I Know about time for an update.

Well as you can tell I have been a bit busy with things since it has been nearly 8 months since I have posted anything. I can not believe how fast the year is flying by!

Nicole - She finished up her Sophomore year and just started her Junior year. Heavy class load - Chemistry, Honors English, Pre-Cal, Spanish 2, Latin 3, US History, and Wings (Advanced performance choir however they do not seem to do much performing at this school!) She is enjoying it. She has a very busy simmer. Her group won 1st place at the State FCCLA Leadership competition. They designed their own business, a coffee shop based on Broadway show tunes. They went to Nationals in Nashville TN and received a Gold. They worked very hard and did an amazing job!

She spent a week at Depauw University living on campus and experienced college life for a week. (Side note her roommate was from Austin Texas!! She liked that!) She was there for a Vocal/Fine arts camp. Only 25 kids were accepted into the camp. She loved it however came to the conclusion that she does not think she wants to major in Fine Arts. That was the purpose of her going. I was hoping that she would decide if that was what she really wanted to do.

She is still working at McDonald's and enjoying it. She is also heading up the concession stands for the youth football league. It is hard to believe that she will be 17 one month from today. She is becoming a very independent young lady.

Larry - finished up his first year of High School and is now an 8th grader. He got a surprise this year. In order for him to be able to take his advanced science class and Algebra he had to take honors english. So his schedule is full of advanced classes as well and so far so good. Of course it has only been one week. He loves all of his teachers which is a big plus! We will see how the year progresses. He is doing cross country right now and loving it, of course.

He spent the summer playing baseball. He had a great time with that. He also got a babysitting job and watched a little 2 year old from church for a couple of hours 3 days a week. He is Larry's little buddy and I think it is mutual feelings. I think his first complete sentence was Where Larry go? They have a great time together! While Nicole and I were in Tennessee he went on a fishing trip with dad. They decided not to spend money on a cabin, and they could not pitch a tent where they went so they just slept in the truck. They had a great time.

Paul and I have had a lot of changes as well. We shut down our construction business. Paul was offered an amazing job opportunity with Jedele Enterprises. They own 6 local McDonald's and he was offered a General Managers position. After the government continually wanting more money for taxes, unreliable help, and a trip to the emergency room for Paul Kidney stones, (which he ended up having emergency surgery for 2 weeks ago.) he decided that it was time for a change. We always wanted the business to be a ministry and not a job and uncle sam never really allowed that to happen. Where he is now he can talk with more people and has a lot bigger opportunity for ministry there then he ever had before. He is really enjoying the change and the everyday challenges that come with the job.

Last year I subbed almost every day at the High School and worked here and there at Creative Designs. (the t-shirt/screenprint shop) This year I am reversing the roles. I pretty much run the production facility. I will sub mainly on Fridays since we only work 4 days a week up there. I enjoy it but it is not the same as being int he school. I really love being around the kids and talking to them. So many of them still come to me for advice or just to let me know what is going on with them. Now that school has started I am really missing it.

We are still at Lifebuilder Community Church. We are loving it! We are getting ready to move into a new building in Sept. This is a very exciting change for all of us at the church. Nicole sings with the worship team, and helps with Children's church. Larry helps with the little ones during worship. Paul is an Elder and helps with lots of other things as well. I help with getting worship music together and Children's church. the one thing I am really enjoying is the Youth Group. We have only meet a couple of times so it is a work in progress but I think it is my favorite thing right now. I am looking forward to getting it going stronger so that I can maybe start a women's bible study together. I went to a conference a few weeks ago and it just reminded me of how much I love working with women. Helping them. I miss that part of my ministry. There is just something powerful about being able to use the word of God to minister to others. It is a fullfilment unlike any other.

So that is about it in a nut shell for now. We are all doing well. God is working in our lives and doing miracles all around us.

May God Bless you all and your families!

A Day of first's......

Well today was a day of a few firsts (?) for Larry.

He competed in his first solo & ensemble with his trumpet. He has only been playing for about 5 month's. He walked away with a Gold, 1st place. He was very nervous when we got to the school that was hosting the event, which included kids from all over the state. They really only compete against themselves but it was a nerve racking experience for him. He did an awesome job!

He also has a girlfriend now and invited her to go with us. So this was his first "date". He (we) took her out to eat at Olive Garden after we were done with his competition. Then they came back here to the house and the snow boarded and sledded for a couple of hours. Needless to say when we took her home they were both exhausted from playing outside all day and hardly said a word. He was very polite and even opened the car door for her and walked her to her door when we dropped her off. They were so cute! I guess my little boy is growing up!


