so far!  It's also a blessing that it happened on a week that our brother Jonathan was planning to come out for a few days!

....today is the day you have made, I will rejoice & be glad in it....

I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.

For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.

Psalms 57: 9-11

3 verses, 1 quote

 Hear my cry O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.   Psalm 61:1-2

 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 

Psalms 63:1

 

~~~~~~

  "The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us. "

— A.W.Tozer

My passion

        
      -Faithful to the Cross-

 I love songs like this! Songs that encourage you to run the race well that God has asked you to run, it's a song that reminds us of the example God has asked us to lead for those coming behind us. It makes us look at the real reason why we are here....    Some seek after fortune & fame, so when we're gone the world will remember their name, but I am learning that what matters most can't be held in my hands, & that riches don't measure the worth of a man.... It's found in being FAITHFUL TO THE CROSS!

You never know who might be looking to you as an example. It may be the poor children who are looking for acceptance in life, It may be the insecure teens that are trying to find their place in life, it may just be the person that needs encouragement today. Who ever it is, there is someone who is looking up to you & we have been asked by God to leave a godly example, because.... you might be the only bible another man ever reads.

53 weeks & 5 days of blogging...

...This blog has existed that long! I do enjoy it (even if you don't :)) & I think we should celebrate in some way but everyone does that,( giveaways when their blog is a certain age etc. :)) ... So maybe we will wait until sometime when nobody is expecting anything and then we will have a little surprise! Don't we all like that? alot?       But to admit, I am a little curious as to who all is reading my blog, the stats show that alot of people read it every day so I think that perhaps some of you read it & never comment & that's fine if you don't want to, (I hate feeling obligated to comment on someones blog) but in case you want to comment, now is the time to make yourself known.   In your comment please say your first name, where you're from, how you found/heard about this blog, and for curious me, which is your favorite of the following:  coffee, chocolate, peanut butter, ice cream, gummy bears or raisins.

The happy things in life...

Last night was amazing! While we were eating our supper it was raining such a nice, refreshing rain outside. Afterward the sun came out for a little & there was such a brilliant double rainbow. So we decided to go on a little walk down the road, it was still thundering quietly & raining ever so softly & it made me think of this song;   

Word of God speak                                                

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That Your in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness  

It was so what I was needing, to be reminded of God's presence all over again. A rainbow is such a promise of His faithfulness, justice, & peace.             

Today I got a CD in the mail from my sister, it was one that I loved & she decided to get it for me,  it was supposed to be a surprise but I had a pretty good idea that it was coming (thanks to Amazon's history:)  I have already listened to it about 5 times total! (this is what I do w/ new music:)

To day was my younger sister's birthday, she is now 14 & I am 15 which seems kinda funny 'cause just a few short years ago we were lots younger & weren't involved in all the "girl conversations" etc. *tee-hee*


Here is a quote that has inspired me to thinking lately:

Am I fully prepared to allow God to grip me by His power and do a work in me that is truly worthy of Himself? Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me - sanctification is God's idea of what He wants to do for me. But He has to get me into the state of mind and spirit where I will allow Him to sanctify me completely, whatever the cost. 

-Oswald Chambers

 

This is my desire, that I would be like pliable clay. that I would allow God to sanctify me, mold me , & use me for whatever He plans.