News and Prayer Requests

Since it has been quite some time since I have updated, I thought it was time for me to do so.  I have some things to bring before you and ask you to be in fervent prayer.

FREEDOM CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENT MINISTRIES MISSION TRIP 

About a month ago, Keith was approached by the Head of School to see if he would be interested in accompanying the High School students on their mission trip to the Dominican Republic over Spring Break (like he did two years ago).  After thinking and talking it over with me, Keith and I decided this is something the Lord would have him do.  He immediately mailed out some support letters.  With the late date of joining the team, he had to act quickly in order to raise his needed amount.  The Lord has blessed in various ways to provide just about all his needed support in less than 3 weeks!  Why do we question the Lord's provision?  He promises He will, indeed, supply our every need.  Keith and the team will be departing on March 30 and return on April 9.  Below are a few pictures from his previous Dominican Republic trip.

Home away from home

Restroom

Guy's bunk room with mosquito netting

This year Keith will not be going in the same capacity as he did before, as a leader.  There are four other adults going as well as 32 students.  He's looking forward to ministering to the people in DR as well as our high school students.  It seems whenever I have gone on a mission trip to minister to others, I ended up being the one ministered to.  Praying for a fruitful time for Keith and the students.

MOM

Mom standing in the remodeled part of their kitchen

My dear sweet precious Mom will be soon celebrating her 85th birthday.  {April 5}  This past week, she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, which is a type of skin cancer.  To make things a bit more difficult is that it was found inside her mouth.  The doctor that did the biopsy (in Muskegon) has referred her to another doctor.  We will find out more details Tuesday when we visit the doctor for her re-check where he did the biopsy.  She has had this for about 4 months and thought it was something like you get when a person would chew the side of their mouth.  Please keep her and my Dad in your prayers.  Thanks so very much for uplifting her at this time.  I will post again after her visit on Tuesday, to let you know the plan.

MY PLANS

While Keith is gone on his trip, I made plans to go to Ludington to spend time with Mom and Dad

from Friday through Tuesday, and also celebrate Mom's birthday early.  Then, I would head back to Grand Rapids for a couple days and pack my suitcase, board a plane and head to Washington, D.C. to visit Jessica and Andy for Easter weekend.  These plans were all made, however, before I had any idea of Mom's diagnosis.  We are also praying that I will be able to go with her to her upcoming doctor appointments, even though, we want her to be able to get to a doctor as soon as possible for treatment.

HEATHER

Finally, I just want to also mention to pray for Heather, a former Freedom student of Keith's.  A few years ago, she had a heart transplant.  Following her transplant, her mother was diagnosed with cancer.  Just a week ago, Heather has been diagnosed with lymphoma.  This morning tears came to my eyes as I read Heather's update.  Heather wrote:  "I am reminded in II Corinthians 12:9-10 which says 'But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.'"

Thank you for taking the time to read this today.  I know it was longer than usual, but I just needed to share.  Love to you all!

Happy Birthday, To My Very Best Friend

Today, my very best friend for the last 38 years celebrates his birthday!  Keith, I just want to tell you what a wonderful helpmate you have been to me, especially dealing with my chronic health problems.  The Lord certainly knew that I would need you in my life.  He gave you a special life in that you were blessed with such godly and loving parents who raised you to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul.  In turn, you have blessed others through that same love.  Thank you for loving me unconditionally.  Thank you for being the husband that I have needed in my life.  Thank you for being a great father through the years to Jessica.  May God continue to bless your life for many years to come, as you are such a blessing to others as well as your family.  I love you!  Happy Birthday, Keith!

SNOW!!!

After not having had snow all through the month of December and part of January, we finally got some.  Because it was such a beautiful snow that fell, I just had to go out with my camera and take some photos at various places in our area. 

Caught the sun setting last night.  It was a beautiful red ball when I left.

So many ducks in the steam

The fresh white snow just glistened and sparkled as I walked through it.  Snow reminds me of my salvation and how the Lord cleansed my dirty heart and forgave my sins and made my heart all clean.  White as Snow...

Let's Celebrate 2012!

This year Keith and I hosted the annual New Years Eve party that Bob and Sue have hosted for many years.  Since we weren't having family here over Christmas, we asked if they would like us to host this year.  I sent out Evites online and invited the usual gang that has come over the years.  Many of this group are from the Jamaica team that also, for many years, had gone on annual mission trips there.  Since we don't all attend the same church anymore, it was nice to catch up with everyone.  There were a few that couldn't make it for various reasons, but we had a nice group of 9.  When we sent the Evites, we said we were going to provide pulled pork sandwiches, orange nutmeg sauce covered smokey links, and chips and hot cheese dip.

Pulled Pork ~ Crockpot 
pork loin
1 bottle of Sweet Baby Rays Honey BBQ Sauce
1 can of apple pie filling

Combine ingredients and cook in crockpot for 5 hours on high or
8-10 hours on low.  Serve on buns.  Yummy!

Orange Nutmeg Sauce for Smokie Links
1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained

Combine sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg and orange juice in a small sauce pan.
Cook, stirring constantly until it thickens.  Add the mandarin oranges, drained.
Brown 2 packages of the mini-smokey links and combine.  Keep warm in
crockpot for serving.

