I found a good babysitter.  What a relief that is!  Eddy sat down and started playing with his new friends, the two daughters of his babysitter. He had to show them his cool car set.  They loved it.  I chatted with the mom for a few minutes, then said goodbye to Eddy and asked for a hug. He gave it gladly, then turned back to his toy and waved me off with a low mumbled "bye, mom."  A normal family.  A sigh of relief comes over me as I let go of the stress of finding someone.  After much searching, prayer, references, and getting to know them, my work has paid off.  I have someone to lean on.

In a new town with no connections, this is an amazing thing.

I've grown an appreciation for learning these last few days.

Learning is an activity that is often unpleasant while you do it, but usually satisfying afterward...that is, as long as what you're learning turns out to be true. I've enjoyed watching each new thing that Eddy learns. He got frustrated so many times trying to ride his tricycle, but he finally got it. He can successfully pedal uphill and down outside, WHILE steering the handlebars! It satisfies him. It makes him happy.

I've been learning a lot of things myself as well. I've learned things about my friends, and about friendship. I've learned things about God. I've learned that life goes on even when you're sick (I'm still working on that one). And recently I watched a movie, Skokie, that taught me that principles aren't always clearcut. We each just need to think for ourselves.  I've also learned that we don't know much about God. The more we think we have him figured out, the less we actually know about him. This is a great truth. I don't need to worry about becoming stagnant when I get old, after a lifetime of seeking God. He is bigger than that. There is always more to learn, infinitely more.

An older woman friend of mine said recently, "The woman I want to be is someone who never stops changing."

Last night Dan, Eddy and I had the pleasure of going to a birthday party at Olive Garden for a friend. It was a jolly time of getting to know acquaintances, sharing love, laughing, and gobbling down food as fast as everyone could (especially bread sticks -- Benny currently holds the record on those with 9). The birthday girl was amazed that so many people would come to her birthday party, and we were honored to be of service =) We didn't know anyone too well, but mixing and making new connections was part of the fun. Plus, it was great letting Eddy meet more of the people we know (unlike Bible study, when he has to stay home with a babysitter). There are so many cool people all around us. Birthday parties are one way to get to know them...a yummy way =)

Here's our house in Afton! We love it! Eddy, Mom, and I have already started off the spring outside getting our hands dirty. I plan to do a lot more.  I'm so blessed to be able to live in so many cool houses. It sure makes it easy to move a lot when the new place is always so exciting!

A note about these pictures: Remember, it's early spring, and everything is going to get A LOT greener and prettier!

I mentioned before that I went to a small women's retreat last weekend. Now that I've recovered somewhat from the busy week, I'd like to reflect on it a little more.

Before last week I had never been to a women's retreat, and wasn't really sure what to expect. It was great. I didn't know many of the women there, but everyone bonded quickly, because the two days were filled with so much heartfelt Bible study, prayer for each other, impromptu singing, working and playing together, sleeping together, opening up, and heart and life changes.  Every person there gave testimony of how deeply she was affected by our time. I'm tempted to lay out the entire retreat happenings here, but the simple truth is this: God was there, he gave the weekend power, and led it. So it wasn't anything in particular we did that made our weekend a success, we just basked in His love for us. God loves us! Demonstrated by his personal sacrifice for us, his plan for us, his word to us, and his comfort and leading within us. This was one common thread in each of our experiences.

Of course the weekend had a wonderful backdrop to make it especially lovely. It was located at a large, beautifully renovated and landscaped Victorian-style house on a large farm, complete with fields, trees, and horses. Linda, the host, is a professional cook, and lavished us with all sorts of gourmet delicacies. We also experienced the nearby small town of Sand Creek, which is very historic and friendly.

It was all around revolutionary. I encourage any of you women who are interested in energy, peace, and deep camaraderie, have a women's retreat! And center it on God. It's amazing how he shows his goodness to us, if we plan some time with him...

