Turmoil

Spiritual Warfare hit home this weekend for our family. Without a lot of detail we are in a battle like no other we have faced. It is much more painful to watch your children battle than just yourself. You are helpless and hurt and angry and terrified of the adult decisions they make with their adolescent minds. They do not understand the consequences of their actions and choices, even though we have shared the bible and our own experiences with them. Sin is so far reaching, it never affects just the individual, it affects families, friends, loved ones, strangers.

I was singing in my car yesterday the song by Casting Crowns "Praise You in this Storm."The lyrics spoke to my heart.

"I was sure by now God You would have reached down,
And wiped our tears away, Stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining.

As the thunder rolls, I barely hear Your whisper through the rain"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand
You never left my side And though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm"



Our family is in desperate need of your prayers right now, please. We need guidance, wisdom and strength to endure.



Romans 5:3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance

...a time to heal...

This past Thursday and Friday thanks to a "free" hotel room Robert and I took a well overdue mini-vacation to Solvang, CA. If you have never heard of it Solvang is a small, quaint Danish town just outside of Santa Barbara in the mountains. There are shops and wineries, an Ostrich farm and one of California's famous Missions. The true appeal for us was a little down time. At home it seems we are always running, Robert has been busy at work with trips and our "Operation Christmas Love" (our church is helping local families who are having difficulty this Christmas by providing gifts for their children). It was nice to have 2 days for just the 2 of us to spend time together. We walked around the town, had sausages and ableskivers (small little pancake balls with powdered sugar and raspberry jam)!! I think we both realize that what the new year has in store for us is going to keep us very busy. A time of change for our whole family. A push on our schooling, starting to fund raise, getting KC ready for graduation, etc. We are taking this holiday season slow and easy, ready to hit the ground running come Jan 1, 2009.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-5
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them.

Haiku II

OK! here is my second attempt at Haiku.

The desert is stark
There is darkness on the Rez
Will they see the light

Robert