Random Pictures from Mike's phone

Summer blast. Sydney, Lisa and Katie.

Lisa at her first swim meet.

Lisa sliding off the slide at Heather and Bob's house. They are hosting our small group for the summer. We are studying 1 Thessalonians.

Katie and "Blue". One of my cousin Melissa's Great Daines in D'Hanis. Those dogs are TALL. They are also so sweet.

Lisa turning in her swimming race.

Mike and I got to go on a date. Guess where? I thought this picture was hilarious.

Happy Father's Day

Katie calls her daddy "Big D". I think that is so cute. Sometimes she calls him "daddy-o". Equally cute. She will sometimes call me "big mama". I think of a diner and a skillet when she calls me that.

Lisa calls her daddy "dad". And that is good. Lisa loves her dad and especially loves to go to Home Depot or Lowe's with him. She will drop EVERYTHING and go.

Both girls love to watch movies and pop air popcorn with their daddy. They like to spend time with him at the beach, at home, at the pool. They adore him and he adores them, even when they are talking non-stop.

I am just in awe of this man that God has given me. What God has done is nothing short of a miracle and I will live the rest of my days praising Him for this gift.

Mike's shirt says "I'm not the man I ought to be, but, thank God I'm not the man I used to be."

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Mighty to Save

Tonight Mike and I watched a Loui Giglio video called Fruitcake and Ice Cream. The topic is on friendship and grace.

Part of the story was about a college senior who was balancing a party life with completing college. She was not a Christian, her boyfriend lived in an apartment with her and then cheated on her. She kicked him out and got another room mate who happened to be a Christian. Now this Christian girl did not judge, she listened and she prayed.
Eventually, after much boyfriend drama, this party girl wanted what this Christian girl had. Part of the story, and the story is much deeper, is that when she heard the song Mighty to Save the first time, it made her cry, she wondered why everyone raised their hands.

I needed to read the lyrics again, like I was listening for the first time.

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.
So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

This party girl would journal and in her journal called her room mate a fruitcake and that is why part of the title is Fruitcake and Ice Cream.

This story does not end here. The party girl gave her life to Christ, journaled about it, about her changed life, e-mailed Loui Giglio, he responded and she thought it was crazy awesome that he would e-mail her back.
Three months later she died in a car accident. She was only 22 about to graduate from college.

Wow. It has made me think so much this evening.

We don't know how long we have on this side of heaven.

We don't know what our witness does for others.

Lord, I pray that I don't come across judgemental towards others, but loving. Let me not care what others think of me, if they think I am a fruitcake, let if be a fruitcake for you.

So take me as you find me, all my fears and failures, fill my life again. I give my life to follow, everything I believe in, now I surrender...

Summer time

This summer I want it to be low key and restful. So I will start with this bible verse:


Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10


Lisa and Mrs. Fincke, her third grade teacher.
Mrs. Fincke was such a blessing to Lisa this year and is a great teacher who loves the Lord. My third grade teacher (Mrs Davis, who still happens to teach at Concordia) was my favorite teacher in elementary. Third grade is a tough year, compared to 1st and 2nd grade. This was Lisa's first year at Concordia and Mrs Fincke just really "got" Lisa and helped her this year.


Katie and Mrs Boriack, her second grade teacher. Mrs. Boriack is also a great teacher and has been a sweet blessing to Katie. One time in church Mrs Boriack was up front in the choir and Katie saw her and told EVERY person around us "That is my teacher, Mrs Boriack." When I told her that story, she said "thanks, Katie" The way she said it was priceless.


Katie got "hurt" at a soccer game and Lisa rushed to her aid.


Daddy and Lisa at our first swim meet. We learned so much about race numbers, heats and lanes. Also to bring chairs and snacks. Also that a swim meet lasts upwards of 4 hours and there is A LOT of down time. Also to bring a book, phones with cool apps and your patience.


Mom and her little swimmer. I just love the swim cap and goggles!


Look at that form. She is working on learning to dive from the dive block.


Great job! So far she competes in the freestyle, backstroke and 2 relays.

I am hoping that we can have a restful summer. I think when June is over we will. We have swim meet practice every day from 3:45 to 4:30. Swim meets are on Mondays from 4:45 until 9pm. My last day of Griefshare is this Thursday and I think I am ready to have our evenings open.

Random Highlights

-Lisa is on the swim team at the JCC. The Stingrays. She is a good little swimmer. She is learning alot, especially the diving into the pool part. The first time they were diving into the pool she told her coach "Coach, I am a swimmer, not a diver." I thought that was hilarious, like the coach was going to say "Oh, OK". But he is working with her, and we are not talking high platform dives here, no, it is basically the platform 12 inches from the water. Her first swim meet will be in 2 weeks.

-Katie played soccer for the YMCA. Her team was "The Crushers". So far they have won 2 games. One more to go for the season. I don't know if she will do it next year. She really wants to play volleyball. The girls look so cute running out there. Now there really are some parents who take this very serious. Their girls have been playing soccer since they could walk. We told Katie to have fun, to do her best and to be a team player. She is not really a runner, so when she would come by us we would say "run like the wind, bulls eye" (from Toy Story).

-In BSF we finished the study of John. It was very good. We all learned so much about the earthly ministry of Jesus, His death and resurrection. Next year is Isaiah. I hear that it will be challenging.

