Well . . . it is past my bedtime, but I had to record this in written form somewhere to most likely last forever. This Easter weekend 2010, our oldest daughter, Ellen Janelle Durst, accepted Jesus Christ as her personal saviour. Praise You God! Thank You Jesus. Seal her Holy Spirit. Amen!
We have been attending New Spring Saturday nights and we went for the Good Friday service. Then we went Saturday night and while Ellen was at Kidzworld, they asked if anyone would like to make the most important decision of their life? And Ellen raised her hand and went out with Miss Becky and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord & Saviour. I can hardly type the words without tearing up because I feel so honored that God has allowed me to experience flesh of my flesh become a christian. Lord God almighty - hallowed be Your name. Blessed be Your name. Praises to Your name.
God just worked it out so perfectly and Ryan & I are completely full of joy! We pray that God works His will in her life; that Ellen walks in His ways, and is obedient to His calling. Speaking of obedience, we had just gone to church Friday night and I worked all day Sat.; Ryan worked hard outside moving dirt and rocks and it was a rush to get out the door so we would be there on time and it would have been so much easier to just stay home; however, we were obedient and went . . . and look how God moves. Where there is faith, God will always move. Thank you Lord for moving in this sweet girls life. I pray she always moves with You.
Amen.
b/t/w - side notes: Duke just won the NCAA championship.
I still hope Ellen marries a baseball player :)
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Am i the only one?
Today is Sunday, March 20, 2010.
Today has been a very lonely day for me.
At church this morning, Pastor Dave gave the message and he again stated something I find quite profound: "Belonging is very powerful."
Belonging IS very powerful.
Belonging is VERY powerful.
Belonging is very POWERFUL.
Where do I belong?
Have you ever felt like you exist, but don't really belong anywhere per se? I think maybe I feel just 'not special' and I just want to feel 'special'. I want to feel like I am adored, like I am loved because I am me. I want to feel the specialness of being the only daughter still alive. I want to feel like I am loved because her son chose me and for no other reason. I want to feel loved plurally. I feel very, very singular.
I am very glad I have no sons and therefore, will have no 'daughters-in-laws'. I will strive very hard to teach my daughters to love their husband's mothers & fathers . . . to walk in love . . . I want so much to set the example, I am just confounded with how hard it is to walk that way.
I am amazed how the world entices us with its pleasures and we are so easily 'ensnared'. Hebrews 12:1-2 "Because we are surrounded by a community of believers, let us put off everything that hinders and the sin which so easily ensnares and let us run with perservance the race marked out for us."
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me while I was still your enemy. Thank you for your atoning death for my sin. Thank you for hearing my cries. Thank you for always loving me, no matter what. Thank you Lord Jesus for being my plural. You are my "exceedinly great reward"!
Today has been a very lonely day for me.
At church this morning, Pastor Dave gave the message and he again stated something I find quite profound: "Belonging is very powerful."
Belonging IS very powerful.
Belonging is VERY powerful.
Belonging is very POWERFUL.
Where do I belong?
Have you ever felt like you exist, but don't really belong anywhere per se? I think maybe I feel just 'not special' and I just want to feel 'special'. I want to feel like I am adored, like I am loved because I am me. I want to feel the specialness of being the only daughter still alive. I want to feel like I am loved because her son chose me and for no other reason. I want to feel loved plurally. I feel very, very singular.
I am very glad I have no sons and therefore, will have no 'daughters-in-laws'. I will strive very hard to teach my daughters to love their husband's mothers & fathers . . . to walk in love . . . I want so much to set the example, I am just confounded with how hard it is to walk that way.
I am amazed how the world entices us with its pleasures and we are so easily 'ensnared'. Hebrews 12:1-2 "Because we are surrounded by a community of believers, let us put off everything that hinders and the sin which so easily ensnares and let us run with perservance the race marked out for us."
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me while I was still your enemy. Thank you for your atoning death for my sin. Thank you for hearing my cries. Thank you for always loving me, no matter what. Thank you Lord Jesus for being my plural. You are my "exceedinly great reward"!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Whasup? or What's Up?
Gosh - a few things before I forget them:
State Basketball was last weekend and the girls and I went to BB games Wed., Thurs., Friday and Saturday! Ally won!!! We are so proud of her and had so stinkin' much fun!
