Puppies!

I thought I would post pictures of the puppies.........but for some reason it's not working. So, you'll have to go and visit our blog to get pics of all the round butterballs! I hope you enjoy!


http://www.autumnacreslabradors.blogspot.com/

Enjoy the New Year!

Blessings in Trials

A couple of days ago, we went to get our hair cut and to do some errands. I got my hair cut, about 5 1/2 inches off and all layered! I don't even look like me! Yikes!!! I like it, a lot, it's just something totally different. Anyway, after we got our haircut, we went out to lunch at our favorite tea shop, Cricket Meadow. We had a lovely lunch and we went to get in our car and it wouldn't start! Well, Mom had accidentally left the lights on and the battery was dead. Where we were parked, we were in the perfect spot for someone to jump us. So, mom called State Farm Insurance and one of the agents came out to give us a jump. He popped to hood and found that we had more than a dead battery. Oil was EVERYWHERE and there was no oil cap. My Dad had checked the oil that morning and didn't put the cap on all the way. If our battery hadn't gone dead, the engine would have blown up on our way home from lack of oil and we would have all probably died! What a blessing! My Dad called our mechanic and he came, gave us oil, a new oil cap, and a jump and we were on our way home. We were about 2 hours behind schedule, but we got home safely! God is so good to use some not-so-pleasant circumstances to protect us in the long run.

On another note, Kelli and Chet are going to be here Christmas Eve, spend the night, and be here most of Christmas day! We are really excited! On Christmas Eve, we always watch "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart and have lots of munchies.

I hope you all have a great Christmas! Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season! Merry CHRISTmas!

God is So Good!

My family has been in constant prayer over our house selling. We really don't want to put it on the market if we don't have to. Well, about a month and a half ago, a woman came to our garage sale and asked if our house was for sale. We had just started talking about selling our house when she asked. We said yes and she asked to see it. So we showed her around the place and she said she really liked it and would get back to us. About a week later, she called us and wanted to bring her fiancee out to look at it too. After we were done showing them,they left and said they'd give us a call. We didn't hear from her for about a month and we had pretty much lost hope that she'd ever call us again. As we had called her many times before and she had never returned our calls. Out of the blue, she gave us a call yesterday. She is still very interested and is going to give us a call tomorrow and give us her answer! Just when you are loosing all hope, God is always faithful!
We are hoping and praying that she will buy our house! If she does, we will probably be moving to North Carolina mid to later February, beginning of March.

My Dad already has a great job opportunity to be able to work for a wonderful Christian company. The Lord is providing for us so much better than we could ever imagine. I would really appreciate all your prayers for us!

I know this has nothing to do with the above, but I got this in an email this morning and thought it was really good. Enjoy!

THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas--- oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it overspending ...the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma---the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts,sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended;and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church, mostly black. These youngsters,dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class.And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.

Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids --- all kids --- and he knew them, having coached little league football,baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.

On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition --- one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters, to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew,the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure.

The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad.

The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.

May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always. God bless and Merry CHRISTmas!

A Safe Return from North Carolina

Last night at about 9:00 pm, we returned from our trip. All of our flights were on time and they all went smoothly. The one on the way home we hit some turbulence that was a little rough, but other than that , it all went well. We had a wonderful time out there. We went shopping to look at prices and the only thing that is a lot more expensive is their eggs. They go for $2.49 a dozen! And that's not even for organic!! We also had to buy a North Carolina sweatshirt. We were told that we had to choose a college football team as that is really big out there. We chose the N.C. State Wolf Pack. Since we talk so much different than them, they kept making fun of us, and we kept making fun of them. They use the words, y'all, ya know, a lot and they don't say "Hi" or "Hello" when they answer the phone, they say "Hey". We ate and Chick Flay and Bojangles. It was really good as we had never had either one of them before. They are really big on fried chicken, biscuits, and sweet tea. When you go to a restaurant, the first thing they ask you is if you'd like sweet tea with that! They don't have pop, it's soda. I had to laugh when I check the weather there. It said "Tonight 20 F , cloudy and very cold." Then I checked our weather for Minnesota and it said "Tonight, -2, clear and cool." Now what's wrong with that picture!?!



