My Father's Love

"The world's wealth and riches can be bought and sold

but I possess a treasure far greater than gold

'twas a gift passed down to me from heaven above

'twas the gift of my Father's love

Safe and secure now in His love alone

I find at last my place of worth as one of His own

and I don't need everything this world wants to give

'cause I live with my Father's love.

And my Father's love is strong and true

always believing - always seeing me through

so no matter what happens in His grand design

- I'll be fine with my Father's love

I have my Father's love.

"A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation."

- Psalm 68:5

Nine years ago today Daddy passed on to heaven. It is hard for me to believe and sad to me that I have lived my life without him now almost as long as I had with him. But even in those 10 short years, His life had an impact on me that continues to influence and challenge me as I live my life day by day. I am thankful for all the wonderful memories that the Lord has allowed me to cherish in my heart - I remember so many special details that I know a lot of kids don't have the privilege of remembering when they lose someone close to them at such a young age. I think it is because our family was so close - is so close. Every night when Dad came home from work Mom would get us kids all excited, and I remember dropping whatever we were doing (even if it was the greatest Barbie story ever! haha!) and racing for the door because "daddy's home!" There's so much of course that I could say. I miss Dad SO much, yet through it all, the Lord has become more real to me as my Father, as Jehovah Jireh (my Provider), Jehovah Rohi (my Shepherd), and as El Shaddai (the God Who is sufficient to meet the needs of His children). God is so good.

"Know ye that the Lord, He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlatsting; and His truth endureth to all generations."

~ Psalm 100:3 - 5

Happy Mother's Day!

"Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies?"
~ Proverbs 31:10

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY, MOM!
I wish I had more time to blog a whole bunch about my wonderful mom, but maybe I will be able to be on and update later. But I wanted to be sure to pay tribute to the best mom in the whole world! Thank you, mom, for the godly example you have been to me, for your unfailing faith, constant prayers, your selfless heart, and unconditional love. I admire you for all that you are and all that you do. Thank you for keeping our family so close - for all the fun times and memories. I'm so excited I get to be home with you all summer! We're going to have even more fun times! ;) I love you more than words can say! Thank you for not only being the bestest mom ever, but for being my very best friend! I want to be like you someday because I see Jesus in you! xo

One More Day!

Well, I missed a day of blogging for the countdown, but then I realized, the countdown was till graduation, and for the countdown for going home, I was still right on! So one more day and I will be home! In fact, we'll probably be on the road traveling to get home still at this time tomorrow. (sorry if that sounded confusing) It's been an awesome semester at school! I'm so thankful for all the Lord has done and is doing in my life! God is so good! Jordan graduated today - I will try to blog that if the computer can handle it at home ;) ...congratulations, Jordan! You're awesome! :D Then mom came around 2:30, and we've been hanging out with Jen and Jordan since. Laura, Meg, and Danielle left this morning really early - and are all home safe and sound now! PTL! I missing you already, girls! (this picture made me think of you, Laura! I laughed when I found it, and knew you'd get a kick out of it too! try not to be a baaaaad girl while we're apart . . . wait for me! JUST KIDDING!) Can't wait to be home! :)

Campus Family Bowling

A couple weekends ago our campus family went bowling as a last hoorah activity. It was so neat because it actually worked out for everyone to be there even with the busyness of the year end school work. We have such a fun bunch of people, and had such a good time! I think I was laughing most of the time ;) I'm going to miss everyone and all the fun times - especially my campus mom and dad! (you guys were such good parents to laura and I - hee, hee! Thanks for driving us to church every Sunday and Wednesday and having us down to your apartment! You guys are awesome!

I GOT A STRIKE!

LAURA GOT A STRIKE!

Jordan and Jenn had lots of pow - wows and bowling lessons ;) They're so cute! :) ...it's a good thing they were on the same team.

Thanks again for the fun, Jenn and Jordan!

Timeline STILL Continued ;)

This is us in our Christian Service class. It was nice we got to choose where we wanted to sit, and then that was our spot for assigned seating - so of course we all sat together. (Megan WAS smiling till Roy got in the pic - poor Meg! hee, hee!)