Emily got her ears pierced, Thursday, March 11 at Claires in Hutchinson. She has all of a sudden grown up and is a chatty kathy and so adorably precious! Love her.
Ryan arrived home from Washington DC - great trip!
Ellen got a perfect on her reading state assessments.
Um - Ryan is pressuring me, so I will have to continue later - UGH!!!
TIME ELASPSES . . .
Okay! It is 9:49 pm and we are home from a blessed, wonderful day together! Dear Lord Jesus - thank You so very, very much for the time we have spent together! All 5 of us went to Wichita this afternoon. We met with BCO's travel agent regarding our Summer vacation. Then we went to Justice (for Miss Erin especially). The girls and I totally hog a dressing room while precious Ryan holds purses (3 to be exact); opines on the girls' choices and retrieves new sizes. Honestly, God, You could not have given me someone I love or want more! Thank you so very, very much!
After we buy $85.00 worth of clothing (which all seem very happy with, especially Erin), we head to my favorite - COFFEE at Starbucks! And, yes, it was excellent. The Pike Roast combined with the cone portion (after ice cream was scraped out thank you Emily) from McDonalds - well, it hit the spot to say the least. Then we went to Hobby Lobby to get some 'scrapbook' stuff for Ellen & Erin. AGain, major 'hoorahs!'. I was extremely elated to find a wall hanging of an elephant,lion, giraffe and some other African animal to hang in the rec room ON SALE of 90% off! Hoorah!
Okay - then we hit Sams and walked out with $155.00 of food (and 3 pants for Ryan). We had a democratic convention on dinner and it was unaminous - Olive Garden. So, we oinked out on salad, breadsticks and spaghetti! Oh, it was soooo good.
Did I mention that Miss Emily, who has hit a major growth spurt as evidenced by the rush of air out of her mouth in conjunction with her vocal chords for what seems hours on end, had to POOP at two different places! Ugh!
Did I mention that Ellen is at a sleepover at Grandma Bonnie's and Erin & Emily conned their sweet daddy into airing up the air mattress and are having a sleepover of their own.
Did I mention that "to whom much is given, much is required" Luke 12:48? The Holy Spirit so convicted me that as I/we want to give the girls so many opportunities, we are charged with teaching them that with privileges comes responsibilities. I dearly believe that God has allowed us so many things, but we will be held accountable and I want to stand before Him when my time here is done and hear "well done, My good & faithful servant". Oh . . . blessed be His name!
Did I mention we had a blessed, wonderful day together?
Amen.
State Basketball was last weekend and the girls and I went to BB games Wed., Thurs., Friday and Saturday! Ally won!!! We are so proud of her and had so stinkin' much fun!
Emily got her ears pierced, Thursday, March 11 at Claires in Hutchinson. She has all of a sudden grown up and is a chatty kathy and so adorably precious! Love her.
Ryan arrived home from Washington DC - great trip!
Ellen got a perfect on her reading state assessments.
Um - Ryan is pressuring me, so I will have to continue later - UGH!!!
TIME ELASPSES . . .
Okay! It is 9:49 pm and we are home from a blessed, wonderful day together! Dear Lord Jesus - thank You so very, very much for the time we have spent together! All 5 of us went to Wichita this afternoon. We met with BCO's travel agent regarding our Summer vacation. Then we went to Justice (for Miss Erin especially). The girls and I totally hog a dressing room while precious Ryan holds purses (3 to be exact); opines on the girls' choices and retrieves new sizes. Honestly, God, You could not have given me someone I love or want more! Thank you so very, very much!
After we buy $85.00 worth of clothing (which all seem very happy with, especially Erin), we head to my favorite - COFFEE at Starbucks! And, yes, it was excellent. The Pike Roast combined with the cone portion (after ice cream was scraped out thank you Emily) from McDonalds - well, it hit the spot to say the least. Then we went to Hobby Lobby to get some 'scrapbook' stuff for Ellen & Erin. AGain, major 'hoorahs!'. I was extremely elated to find a wall hanging of an elephant,lion, giraffe and some other African animal to hang in the rec room ON SALE of 90% off! Hoorah!
