QUICK update! :)

Hey guys, I need to apologize for not keeping this up...at all! :( I just wanted to quick let you all know that I've decided to step down from being co-host of Her Freedom Radio, and will be doing occasional behind the scenes work. I decided about 2 weeks ago to go back to school full time this fall, so I spent the last two weeks applying to school, FAFSA, and registering...all that fun stuff! So, I will be working my full time job at Hope & Home, and then will be taking a full load of classes as well. SO please keep me in your prayers, and try to be patient with me if I'm slow to return a call or email! :) I love you all, and will give a better update soon. :) My class is about to start!

Last Saturday we had our Great Swing Set Build Away. We built 10 swing sets for 10 of our foster families! It was such a blessing to see the kids light up when it was finished and they RAN to be the first ones to swing. My day started at 6:45 with Meghan and Michelle (1st picture). We were in charge of getting all the food, coffee, registration tables, T-shirts, tools and everything organized in the morning before everyone came. Michelle and I are staff at H&H, and Meghan is her daughter that she adopted about 4 years ago. They both have servants attitudes, great personalities, and would give the shirt off their back to anyone.
We all were at work until late Friday night, so when Saturday morning came - we were a little...loopy, to say the least, from lack of sleep! Many people told me I was too happy for that hour of the morning. At least everyone was laughing though! (Now, the fact that they were laughing AT me is another thing...I guess I can handle it if it means everyone is having a good time! :)

I landed on the all girls team! Well, OK, we did have one guy there - we got to the site and one of our head boards had cracked at a knot, so he brought us one and stayed for a while. We had a great time though! This is Laura, myself and Alex being goofy.

This is Alex and I on our way home - we were so exhausted! Just in case you couldnt tell by our faces! :)

Well, I hope you've enjoyed seeing the Great Swing Set Build Away! :) Let me just say again - I love my job. I love the people I'm working with and for, and i am SO happy that God brought me here! I was talking to our Director of Family Services (Who is also my boss' wife) the other day, and she says to me "Did you know I prayed for you!? I prayed that God would send us someone like you!" and I started laughing and I said "Did you know that I prayed for a job like this?!?!" :) I am so taken back by Gods awesomeness and how he has everything figured out - he knows and see's the big picture, and its awesome.

More pictures from our rafting trip and silly photo shoot with my brother are coming! ;)

Gardening

This weekend we planted flowers. Some were already there and the roots firmly set in the soil, however the new plants have yet to spread out, since they are "baby plants". We had to loosen the roots that these baby plants had, because they were content with living in the little area they started out in. Initially you would think you are killing the plant by ripping the roots apart, but you are actually saving it! They are root bound, and need to be able to spread and grow.



We need to do the same thing! We need to plant ourselves with other firmly planted believers, and let our creator rip our roots apart as we have grown content with living in our bubble. We need to spread our roots and grow!



"Lord, I want to grow, even if it means going through something hard or painful, I want to be more like you, I want to grow into the woman you want me to be. I want to minister to other's through your help. I am willing to be up-rooted, because I know you have a plan for me! Here am I, Lord, Send Me"



I have an opportunity to come home for a visit the end of June. One of my co-workers is going home to visit his family in MN, and I am going to drive with him. I am excited to see everyone - I will have limited distance traveling though, as I'll probably be biking around Wausau since I wont have a vehicle. I will be home about June 26 - July 6th or so, give or take a day.



Please continue to pray for the radio show - it is going well, we are doing our 4th show tomorrow (I cant believe that much time has already gone by!) God is good, and we are getting more comfortable with our roles on the show.



Please also pray that I would be bold while I am trying to meet new people. :)



Love and miss you all!

The Little Children...

Little children are running all around. They are doing their best to annoy and frustrate me is seems...One is talking in a funny voice very loudly asking the same question over and over...two brothers are running and wrestling, a little girl is crying at my feet. I think to myself "STOP!! I can't think like this! Its too chaotic, un-organized and crazy!" But then I remember "Oh yeah...these are your Children, Lord...They aren't going home to their parents house...they are going to someones else's tonight because their own parents couldn't/wouldn't take care of them" So I take myself out of the situation and put on (at least tried my very hardest!) the eyes that Christ would see them through. Everything seems to slow down a few paces, and I feel "normal" again.

I was looking for ministry type work, and I found it (Not on my own of course). Not only do I get to minister to and love on these children, but I get to minister to my co-workers.