We also visited Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest. It's a wonderful church. We met a lot of families while we were down there. We met the Peter Bradrick family, the Philip Bradrick family, The Valenti family and a couple other families that I can't really remember there last names! {how bad of me!! :o( } Mr. Scott Brown gave a wonderful sermon.



We were so blessed to have the couple that did our chores for us while we were away. Everything went smoothly and Krissy didn't have her pups! When we saw her this morning, she must have grown 5 inches all around! She's HUGE!!! It's amazing what 6 days can do, especially when you don't see her. She should deliver in about a week. We are hoping and praying that all goes well. I hope you all have a blessed Christmas season!!!

~A Vacation~

Tomorrow, we are going to our grandparents house to spend the night before we go to the airport. We are going to North Carolina for 6 days.  We are so grateful that Dad's job allows him to be able to take off and get payed. We are going to stay with my Dad's cousins who we are all close to and are Christians. :o) We haven't seen them in a few years so it will be nice to fellowship with them once again. While we are there, we are going to visit our friends church, Hope Baptist. Mr. Scott Brown is one of the elders there and is going to be preaching that day. Our flights have 1 stop in Atlanta, Georgia, so I hope we can find where we are supposed to go!! I would appreciate all your prayers that we would have safe travels, our flight changes would go smoothly, that my ears wouldn't hurt,{they didn't do good on our last flight, they just don't pop! :o( }, we would be able to go through security without any problems, and that while we are away, all of our animals will be well taken care of, especially since we have a dog due to have puppies about 12 days after we return! It's hard to be able to go on a vacation when you have to find someone to do chores for you. Thankfully, God sent us a wonderful couple just 6 miles down the road from us who are able to care for them in our absence. God is so good!!

We had a scare yesterday though. My Mom got a "finale details" email for our flight and it said that we hadn't booked it yet and it would be an additional $1,700!! Well, Mom was going to have none of that! She called the airlines right away and there computers said we hadn't payed for it, but our bank account did! We would of had to pay all of that if we didn't have our airline conformation code. All was taken care of then, as it was a mistake on there end of it.

Another blessing. Kristina and I are (for the most part) over our colds! Just in time for our trip. We haven't been on one for about 3 years!!! It's long overdue!

I'll have to post pictures when we return!! Stay tuned for updates!!!! Thanks for all your prayers!

~My Life These Last Few Days~

On Friday, my Dad took the day off of work and we all went down to the Cities and went to the play "Robin Hood" at The Children's Theatre. It was an excellent play and we all had a wonderful time. The whole cast was only 5 people, including a one-man band who played about 25 instruments! He was playing 3-5 of them at one time!!! After the play, we all went out to eat at Tony Roma's in the Mall of America. We then went shopping and walked all 3 floors. I was rather sore the next morning from all that walking! Before we left the mall, we stopped at Cinnabon and had a huge Cinnamon roll. It was delicious! Then, we went to Ikea and did some shopping there. We left our house a little after 7 and didn't return until around 7. It was a long day, but we all had a great time together.

Yesterday, we went to "Red Barn MN" and found all sorts of treasures. She only has a sale 3-4 times a year, and after one sale, everything is gone and a whole new inventory is brought in. So, if by chance you happen to visit, buy whatever you like then and there and don't wait, because someone else might buy it!

Today is a quiet day around here as Kristina and I have bad colds. So, a calm day after all that running around is nice. We are going to have Thanksgiving at our house this year and we are expecting 20 people, give or take a few. ;o)

The Lord has really been teaching our family about obeying His voice. He has really convicted me on a lot of things lately, of which I am glad for. Thankfully, I have a loving, supporting family who is always there for me when I am going through certain things in my life. I've been praying for God to give me patience. You better really mean it when you ask for it. God is always faithful to bring situations your way that will test you. Right now in my Bible, I am reading in Joshua. Sometimes when I am reading, I wonder to myself, "When will these Israelite's get it!" Then, the thought pops into my head, "When are YOU going to get it?" The Lord has shown me time and time again, that if you follow His Word, you will be so blessed. Yet if you disobey, there are so many more consequences to follow, than if you surrender you will to His Will.

