Goodness, it's been forever since I've blogged! We just got back from a relaxing week at the Ozarks. Kind of our last "fling" before school starts and I go back to work.

Right now, our family is in a major storm! I know God has a plan, and however much we are hurting, he promises to hold us thru.

Our oldest daughter left home 2 days ago. (since we were out of town, we didn't know right away) It is so scarry not knowing who she is with or where she's at.

I've been thinking lots today about FAITH. We are in this storm, don't know where we're going, but praying our FAITH will see us thru.

I have no idea where this storm is taking our family God. Heavenly Father, I give Ashleigh over to you completely. Oh God, please don't let her get away. Satan, "I rebuke you, stay away from Ashleigh, you will not win this one because the "King" our Heavenly Father is on our side! God, please, keep tugging at her heart until she comes running back to you. Help Bryan and I to be the parents you want us to be. Please, give us a chance to talk with her and help us to know what to say to her. Father God, thank you for Ashleigh, just help her to see you thru us.

I love you and trust you completely with Ashleigh, even tho we do not know which way this storm will turn, I trust you.

Today in Church, God Spoke to Me, Yes, Me!!!

What an awesome God we serve! Today in church, our youth led the service. As they were all up front leading us in song I looked at Mal's Friends up there, and couldn't help but think, "Malorie should be up there too!" I kept thinking of what all she was missing out on.


NEXT SONG: How Great is Our God, I am trying to sing and at the same time choke back the tears. Then we sang the phrase, "HE conquered the grave".

THEN, JUST THEN, I heard His voice, "Natalie, Malorie is not missing out on a thing, she is right here, with her hands raised high, singing, and praising me, AS SHE STANDS RIGHT NEXT TO ME!"

Thank you Dear Heavenly Father, for always being there just when I think I can't go on.

Lamatations 3:23-24, "Great is His failthfulness, his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!"

Trusting in God's faithfulness day by day makes us confident in his great promises for the future.

Low Fat Smoothie

This is quick I sometimes fix it for me while I fix something else for the kids.

1 cup low fat yogurt (strawberry or raspberry)
2 dips of raspberry sherbet
1/2 cup 1% milk
1 packet splenda
1/2 cup frozen fruit (i use strawberry, raspberry, or blue berry)

mix in blender

Add 1 cup crushed ice
mix in blender again

Enjoy!!! sometimes I make enough for a couple and freeze one for a bedtime snack.

Our Personality Colors Our Attitude!!!

Our attitude colors our whole personality! What a lesson God taught me yesterday at the ball park.

We were in Manhatten, KS all weekend. Our high school boys baseball team won regionals last week which qualified us for the state tournament! My husband Bryan is the assistant coach, and Sawyer, our Fresh. plays for them

We won our first game Friday! We played Sat. afternoon, and lost 12 to 2. Very embarrassing. One of those games where whatever you do, nothing goes right! During that game, I kept noticing the fans for the other team.

Thay were very loud, laughing and really rubbing it in when our boys messed up. I kept thinking they are adults, and they are awful!


Oh Father God, forgive me if I've been the negative fan. I don't want to be that person negative to other fans or the players.

Game #3, we won in extra innings! DC Baseball earned 3rd Place at State!!!!

LESSON #1 After the game, right in the middle of the excitement, the starting pitcher's mom, for the other team, came up to me after the game, hugged me and said what a good game our boys played, and what good sports they were.

Wow, Central Heights Vikings, you have CLASS!!! You taught me a very needed lesson; I know when I have been on the losing end, I have not been the fan that makes a point to congratulate the winning team, and truly mean it.

After that loss, we turned around and had to play the very next game. Our boys decided they did not want their season to end with a loss. Somehow, they got it together, and with extra innings, we came out on top 6 to 5!

LESSON #2 During the game, I did notice the other teams crowd, (i don't usually notice, not sure why i did this weekend) we were up 4 to 0, and their crown continued to yell and cheer and be positive. Even though things weren't going well for them.

