A scary week....

Last week, my friend Lorrie had her sweet baby boy. After spending a couple days in the nicu fighting an infection Peter was finally able to come home.

Since they got home, Lorrie was having a hard time breathing and was having fluid building up all over her body. She contacted her dr. And they told her to go to the E.R. they thought she had preeclampsia. (sp?)

Come to find out, she had fluid slowly making its way up to her heart and was building up into her lungs. The Dr told her she had a type of congestive heart failure. They put her on a diuretic and gave her some magnesium to prevent seizures. In a matter of 24 hours, she lost 13 pounds in fluid.

Thankfully the Lord was watching out for Lorrie.

Today, she was released from the hospital and is doing just fine. She is on blood pressure medicine for a while.

Please keep the family in your prayers.



Here's proud Papa and little Peter.



What a wonderful Christmas present for the Wolf family to have a healthy MOM AND BABY home for this Christmas.

A day with Erica

The other day, I was able to visit my friend Erica. She was visiting her parents in our home town.

I was so excited to be able to see her.



We of course met for lunch at Monicals Pizza. How good it was!!! How I miss Monicals. :)



Once back to her parents house, the kids were quickly thrown into their snow clothes and sent outside to run their energy off....I mean, play outside. ;) After 4 hours in the van, my kids were more then ready to play.




Erica and I eventually wandered outside and told the kids of all the fun we had growing up.




We told them of how we used to slide off the roof of this barn and land into the snow piles. And how Erica played so long in the snow she wet her snow pants.



Cade wanted to jump off the roof then, but we talked him out of it. Their are now holes in the roof. And it looks like it could fall down.



This is Chase. He is so cute. He is Erica's Brother Ryan's baby. He is 6 months old now. He enjoyed watching the kids that day. He would just laugh and laugh at them.



The kids and I stayed long enough to go to church at our old church. It was so nice to come back for a visit. I recognized most people there and it was good to catch up for a minute.



I always loved our church at Christmas time. The church was always decorated so beautifully and there was always a beautiful cantada and a children's program. The cantada I remember most was called "Born to Die." I don't know why I remember that 1 so much. But even as a child I listened intently as it was performed. Those were such happy times for me.




Erica, Erica's Dad and the kids all sang a special that night. They sang Away in the Manger. They did a nice job.



Erica and I have known each other our whole lives. There isn't a memory, especially the times at at church, that doesn't have Erica in it. Whether it was giving our Sunday school teachers a hard time, or trying to beat each other in who could learn the most verses in vacation bible school, or dying each others hair (against our Mother's wishes) or running into a tree branch during our annual church Christmas caroling, or just spending HOURS on the phone with each other each night. So many happy times we had with each other. I am blessed to have her in my life still.

An update and a celebration....

A couple weeks ago marked a huge celebration.

Lori FINISHED chemo!!

She had such a long road. Her journey with cancer started late April/ May. She has endured surgery and chemo.

She has hardly complained, and has kept such a great spirit and attitude about the whole thing.

She had a few rough days but with Jason by her side ( who was ever so faithful to her ) she was able to make it through them.



On her last day of chemo, her students threw her a little party. It was very cute.



They made her a sign, brought some donuts and juice, collected money for flowers and a nice edible arrangement.

Throughout this whole time, her kids have showered her with love, support and kindness. It is just a testament to how much she is loved.



I have been able to go with her to some of her chemo treatments. It has done me well to be able to sit with her. We have laughed and cried together during these times. But most of all, our friendship has deepened.

I am so grateful to have her as a friend.



Lori's aunt and cousin totally surprised her by flying in for her last day. What a fun surprise!



Jason and Lori have such an awesome relationship. I have seen it grow stronger during this time. They are so lucky to have each other.



Please continue to pray for Lori. After the Holiday's she will begin 6 weeks of daily radiation. Please pray that the Lord will give her strength. And will allow her to get the rest that she needs.

Christmas Program 2010

Last night was our church's Christmas Program. It was short, sweet and to the point. :)

My pictures during the program didn't turn out at all. :(

Brother was a shepherd and played his part flawlessly (even giving the peace sign at the end....what will I do with that boy?!)

Dada was...well, I don't really know who she was. She played a little girl. I don't know if she was a sister or what. Anyway.....she did a good job. She did make the "intermission" a little longer then necessary though. ;)

Here are some pictures from afterwards.



Brother didn't want his eyes shut in the picture. I don't think he had to worry about that!! ;)



Their silly picture.



Merry Christmas!!

But then God...

You wanna see how BIG my God is??? You wanna see how my God can move mountains? You wanna see how my God answers prayers?

We have been praying for this request for so long now. God provided us with a truck a couple years ago. And that truck has served us well. The Lord brought along just the right person to help get the truck running well. How thankful I am for Andrew. 1 thing I can say about Andrew is that he knows his vehicles. The Lord has blessed him with that knowledge. He is so young and knows SO much. (sorry....rabbit trail...)