I hope I have been a blessing to someone since I have started this Blog. I will try to be more faithful in writing. I promise!!! Please, keep me accountable! :D

P.S. We are due to have puppies in about 3 weeks. Hopefully, all goes well :D

P.P.S. I sold my horse. :( I'm sad, but she only went 6 miles down the road and I know she went to a good home.

~A Lesson On Obedience~

Our family has been going through a time "not knowing where we're supposed to be." We have been praying as a family and really seeking God for direction. Well yesterday morning, while I was having my quiet time with the Lord, I just sat there in silence and then prayed to God to give us a clear direction, where He want's us to go. So, I opened my Bible and I came to Jonah. I was really shocked by that. I thought to myself "What does Jonah have to do with anything?" So I read the chapter that I was opened to and it read: "And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah rose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord." Jonah 3:1-3
This verse taught me that obeying the Lord is the most important thing, even if you don't want to go to certain places.
Then, I went to Proverbs, and a couple of verses stuck out to me there.
"Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." Proverbs 1:23.
"But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from all evil." Proverbs 1:33.
Again, these verses are on obedience and the blessings that follow when you obey the voice of the Lord. Then, I went to Deuteronomy, and found this passage:
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all the heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto His voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them. Deuteronomy 4:29-31.
So, after my quiet time, I was encouraged and had to share it with the family. Now, we are waiting on the Lord, ready to obey His voice when He tells us where He wants us to go.

~Some Happenings~

Yesterday, we all went up to St. Cloud to visit the newlyweds! We brought pizza and had that for lunch and then went shopping with Kelli. It's weird for me to say I have a "brother", since I've never had one before. But, I think I shall enjoy it.

We had a rather scary surprise when we got home yesterday. We had left home about 9 am and didn't get home until 4:30 or so. When we were coming down our drive way, Kristina said she thought my horse, Celtie, was eating over the fence. Kristina's horse has a bad habit of pushing the fence down so he can get the grass on the other side of the fence. I guess the sang is true to a horse "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." :o) So, we drive down there and Celtie is out of the fence! We were hoping that Dakota didn't also find a way of escape, because a horse on the loose is not a fun thing to run after! Thankfully, Celtie had had enough of being out, so she was very easy to catch, and Dakota had not found the escape route out. Celtie had found a hole in the mesh fencing and squeezed through it. (How she did it I have no idea!) Thankfully, she didn't have any cuts. But, as we were doing chores, she was laying down in the barn and was breathing kinda funny. When we searched the surrounding area, where she had gotten out, it looked like she had gotten into some moldy hay that we had thrown out. My first thought was" Great! She has colic!" So, I got her up and started walking her up and down the
driveway. When I was going down the driveway, she wanted to eat grass. If she had colic, she would not want to eat anything. So, that was a good indicator that she didn't have colic, just a belly ache. She probably had to much to eat when she had her taste of "freedom"! We had to fix the fence last night before the sun set, so we only had about 2 hours. We got it done just as the sun sank below the horizon.

We should be expecting puppies around Christmas! I'm so excited! Wouldn't that be a lovely gift!?! If you want to see pictures from our last litters, you can go to our website here: www.autumnacreslabradors.com.

I hope today is not as eventful!

A New Friend!

Me and my new best friend, Celtic Promise (AKA Celtie)

I have been wanting a horse for awhile now. We had some before, but none of them were the right "fit". I wanted one that was just the right height and one that I could train. I either wanted a Quarter Horse or a Haflinger. Well, I found the perfect size, best personality, and one I could train horse. I want to ride english, and most horses around here are trained for western. She is a 2 1/2 year old Haflinger. I was able to bring her home on Friday night. Her previous name was Cupcake, nicknamed Cuppy. But I have decided to rename her, Celtic Promise. Her nickname is Celtie. (Which's rhymes with Cuppy. Well, kinda)

When we were bringing her home on Friday night, it was her first long trailer ride. It was raining so hard we could hardly see. All of a sudden, out of nowhere (as they usually do) a deer comes running across the road! We were trying to slow down, but the wait of the trailer was pushing us forward. The deer made it safe, but then another deer came running out, slipped, and SMACK! right in the middle of the van! We swerved and were able to recover and we had to keep going because of all the traffic behind us. When we got home and unloaded Celtie out of the trailer, my Dad checked the front of the van and not a single scratch! What a blessing! Let's just say, we had enough excitement for a long time.