-Lisa is moving up to 4th grade. She is turning 10 this Friday (the last day of school). How exciting. We have some special surprises planned for our baby.
10 years old. I cannot believe how fast time has gone. We really do not have a lot of time to prepare her for the world. To make sure she is equipped. I have been praying so much for God to touch her heart so she wants nothing more than to live for Him, to glorify Him in all she does. This world is a scary place and I will have to leave it at that for right now--trust in God, trust in God, trust in God.

-Katie is moving up to the third grade. She is a natural student. Except for this past week--I think she checked out of school already. Thankfully she has done really well this year so she had some room for an off week. Too bad it was the last week of school:-(

Learning and Serving

I started as a hospice RN in April, unsure of what I am doing, but feeling led by God to do this. I NEVER had any aspirations, goals, dreams or desire to be a hospice nurse. In fact, I was on the other end of the spectrum "stay away from the light..." I was an ER nurse. But my thinking has totally changed.

I have 11 patients that I case manage. I find myself thinking about death alot now. The Bible says that we are eternally minded. Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.

Do my patients know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior?

That is the only question that will matter when we die.

Mike and I attended a training class taught by a wonderful pastor friend who helped us in our darkest hour. It is missional worker training and basically teaches that we are all missionaries. We have "our people" that we have relationships with who we influence with the love of Jesus. Our family, neighbors, co-workers, patients.

We were asked "Why Jesus?"

Because He saved me. He changed me. He chose me. He loves me. He died for me, so I should live for Him.

What are ways we bring the presence of Jesus to people?

By listening. Being interested in their lives. We must develop a spirit of quietness and listening. Don't try to change and be judgemental. God is the judge. Don't try to "fix" them. Let God be God. I am just the vessel and instrument to show the love of Christ.


Two weekends ago was the spring Women's STARS retreat. It was also my first Mother's Day without my mom. I didn't think that would bother me, but one of my patients who I met on the day before the retreat, has my mom's same diagnosis and looks like my mom did. I went home and cried--really hard. It was therapeutic. Mike and I got to talk and pray, it was a beautiful time.

I gave my testimony (reconciliation), gave an introduction for Laura and for Melody. I got the honor to be a co-table leader again. I was the nurse and spent the first night in the ER with Vickie who has 5 fractures in her foot after an accident on the very first event of the retreat. This was by far the hardest retreat I have ever been on. On many levels there was spiritual warfare happening. Total exhaustion, giving my testimony, being the nurse and having a prayer partner who did not want to be there, was extremely negative and especially harsh in her word choices to me. It was fun being with Vickie in the infirmary all weekend, but I did not feel like I was part of the team. As a bonus, I got to come home to my youngest child with a case of lice. Good times!! Late nights!! Fine tooth combs and lots of laundry!!

But all is good and I really have managed to laugh at this stuff. God is good.
I loved serving on team. I have made some incredible friends and am extremely blessed by the women God has put in my life.

God reminded me when I was about to give my testimony that my history is His Story. He saved Mike. He saved me. He saved our marriage. I wish my past was perfect and that I followed Him my entire life. But in my story, I found His mercies, His grace and His forgiveness. I found His love. He never lost me--He was always there.

Spring time fun

Life has sure been busy around here. The last leg of the school year, new job with hospice, BSF, Katie's soccer, Lisa's art, Griefshare, STARS retreat team (I am giving my testimony and will be a table leader and the nurse.) There will be so much to share in the near future about my job and the retreat, but for now here is a short recap of what we've been up to.

We had a long weekend at the coast last weekend. It was nice to get away.

We were able to bring the kayak again and this time actually get it off the top of the suburban. The last time it was so windy that we could not even take the thing down. Speaking of wind, I went for a run on the beach and headed off, it was so...easy, relaxing, even fun. But then, I turned around to come back to our spot and it was...hard, not relaxing, and fun had escaped my mind. It was a work-out.

The girls were VERY excited to give this kayaking a shot.

There they go. Fun times ready to be had by all.

Oh no! What happened to the fun times?

Lisa and Katie were not happy with the tipping of the kayak. It scared them and neither one of them have the desire to kayak again. At least for this trip. They seem to have short term memories on some things. At least they weren't out too deep and they had their life jackets on and their daddy was right there to help them out:-)


On Saturday I got to go to the Beth Moore Simulcast "So Long Insecurity." It was a great simulcast that I attended in Rockport. It was based on Ephesians 4: 17-24:
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off you old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to like God in true righteousness and holiness.

6 statements that describe a secure woman based on Ephesians 4.

A secure woman is:

S-saved from herself (insecurity is idolatrous self interest; God's security takes us out of ourselves, security makes us think less often of ourselves)

E-entitled to truth (deceitful desires: if I could just have this, achieve this, be this...then I would be secure, perfectionism is an insecurity at an art form) Eph 4:21

C-clothed with intention (Be intentional, we will not walk in security accidentally, Prov 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity)

U-upended by grace ( grace them as Christ Jesus has graced me; people who believe they are deeply graced deeply grace others)

R-rebounded by love (Jesus loves me THIS I KNOW, we are loved, live like a dearly loved child)

E-exceptional in life--this one was my favorite. Let Christ overtake me so I will be secure in my relationships, work life, church life, social life--then I will stick out like a healthy thumb and people will want to know what my hope is.

Some example were: everyone is out for her own...except her
no one can handle that...except her

nobody was nice...except her

nobody handles aging well...except her

threatened by other women....except her

Be the exception. What is it about you? Jesus