Anyway, we have been praying. Our kids of course are growing quickly and every time they climbed in and out of that truck I felt so bad for them. It was beginning to be very difficult.

But God knew that.

My God not only answers the little requests in life, He answers the BIG things.

HE. GAVE. US. A. VAN.

But then God.....

Hears the prayer of his children.

But then God.....

Answers the prayers of his children.

The God that I serve today...hears.... and sees..... and does......and IS.

The tears that I have today are of relief and peace ( cuz they do go hand in hand) they are of gratitude and A.W.E. They are of wonder at what he has done and how he has done it. My God not only blessed us, but blessed another family in the process.

When God answers such big things in life, why should I worry about the little details? He will most surely take care of those as well.



I have been waiting for a very long time for this prayer to be answered. I have been waiting a very long time for this..but then God moment. I knew that there was no other way for us to get another vehicle other then God providing it.

Do not give up on that prayer request that you have. That mountain that only God can move. God can and will move them.

I want to thank the family that gave this to us. I don't know if they want it to be known. But I want to tell them a very warm and heartfelt...THANK YOU.

Things I KNOW about God....

Psalm 89:9~ Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

What joy I have in knowing that the Lord stills the raging storm in our hearts and minds.

Psalm 91

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Dwelleth~to sit in quiet and remain there....

Lord, help me to always dwell in your presence. May nothing ever happen that would cause me to turn away from you. Be always my refuge, especially when my waters arise and are raging. Hold me continually under the shadow of your wings.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust .

Fortress~a place of exceptional security...

Be my fortress Lord. My strong tower, the One I lean on and run to.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

One thing I love in life is to be curled up under a warm blanket. Especially on a cold night. I get such a sense of warmth and peace. Imagine how much greater warmth and peace there is being cover under his feathers. Being protected by his wings.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Wow!! He shall give his angels charge over me. They will bear me in their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high , because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

I think this chapter might just be one of my favorite in the whole Bible.

Last week was a very emotional week for me, for reasons I won't discuss. There is no denying that bad things will happen in life. There is no denying that sad things will happen. That things we just don't understand will happen. There will be times that we are just. so. disappointed.

1 thing I KNOW.....

That through my disappointment,

Through my hurt.

Through my heartache.

God is still faithful.

God has been wrapping his faithfulness around me lately.

He has put a song in my heart.

He has really impressed upon me 2 songs

Verse 3 of Great is thy faithfulness.....

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessing all mine with ten thousand besides

Great is thy faithfulness
great is thy faithfulness
morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me.

And verse 2 of a song called God's been Good

Times replay and I can see I've cried some bitter tears
But I felt his arms around me as I faced my greatest fears.
You see I've had my gains and losses
and I've known more joy then hurt
as his grace rolled down around me undeserved.

God has been my father, my saviour and my friend.
His love was my beginning and his love will be my end.
I could spend forever trying to tell you everything He is,
But the best way I can say it is this...

God's been good in my life. I feel blessed beyond my wildest dream
when I go to sleep each night
and though I've had my share of hard times
I wouldn't change them if I could
cause through it all, God's been good.

What a friend we have in Jesus. He will all our burdens bear. Have you trials or temptations, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 94:17-19

~ unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, my foot slippeth; thy mercy O Lord held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

What a beautiful verse.

Have your thoughts ever consumed you? Have you ever just. wanted. to. stop. thinking?!?!

Man have I been there. I have been so thankful for His comforts. His little graces that He gives me on a daily basis.

Lord, thank you for wiping away tears, thank you for your daily strength, for your love and your mercy.

Can you say that your cup runneth over today? Sometimes our cup gets just so heavy to carry. But rest in the knowledge that your cup is secure. Rest in the fact that He. Is. GOD. That is grace is sufficient. That His ways are not your ways. But His ways are best. Rest in the fact that in the multitude of your thoughts, his comforts will delight your soul. They did mine.

Annual Sisters Shopping Trip

This past weekend was our annual Sister's Shopping Trip. This year we went to Woodfield. With the weather like it has been, we weren't for sure if we were going to be able to go. But we plowed on through and it all turned out just fine.

Joanna was very excited to say the least. Her FAVORITE store is at Woodfield. We just might start a petition to bring one to our town!



I think Anthropologie has the cutest aprons known to man.



Jessica and Janelle were in JcPenny's FOREVER! I mean come on how long can you look at slippers?? Seriously?!

So the rest of us girls parked it out in front of the store. It was a much deserved rest if you ask me!! :)



We of course ate at my favorite restaurant....The Cheesecake Factory. My Mom thought it was called the Chocolate Factory!! ;)

Joanna's friend Dayna came with us. Dayna is such a bubbly fun person. What fun it was getting to know her.

I think the highlight of the evening for me was the turtle cheesecake. It was worth the thousand calories!

With Jonathan and Melanie coming for Christmas, we are planning a 2nd shopping trip. Which will be even more fun since MELANIE will be with us!!!!! How fun will that be!?!?!? Can you tell I am slightly excited??