Well, so much for no more excitement. My sister's wedding is this weekend and we are very busy. My Grandma is coming up from Iowa tomorrow to help out with whatever we need. We are going to spend the night in St. Cloud (which is where the wedding is) Thursday night and won't get back until Saturday night. Thankfully, we have some wonderful friends who are willing to do the chores here for us while we are away. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong and our dog, Angel, won't have puppies while we are away!

OK, last thing that has been going on around here. Our cat, Amelia, had 3 kittens. One died, but the other 2 are strong and healthy. One is a boy and the other a girl.

School is going good. We are taking ASL (American Sign Language) this year which I am really enjoying. We are taking a break though, with all this wedding stuff and visitors coming.

Well, until next time....

(Oops, I lied. I shared one more thing than I said I was gonna.)

An Update and I'm Sorry!!! :o)

Some updates on my life recently! Kelli is getting married in 19 days!! It is coming up so fast! We have got most of the planning all done. Just those few last minuet details that can only be finished a few days before the wedding. We are praying for good weather as the wedding is outside. It can rain after that, because the reception is inside. We are having my Grandma, my Uncle and Aunt and their two children, and a good friend or ours stay here after the wedding. Hopefully we'll have room for them all! It should be a joyous time though. We haven't seen our Uncle and his family for awhile, so that will be nice.

Our great Aunt died a few days ago and we are unsure if she was saved. The funeral is tomorrow in the cities. Hopefully, the traffic won't be bad and will have a good time celebrating her life.

Our dog, Angel, is due to have puppies about a week after the wedding. Hopefully, she won't deliver early!!

School is starting. Yay! My last year! I'm excited, yet a little uneasy, as I am starting a new chapter in my life that will be different. I'm really excited for this school year. We are doing a whole bunch of different things.

Well, that's a short update on what's been going on in my life. I will post pictures of the wedding and rehearsal and all that good stuff as soon as I can!

God Bless!!

Learning in Disappointments

Learning to take disappointments knowing that God has a plan is something I have recently learned. Just because the circumstance doesn’t seem good to you at the time, doesn’t mean it won’t work out for good.

We were on our way to a friend’s house that we haven’t seen in a while; when my Dad got a call from work reporting that there was a leak that needed his attention immediately. Earlier, before we left, there was a bat that he had to go and take care of (if you know what I mean; o). So, we were already behind schedule with that going on, and then having to turn around half way there was disappointing and frustrating. I didn’t handle it the way I should have. But, the Lord has taught me through this trial of what good can come of it. He has already showed me the purpose of this small trial. He has showed me what I need to work on. To not let the little things in life get I all “flustered.” To realize that “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”

I am so thankful that I have such loving and understanding parents who see me through when I am struggling and are always there to give me their wise council.

~Changes~

Aspiring to Be... As you can see, I have changed the name of my blog. I felt it was necessary as my previous name was not God glorifying. I aspire to be the woman God wants me to be. In the 1828 dictionary, the word aspire means: To desire with eagerness, great, noble, or spiritual. To aim to something elevated; to rise or tower with desire. Aspiring to be Gods. I desire with all my heart to be who God wants me to be. And in so doing, I hope I can bless others with what I am learning. I hope that soon , Lord willing, I will be able to start a newsletter of encouragement, insight, and wisdom from older women to young women aspiring to be godly women. Lord willing, It will go out once a month. With The help of my parents and the Lord, I will endeavor to do so to His glory.

A little update on what's been going on here. We are house training one of the puppies we kept back. It's going pretty good. Hopefully, he'll be fully house trained by the end of this month. On Sunday afternoon, we are going over to a friends house with a whole bunch of friends and are going to have a Bluegrass jam! I'm very excited! I love playing instruments with a whole bunch of people. We are also going to have a volleyball tournament. The first team to win eats first! I'll post pictures when I can. My uncle will be coming to stay with us for a few days sometime soon. We haven't seen him since last year, so that will be a fun visit! That's about it. There is probably a lot more I could tell you, I just can't think of anything else right at this moment! :o) Well, I hope you all have a wonderful, God glorifying weekend!

