Things have been a little crazy to say the least for us these past two weeks, our septic system overflowed at our home and then our shop flooded in this weekend’s flash flood of downtown Kearney. That being said, I feel remarkably calm and peaceful. No panic, relatively little stress. Things get ruined sometimes. Plans get changed and we have to compromise and improvise, but I am feeling happy. 

This sense of calm and peace that have carried me through the chaos of these little hiccups in the road remind me that God is in control. He has given me a remarkable partner to share my life with, awesome, healthy, happy children and incredible friends and family. 

Through these past two weeks I have felt so blessed by the events that have occurred. In both incidents things could have been absolutely catastrophic, but instead damages were minor. Loss was minimal. Things will need to be replaced, repaired, many things were damaged beyond repair and tossed, some things were irreplaceable and they are only things. Pictures are a great reminder of the times we have shared with the people we love, but they don’t change the love we have for others, so if that is the worst of it, I’ll take it! 

We spent time this week with some dear friends that we don’t see nearly enough and it was time well spent! We took an entire day off and spent the day in Omaha at the Henry Doorly Zoo with our kids and days spent together as a family are always days well spent! We came together and worked as a team to clean our shop up after the foot of water that flooded it subsided. These are the events that make me who I am.

I am grateful for my faith in God, for my relationship with Jesus and for the faith I share with my family and friends and all of you. I have learned MANY lessons over the course of my 42 years on this earth. The greatest lesson I have learned is to NEVER lose your faith. God is in control, He knows what lies ahead and whatever comes your way, He WILL help you through. 

Jesus said to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, if you have faith and do not waver, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea’, it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” Matthew 21:21-22

We all face adversity, we all sin and fall away from our God. But you know what? God NEVER gives up on us, he ALWAYS forgives, he ALWAYS loves us and he ALWAYS has a place for us in His kingdom. 

I am feeling very humble and small and blessed beyond what I deserve, but I am thankful and I will be generous with my blessings and with my faith. I will share what God has given to me with others; my time, talent and treasure are NOT mine to keep, but to share. This includes the incredible children that he blessed us with as well as the lessons I have learned. 

Another school year is about to begin and this brings us another year closer to our sweet little babies going out into the world on their own. I constantly remind myself that they are only mine for a brief period of time and the best way I can show my gratitude to God and the most awesome gift I can give the world is to help raise these little people to be faith-filled, generous, responsible, kind, loving, servants of God. 

I was reminded through all of this that our children learn how to handle stress and adversity from us. How we communicate with others and work with our spouses are likely how they will as adults. Life will get ugly, troubles WILL come our way, but we don’t have to let them ruin us. Never let doubt creep in. Have faith, trust in God and work together with the people God has put in your path. 

Blessings!