Colorado is starting to feel more like home...its taken a couple weeks to get past the "long vacation" mode, but I'm here. :) My breath is constantly taken away by the sight of the mountains and beauty here!

Pictures will come soon!

The Little Things

Yesterday I had a little car issue. I got in my car to drive to work, and when I pressed the clutch - it went to the floor! So my first thought was "Oh great, my clutch is gone!" Well, I had enough to get to work (I know...a little risky, but I had a back up plan! My brother-in-law didnt have to be at work for a hour in a half...he could always come get me!) We meet for prayer on Thursday mornings at work - we prayed for my car. Sarah asked that "the repair bill would be inexpensive", During my lunch break I called around and got quotes that were all in the $800 range. I was disappointed, but relied on the fact that God always has a plan. I made another call and spoke with a nice little man who said that their quote guy was on lunch, but he could get my information and have him call me later. After explaining my story, he says "Oh, you know, I think your car is the year they started using hydraulic clutches - it sounds like you are just low on break fluid. I would just confirm that you have a hydraulic clutch and then you just need to have someone check that for you, but make sure they put it in the right reservoir!" SO, I thought to my self - 'I can do that!' SO, I called Honda, as well as our family mechanic to confirm. All signs pointed to yes. The only problem was making sure I put it in the right spot. A lady from work said after I told them the story "My husband can do that for you when he gets here - he's a mechanic, he'll know exactly what to do" And sure enough, she was right.

Total repair bill: $3.89
God answers prayers. :)

Am I Enough?

Steps of faith. I keep reminding myself...

The show went well - besides for a few newbie bloopers :). I'm hoping the next one will go better though. God is good.

My hours at Hope and Home are being moved to full time next week - so I'm very greatful! One of the foster dads took this picture of two of my girls and I that I supervise at the coffee shop (Jericho Java).

I will still be working evenings at Jericho Java, but I am adding additional hours in the office. There are some really great girls that are part of the team of staff at Hope and Home - wonderful women of God.

Something to think about... at my sisters church where I have been attending, they have something called theMill - it is for the 20 something age. During the message tonight, the pastor mentioned how after he lost his baby daughter, he felt God asking him "Am I enough?" And it got me thinking - if we took a step back and answered that honestly, would our answer be yes?

***** Am I Enough? ****

Her Freedom

Feelings of inadequacy, attack and anxiety consume my thoughts these past few days. Never have I felt more "in Gods will", but at the same time under such attack by the enemy! Tonight as I was pondering the show - battling my own doubts and emotional attacks, it hit me - We have God on our side! I cant imagine beginning something like this without Him! Isnt that a comforting thought? We have the God of the Universe, who holds the heavens and earth, time, and our future in the palm of His hand, on our side! We are sons and daughters of the King of Kings!

As Janna and I got on our knees before the Lord - we prayed for his anointing and blessing upon Her Freedom and our listeners. We prayed for guidance and Grace. For His will to be done tomorrow and with future shows - Will you join us in praying?

It is late - we wrapped up our final details, conference called in with our producer, and are mentally exhausted - it has been a whirlwind of a journey the past couple of months. But it is finally here.

Father, I give you my worries, my anxious thoughts, my doubts, and my sleepless nights. For who will it add even a moment to our lives to worry? Thank you for being my Abba Father, my King, My God.

Part of the journey...

"Hush hush my daughter - remember! I know how you feel and I knew you would feel like this - it is part of the refining process, and still part of my plan! just keep your eyes on me, draw near to me and have faith!"

I love it out here; but there is still that part of me that longs for my friends and family back home. I am torn. I have these two amazing ministry opportunities - the Radio show and Hope and Home. I know this is where I'm supposed to be, and I know that God will not give me more than I can handle! It is a comforting thought that I must cling to. God keeps doing little things to remind me that I'm doing the right thing. Its really a great place to be in - i am being stretched and molded. Praise the Lord!

This is after the Scavenger Hunt Birthday party Janna's co-workers threw for her birthday (Notice the medals...:)

Janna and I were interviewed Last wednesday by Sean Rima - this was to give our show more PR. It was a great interview!

Janna and I at the Launch BBQ Party our producer threw - he is launching two shows the same day - so we all got together. It was a great opportunity to network at get to know others in the business. Janna and I were able to record a few commercials as well.

Please continue to pray for Janna and I as we are down to only a few days before our first show. Thank you!!!!