This was during missions conference week. Each evening meal, one of the classes was in charge of doing a banquet theme. This night was the Juniors, and I think the country was Ecuador. Anyways, they serve food like that country, and the servers dress up like they're from that country, and then a missionary from that country gets up and presents their ministry, etc...That night was probably the most normal food. We girls had fun :) Dani and Megan were in rare - or maybe not so rare - form, and wouldn't be good little girls for their picture, so these are all we got of them from the night, but even in their goofy pictures you can see that looked so pretty for the banquet ;)

This is a typical afternoon for us after classes, we all come pile in laura's and my room between the computers and talk and laugh and check our emails, etc... so much fun! :)

Timeline Continued

This brings me to some fun updating news. At the "Arsenic & Old Lace" play, Laura went with Sam. Things have progressed from there, and Laura and Sam are now dating! I have LOTS more I could say, but I need to keep these captions short, or I might not be able to finish my timeline :) Hee, hee! All I can say right now is Fun, fun! ;)

I'm not sure if I have the chronology of all these events correct, but this is from Easter Sunday. It was a beautiful day, though a little windy. Our church had an Easter fellowship breakfast, and then a cantata, "The Bread of Life." Laura sang a solo in it, and it was just beautiful! There were a LOT of people there, and visitors that came - what an answer to prayer! And someone got saved! It's been neat to see how the Lord has been working at Norway since we've been here over the school year - I think the church has pretty much doubled in size, many people have gotten saved, baptized, and joined, and a teen group has developed. (Laura and I get to help in the teen group :))

Timeline Recap

Well, I decided that since I'm so behind with blogging, that I would just do a bunch of pictures with a quick caption before I have to really officially put my computer away, so here goes... :)

This is the week of Valentines Day. Laura and I checked our mail together, and we each had a slip for a package! We looked pretty funny walking down the sidewalks all giddy with these huge boxes and cheesy oversized smiles on our faces. Laura got one from her parents, and then we each had one from the church. Thank you church family, and Swensons! :) That was fun! ;)

This is the last time it snowed not long before spring break...when we got back from spring break - it was pretty much all gone! The snow is pretty, but it was a nice surprise to have most of the melting process overwith when we got back.

This is St. Patrick's Day in chapel right before we all said our goodbye's and headed home for spring break. Do you like our greens? Hee, hee! :)

Mom and Jules came to visit during the play, "Arsenic and Old Lace" - sorry Jules, I don't have a picture with you from that weekend on my computer :( We had so much fun together, though - I'm SO glad they could come (even though I was working on school work pretty much the whole time :( but I got everything done! :) and now I'm done, done! Hee, hee!

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

Well, this picture is a little inacurate, because there will be no snow on the ground when I get there, but I cannot wait to be home! I took this picture over Christmas break. It's the only picture of home I have on my computer - Laura has a few of her house, too - so whenever they would come up on our picture screensaver slideshows, we'd be like, "look! home!" And now we're going home! Our whole room is pretty much packed up now - and will be for sure by noon today, then white glove tomorrow, and graduation on Saturday. Then mom and I get to swing by Maranatha to see Julie before we head home late Sunday night. I cannot wait to see you guys and be with you! Yay! Today is my last exam! Two more days, and we'll be done here! Thank you all for your prayers! (please don't stop!) :)

EEEEHHHH!!!

3 Days Left!

I only have ONE exam left! It's a great feeling!

Today is the last day we will have internet in our rooms, because we have pack check tomorrow at noon - so we will have to have everything packed and ready to go tonight. So no more blogging or instant messaging till i get home, and even then, not much cause of our dial up. haha! so it'll be back to good old email soon.
It's funny how e-mail is even starting to seem a little old fashioned now. I will try to blog again today, though, (with some pix as u requested, mom ;)) Can't wait to see you all back home in just 3 days! Yay!

4 Days Left!

Yay! Only four more days! Can't wait to see you, mom! (and only 3 till the Swensons come - can't wait to see you guys, too!) Laura and I are so excited!!