Every spring I am astounded at how smart Danny is at handling business. Even after assisting him for several years, I still can't think through things when and how he does...maybe that's because he keeps getting better! =)

I remember a few years ago, everything seemed to just fall into place for Dan, then the tides turned. Everything became a struggle, and we had to stretch our schedules, our minds, our hearts, our abilities, and our faith...especially Dan, of course, being the leader. He learned so much that year -- as much about God as about business.

We got through it and God began to bless us. Now I can see Dan's decisions working out and know it isn't luck. It's God, it's good business, it's a good husband. And I learn every day from his expertise.

Today I got to see our new property in Afton for the first time. It is beautiful, and perfect for our needs. And it has big gardens, flower beds, a tire swing, a patio, and a beautiful blackberry filled greenhouse! With all this outdoor work to do, I can tell I am going to have a GREAT summer.

Here's Eddy playing with our new tire swing at our new house!

I will post more house pictures as soon as I can.

Yeah, I had a long week. Studying and working cut off much of my sleep, then the events began. Thursday music practice, Friday getting the house clean and making food for my dad, husband and son, and off to Linda's for the retreat. Eddy attended the dinner, with us, then went back to my house with dad. Full, full full retreat! A long evening gathering, with much prayer, opening up and...tears, of course. And giggling long into the night. An early start Saturday with everyone helping to put a delicious breakfast together. Laughter, stories, and food filled up our free time so we went straight from that into study time. My study was first, which also went long. Then Aunt Jan's and off to lunch at the Sand Creek Cafe (a fine establishment and official hub of Sand Creek, WI, population roughly 100). I took a detour with Linda and Bernadette to the store, so when we got back everyone else was already out riding the horses. At this point my week hit me. I felt weak and headsick, so I skipped horse riding and sacked out with some music in the livingroom. But I was up again for the scavenger hunt, the final study time with Bernadette, and gift exchanges. Stories and talking started up again, but my church service was coming up fast, so I bowed out and headed to church. I met the team just in time to grab a bite to eat with them, get an update on any changes, pray, and go right on stage! As I sang I realized my head sickness had turned into a sore throat. I got home, talked to my dad, then my husband, and it turned into a late night. Sunday was another early morning for practice at church. I dragged myself out of bed later than I should, with no time for breakfast. Thank goodness for church babysitters! We all stocked up on donuts, I had a good warm up, and had a good service. But my throat was worse. During second service I broke down and had a cough drop. It made me feel SO much better...until I got on stage! Oh no! My voice broke, and squeeked, and failed. I made it through, greeted people I knew, got Eddy, and went home. Home, home, home. Eddy fell asleep in the car and I wanted to. We crashed at home and slept all afternoon. Then back up to help Dan wash his truck, I got Eddy ready to go to Bible Study, We dropped Dan's truck off at the mechanic, dropped Dan back home, and left for Bible Study -- LATE. We didn't have a chance to make dinner at home, so fast food on the road. I met the ladies with a toddler and a dinner, which complicated the meeting, but we made it through, with a visit from Dan halfway through, on his way to Minnesota. Home again, home again, jiggety jog. Finished our dinner, but no firewood, so we snuggled in blankets and ate while watching VeggieTales. SLEEP. We both slept like logs. The retreat was over, church was over, Bible study was over. Back to life.

It's hard being left out of something. But being accepted and allowed to participate in a common goal makes brighter eyes, lighter feet, and a happy heart.


I am involved in my husband Danny's business. It is a ton of work, but so rewarding! It's great to be able to know something about lawn care, help people who need it, and reap the benefits of a job well done. And there's nothing like the joy shared between Danny and me when things go well. Even when things aren't going well, it's so much easier to handle together, and easier for me to empathize with him when I'm involved.


I'm involved with music at church.  Every time I'm asked to serve, I feel the tremendous privilege of being accepted by those talented musicians, and being allowed to contribute! I get to know them by name, talk casually about our lives, and gain a wealth of knowledge from them in the area of music.