Hot Cheese Dip
1 (25 oz.) can Hormel chili, without beans
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese (low fat)
1 small package Velveeta cheese

Microwave cheeses until melted.  Add chili and heat through.
{I put this in the crock pot for serving and for keeping it hot.
Keep crock pot on low or warm setting.}
Serve with nacho chips.

Playing Balderdash and having so many laughs.  One guest was laughing so hard, he was rolling on the floor!

New York Times Square -- HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!!!!

Our guests then brought their favorite snacks to share as well.  We had a great evening together playing Balderdash, laughing a lot, and watching the ball drop from Times Square in New York. 

New Years Toast!

Bob, John, Jan, Becky, Keith, Marsha, Sue, John, Gary

Christmas Day 2011...a blessing

Ah...it's Christmas 2011, and we're home in Grand Rapids to celebrate.  Our daughter is in Pennsylvania celebrating with her husband and his family.  My parents, who usually are here to celebrate with us, are in North Carolina at my sister and brother-in-law's having Christmas with them.  This is the first time we've been alone for Christmas in many years!  It was going to be a very different one than what we are use to....

Christmas morning, Keith and I woke up to some presents under the tree.  We sat down to open our gifts and Keith looked at me and asked me to pass out the presents.  I looked at him with a sad face and said, "Our present passer-outer isn't here."  Then after a few tears were shed,{on my part!} we went on to open our gifts.  The Lord certainly has blessed us beyond measure through the years.  He's blessed me with a wonderful husband for 35+ years for which I am so thankful for. 

Keith and I had decided previous to this day that we would invite our neighbor, Ilene, over to share dinner and the afternoon with her.  Little did we know, we had some other friends, Steve and Pat, that were also going to be alone for Christmas, and invited them as well. We decided to fix our regular Christmas dinner of ham, potluck potatoes, green bean casserole, salad (pretzel salad and seven layer salad which Pat provided), rolls, dessert.

Ilene, Pat, Steve, Keith and me

Our dear, sweet, long-time friends, Pat and Steve

Our dear sweet neighbor and friend, Ilene

Our dinner was ready by 1:45, and we all enjoyed the fellowship around the table.  It was a wonderful afternoon, and before we knew it, it was over.  Steve and Pat were on their way back home.  We had been so blessed that day with our friends.  I believe they were equally blessed to have been with others as well.  Ilene stayed longer and visited before heading back home after dark.  

Christmas in Virginia 2011

Keith's final day of school for this calendar year was December 16.  Immediately after school, we drove to the airport for our flight to Baltimore, MD.  When we arrived in Baltimore, we then took Amtrak into Union Station, Washington, D.C., where Jess and Andy picked us up.  We then headed to their apartment building where they settled us into our very lovely guest apartment. 

We opened the door and this is what we saw!

This is a one bedroom, one bath fully furnished apartment complete with a washer and dryer, dishes, pots and pans and linens, etc.  The only thing we know we'll need next time would be hangers and washcloths.  We were located on the second floor (2 floors from Andy and Jess).  It sure saved much running back and forth from a hotel, etc. 

On Saturday, we went to their apartment, and Jess and I baked several different Christmas cookies.  While we were busy with the cookies, Keith and Andy went out shopping for a new television.  We were successful in our baking endeavor as they were also successful in their shopping!

Successful shopping trip = Happy Andy!

In the middle of all the baking!

The nicely decorated sugar cookies in the top of this photo were decorated with helpers Julianna,
Sebastian, Katie and Jessica at our cousin's house.  Jess brought the cookies and they had all the pretty/fun decorations to put on the cookies.  We had a fun time baking together.  I even got a chance to use her new Kitchen Aid Mixer.  So nice!!! 

While we were there, we also exchanged gifts.

This sweet little tree was a gift to Andy and Jess from Katie and Emin and family.  It's a real tree in a pot and decorated with various owl ornaments and a string of lights including an owl on top.  What a thoughtful gift!  

 

Andy organizing his new tools.

Very yummy hot chocolate and Christmas kitchen towels

Cheese bar board with little dipping bowls

Cologne!

A hand-blown glass ornament from the WAR Chest

iTunes card!

Thanks Pinterest!  I found out Jess "liked" these, so I made some for her! 

Sunday evening, they took us into DC to see the National Christmas Tree.  The tree is located in "President's Park."

Yes, there was a Nativity located next to Santa's place.

This is a park-like setting with a Christmas tree decorated for all 50 states.

The Eisenhower Building

Washington Monument in the background

The White House

The National Christmas Tree (48 feet tall)

On Monday, Jess and Keith made a shopping trip to an outlet mall and to Trader Joe's to pick up some baking items.  When they got back, we finished up the cookies and started some dinner for Andy and Jess to eat when Jess got home from taking us to the airport in Baltimore later that evening.  Andy happened to arrive home before she got back from taking us. 




Even though it was just a short weekend, we sure had a great time together!  We were so thankful to spend some Christmas time with them, as they would be in Pennsylvania for Christmas celebrating with Andy's family.