Hee, Hee! :)

5 Days Left!

I can't believe there are only five more days till we're done! AND till Jordan's graduation! :)

Keep studying hard - it will be worth it all! (you, too, Jules - there in summer school ;))

Finals Week

Time has gone so fast! Last week was our last week of classes, and now we're studying for finals! There's a lot of studying to do, and also a lot of cleaning for white glove. We did most of our cleaning yesterday, and now our room looks so bare - it's kind of sad. But of course I'm excited to go home and be in my real room :) We've been doing as much as we can with our friends this weekend, because we know this week will be busy and fast, and before we know it, it will all be over. You can go to Laura's blog to see pix from all that - I haven't put them on my computer yet, but hopefully will be able to blog some more before I go home (where it's back to slow dial up - and pretty much no blogging opportunities). Anyways, you all can pray for Laura and I - we both have 2 exams a day Monday thru Wednesday (she has 3 Wednesday), and then just 1 on Thursday along with pack check. Because of pack check, we will be disconnected from the internet Wednesday night till we go home. :( Can't wait till all the studying and finals are done, and then we'll be sophomores! And also can't wait to get some real sleep when we get home! I'm not going to use an alarm clock again till I get back to school - probably not really, but at least I won't be using one EVERY morning. :)

Happy 20th Birthday, Danielle!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday, dear Danielle,

Happy Birthday to you!

I hope you have a very special day cause you're a very special person! I love you!

THIS DAY IN HISTORY:

1833 John Deere makes 1st steel plow (ewe - don't like john deere - don't worry, john) heehee!

1835 1st edition of New York Herald (price 1¢)

1889 Universal Exposition opens in Paris France; Eiffel Tower completed

1950 Liz Taylor's 1st marriage (Conrad Hilton Jr)

1957 Last broadcast of "I Love Lucy" on CBS-TV

1979 Fred Markham set a bicycle speed record of 81.8 kph over 200 meters (I wonder if he's related to the pastor at our extension church? heehee!)

1990 Tom Cruise is ticketed for careless operation of a vehicle in South Carolina

Bulgaria : Shepherd's & Herdsman's Day

Denmark : Prayer Day

Thought for the day :" Hearts will never be practical til they're unbreakable. "

Deuteronomy 4:29 - "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. "

¡agradezca a dios que es viernes!

Guess what the title says in English?

April 20th

April 20th was a wonderful day! Because Jennifer took me to the hospital for my LAST time to get remicade ever! When I was home over Christmas break, the doctor said that everything was looking good, so I would be able to stop receiving treatment. A year ago today I had just gone back to the hospital for the fourth time and was starting the longest stretch of being there. I put some pictures on here from then. Both of the pictures are actually from the first time I was in the hospital over spring break. (but that's because as time went on, I wasn't really up to pictures except for when the activity ladies would come with a dog, or the easter bunny to visit me :) hee,hee! then they would take pictures of me with them, and I would give them to mom to hide them for me. haha!) Anyways, the picture on top is from when Laura came to visit me. She's so sweet! Many times her family would take a day and come see me, and let Laura stay and chat with me as long as she wanted. She ALWAYS brightens my day! The teddy bear was from her for when she couldn't be there ;) The other picture is from later that day when the Schofield girls stopped by. We're all up in the library looking for movies to watch. :) That was a nice thing about the hospital is that they had a really nice library. Mom and I had fun having a movie night pretty much every night - eventually, though, we even got kinda tired of that! Anyways, I am so thankful that I can look back and see all that the Lord has allowed me to do since then. He has worked everything out according to His perfect will. At the time it was hard to understand why He was doing what He was doing, yet He gave us the grace to trust that He knew best. I learned so much last summer, and as much as it was a difficult thing to go through - I would not trade the experience. I just remember being overwhelmingly grateful to the Lord when I finally came out of surgery - He truly does do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think. The timing was perfect, too, because I was able to be in Jenn and Jordan's wedding in July without having to be escorted by my iv pole! haha! And then I got to go to college, and now I'm almost done with my first year! PTL! I am SO thankful! God is SO good!