Proverbs 15:15 says, For the poor, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

We cannot always choose what happens to us, but....we can choose our attitude toward each situation. The secret to a happy heart is filling our mind with thoughts that are true, pure, and lovely, with thoughts that dwell on the good things in life. This was Paul's secret as he faced imprisonment, and it can be ours as we face the struggles of daily living.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me to remember to look at my attitude and what I choose to dwell on. I pray I can dwell on those things that are pure. I pray Lord, that my attitude will be the same as yours Father God. Help me to see things the way your eyes see them and hear the way you hear. I ask these things in not just the easy times, but in my struggles.

Phil. 2:5, Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.

This I know for sure...

It is 2 days after what should have been Malorie's Sr. Graduation. I think I can now write about it now and maybe not fall apart!

This is what I know for sure:

Deuteronomy 31:8, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Since our Heavenly Father "knows" the plan He has for us, He has walked before us, and He will be with us in the tough times.

"I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in who I trust." Psm. 91:2

Psm. 141:8, "But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge..."

The seniors did a beautiful tribute to our Angel, Malorie. They donated a new score table for the gym, with "In Loving Memory of Malorie" on it. They had an awesome Sr. Video with several pictures of Mal in it! I love how her friends still remember her. Of course we cried, it was very bittersweet.

As much as I dreaded the day, I wouldn't have missed it. And...God was with us, every step of the way Sunday.

Dear Father,
Thank you for seeing us thru those very tough difficult times. Please give me the faith to trust you, even in those difficult times.

Lord, you are good, your love endures forever; your faithfulness continues through all generations. Psm. 100:5

"My eyes are fixed on you"

Its 3:07, a.m., once again this week I find myself laying in bed thinking of this weekend. Sunday should be our Angel Malorie's Graduation. Tonight, we have 2 receptions to go to. One being her best friend, Jills.

While I am so thankful her friends and classmates have not forgotten her, all of the reminders of the things Mal is missing breaks my heart. I know that is just me being selfish, Mal is having the time of her life in Heaven, sometimes, I just miss her sooo much!

"My eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge-do not give me over to death." Psm 141:8 This is the verse I have found myself saying over and over this week.

O Sovereign Lord, I pray you will give me a peace this weekend. God, I want your Spirit to shine thru me, oh I so want to be like you. Heavenly Father, be with my husband, Bryan, Ashleigh, Sawyer, and me, we need you God, "in you, we take refuge."

At times, the fire gets hotter!

Tonite was the athletic banquet for our Seniors. My husband is the baseball coach, Sawyer, our freshman, played football, basketball, and baseball, and this would be our Angel, Malorie's Sr. Year. I thought I had prepared myself for this. Sawyer lettered in baseball, which really surprised him, only 3 freshman lettered so we were thrilled for him!
As I watched all of Mal's classmates go up for their awards, I did ok, actually, I was very proud of her friends and how much they have grown up.

But then, after the banquet, several of Malorie's friends wanted us to take their picture with them. Then the tears came. I couldn't do the picture, I had to get out of there before I fell apart! My wonderful husband covered for me and he was in the picture with them.

They are so sweet to always remember Mal. They had a Sr. poster made with all of the kids in their sports uniform, in each corner were pictures of Mal in her basketball and cheerleading uniforms and it said at the top; SENIORS REMEMBERING MAL.

All the way home I was talking to God, "when is it not gonna hurt so bad? I opened my laptop and up came a post from a lady I have met while blogging. Jenifer, I hope you don't mind me using your life verse. I read one of your blog entries on grief, it was such a blessing at just the perfect time Jenifer.

1 Peter 1:7, "These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.

So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."

Jenifer, like you said, we have definitely been thru the fire. I am much closer to God, my faith is stronger than ever, I think now more than ever, everything I do has a purpose;

"For HIS Glory!" Yes, sometimes the fire gets hotter, and, I have also learned that I can't take on this grief myself. I have to cry out to God, really cry out! And just like over the past 5 years, our Heavenly Father will carry us thru.

Malorie, I am forever greatful for the lessons you continue to teach us from Heaven. We love and miss you sweetheart.

The trials we face now are nothing compared to the joy when we are in Heaven! What a day, we can only "IMAGINE".

Jennifer, thanks again, you have truly been a blessing to me.