Graced with Grace

I haven't written too much lately, but that doesn't mean that nothing is happening, although life does seem to be kind of slow right now. I am trying to find a job for the summer, but already more than half the summer seems to be gone. Summer has had it adventures and highlights and also lows, so I thought I would share a few of them with you and because everyone loves pictures, I will share some pictures that go along with some of my favorite moments of this summer so far. ;) The first highlight of my summer was going home for a month to visit my sisters and parents. The low about going home was getting my Wisdom-teeth pulled (of which you shall have no pleasure in seeing the pictures of my chipmunk face because I am not going to share that with you. Muwahahahaha!) But there were several highs to my visit. One sister graduated high school and another sister I got to watch at her violin recital. I was able to visit with several friends, read several good and ...

  Summer is close upon us. I only have one week left of classes and then finals week. After that I will be going home for a month to spend time with family. That part I am excited about, but not everything about this time of year do I get excited about. I have discovered that the end of another school year can also mean the end of special friendships, too. And it makes me just a little sad. It will be nice to have another year of school put behind me, but I also know that summer will be different. I won’t be seeing the same people each day. I will still be able to see some of these people, but some of them I may never see again. Being in college is an interest stage of life. Each year as the school year closes, there are some friends who graduate. Some friends move on to a different school, some friends move back to their home town, some friends just change.   Even the ones who do come back for the next year, are going to be busier or have other...

  Tis’ been a while since I have written, so I thought a bit of an update on life may be in order. I mentioned in my last post that I was going on a missions trip, helping with a basketball camp, so I thought I would share a few of my highlights with you in hopes that you may be encouraged. Day 1, we arrived safely in El Cajon, California, Saturday afternoon. We joined Kaleo church for their worship service that evening, which was the first of many refreshing experiences. The church was so kind, loving, and welcoming and made us feel immediately like we were a part of their family, which we truly were. There are many homeless people apart of this church because of where it is located and because the church has a particular passion and love for the homeless, so it was really neat to see how much these people joyfully lived for Christ. Even though they had nothing, they had everything. One of the highlights from my time serving at the basketball camp for the inner city ...

Her hands Wipe away tears, Clean dirty faces, Hold tiny fingers, Knead the bread.   Her arms Hold tight the crying, Rock to sleep the infant, Support a child, It becomes a bed.   Her breast Feeds the hungry, Nourishes her child, Brings life to the little one, A pillow for the weary.   Her heart Loves unconditionally, Serves willingly, Prays unceasingly, Perseveres courageously.   Her days are long Defending the weak, Encouraging the faint of heart, Speaking words of peace, Calming the stormy seas.   She toils Night and day. Blessings seem scarce, Fights ensue, Baby's awake all night And so is mother dear. Dinner not on time, Child scrapes his knee, Peanut butter in hair. This is a  mother’s life.   But she arises With each new day ...

Some people may choose to forget Because memory causes pain. But I chose to remember, Even though I cry like the rain. I choose to remember that smile of yours Even though it makes me cry. I remember your laugh But it makes me ache inside. I remember the way you strummed your guitar And how it made me dance with joy. But I don’t dance when I remember. Instead my body shakes with sobs untold.   Why do I choose this road of memory, When memory is suffering And forgetfulness is bliss? I can’t explain a pain worth enduring Yet  I chose to remember and not forget. Days come and days go by. People ask how the brother did die And I tell them the how, but not the why? I remember. I did not forget. His story lives on. I choose to share. I will not forget. But lest you think it easy For me to tell his story once more. Remember, I chose to remember And not forget. And memory hurts.  

I have started my collection of children's books. Some day these shall be quite necessary in life, particularly that middle one. The middle one was a favorite growing up and I still love it. ;) The other two were my Grandma's. I intend to continue adding to my collection with other childhood favorites. Are there any favorite childhood books that you loved and one to read to your kids someday?

Sonnet of the Griever   She stared across the room of walls and space. Her life was dark and full of painful years. She held her breath and clenched her teeth in place. She pushed on forward, smiled, hiding tears. But life was changed that day and year, with death, Her brother here and gone the coming day. She questions God and says, why take his breath? She longs for answers, life goes on its way. Into this grief their seeps a peace sublime. Within this darkness shines a light of hope. Though pain remains still deep throughout her time, Because of Christ she is not left to grope. So in the darkest hour when she grieves. She runs to grace and to the cross she cleaves.         ~Hannah Leake~     Note: this is a sonnet that I had to write for a school assignment. I hope you enjoy! ;)

    Kind and gentle, Patiently teaching little sister. You were her cowboy.   Loving and strong, Manly and tough, And sometimes a little rough. You were her cowboy.   Always a smile, Always rejoicing, Laughing and joking. You were her cowboy.   Strumming the guitar, Humming, whistling, singing, Writing a melody. You were her cowboy.   Working hard, Persevering, Never let life put you down. You were her cowboy.   Running the race, Always brave, Embracing life. You were her cowboy.   Young and handsome, Her older brother, Her hero, Her cowboy.       Written in loving memory of Micah who died 9 years ago today. Although Micah was never really a cowboy, he often wore a cowboy hat and sometimes dressed like one. His characteristics also remind me of that of a cowboy's. Lastly, cowboys are one of my biggest heroes in life and Mi...