April 20th also would have been Dad's 49th birthday. I cannot believe how fast time has gone. I miss him so much - but am so thankful that I will see him again someday in heaven. It was neat that it worked out for Jenn and I to schedule my appointment on that day, because then we could spend it together. We had a really sweet time together. Jenn made word puzzles (one of them was specialized with crohns lingo. haha!) on the internet - so that helped to pass time while we were actually at the hospital. Afterwards, we went shopping and got matching dresses (buy one - get one half off) :) and went out for supper at Applebees. It was so fun to actually have time to just sit and talk together. It's been so busy at school - it was nice to have an "excuse" to take a day off and have some sister time :) Thanks, Jenny! I love you!

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

To added affliction He addeth His mercies,

To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

- Annie Johnson Flint

"My grace is sufficient for thee..." II Corinthians 12:9 a

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." - I Peter 5:7

Julia

I know these are late - but I've wanted to blog - just haven't had the time. Julia celebrated her 24th birthday last Friday. I wish I could have been home to help her celebrate. Especially now that I know it was her last one in Minnesota. Jason and Julia are moving to Iowa this coming weekend. (I want to be there to help for that, too!) Anyways, Julia, I am so thankful for you! It's been so much fun to have you as part of our family now for the last two years! It seems like even longer - you've fit in since you and Jason started dating (even if you didn't feel like it your first visit! haha! ;) You are more like an actual sister than sister-in-law.

You are so special to me, and I look forward to times when we get to hang out together. I'm going to miss those spur of the moment lunch and dinner dates like we did last year. But we will keep in touch over phone and dial-up email (wink*wink). And you'll only be 4 hours away (and by one of the greatest malls ever!) so we'll come see you, too! It will be fun! You are always such an encouragement to me, and I am thankful for your example. Thank you for your love and prayers - I know I am so blessed to have a sister in law like you, and I am proud to say you are the BEST one!! hee, hee! I love you! Happy Birthday!

Happy Easter!

Mary went to the tomb in the morning, but the stone had been rolled away.

So she hurried to tell the disciples Christ was taken from where He lay.

As her tears flowed like rain in the garden, a clear voice sweetly called her name.

Then she turned, for she knew it was Jesus.

He's alive just as He claimed!

Oh, weep no more in sorrow!

He has risen and conquered the grave!

He's alive! It is true as He promised!

Oh rejoice for He lives today!

Place your faith in the blood of the Saviour, and your sins will be washed away.

All the power of death will be broken.

Oh rejoice for He lives today!

Matthew 28:5-6 And the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?

Happy Birthday, Julia! :)

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday dear Julia!

Happy Birthday to You!

...and many more...

Last Weekend...

At this point I was going to blog about mom and Jules coming to visit, but those pix are on Laura's camera, and she hasn't downloaded them on her computer yet, so I will blog them when the time comes! So stay tuned! There aren't many pix, but we had so much fun being together for the weekend! :)

