A wonderful woman and her husband.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Virginia
Well, we've been back from Virginia for about 2 weeks now, and we're getting more and more settled into our new place. I think that it's about time for some pictures...so enjoy!!!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Indiana
Welp, we're here.
Although it still seems like a huge whirlwind, we did finally find a place to rent. It's a cute little 2 bedroom house with wood floors throughout and a nice back yard. I'm pretty happy with it. I have lots of fun decorating and putting together a home, so I of course look forward to that continual process. Garage sales here I come!
We still haven't found jobs yet, but I know they're coming. God has something in store, and I do believe that. Steffen's working part time for a moving company here, but he's in the search mode, too. It's kindof stressful seeing that bank account keep diminishing and knowing that an automatic deposit won't be coming this Friday to replenish it. But, I think it's good for us to scale down a lot and learn to be even more conservative.
We've had a good time here so far with our friends that we've been able to hook up with, but there's still many to see. At times I miss the simplistic life at the KOA and just being around mom and pa, but it's been great to re-kindle with the inlaws too.
That's all for now, folks. I don't have any internet at home, so I'm thinking my blogs will be much more far between days. Come on over for a cup of coffee, and I'd love to catch up!
Peace
Although it still seems like a huge whirlwind, we did finally find a place to rent. It's a cute little 2 bedroom house with wood floors throughout and a nice back yard. I'm pretty happy with it. I have lots of fun decorating and putting together a home, so I of course look forward to that continual process. Garage sales here I come!
We still haven't found jobs yet, but I know they're coming. God has something in store, and I do believe that. Steffen's working part time for a moving company here, but he's in the search mode, too. It's kindof stressful seeing that bank account keep diminishing and knowing that an automatic deposit won't be coming this Friday to replenish it. But, I think it's good for us to scale down a lot and learn to be even more conservative.
We've had a good time here so far with our friends that we've been able to hook up with, but there's still many to see. At times I miss the simplistic life at the KOA and just being around mom and pa, but it's been great to re-kindle with the inlaws too.
That's all for now, folks. I don't have any internet at home, so I'm thinking my blogs will be much more far between days. Come on over for a cup of coffee, and I'd love to catch up!
Peace
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Chapter 13: Moving
It’s been pretty awesome to not live under the pressures of schedules this summer for a couple months. No appointments, no late meetings at work, no visits from the plumber. (ok, so we never once had a plumbing visit, but you get the point!)
We never really knew when exactly we would close our time in South Dakota and make way to the Hooser state, but I guess the time has come. Cher (Steffen’s mom) gave us an opportunity to come out to Virginia with her and stay in a Gold Crown Resort for a week in Williamsburg. Ok, while it seems pretty exciting and obvious to take that opportunity, it was actually a really hard decision for both of us. Dad really could use Steffen’s help for two more months, and I was still in love with being with all my family and animals (not to mention being in SD!). But, after a few days spent in thoughts and prayer, we decided that this was a good time to close up shop and head out to Lafayette.
I’m super excited to travel across the country in the next few days, but it’s still pretty hard to grasp that I’m leaving my family behind. Twenty hours behind. I can’t help but wonder what will change between now and the next visit back home. Maybe these thoughts are sparked by the recent death of the beloved family dog, but I think it’s natural. Will the house be done? Will dad have any hair left? (ha!) Will Reed be in college? Will girl be alive? Will the horses remember the smell of my palm? Will I introduce my first child to mom, dad, and the rest of the family? Who knows.
I’m reminded of the verse the Lord brought to me when I first moved away from home and was just a newlywed (well, maybe we still are) with Steffen. Isaiah 43:18-19 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I think that’s just what I need to do- to not dwell on the past or wish that I could have two worlds. I just need to thankful for the wonderful experiences I’ve had in these 23 years of life so far. I’m excited for the Lord to do new things in our lives, and I am even more excited and grateful that BOTH of us have parents who want the best for us and love us more and more.
So, here’s to leaving the life of a KOA and coming into our new home of Lafayette, IN!
We never really knew when exactly we would close our time in South Dakota and make way to the Hooser state, but I guess the time has come. Cher (Steffen’s mom) gave us an opportunity to come out to Virginia with her and stay in a Gold Crown Resort for a week in Williamsburg. Ok, while it seems pretty exciting and obvious to take that opportunity, it was actually a really hard decision for both of us. Dad really could use Steffen’s help for two more months, and I was still in love with being with all my family and animals (not to mention being in SD!). But, after a few days spent in thoughts and prayer, we decided that this was a good time to close up shop and head out to Lafayette.
I’m super excited to travel across the country in the next few days, but it’s still pretty hard to grasp that I’m leaving my family behind. Twenty hours behind. I can’t help but wonder what will change between now and the next visit back home. Maybe these thoughts are sparked by the recent death of the beloved family dog, but I think it’s natural. Will the house be done? Will dad have any hair left? (ha!) Will Reed be in college? Will girl be alive? Will the horses remember the smell of my palm? Will I introduce my first child to mom, dad, and the rest of the family? Who knows.
I’m reminded of the verse the Lord brought to me when I first moved away from home and was just a newlywed (well, maybe we still are) with Steffen. Isaiah 43:18-19 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I think that’s just what I need to do- to not dwell on the past or wish that I could have two worlds. I just need to thankful for the wonderful experiences I’ve had in these 23 years of life so far. I’m excited for the Lord to do new things in our lives, and I am even more excited and grateful that BOTH of us have parents who want the best for us and love us more and more.
