Wow...been a long time since I have posted anything. It's been a little crazy here in IA, with my mom having major medical worries and surgery to take care of that, taking care of her, and then the water in our basement from the torrential rain last week. But I am alive and well!!! Trying to keep myself grounded with everything going on.

Hope y'all are doing well!!

VACATION!!!

In 14 hours my handbell choir will be hitting the road!! We are doing a music mission trip to the South Eastern United States! I can't wait!! Tomorrow we will be heading to Paducah, KY to play, then on to Lake City, FL. Monday we are playing at Downtown Disney, then spending time at Disney World through Wednesday! Our trip home take us through Peach Tree City, GA, Mt. Vernon, IL and St. Louis! Should be a fun trip and God will touch hearts with our music!

I will post some pics and updates when I get back!!

I am an aunt!!

This afternoon I became and aunt!! Little Jade Elizabeth entered the world around 330ish!! I couldn't be more proud! She came into this world at 6lbs. 2 oz., 17 1/2 inches, with a head full of hair!! Here is the first pic I have of her...there will be more after this weekend!

I love it when the kids at school are talking about something...and one kid says something awesome!! LIke today...the kids were talking about who decided to change the weather from warm to stormy...all of them decided that it was God, but it was the one little boys (I will call him A) words that got me. He said, "Yeah, like Easter is about Jesus and not about bunnies and candy." AMEN But A didn't stop there...he went on to tell them that Easter is when Jesus rose into heaven....and that Jesus didn't have candy and bunnies when is rose!!!

Wouldn't it be nice if we this care free. I don't know about you, but I tend to think about WHO I am talking to before I speak. A didn't care and he said it right from the heart!!

A Day I Don't Want to Relive

Today started off great...got up, went to work...normal...until 12:15pm. I was summoned to the office and told I had an emergency phone call from my mom. I answered and soon heard that my sister was at training in a bank and the bank had been robbed. WHAT?? This is something you hear about all the time but don't usually know anyone who has really been involved in one. So we start calling family and friends asking for prayers for safety. Soon after, we find out through the news in Kearney, NE that this is not a robbery it is a hostage situation. WHAT? Learn that my sister is hiding in a closet and they don't think anybody knows they are there. After what seemed like forever(really 1 1/2 hours) we hear that she is safe and in a police holding area. PRAISE GOD!! Thanks to those of you who were praying!!

When we finally got to talk to her she spilled everything...this guy didn't want to rob the bank...he merely wanted to get back at the employer who had fired him last week, a TV station...he wanted publicity. So he faked a robbery and took everybody hostage. Some people got to leave shortly after this started but other were in the building hiding for 2 1/2 hours. My sister was hiding in a closet with the other trainees and trainer. The police negotiater got the guy to release everybody. So my sister had to walk past him(he still had the gun in his hand) as they walked out. They arrested the guy shortly after everyone was safely out of the building.

My sister is going to be ok! She is very shaken and stirred but will be fine! As my uncle put it, "She got some darn good hands on training today."!

Thanks to all who prayed with us! The power of prayer REALLY works!!

Love ya'll!

Calling all Christian Music lovers.....

I just returned from an awesome event called Winter Jam....it is a bunch of bands that come together to get out the word of God!!! Anyway, if you have not heard of Revive, Robert Pierre, or Sidewalk Prophets....CHECK THEM OUT!!!!!

song that hits home

Everytime I hear "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood I cry. It is a very moving song that made me realize I need to start living better. Reading the Bible more and just living the life God wants for me.

Here are the lyrics of this great song:

Temporary Home

Little boy, 6 years old
A little too used to bein' alone
Another new mom and dad,another school
Another house that'll never be home
When people ask him how he likes this place
He looks up and says with a smile upon his face

"This is my temporary home
It's not where I belong
Windows and rooms that I'm passin' through
This is just a stop, on the way to where I'm going
I'm not afraid because I know this is my
Temporary Home."

Young mom on her own
She needs a little help got nowhere to go
She's lookin' for a job, lookin' for a way out
Because a half-way house will never be a home
At night she whispers to her baby girl
Someday we'll find a place here in this world

"This is our temporary home
It's not where we belong
Windows and rooms that we're passin' through
This is just a stop, on the way to where we're going
I'm not afraid because I know this is our
Temporary Home."

Old man, hospital bed
The room is filled with people he loves
And he whispers don't cry for me
I'll see you all someday
He looks up and says "I can see God's face"

"This is my Temporary Home
It's not where I belong
Windows and rooms that I'm passin' through
This was just a stop,on the way
To where I'm going
I'm not afraid because I know this was
My temporary home."

This is our temporary home

Here is where you can listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qdJuNe_gQc