Take care and God Bless you all!!

Time is short and precious....

This past week has been a long and tiring week full of lots of emotions.



It has been one week since Larry's friends mom passed away. This has probably been the most emotional week he has had since the move back to Greencastle. They determined it was a blood clot. She was 39 years old and had 2 little girls. This all came about because she either sprained her ankle or pulled something in her foot a couple of weeks ago. She went to the Dr. last wed and went straight to the hospital. Shortly after that she was gone. My son has had such a hard time with this for a couple of different reasons. First he is very compassionate and truly cares about how others feel. Second his friend was a really good friend of his, one of the first friends he made when we moved down here. And last he put himself in her shoes and thought about what it would be like to loose me. He was attached to my side for the next couple of days and is still near by.



This just goes to show how short life is. Things can change in a moments notice. Don't forget that. Make sure you tell your kids and your spouse that you love them every day!



This was also the last week of my teaching gig covering for the teacher on maternity leave. I have to admit I was nervous about it to begin with but I must say it was one of the most rewarding things I have done. My last day was this past Tuesday and the kids made me cards and wrote me some notes and drew me some pictures. Some begged me not to leave, some said they were going to skip the next day in protest (which I told them I better not find out that they did!) and some opened up and hugged me and just cried. One girl who hardly said a word when I started had opened up and was participating in class, asking questions, answering questions, even starting discussions. Another one who just did not want to be there just held on to me and cried before she left. There were so many joys because I knew that I had made a difference, yet sorrow because I knew I had to leave, and fear of where they would go from here.

I tried so hard the last few weeks to help them understand that they are in charge of their futures. That the choices they make will determine their future, and to not let anyone else determine their future by labeling them or telling them that they can not do it, or that they will not amount to anything. And the best part about that is, I think a couple of them actually got it. I pray that they did, and I pray that they will all work hard to make their dreams come true.

That is what we all need to remember that we make our future and we can't give up, or let anyone else define who we are or what we will become!

I pray that each and everyone of you is having a very blessed day and that you will seek God for the wisdom and the guidance to make the right choices that will determine your future!

God Bless!

Eve of a very important night....

This is the eve of one of the most important and Historical nights in our lives as well as our children's lives.

No matter who you voted for or how you feel about the events that are going to be transpiring tomorrow, this will be a day none of us will ever forget. The first African-American will become president. This is such an amazing time in history for all of us.

I can remember where I was when Reagan was elected, where I was when he was shot, When the Challenger blew up, Desert Storm, 9/11, invading Iraq, and a few others, but this will be one that when I talk about it with my kids they will have their own personal thoughts and feelings about it, not just something they read about in a book or stories that they have head from me or their dad. This will be their History.

I can remember as a little girl my grandmother telling us stories about historical events that happened when she was young. I can also remember her telling me that she would never, in her life time, see a woman or an African-American become president. That this country would never accept it. Well ,almost 1 year to the day since she passed away an African-American will become president. I can't help to think about what she would say about this.


Remember to pray for this man and his family. As Christians we are called to lift those in leadership up in prayer. To surround them and cover them with prayer. Pray for God's will. Then go one step farther and trust that His will, will be done. No matter your thoughts or feelings about this new President - he will be the next President.

Remember that there is no man or woman on the face of this earth that God can not use. Enjoy this day in History. We will be talking about it as well as our kids will be talking about this and their kids, and their kids........etc.....

(Well until Jesus returns anyway!!)

Only Teenagers now!!

Well it is official. We no longer have any little kids in this house. (By age not by maturity!) Larry turned 13 last week so we only have teenagers. This week Larry can start riding with Nicole in her car. It seems like time is just flying by. Unlike when Larry turned 10 he was very excited to turn 13. Although he said that he does not feel any different. Imagine that. I to fell the same way it is when I stop and think about how old I actually am that I relise how old I really am. So you may wonder what the new teenager got for his birthday. He got his gun back in November that he went hunting with. (see previous posts to see more details) He was saving up some money for a paintball gun. So he was a little short so we worked things out and he got his gun. His sister got him paint balls for her present to him. Now we just have to wait for the weather to get warmer so that he can head out to the woods to have some fun with his friends.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful and blessed new year! May God Bless you all and your families!