So, here’s to leaving the life of a KOA and coming into our new home of Lafayette, IN!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Chapter 12: Sadness
(written on July 27th)
At times I do wonder what attracts some to animals and others have little interest in them. I guess probably our different personalities, but who knows. I’m one who has always been attracted to these beautiful creatures ever since I was a young girl.
Naturally, being out with the animals for a month has allowed a lot more bonding with them again. We don’t have a lot, but our dog, cat, and four horses have been a part of the family for almost two decades. I got to spend yesterday with all of them, but it didn’t really turn out to be as wonderful as hoped for.
My neighbor and I went on a horse ride early in the morning on Tuesday so that I could explore a little of the 200 acres they are grazing on and to get on Ginger’s back again. We set out with her dog and ours (Buddy). The land in the hills is so beautiful! One of my favorite things about SD is that you can see for miles and miles into the vast creation that God has so beautifully made. She took me up to the peak of her land and I just gazed, in awe of creation.
On the way back down, I noticed Buddy breathing pretty hard. I knew he wasn’t in the greatest shape, but I didn’t really think too much of it until his abnormal breathing persisted. I had Pat (neighbor) gallop home to get some water for him, as I stayed with him and Ginger until Pat’s return.
Can I tell you that watching an animal die is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to experience? Probably second to that was being there when Reed found out his first dog was gone. Oh, the pain and heartache I felt. All I could think of is what I could’ve done differently that day. Left him home. Stopped for him earlier. Gone on a shorter ride. Let go of my mare and carry him home.
I’ll never forget Buddy and his big, Golden Retriever smile that he gave to everyone who greeted him. His 9th birthday was just the day before he died, and those nine years seemed so full of good memories with him. Like for instance, the ice cream cone we gave him for his birthday just two days ago. Or when he’d come with us camping in Yankton. Or just sittin on the front porch with his paws crossed looking out into the horizon.
As much as I’ll miss him, I realize that people all across the universe experience even worse pain every day. Grandmas. Dads. Moms. Friends. Babies. How precious our lives are and how often I take for granted the people around me. More and more I’m inclined to spend quality time with the people that I love, and hope that through me they can be directed to the love of God that I am so blessed to know.
As Paul once said, “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)
At times I do wonder what attracts some to animals and others have little interest in them. I guess probably our different personalities, but who knows. I’m one who has always been attracted to these beautiful creatures ever since I was a young girl.
Naturally, being out with the animals for a month has allowed a lot more bonding with them again. We don’t have a lot, but our dog, cat, and four horses have been a part of the family for almost two decades. I got to spend yesterday with all of them, but it didn’t really turn out to be as wonderful as hoped for.
My neighbor and I went on a horse ride early in the morning on Tuesday so that I could explore a little of the 200 acres they are grazing on and to get on Ginger’s back again. We set out with her dog and ours (Buddy). The land in the hills is so beautiful! One of my favorite things about SD is that you can see for miles and miles into the vast creation that God has so beautifully made. She took me up to the peak of her land and I just gazed, in awe of creation.
On the way back down, I noticed Buddy breathing pretty hard. I knew he wasn’t in the greatest shape, but I didn’t really think too much of it until his abnormal breathing persisted. I had Pat (neighbor) gallop home to get some water for him, as I stayed with him and Ginger until Pat’s return.
Can I tell you that watching an animal die is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to experience? Probably second to that was being there when Reed found out his first dog was gone. Oh, the pain and heartache I felt. All I could think of is what I could’ve done differently that day. Left him home. Stopped for him earlier. Gone on a shorter ride. Let go of my mare and carry him home.
I’ll never forget Buddy and his big, Golden Retriever smile that he gave to everyone who greeted him. His 9th birthday was just the day before he died, and those nine years seemed so full of good memories with him. Like for instance, the ice cream cone we gave him for his birthday just two days ago. Or when he’d come with us camping in Yankton. Or just sittin on the front porch with his paws crossed looking out into the horizon.
As much as I’ll miss him, I realize that people all across the universe experience even worse pain every day. Grandmas. Dads. Moms. Friends. Babies. How precious our lives are and how often I take for granted the people around me. More and more I’m inclined to spend quality time with the people that I love, and hope that through me they can be directed to the love of God that I am so blessed to know.
As Paul once said, “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Chapter 11: Thrills
All this blog title makes me think of is Big and Rich's song Save a Horse Ride a Cowoboy.....
but we won't be talking about that today.
I actually already have written two posts that should be on here by now, but I can't connect to internet from my laptop unless I pay $20 per day here (I'm using the complimentary computers now)! Dumb. So, I guess I'm just going to upload these videos of Reed, Steffen and I cliff jumping in the Black Hills. I can't say that I had as much fun as they did...but we still all had a great time. I jumped off the smallest cliff twice and stopped there. The freefall was awesome for me...but going so far down under water in a huge lake was the scary part for me; I'm afraid of fish. Dumb, I know. But true.
Enjoy!
(wrong title-this is Reed...)
but we won't be talking about that today.
I actually already have written two posts that should be on here by now, but I can't connect to internet from my laptop unless I pay $20 per day here (I'm using the complimentary computers now)! Dumb. So, I guess I'm just going to upload these videos of Reed, Steffen and I cliff jumping in the Black Hills. I can't say that I had as much fun as they did...but we still all had a great time. I jumped off the smallest cliff twice and stopped there. The freefall was awesome for me...but going so far down under water in a huge lake was the scary part for me; I'm afraid of fish. Dumb, I know. But true.
Enjoy!
(wrong title-this is Reed...)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)