We're off to Silver Lake for the 4th!

It's our annual 4th of July vacation up at Silver Lake. 10 days of quality family time, get togethers with friends, cruising the lake on the pontoon boat, a ton of food, quiet time with God at my lighthouse, and off roading up on the dunes.

Happy Birthday early to my friend Debbie - her birthday is on the 5th. Everyone have a great and SAFE 4th of July!

HOPE

Oh to live, to live is You
Oh to die, I'll be with You
You're my hope . . . hope of glory
You've unveiled the mystery
Me in You, You in me
You're my hope . . . hope of glory
Every moment, life is You
Every moment, found in You
Holy Spirit, filling me
Every moment . . .

Steve Fee, Todd Fields, Candi Pearson - "Hope of Glory"

Happy Birthday Airiana!

This is my niece Airiana - she turned two on Wednesday. A few weeks ago I got to spend the day with her and we did all kinds of fun stuff - we baked, ate chocolate, went to the park, picked flowers and played on all the playground equipment. Isn't she a doll - we're so blessed to have her in the family!!

"Mmmm . . . this is yummy for my tummy!"

"I don't see why my Daddy never lets me have this stuff - it's really, really good. Maybe we should give him some too!"

"Why'd you go and put all of the M & M's on the cake - didn't you save any more for me?"

"This flower sure is pretty. Can I eat it, cuz it looks really good!"

"Wee - are you going to catch me this time Auntie. Don't drop me like you did last time."

"Hey - Are you ever going to come out from behind that camera and play with me"?

"I like hanging out with my Auntie Lanette - she's cool"!

My other babies

Just wanted to show you some recent pictures of my other babies.

CJ, our golden retriever who is the best dog in the world. Except for when I have to go pull him out of the river because he's swimming around with the ducks eating all the bread the neighbor kids are trying to feed the ducks with. I think he has a food addiction - how embarrassing!

The other picture is of Teddy, our cat who is just about a year old. He is the coolest and strangest cat. Every morning and sometimes at night after dinner Trent, CJ and I go for a walk. Well, Teddy must have gotten jealous because now he walks with us - it is hilarious, he thinks he's a dog or something and jogs right next to us. Last night we went for a boat ride and he stood out at the end of the dock crying and meowing because he wanted to go. I've never heard of a cat that would get anywhere near water like that.

God is so great to give us animals that become part of our family and fill us with such joy - what a blessing!

I know the plans I have for YOU,

says the LORD,

plans for your WELFARE and not for harm,

to give you a future with HOPE

When I get down and wonder what in the world God is doing with my life, I think about times like the above picture in Mexico where I got to serve with some of the best kids in the entire world - then I KNOW that God does have a plan for me and that everything will be okay!

Thank you Father for reminding me of the hope I have in You!

An exciting night for my friends Blair and Tracy!

Our good friends, Blair and Tracy Carlstrom, have been searching desperately for a house. Right now they are renting an old farm house in Niles and Tracy spent the entire school year running 5 kids to 3 different schools, twice a day, which made her life crazy. (The kids go to Edwardsburg schools because in Michigan you can go to any school you want as long as you drive them there). Also, this old farm house is terrible to heat, so winter was very stressful for them. They have been looking and looking and looking for a house in the Edwardsburg school district that they could buy instead of rent, but haven't had any luck so far.

Trent's been helping them look for houses and property (he's good at that stuff and he likes hanging out with them), so we met them at an auction last night at a cute house sitting on 4 acres of woods on a small lake/wetlands. They started the auction and it was really nerve racking. Blair was in the lead, and in the final moments it became a bidding war between him and another guy. You could tell the other guy was really wanting this house and he wanted to keep bidding, but he just stopped. We didn't know what exactly what was happening, and then the auctioneers said it was sold - Blair and Tracy's got it!! We were so excited for them and they were just in shock. They got it for a great price, under what they were willing to go to. I tried to get Blair to do that happy dance, but he wouldn't indulge me.