Tears! Tears! Stop your flow! Stop soaking up my homework page. Please leave me alone and let me go. Tears! Tears! Stop your rage. I am not hurting, like at the loss of a lover, But hurting at the loss of my dear brother. Maybe it was 9 years ago. But years won’t let this hurt go. Tis’ a wound that cuts to the heart. I think of you, and it wrenches me apart. Twas’ like yesterday that I saw your smiling face, Yet its been too long since the last embrace. Day by day goes slowly by, I forget about your life that you once lived. But then I remember and I cry. Tears! Tears! Why be so sensitive? I have no time for crying any more. No time for wounds that cut to the core. My purpose in life is not yet complete. Oh tears, so bitter sweet! Tis’ a wound that can never be healed, Till I join you at the feet of the King of kings. Until then, I will learn to dance in the field. I will learn to laugh during the rain life brings. ...

You know your little sister is up to mischief if she offers to give you a kiss. All I had to do was look into her sweet (not so innocent) face and see her lips covered in chocolate and I knew then and there that I did not want a kiss from her at that moment. It is not often that she offers to give me a kiss. :)  You know your little sister is up to mischief when she sits next to you and looks up at you with the sweetest smile on her face (or is that a smile of mischief that I detect). It wasn't long before I realized she had taken something of mine and was hiding it from me. Thus, began an intense game of chasing my sister around the house and playing scavenger hunt with much laughter throughout. I eventually took her watch to get her back, but in the end we gave back each others possessions. She loves to cause much mischief, but I am afraid she has a sister who has the same passion at times.;)

Dear Mom, There are a gazillion reasons to be thankful for you this day and every day of my life. I haven't the time to list it all, but their is one thing that has particularly stood out to me over the years, that I will mention here. Prayer. You are a mother of prayer. I watched you pray fervently when Micah was sick. You never gave up and always held on to hope. I watched you pray in agony and tears when God took your son home to be with him. I know you did hurt and still do hurt, but even when you were weak and hurting you ran to God in prayer and found strength him. I have watched you pray for your children. You plead to the Lord that we all would walk in the fear of the Lord, because you know that he is the only one worth living for and you want us to know that too. You always take every problem to the Lord in prayer, because you know that he is the only one who can truly help. You pray for your husband and friends. You pray without ceasing for your non-bel...

Dear Elisabeth, Happy birthday!!!!!! You probably thought I had forgotten what a gloriously special day it is, but hey, I remembered! It makes me smile to think that God gave me another little sister 17 years ago today. Another little baby to hold, another little sister to play with, a sister who is willing to laugh at all my crazinesses even if no one else laughs, a  sister who brightens my life with her laughter and makes me laugh even when I don't want to or else the sister I can make laugh when you don't want to. ;) There are very few people who understand my humor like you do and are willing to laugh with me. Sometimes all it took was to look at each other in the eyes and then we would lose it completely and start laughing hysterically. You not only bring much joy and laughter into my life, but you have taught me so much in life as well. You have taught me that it is ok to be myself and to be different from everyone else by your own example. You never seem...

I have always liked flowers and I always will, but I don't think I have appreciated them so much as I do now. This fresh enjoyment all comes from simply living in Minnesota during winter. Minnesota winters basically consist of snow from November to May. This being my first winter here, I am not sure of all the facts about a MN winter, but I can tell you that not only must we enjoy looking at snow for about six months, but some days are just excruciatingly cold, as in negative 20 or 30 or 50 or whatever. You get the point though. Its cold! And then when the warm days do come (positive 10° is considered warm around here) we get super excited. But it gets better! When the weather gets above freezing, like in the past few days, it gets even more wonderful. I have had the pleasure and honor of stepping in just a few "puddles" of water that ended up being like 7 or so inches deep. That makes for some rather cold wet feet. ;) So all in all, winter is wonder and snow is won...

Taking a family photo, as most families have experienced, can be a bit challenging. Families will often run into the difficulty of getting even just one picture where everyone in the family looks nice and is smiling. The problem is only made ten times worse when you are one of a large family such as mine.  Well, not only is it difficult for my family to all look nice and smile in the family photo, but it is also difficult to find just the perfect place to take the picture and when that perfect place is found, I can't say that it is always safe, as is the case for this year's photo. I can't say who came up with this brilliant idea, but someone in my family thought it would be a great idea ( I am guessing it was one of my brothers) to take a family (minus my dad who took the picture) photo in a dead tree. So not only are we supposed to smile, but we are suppose to be smiling while standing in a dead tree that could break any moment with all the extra weight. But the p...

blue eyes, shockingly blond hair, and chunky cheeks. A bundle of joy lay in my arms, cozy, warm, and cute. A miracle from heaven, And a blessing from God, That's what you are to me. So tiny and small. Such a wee little lass. I wanted to hold you forever. Nine years pass, And you can no longer lay in my arms Yet you still bring joy to every heart. To hear your laughter, Makes me laugh, too, Even when millions of miles away from you. The funny things you say, The silly things you do. The smile on your face, And twinkle of mischief in your eyes. The girl who sits beside the one who is sick, Bringing comfort and joy to the weary soul. Your little servant hands and feet, Eagerly running to bring mom a glass of fresh water, Or dancing about the room with glee. Your mind so eager to learn, You read book after book, But your favorite, the Bible, God's holy word. Lydia, my Sugar, my nine year old sister, I love you.  

Hello friends, I know it has been a super long time since I last wrote, but after a bit of encouragement from family and friends to write again I have decided to take this lovely night to write what's on my mind. Much has happened since I last posted. At the time of the last post I was living in North Carolina with my family. At that time I was pondering the fact that soon I would be leaving my comfortable home in NC to what seemed to be the foreign land of Minnesota. I contemplated how I would be leaving everything that I loved so much; my family, friends, job, co-workers (who weren't just co-workers, but real friends), customers, the land and forest that surrounded me, and so much more. I cried many tears about leaving, and yet I knew it was God's will for me to. I didn't know how I could do it and the truth is I couldn't; not on my own. I know I have already devoted whole posts to the testifying of God's grace, but once again I must say it is all by God...