While Waiting....

Thinking about getting married is a good thing. But letting it consume your thoughts is not God glorifying. God’s Word says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

If we are to be first and foremost, daughters of the Great High King, we must put into practice this verse. It has been a great struggle for me to put this verse into practice. If I keep my mind on what God wants me to do, right know as I am waiting, He will bless me with the strength I need to do His Will for my life.

I have found that serving my father in every way I can, has helped me tremendously. By making his favorite desserts, making sure he has ice tea when he comes home from a long day a work, having a cheerful attitude to make his time at home a true blessings, doing things he has asked me to do for him throughout the day so he can enjoy his time at home… I could go on and on about all the things we, as Christian daughters can do to help our father’s and in so doing, are doing what God wants us to do. We are also preparing ourselves for marriage. When I take my eyes off of me, I find it much easier to do God’s Will. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with such Godly and caring parents who come beside me and help me when I am struggling with something.

I encourage all of you Christian young women, to search the scriptures and really read them for what they are worth. Don't read them so that they go along with what you are thinking. Really read them for what God is trying to teach you through His Word. Pray before you read His Word, and ask God to reveal to you what He wants to teach you. Have a teachable heart, not one hardened by the world’s views. I pray you are encouraged by this post.

~A Woman's Highest Calling~

As I was on the computer this morning, I got an email from my Dad that really made me think.

“…when a woman, considering to what she has been called...does not refuse to endure the pains, or rather the fearful anguish, of parturition, or anxiety about... anything else that belongs to her duty, God values this obedience more highly than if, in some other manner, she made a great display of heroic virtues, while she refused to obey the calling of God.”
John Calvin

Most of the time, we all think that we need to do something "great" for God. We then, neglect our true calling to obey God's Word for our life, which is the most important thing for any Christian to do. Our calling, stated in Proverbs 31:10-31 and Titus 2:3-5, is the highest calling any women could ever do. We need to daily pray to God to become that woman, to overcome our weaknesses and to joyfully carry out our calling. We need to be sure that we are in the world, but not of it. I encourage you to live your life in obedience to our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Godly Character

Titus 2:3-5 and Proverbs 31:10-31 are places where we, as young women can search for the character traits that we should have so that someday, Lord willing, we will be the wife to a godly husband. Recently, as I have been studying in Proverbs and Titus, I have come across some verses that have stood out to me. Proverbs 31:11-12 says "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." I have had to ask myself "Am I keeping my heart for the one God is preparing for me?" "Am I faithfully preparing to be his wife, and mother to his children?" "Am I working on the things God has brought to my attention?"

As young Christian women, we can easily start day dreaming about the future. I have had trouble with that myself. When you go to a wedding, you can’t help but wonder about who you will someday, Lord willing, marry. It is not bad to think about these things, but we must guard our hearts so that when we are saying our wedding vows, we have a whole and blameless heart to offer to the one God has intended.

If I am not daily in His Word, searching the scriptures and praying for His help and guidance, I find myself easily drifting. I have found that when I am always checking my thought’s, asking myself "Is this doing my future husband good?" I am then, more guarded in the way I conduct myself. I do struggle with this, but pouring my heart out to God in prayer and diligently seeking His will for my life, has made it easier. I pray with my parents all the time on this matter. They have been a great blessing in helping me overcome this. So I encourage you, to search the scriptures, pray daily, and seek your parent’s council. I have been richly blessed in doing so.

Biblical Femininity

What is Biblical Femininity?

True femininity has been lost in today’s culture. It is replaced by the feministic view that woman can do everything for themselves and that we can provide for ourselves without the protection and guidance of their husbands or fathers. True biblical femininity is being under the headship of Christ and your husband or father. It’s being a help meet wherever that Lord places you. Biblical femininity is not just a way you think, but the way you live and conduct yourself in every aspect of your life.