Okay - then we hit Sams and walked out with $155.00 of food (and 3 pants for Ryan). We had a democratic convention on dinner and it was unaminous - Olive Garden. So, we oinked out on salad, breadsticks and spaghetti! Oh, it was soooo good.
Did I mention that Miss Emily, who has hit a major growth spurt as evidenced by the rush of air out of her mouth in conjunction with her vocal chords for what seems hours on end, had to POOP at two different places! Ugh!
Did I mention that Ellen is at a sleepover at Grandma Bonnie's and Erin & Emily conned their sweet daddy into airing up the air mattress and are having a sleepover of their own.
Did I mention that "to whom much is given, much is required" Luke 12:48? The Holy Spirit so convicted me that as I/we want to give the girls so many opportunities, we are charged with teaching them that with privileges comes responsibilities. I dearly believe that God has allowed us so many things, but we will be held accountable and I want to stand before Him when my time here is done and hear "well done, My good & faithful servant". Oh . . . blessed be His name!
Did I mention we had a blessed, wonderful day together?
Amen.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Today
It is Friday afternoon--2:13 pm to be exact. My babies are all at school (2 @ MES, 1 @ preschool). My love is on his way to Tel Aviv, Israel. The sky is overcast and the windows reflect the melancholy mood of nature. I am listening to Marie Brennan singing in her sultry, celtic style. Truly, Lord Jesus, I am so blessed. I have been 'studying', 'digging' trying to learn more about the Song of Solomon - Chapter 8, verse 6 to be exact. Melissa posted at the LPM blog on Valentines Day regarding this verse: . . . and love is as strong as death . . . the whole Song is beautiful, but so abstract and so not clear. And, then, tucked away in Chapter 8 are these words "and love is as strong as death". What is that? Faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love - death must be very, very strong. I am thinking out loud that death is not necessarily bad as we tend to view it here. Death is not understood. Death is not easily explained. Death seems like a finality for us. However, we have this beautiful statement in the word of God - which is complete truth - that Love IS AS STRONG AS DEATH. We know God IS Love. We know 'the greatest of these is Love'. We know Love never fails. We know so much about love (1st Cor. 13) and that without Love we have nothing. I am wondering, then, if Death is a reflection of Love--um, perhaps the segway to love realized? I wonder . . . if we knew the other side, if we saw the mirror brightly, death would be perhaps welcomed?
I believe in Love. I am God's beloved. I am so thankful for His grace upon me!
Godspeed Ryan. I love you.
See you soon little girlies:)
I believe in Love. I am God's beloved. I am so thankful for His grace upon me!
Godspeed Ryan. I love you.
See you soon little girlies:)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Love is as Strong as Death
http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2010/02/love-is-as-strong-as-death-valentines.html
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Twilight Saga
Okay . . . I can join the living again. Seriously & actually - i have neglected my parental duties, my familial duties (not my wifely duties thankfully) because I have been thoroughly engrossed in these novels. I am in love with Edward & Bella's love story. How beautiful. I am reminded how blessed i am with my own love story! And, i pray God guides each of my girls with a beautiful one of their own.
I have spent the past 6 days sleeping & reading--eating when necessary, conversing when i must and my nose in this story practically non-stop. Oh, i will write more when i get my own books and go back through them. I am just a complete nut for True Love. I am a sucker for movies like The Princess Bride, Phantom of the Opera, Labyrinth, seperate lives, against all odds, an officer & a gentelman--those enduring stories of true love. I am sure they are many more, my mind just keeps thinking of the one i hope to see shortly - Twilight!
Seriously, i am infatuated with this series at the moment. Hope it wears off soon, so i can concentrate on other things - ugh!
I have spent the past 6 days sleeping & reading--eating when necessary, conversing when i must and my nose in this story practically non-stop. Oh, i will write more when i get my own books and go back through them. I am just a complete nut for True Love. I am a sucker for movies like The Princess Bride, Phantom of the Opera, Labyrinth, seperate lives, against all odds, an officer & a gentelman--those enduring stories of true love. I am sure they are many more, my mind just keeps thinking of the one i hope to see shortly - Twilight!
Seriously, i am infatuated with this series at the moment. Hope it wears off soon, so i can concentrate on other things - ugh!
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