Norway Teen Activity

Two weekends we had another youth activity at Norway Baptist Church. We had 9 teens, and just enough people to put 5 in each vehicle for the scavenger hunt. Laura and Pastor Markham were one team, Jenn and Jordan another, and Brian and me the last. That's the way it worked to - Laura's team won, and my team lost. oh well. It was all still a bunch of fun! ;) Jordan and Brians put together this whole thing so we were running around Norway and Iron Mountain trying to complete the list, and then we had to take pictures of ourselves doing it for proof. The boys on our team had a great time and really got into it! At each place we would give a tract to the person who helped us accomplish our goal. It gave some good opportunities. The bowling alley was our first stop - I was glad to find the balls are color coded the same as they are back home. The pink swirls are the light ones ;) I guess that makes sense, though, cause if you made heavy ones pink, no guy would want to use them, unless he's one of those wierdos who thinks pink is cool ;) haha!
This next picture is at the Goodwill store. We were supposed to take pictures with hats on. This particular one was not a favorite of mine - it didn't seem to appealing to me to try on a bunch of hats from a second hand store (and I have nothing against second hand stores - love to shop there, actually, but there are just certain things from second hand stores that you don't buy or try on...hats being one of them). But I did was a good sport and did it anyway ;) But that is why my hat is sitting so funny on the top of my head - I didn't really put it on - on. The boys chose some very colorful hats! :) haha! (and tried on several before they found the perfect ones).
Another thing we had to do was get a picture inside a vehicle that was for sale at a dealership. It was a Saturday eveing, so the two we tried were closed, but then as we were driving down the road, we saw this little local place, and the guy was right there outside helping a customer. So we came and waited our turn, and then the boys very eagerly and nicely explained to the guy what we needed. I think he misunderstood a little - I think he thought he might get in the paper if he did this because he suddenly was like, OH! okay! and mentioned something about maybe getting on the front page then, and getting some free advertising for himself. haha! then said, well, let me go get the keys to my nicest car on the lot, and i'll get rags for your feet so you can ALL be in it, and then he took several shots from different angles. We were racing the other teams, but there's only so much you can do without being rude, so we just smiled for him till he felt the pictures, etc, that he'd taken were sufficient. :) haha! He was a nice man, and the boys thought it was great!
Our next stop was Kame apart...did I just say that!? I meant K-mart! hee,hee. We were supposed to get a picture of us all suspended on a kame apart (oops! i did it again! that's so hard!), a k-mart cart. After the picture I stayed and held the cart for them all to get off, and then Danny just sat there and looked at me with this little smirk and then finally he was like push me fast and let go! haha! I was glad I had decided to be the one to hold the cart and not one of the other boys, or he might have convinced one of them to. Silly boys!

From K-mart (I got it right this time! well, actually, I think the other is more accurate, but at least I spelled it right) we ran across the parking lot to Dunhams where we had to take a picture with golf clubs. Danny looks like the only one who knows what to do with one - and come to think of it...he probably is. I look like i'm going to play baseball with mine. haha! I loved it cause Danny got so into everything. He cracked me up! ;)



Here we are at Walmart - we were supposed to get a picture with coffee, milk, and bread, and then we also were to get a picture with the little old lady walmart greeter (that's what Jordan and Brian called her on the list-so it was a good thing the little old man wasn't working that day ;) heehee!) I was bummed that she didn't give us smile face stickers, though, those are my favorite! ;)






Jeri's quilt patch was our last stop - it's on the road right before you get back to the church. We were all pointing to the "l" because the list said Jeri's quit patch! heehee! It was a very fun activity, and perfect weather! Our team had a great time even though we didn't win. :) It was neat, too, because the activity encouraged some kids to come who hadn't been coming for awhile, and then we saw them in church again, too, on Sunday. It's been so awesome to see how the Lord has been working in the church. Just since we've come here it has grown tremendously! PTL! :)

FUN!

They're HERE! :)

They're Coming!

'
Only ONE more day and Mom and Julie will be here to visit us! I'm SO excited! They will be coming Saturday afternoon and staying till Monday. The visit won't be very long - but we will pack a lot into the time that we have. Saturday night we're going to go to the play here, "Arsenic and Old Lace." No other specific plans - just fun times together! Can't wait to see you guys! Hurry here, but drive safe! ;) Love you both!

Party

Well, I'm going to take one last flash back to spring break. This is from the night before we had to take off for school again. (I'm going to post these pix, even though Jules already did, so you can actually see them without having to reconfigure your screen because of the shocking largeness of them! hahaha! j/king, jul! hee,hee! - but those big pix on your blog really do crack me up - i wonder what happened!? haha!) Anyways, Mom wanted to have a party while we were home, so we invited all the young married couples, young adults, and teens. It has been neat to see how the Lord has brought so many of the "kids" who grew up in our church back through the years, and now we can all still hang out together! (and some of them have their special someone now!) :) - so the group just gets bigger and more fun! ;) We had 30 people at our house. The evening just consisted of snacking, talking, laughing, and playing games - but those can be the best times! We ended the evening at about 11:30, and then headed to bed (except for jules and I - we still had some packing to do. hee, hee! ;) Spring break went so fast! But it was SO much fun - thanks, Mom, for making it all so special! Now the next time we come home, it will be for the whole summer! yay! Can't wait!