We cannot call ourselves Christian’s if we do not follow the Bible as our standard of life. We cannot help a lost and dying world, if we do not put into practice what we believe. We must live out the scriptures in everyday life. For our lives are living testaments to what we believe. I encourage all of you young ladies to make the Bible your standard of living, and take back the ground we, as Christians, have lost by not following the design the Lord has created for us. My prayer is this: That young woman would see the need to remain home, helping and serving their families and communities. Truly living out the scriptures and being a living sacrifice unto God. That we would place in high regard God and family before anything else. That we would model Biblical femininity to this generation to bring about hearts, turning back to the scriptures and taking it as their own.

Dancing in the Rain

As the title of my blog and this post implies, that is what I love to do. Since it has been raining a lot here, my sister, Kristina, and I decided to go out and "dance" in the rain. We did and had a wonderful time doing it! We were quit wet by the time we decided to come in. It was rather refreshing to just stand there, with my face towards the sky, feeling the rain gently hit my face. God is so amazing in all that He creates. I call rain "God's Miracle Grow", because after every rain, the crops always seem to just shoot up. No matter how much you water your garden, it just doesn't do as good without "God's Miracle Grow."

Tonight, we are going to Fergus Falls to the NCFIC Road Trip! The road trip team brings a message of biblical reformation for Church and family life and how hunger for the glory of God is the beginning of all reformation. I can hardly wait! The main speakers are Scott Brown and Peter Bradrick. If you ever have a chance to go and meet them, it is something you won't regret! They are wonderful Godly men who are a gold mine of wisdom and biblical history. We, as a family, have benifited greatly from them.

Sorry for Not Writing!

I am sorry I haven't written in awhile. We have been busy, and when we're not doing things here on the farm, we're busy with the business. Speaking of business, my Father has been praying about what we should do on the farm that can generate an income, glorify God, and someday, being able to work here at home. That is what we all want, but for now, things must remain as they are. So, as Dad was praying, he really felt God leading him to start a country store right here at our house! Of course, it is going to take awhile to get everything in order and so forth, but that is our plan. We are also going to get goats! Can you believe it?!? My Mom said we are NEVER going to get goats because their milk is horrible! Of course, she doesn't really drink milk and we are going to make wonderful soaps and things with the milk. I know I have written a post on this before, living off the land is one of my passions and I can not help but share it with whoever will listed. Of course, you don't have to listen to me. You could just not choose to read it, and therefore would miss all of my ramblings, but oh well.

I am participating in a contest of sorts. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But why not 999? That is the purpose. To out do the picture with 999 words. So, on June 21st, I will be posting my work, as well as the links to my friends work. When you are done reading what I have endeavored to do, please leave a comment and tell me what you think! It will be much appreciated, so I can improve in any area next time I write something.

Tomorrow, We are bringing Briar to the airport. She is going to Georgia to a wonderful family where she will definitely be spoiled! We only have 2 boys left. We are hoping to find homes for them soon. Here is a recent picture of the boys. They weigh over 25 lbs!!!! Aren't they cute!!!!!

We still have to repair the grainery. We have to repair the back side of the roof, as there are a few holes in it and we don't want it raining in. We are having the goats in there and we are building a lean to off of that, so Newton (our cute little paint pony) can get out of the weather and be company to our goat. She is names Peaches right now, but we are thinking about re-naming her. I think it's going to be Haven.

Kristina's 16th birthday is coming up and our sister Kelli is going to spend the night. My Grandma, from Iowa, is also coming up for 5 days. My Dad always builds us a hope chest for our 16th birthday, so Kristina is very excited.

Now, I promise to write sooner, so not to keep you all in suspense of what is going on in my life.( Ha, as if that is true! :o) So, until next time.......

~A Little Bit of Everything~

Sorry I haven't written in a while. A lot has been going on! We have already been here 3 weeks! My, how time flies! Although, it felt like home the first day we were here.
As a family, we were talking about ways we could use this farm to glorify God, since he was the one who gave us the farm in the first place. So, we are going to give our farm back to God. We are going to start our own "Country Store" that we will be oporating from May to September. The winter months will be for us to stock up and rest. I can not help but share to everyone who will listen about all the wonderful things God is doing in our lives, and how He saved me!

A couple of the puppies went to their new homes last weekend. Another is leaving today, and another is being shipped to Nevada, as a surprise to his wife and kids. We will still have 5 left, 3 girls, 2 boys. The LORD is continuing to be faithful. We are just waiting on Him.

