A DAY TO REMEMBER


After cleaning up from Picnic in the Park and doing about a million dishes, we decided to head to the State Fair for a little R and R. Before meeting Mark's parents and sister at the fair, I had an interview for a piano teaching job. I was extremely nervous and didn't feel qualified for the job teaching in a studio in St. Paul. The interview turned out great and was nothing to be nervous about. I got the job!! Feeling confident and content, we headed to the fair. It was raining, but I didn't really care. It was just great to be with family and enjoying food "on a stick"
After a fun day at the fair, Mark told me that he had to pick up a truck and some equipment and that we would have to drive back to Cokato separately. An instant panic entered the pit of my stomach. Many of you know that I am terrified of driving in the Cities. Mark said I could follow him and I didn't need to worry. Well, it was dark, and I lost him and started following another truck that looked like his!! To make a long story short, I turned around and looked at a map. Then, with a lot of help from my Daddy in heaven, I made it all the way from 35W to 94 and through Mpls by myself. It felt great!!
So, there's my day to remember. Thanks for your prayers for our transition to the Cities. Things are coming together and yes, with God's help, I will learn to drive on the freeway!

IT'S PICNIC TIME!

the 7th Annual Picnic In The Park. 7 years. That is unbelievable. Really, have we been here that long? I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I am excited to have a sidekick helping me pull this off this year. Bobby Culberston. He will fill my shoes when this event continues into 2007 and beyond. What a blessing and an answer to prayer he and his new wife Whitney are to us and to Morris. They are both recent grads of UMM and have a hear much like we did 7 years ago to stay and be used by God on the campus with college students. Be in prayer for the finances of this event. We just want to make sure everything is in the black. Pray for me this week as I connect with key people who have and can support this event financially. Pray for good weather and a wonderful turnout of freshman and returning students. The heart of the event always has been to see college students plug in to local churches, bringing support to them and life to the church.

SORTING

For the past several weeks, I have been sorting through closets and going through 10+ years worth of our stuff. I've lost track of the number of garbage bags of papers and old or broken items I've thrown away. I also can't believe how many clothes we had accumulated from a 4 and 2 year old in a few short years! Reading through old journals from college and looking at cards people had sent brought back so many great memories. I sat up last night and wrote down a brief history of our time in Morris and all I have learned here. It was fun to reflect and see how much I have grown as a person.
Here are some of the top lessons I have learned in Morris
* How to be a mom
*The importance of loving those who are hard to love
* How to WAIT on God
* That prophesy and the gifts are not just to be used in church, but in the world
* That my heart yearns for the church to be "one" and for believers to put aside their differences and see the heart
* That I am not above being offended and need to be careful.
* I learned not to put leaders on a pedestal and not to be judgmental
* I learned to love my pastors and their families
* I learned that people want so badly to be trusted and they can tell immediately when there is a lack of trust.
*That I am not as patient as I thought I was
*That I don't have to win every argument
*That mothering is one of my primary gifts
*That worship and prayer (together as one) is another of my primary loves
*I learned that I can hear God and I DO hear God
*I learned how to call people (Mark says, "Get on that phone! Don't be afraid of it!)
*I learned that Mark and I are a "Barnabus Team" of encouragers
*I learned that we are bridge builders and Mark is an amazing connector
*I learned (am learning) not to micro-manage Mark's life
*I learned (am learning) to pray before I speak

Hope you learned a little more about me from that.

LOOKING FOR NEW PLACE TO LIVE!

Pray for us as we look at this place in Southwest Minneapolis.
We know the family that owns the place and have a good
feeling about it. This may be the one. We'll see.
Hoping to move in October 1st.
Keep our search in your prayers!