Spring time...

After so many long months of a wintery white wonder land, we are starting to get the first glimpse of spring! Oh joy! This Saturday will be 40 degrees! I feel like I've been underground for the last 5 months. The only color you seem to see is white, white, and more white with occasional hints of brown. I couldn't believe it when I got in the car today and it was warm!

Waiting for spring is sorta like waiting for your prayers to be answered sometimes. It can seem like you've prayed about something for weeks, months, maybe even years and nothing seems to happen. It can get frustrating and even make you wonder if God has heard you. So you pray differently, or ask why the delay. But we all seem to forget that our timing is not God's timing. We want Him to work within our schedule and time blocks. And we have the audacity to get impatient when things don't happen when we want them. God teaches us many things. And one of the many is patients. Whether it's waiting for our prayers to be answered, or waiting for spring! He always knows what time is best. Just think. If spring came a month or two after winter started, we wouldn't appreciate it as much, would we? It's only after months and months of that fluffy white stuff do we get a reprieve. Winter is fun, but after a while we all long for the colors and heat. There's no speeding the weather up, just like you can't make God do things before He wants them done. (So stop running around in shorts and T-shirts, It isn't going to bring summer here any faster!) Take a lesson from from God... His timing is perfect. And in a few short months His timing will bring summer! See! I told you it was perfect!

To my best and forever friend

I decided to dedicate this post to my faithful sister who has always been there for me throughout her 13 years! I love this poem because it describes you beautifully.

When I think of all the times we've shared
from the silly to the sad
You've been the greatest friend to me
through good times and the bad.
We love to get crazy from time to time,
that's what friends are supposed to do;
But when times get rough
there is never a doubt that I can count on you.
We have the kind of friendship
that endures till the very end.
Because I can't imagine life without you-
My Best and Forever Friend.

I love you, Rachel more than you could ever know. Even though we have our differences and I can't say that we have never had a fight, I can say that you are the best friend I have have ever found. Among the myriad of friends I have accumulated over the years, I haven't found one who loves me and is as faithful as you. I don't always show you how grateful I am to have you for my sister. I'm sorry I don't tell you each and every day. You are so special. Any other person would have given up on me long ago. You have to deal with all my idiosyncrasies. But no matter what I do I can't seem to shake your love and friendship. =) Thank you for seeing the good in me rather than dwelling on my shortcomings. The council you share as well as the secrets we laugh about. Thank you for not only being my sister, but my very best friend.

"I do!"

Hey everybody! Sorry it took me so long to write, but with the Christmas season rushing like a whirlwind I hardly had time to even think about writing. But finally after everything has settled down somewhat, I remembered I do have a blog site! And the latest things I could think of was Rachel and Daniel.... and now Sarah and John Paul!! CONGRATS to our newly engaged couples!! Our blessings and support to both of them as they get closer and closer to their wedding. Well it looks like we'll have two weddings to plan on in the near future. One on March 29 and the next on June 14. Congratulations once again to both sets of couples!! We love you!!!

Please bear with me as I try to begin writing posts again!

(photos by Hannah Hanson and Emily Schuurmans)

Answer to the Poll!

I'm sure you're wondering which answer was correct for the Poll: How many push ups did the man from the guinness records achieve in an hour? Well, the answer is..... 1781! It looks like only one person got it right! How anyone could have done push ups for that long is unbelievable! And not only did he do 1781 push ups, he did them all with the backs of his hands! Someone has some major biceps and triceps! Well, this is proabably ones of my 'weirest' posts... but hey! Everyone needs a fun one thrown in now and then! =)

Thanksgiving

Summer has come and gone and fall is just about over too. Winter is coming and the weather is already making way for its approach. Animals start to get thicker coats, the last flower blooms fall to the ground, piles of brightly colored leaves are stacked high for cannon balls, people are putting anti-freeze in their cars, and just around the corner we'll all be getting ready to sit down for a Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving. Such a wonderful holiday. It's my second favorite next to Christmas. Families gather together from all over to celebrate. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends! All getting together to give thanks and to bless one another. It's sad to see the true meaning of Thanksgiving get pushed aside by food and football. These are the fun extras that we tend to put into Thanksgiving, but often can distract us from having truly thankful hearts. It's a wonderful time to recount and meditate on those things for which we are thankful. I'm so thankful for my church that is always encouraging us to have hearts of thankfulness.

I just want to tell all of you girls that I'm so incredibly thankful to have you all as my friends. Each and every one of you are special to me. You all have different abilities and gifts. It's wonderful to have so many girlfriends that love the Lord so much and who want to encourage one another to keep running the race that He's put in front of them. Thank you for being my friend and for loving me for who I am. I love you all! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

(photo by Robin Smith)

A boy in his father's house...

"When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,

he taught me and said,
'Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.' "

Proverbs 4:3-4

Baptisms

Just within a few weeks Grace Baptist has had four people come to Christ! How wonderful our God is! We thank Him for working miracles in four people: Alexa Hartung, Spencer Parmelee, and Mr. and Mrs. Shock. (Please excuse me for any misspelled last names!) Then just Sunday the 21st, eight people got baptized at Eastside Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Larson, Cynthia Larson, Anika Larson, and the four newly saved people were of the eight. Congratulations to all of them for taking this step in presenting their testimony to everyone. They each expressed to the congregation that by being baptized was important to them and that it showed the world that they were God's people. Good job guys!
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Mrs. Shocker

Mr. Shocker

Alexa Hartung

Anika Larson

Spencer Parmelee

Mr. Larson

Mrs. Larson

Cynthia Larson

(Pictures by Hannah Hanson)