We are getting a new septic system in today. Actually, they started yesterday and are finishing up today. Our whole yard is full of excavating equipment and is all tor up! We are going to Litchfield today and are doing all sorts of errands. Tomorrow, we going to the vet so Fern can get her health clearance to fly. ( I think that sounds kinda funny :-) On Thursday, we have to drive to the cities and drop Fern off at the airport.Then, we are going to Ikea and are going shopping down there. We are getting things all worked out inside now. We finally have ALL the rooms painted (oops, I forgot the bathroom!) We still have to put the new sinks in each bathroom, then paint the the main bathroom and then we'll be done. we are continuing to get all the buildings fixed up so we can get ready for animals in the spring.

Well, I think that covers a little bit of everything that has been going on. Now, I must keep up on this blog so I don't have to write such long posts to keep everyone informed on whats been happening. Now, off to the chores I go!

An update on, well, everything!

We have been so busy! There is so much last minuet stuff that needs to be taken care of! We are going out to the house today to do some painting and cleaning. We still have to finish the inside of the dog kennel! Thankfully, my Dad was able to take off work today to go work on the house. That sounds funny. He has taken off work to go to work! Any way, we are moving in 5 days! It has come so fast, I don't even know whats happening. We still have not closed on the house. I would appreciate all of your prayers on that matter.

The Lord has been so faithful through all of this! On Saturday, when we were working at the house, the owner who farms all of the fields around us, came up to the house to introduce himself. He was a very nice man and only lives about 2 miles away from us and is our mailman. We have about an acre tillable field in front of our house, and He asked if he could rent it from us for top dollar! That will pay for our Home Owners Insurance for a year! It is just amazing to see how God works! He deserves all the praise and glory for giving us this farm and working out a lot of the small details that matter to us. What an awesome God we serve!

We are selling a lot of the puppies, which is another answer to our prayers. And, (you will never believe this), but out other dog, who we thought could not be pregnant, is! She will probably have her litter sometime this week! Talk about a bad time to have puppies. This will also be her first litter. I would appreciate all of your prayers on this subject as well.

Well, off to do the chores and then to the house!

House Update

Well, it looks like we won't be closing on the house until next week!! We are rather disappointed, as there are a lot of things that must be done. We were hoping to have more time to work on the house. We will only have about 6 days to do everything before we move. There is a lot of painting that needs to be done. But, I know God has a plan for all of this, and I must wait patiently. His plan is always better than ours.

I know this is completely off topic, but I thought I would share it with you anyway. My Grandmother is having surgery on her shoulder the day before we move and I would really appreciate it if you all would pray for her. We are not sure if she is saved, so of course that is our biggest concern. Hopefully, she will come through it OK. She is 79, and has many health issues. Thanks for all of your prayers already on the house! It is much appreciated!

~Building The Kennels~

Yesterday, we went out to the house and built the dog kennels. It took us about 5 hours, and we're not done yet! We still have some things to do on the inside, but the majority of the work is done. We had a lot of fun doing all the work though! It is so quiet out there, we only seen 1 car in the whole 5 hours! We didn't want to leave, but are thankful that we were able to get the kennels built before we close on the house. We are supposed to close on Monday, but it might be pushed out until Wednesday or Thursday. Hopefully, we can close on Monday so we can get more done in the house. Here are some pictures of the kennel, before and after.

This is the inside where we will divide it for the dogs.

The finished product!

Packing and then some

Packing is going smoothly. We have a TON of stuff!! It's unbelievable all the boxes we have. Our home is looking like a house now. You really don't notice how pictures on the wall and all those "homey touches" really make a difference. We are all anticipating when we can make our new house a home. It looks like we will be closing on our house next Wednesday, April 14. We also found out that we are not getting 5 acres, but 6.24 acres! What a lovely surprise. They had to survey the land before we could close on it, which we are glad about, as we have the abstract of the land.