So that part is cool, but here's the really cool part . . . Tracy talked to the guy that was bidding against them and found out that he goes to GCC. Somehow Tracy had talked to his wife at school and the wife knew that they were in desperate need of a house, so at the last minute, they guy backed off and let them have it! Isn't that so cool?! I pray that God will totally bless that man for putting people first instead of money (he was buying the house as a business transaction to sell and make money on). Tracy and Blair have been through an extremely difficult year and I am so happy that things are looking up for them!!

We went to Lunker's and celebrated with a nice dinner and finished off with candy bar cake to celebrate. I'm so happy for them and so grateful that God let them have that house. It is going to be a great place for their kids to run and play and Tracy can have her life back now and not be stuck running around in the van for 4 hours a day. Yeah God - thank you for taking care of my friends - they totally deserve it!!

Shalom in the Home

EPISODE TITLE: "The DiJoseph's"

This episode was probably my favorite one yet. Rabbi Shmuley goes to Miami to help Paula and her fiance' Gary deal with Paula's ADHD-diagnosed daughter, Savannah, who is around 7 years old.

After witnessing Mom completely lose her cool time after time, Shmuley tells the Mom his painful diagnosis - Savannah’s erratic behavior is a direct result of Paula's parenting, and she probably doesn't need ADHD medication.

Paula (the Mom) was sitting in Shmuley's trailer with a HUGE chip on her shoulder, and within 2 minutes he totally melted her and she was ready to do anything to change her behavior. It was fascinating to watch him calmly and lovingly speak truth to her that took her from being angry and defensive to a puddle of tears and wanting change.

The other incredible part was when he was speaking to Savannah when she was misbehaving at a zoo. He got down to her level and firmly spoke to her that she was not allowed to act like she was, but while he was doing that he was lovingly touching her face - she made eye contact for the first time (she never made eye contact because she was afraid of the adults in her life) and she totally got it. IT WAS AMAZING!

By the end of the show they had taken Savannah off her medication, fixed some problems in the Mom from her childhood, and mended some problems in the relationship with her fiance', who was helping her parent.

If you haven't started watching this show yet - you've gotta see it! It's on Monday nights at 10:00 on TLC. Click here for the fan site.

Life Lesson:
Pain should not be a family heirloom passed down through generations. Give your children the best of what you got from your parents but don’t pass on the pain.

A Prayer for my friends . . . Ephesians 3:14-21

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.

May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.

Amen.
Ephesians 3:14 - 21 NLT

Here's Cody in the parking lot at the orthodontist a couple of weeks ago - right before he got his top braces on. He's lucky - he only has to have them on for a year - just long enough to turn the teeth next to his k9's around the right way (their turned side ways and giving him a funky bite and he's grinding his teeth at night) "What? Me worried?? No way - I'm cool!"

OUCH - I don't think my mouth will ever be the same! Hey Mom, you don't think my face will stick like this, do you??

Mom - HELP! What's she doing to me????

Hey - does this mean I can't kiss anyone else with braces? How long am I gonna have these things on?!

I had an amazing time with my friend Beth in Phoenix last week. It was so refreshing to have 4 solid days of rest, relaxation, and a ton of girl talk! Beth was a great hostess and we had a blast together. We did lots of stuff - we hung out by her pool, we sat and talked by her fire pit, ate great meals together (she makes a mean black bean soup and some guacamole that I loved), we traveled to Sedona and hiked, experienced the vortex together, stayed overnight at an adorable place called The Sky Ranch with the most amazing view ever, we shopped til we dropped, laughed and laughed, and she helped me with some things I've been struggling with. I am so blessed and thankful that God brought her into my life! Here are some pictures of my trip. . .

This is me in Sedona!

And here's our tour guide . . .

On Wednesday when we first got to Sedona we went hiking in the West Fork (I think that was what it was called) and oh my gosh was it gorgeous! It was so tranquil and majestic at the same time - it took my breath away!

We had lunch at a beautiful restaurant right on the stream with boulders, little waterfalls, and lots of wildlife. We had squirrels running underneath us and ducks begging like dogs. It was fun and the food was wonderful!

I really wanted to take this jeep offroading, but you have to let the guides drive - what fun is that?!