Orchestrated By God

It has officially been a week since I pulled into the driveway here in Colorado Springs! And what a week it has been! The first couple days were rough as I had quite the time trying to get used to the elevation. Lots of water always helps. :) Here are a few highlights:

• Janna and I had our first live on-air interview on Wednesday - it went great! Our producer was very happy with it. (An already established show on the station had us on-air for about a hour to give Her Freedom some PR) see picture...

• I baked in the altitude for the first time and it turned out awesome! Janna celebrated her birthday on Thursday - it is the first time in many years that I was able to actually celebrate it right with her vs. a phone call! :)



• I got a job! (more to come, but a side note: This job was offered literally about a hour after I had just got done telling Janna that if I took my eyes off Christ I started to panic about not having a job yet, but if I stayed focused, I knew God had something cookie-cutter exactly for me, I just had to be patient and wait on His timing.)



• I am all un-packed and moved in.

Friday Janna and I had plans to go speak with businesses and organizations about Her Freedom. When we walked into Hope and Home: a christian adoption agency, we had intentions of asking to have someone be a guest on the show to speak about adoption. Knowing they occasionally have positions open, I inquired. After Ross, the center's director, had questioned me regarding my faith and past experience - he offered me a (paid) intern position with a catch: "We require all staff to complete a training kick-off before starting. The only problem is, they are only offered every two months, and the next one starts in 2 hours" he said looking at his watch. Considering I have nothing but the radio show on my books, I accepted.

While attending the training Friday night and all day Saturday, I met some really neat people! Most were soon-to-be foster parents, however, Rochelle is another intern who I will be working with - We clicked almost immediately. Although I dont know fully what my position is at Hope and Home, I am so glad I did! This is such a NEAT ministry - they are not your typical adoption agency. They are wonderful committed christian people who are ministering to not only the children who come through, but the foster parents, the birth families and their own employees.

Most of you know my love of coffee...:) Jericho Java is a coffee shop within the center run by staff AND, this is the neat part, the kids! It is part of their program to teach them about working, responsibility and keeping a job. Not only do these kids get paid, but there is a tutoring program that the kids can take advantage of while they are working.

In case you couldnt tell, I am very excited about this ministry I will be involved in, that I will also call "work". Not only will Hope and Home work with my radio schedule, but I can basically pick my own hours. This internship puts me at a great place to be chosen to fill positions that become available along the way. Thank you LORD!

Prayer Requests:

1. A servants attitude as I begin my ministry at Hope and Home



2. The Her Freedom show



3. that I would rely on Christ and not my own strength for the radio ministry. as well as spiritual growth.



4. Continued bonding with Janna and I as we grow closer as sisters, friends and partners in ministry.



5. Janna and I will be interviewed again Wednesday on a different show.



6. PRAISE: Hope and Home

Thank you all for your prayers!

Love and miss you.

Beautiful Scenery!

The trip over went great! :) I had a family friend offer to ride along with me and fly home so I didnt have to drive by myself - it was last minute for her, but I am super thankful that she came! We had some awesome conversations and really got to know each other a lot better. :)

Well, things are rolling! I met with our producer yesterday to go over show details and get any of my questions answered in person. Janna and I are going to be interviewed Wednesday on a different show to get some PR for the our show. We are also attending a women's expo in Denver this weekend to spread the word.

Here are a few things you could pray for:

• Getting settled and getting to know a new area.
• New Friends!!! :)
• A job in addition to the radio show to fit my schedule and my financial needs.
• The last things to come together for the radio show before we broadcast live on May 7th.

For those of you who dont already have the website for the radio show it is: herfreedom.org it will have more show details and a better description of what I am doing. Enjoy! Keep in touch!

The beginning of a new chapter...

Hello friends! :) Thanks for visiting my blog! I wanted to create a way for me to share pictures and stories of my new adventures in Colorado Springs, CO...so here you go!

I will be heading out very soon with my coffee in hand and a box of Kleenex! (Not to mention a very full car!) I am so excited, but it is also going to be so hard to leave my family and wonderful friends that I have made over the past several years. My emotional state has been all across the board over the last several weeks. Thank you all for your prayers!

I will be up bright and early Monday morning to begin preparing for our live broadcast on May 7th. This first week will be a mix of moving into my new digs, finding my way around, meetings, interviews, and practice studio time.

I gladly welcome any prayers during the next couple weeks, as It will be an emotional, stressful and very exciting time in my life! THANK YOU ALL!

And welcome to my blog! :)