Life ten years later...

Charity's ten year high school reunion is this weekend. It is just crazy how time flies by! Growing up, 28 seemed like so far away. I had all kinds of thoughts about where I would be and what I would be doing...None of them ever included being a Pastor, living in Northeast Kansas, or putting my thoughts on the world wide web for anyone to read. I believe when we find ourselves in these moments where life catches us off-guard and we realize that we are not where we ever thought we would be, we have a decision to make. Will we look at our path and rejoice because we are in a place that much better suits who we are; that person we didn't know ten years ago? Or will we mourn the loss of yesterday's dreams? I guess it depends on where we find ourselves. At this point in my life, I wouldn't choose to be anywhere else. I wouldn't choose a different vocation. I wouldn't choose a different family situation. It may not be where I thought I would be, but in my case, it is so much better. I am not trying to sermonize, but there is a scripture promise that I believe sums up my thoughts. Paul says (and I paraphrase here) that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has ever conceived what God has planned for us. If I had been given a map of my life ten years ago, I wouldn't have believed it. I would have tried to avoid the lows and hang onto the highs, and I would have lost this moment in time, when I can look back and say, I wouldn't change it at all.

Summertime, and the livin' is BUSY!!!

We had Vacation Bible School last week! It was a lot of fun, 16 kiddos in all over two days. Kathrina had fun at her first VBS.I will put in a pic of her class--she of course not paying any attention!
Life continues on its streak towards Fall!
Ministry Conference this week, then vacation!
Here's to meeting my cutie of a nephew (Ariel) in person!
I just can't wait!

Song Lyrics-When I Lay it Down

There is Joy-there is joy
There is Comfort-there is comfort
There is Peace, peace, peace
When I lay it down

When I lay down my burdens,
and I place them at his feet
When I kneel at this altar,
I will never face defeat, because

There is Joy-there is joy
There is Comfort-there is comfort
There is victory
When I lay it down

By Charity

Song Lyrics-King of my Heart

Jesus, King of my heart,
You're everything to me.
Jesus, you saved my soul;
now you're making me whole,
So I can be more like you.

You rule my heart like a glorious king.
You walk beside me through all that life brings,

Jesus, Jesus,
You're everything to me.
By Charity

Busy, busy, busy!

I predict that the rest of our summer will simply fly by! We have Bible School July 20th-21st; a conference July 26th-28th; family vacation August 2nd-13th; and family camp labor day weekend!
I hope we can keep up! Sometimes life seems to slip into high gear and the next thing you know, its next year!
Goal for the rest of the summer: Take Time to Breathe!

Happy July!

We have been enjoying ourselves this fine month of July!
Our church had a booth at the town festival on the 4th and we had lots of fun interacting with people from all over. Here's a pic of our patriotic daughter, cute as can be!