Here's Beth falling of the huge rock at the vortex.

On Wednesday a.m. in Sedona we got up at 4:50 a.m. and hiked down the mountain about a mile to watch the sunrise over the red rocks at the vortex. We climbed up a huge rock and sat at the top. A vortex is a special place where some people can actually feel the earth's magnetic pull - Beth said she could feel a vibration in her heart - I didn't feel anything. I was totally overwhelmed with the beauty and magnificence - the mountains were all around us - it was unbelievable!

Here's Beth "chillin" in the dessert. It was really hot - about 108 degrees - luckily this trail wound around to the beautiful stream below.

This is a stream we hiked along on Wednesday in Sedona.

Here's Beth's backyard - it's gorgeous. It was like being at a fancy resort! Over to the right is a table with all around seating inside the pool (to play cards on or whatever) and in the back, far right, is a beautiful natural rock waterfall. The umbrella in the shallow part of the pool is really cool too!

I'm in Phoenix with my friend Beth!

Very early Monday morning (like, 4:30 a.m. early) my wonderful husband drove me to the SBN airport to go visit my best friend Beth in Phoenix. She moved almost a year ago and we have not gotten to spend a whole lot of time together since she's moved. It was SO GREAT to see her when I got off the plane - I've been here for 3 days now and we haven't stopped talking once (except to sleep).

We just got done spending 2 days in Sedona ( we just got back) and it was AMAZING!!! Amazing conversation, amazing scenery, amazing energy, amazing food, amazing everything! I can't wait to post pictures for you.

Last night we stayed up on the side of a red rock mountain at a charming place called "Sky Ranch" with an unbelievable view. At 5:00 a.m. this morning I woke Beth up and we walked down the mountain about a 1/2 mile to one of the vortex's (not exactly sure what that is except that it's a place where some people can feel the magnetic pull and energy of the earth). The view of the sunrise was exquisite and it is something I will remember forever. Beth could actually feel the vortex - like a vibration or a flutter in her heart - and the weird thing is that ever since then she loves the color lime green. Everything she bought today was lime green - hmmmmm!

I think we're going to go float in the pool now (I know, it's a hard life) - I'll get pictures posted soon!

Some of my favorite students!

Here are some of my FAVORITE students in the whole world! They are all seniors and will be heading off to college in the fall. I have SO enjoyed my time with them and have loved every minute of watching them "grow up" over the years. I can't wait to see what's next for them.

I don't have a picture of my Lindsey - the one we took didn't turn out - so I'll post one from Chick Nite shortly and tell you more about her.

This is Ryan McGann - a Penn Graduate. I had the privilege of going on a mission trip to Monterrey, Mexico with him and he cracked us up the whole time. Even to this day, whenever we go over a speed bump Cody yells out "Tope" (you had to be there to know what that's all about. Ryan is going to Purdue and doing something amazing with robotics - he's really smart!

This is Jim Ralstin - also a Penn graduate. I have had some great times with Jim - we've gone on a mission trip together, I got to attend his Eagle Scout ceremony and I also was proud to witness his Senior exit project (which was excellent by the way)! If I had a daughter, this is the kid I would want her to marry! Jim is off to Bethel college this fall and he's thinking about coming back to Lifeline to be a leader - that would be awesome!

This is Albert Lacey (his sister Elizabeth is on the left, but she's not a senior - I get to keep her around for a couple more years). Albie went to Monterrey, Mexico with us last year and was an amazing part of the team. I'm so glad I had that experience with him. Albert is a computer and techie genius kind of guy - he already has his own business, so I think that he is pursuing that instead of college. This kid is amazing!

A Belated Birthday Pedicure!

This is my friend Erin and I getting a pedicure together. Erin had never had one done before, so I took her for her belated birthday present. It was VERY relaxing and our feet were very happy! I know you're wondering why my foot modeling career never took off - right?

A new picture for my blog !

This is GREAT!

I stole this from Becky's website, which I usually don't do, but it was too good to pass up.

Click Here!

If only I would have watched this 2 days ago when I was having a bad day, it would have made my day so much better!