I'm involved with a women's retreat this weekend. It's a little one, thrown by family, but exciting, nonetheless. I was asked to do a Bible study for it, to present as a workshop. I love studying, but it's hard to get the motivation sometimes, when it's just for yourself. But knowing I could share it with others helped me dive right in, and work on it night and day. 


This has been a very busy week. Gearing up the business, practicing music, preparing for a retreat. My regular schedule has gone completely out the window! But it's a good busy. A happy involvement in people and things that I love.

I went to see a friend in the hospital yesterday. She was there for her husband, who's been battling Leukemia the last 8 months (they got married only 10 months ago). My visit was a rare and special one because the hospital is 100 miles away and Daniel needs our car a lot for business. But someone else needed me to drive their car down, Eddy had a birthday party to attend in that town, and we just happened to know a couple driving back to Eau Claire from there yesterday afternoon. All the pieces fell into place and I went down.

I didn't know what I would do or say, exactly, just that I should go. I hadn't heard much from her, and I wanted to give her strength, if I could, just by being there, doing the best I could to help carry the emotional burden, helping her open up. Letting her know I was praying...I don't know. I wanted to help somehow. Perhaps I did. But I know she helped me.

We sat in a window lined lobby as rain pelted down on the gray downtown streets outside. She was exhausted. Very little sleep, catching up with work, and trauma can do that to a person. We talked about all sorts of things, caught up, and discussed things on our minds. Sometimes we just sat there. I began to open up to some burdens on my mind, and when I did I was returned not with the expected nod or condolences, but cutting words of wisdom. Words of experience. Words of gold. She had seen the fire and realized God was still there. He didn't always make sense, but He doesn't have to.  It helped that she has a "high ambiguity tolerance"--kinda straightens out my over-calculating tainted perfectionism =) Eventually we left, me to my schedule, she to her sleep. But as I darted through the chilly rain, my mind was full. I knew more how to pray for my friend, and I knew more how to live life. I felt at once shame, and gratitude, and sorrow, and purpose. My friend had given me perhaps more than I gave her.

This experience drives me to prayer, to guarding my thoughts, to selfless obedience. I can't explain it well, but I thank and pray for my dear friend.

Blogs are really lame when they don't change. I'm sure you noticed that from this blog, the last week+. Even if a post is really cool (which I do not presume to say any of mine are), it loses all attraction if it doesn't soon precede a newer post. Even if the newer post is worse than the older, it is preferred, because we want and expect the blog to change. No change, no viewers.

Thank you for being so patient with me during my absence. It was a much needed time of re-prioritizing and changing of habits at home, and I think I used it well, for the most part. But I am happy to be back, expressing the joy of life...and of change.

Life is change. If there is no change, there is no life. Maybe that's why we want to see blogs changing so much--they're supposed to reflect life.  Furthermore, if you can't see the joy in change, you soon won't see the joy in life. Get too caught up with one really cool post in life and you will miss out on the entire blog. On the other hand, see change as a good thing, and it'll be a lot easier to rejoice in life, in any situation. I'm learning that now.

So much is changing in my life. Where I live, what my job is, who my friends are, how I relate to people, what my goals are -- in my family, with friends, with church involvement, and with the future.  In similar scenes and challenges, I find I have a new outlook than I did a year ago, 3 months ago, even a week ago. I've a new attitude on life, new experiences, new voices in my head, new solutions. This change presents me with brand new opportunities...opportunities to help someone in a new way, to use my added knowledge for more effectiveness, and to draw from experience to obey God quicker and more fully. The changes also help to keep life interesting. There is always some new thing to conquer.

In recognizing the blessing of change, I'm learning to enjoy my circumstances so much more, and agonize over the pain so much less. The pain will soon be over, so why worry? And the good will soon be over, so seize it while you can...but in doing so, don't forget that it, too, will go away, and that's a good thing.

Thank you, Lord, for change, for the end of this day, for sleep, and bright hope for tomorrow. Good night.