This Saturday, we are going out to the house to build dog kennels and do some outside things. I can only do so much to help. My foot is doing a lot better though. It wont be 100% for about 6 weeks. We went to the doctor on Monday. She said that I had sprained it and bruised the bone. Thankfully,I can still do some things. On moving day, I can only lift lighter boxes. I know that God has a plan for everything, and I am thankful for allowing this to happen, as He has taught me a very valuable lesson. I am very thankful to a friend who has reminded me of that, how all things work together for my good.

Moving day is coming in 16 short days. Still so many things to do. Thankfully, my sister has not been injured and has been a great help. My mother said that we can not do anything daring or dangerous, so that we will be able to help get the house ready and help move!! :o) Please remember to keep praying for us, that everything will go according to plan ( hopefully it's His too ;o) and that all of our puppies would sell. Thanks for all of your prayers!

Pictures of Puppies!!!

Here are a few pictures of the puupies at 4 weeks old. They are so much fun to watch!

Pictures of Puppies!!!

Here are a few puppie pictures. I hope you enjoy them!

This is Honey, a couple days before her eyes opened.

This is Fern. She looks really dark in the picture.

This is Budders. She has one of the most wrinkly faces ever!!

I'm afraid that is all I have time to put on. Off to the doctor. Hopefully, she can help me with my sprained ankle!

Easter

An Easter Prayer

O God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to death on the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection has delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant that we who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit. Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection, empowered and transformed by your grace in and among us.
O Lord, so stir up in your church, indeed in each of us, that Spirit of adoption and reconciliation that is made possible by your grace revealed in Jesus the Christ, that we being renewed in both body and mind, may worship and serve you in sincerity and truth. We pray this in the name of the same Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

This year for Easter, instead of getting together with all of the extended family, we had my sister,Kelli and her fiancee and his family over. We had a very enjoyable time. We had a wonderful meal and played Pictionary, which was rather competitive! Of course, they wanted to see the puppies. They are getting HUGE! They just found their bark and are rather fond of using it. Next weekend, they will be going out to the barn, which I am glad of. They are getting rather loud, which makes it rather difficult to sleep at night.

I hope you all had a very blessed Easter. I thank the LORD daily for choosing me and for giving His only Son to die and agonising death. Sola De Gloria!!

This is an amazing song!
YouTube - Keith & Kristyn Getty "The Power of the Cross"

A Tea Party

Today we went to our friends house and had scones and tea this morning. We had a very enjoyable time. We also played some music together, of which I always love doing. Then, we went outside and played a game with the younger children, and I proceeded to sprain my ankle! It happened so suddenly that I didn't realize what had really happened, until I started playing again! So, now I am not much of a help to my mother and sister, especially with packing. Hopefully, I'll be better tomorrow so I can get back to being a help!

Tomorrow we are going out to the house again. We need to measure some things and do another overall look at the place. Please continue to pray for everything to go smoothly. There are still some things that need to be sorted out before we close. After we are done at the house, our church is having a service called "The Service of Tenebrae." We go there and sing songs, and think solemnly on our dear Saviors death. We then depart in silence and reverence to our Lord and Savior. I am very much looking forward to worship with our church family.

Pictures and some ramblings

I promised you some pictures of the house, so here they are!

This is as you come down the driveway.

This is the house from the west side.

Part of the yard and woods. The 2 car garage is in the corner.

Here is the cross that you can see from the living room window. We drove over there and found out that it is an old cemetery. It's a reminder to me of who gave us the farm!

I will post more pictures later, as the place needs some work! Don't get me wroong, it's a beautiful house, it just need's some updating and so forth. We have to tear down a couple of buildings and repair another. Some of the carpet needs to be riped out. The kitchen is carpeted, so that must go! The living room and dinning room are both carpeted with beautiful wood floors underneath. It needs paint, a good cleaning, and us!! :o) We only have 11 days to get certain things done like paint, rip out carpet, etc. before we move in! We are going to be extremely busy, so I hope you will understand if I don't write that often!! I will do my best to keep you all updated on the whole process!! We have to start packing today, which I am very excited about!We have moved 22 times since I was born, so my mom calls us expert packers. My mom can get the whole house decorated and have it feel like home the weekend we move in! She is amazing! (Of course, she has had previous practice!! :o)

I know this is completely of subject, but I thought I would tell you. The puppies are already 11 days old! Their eyes are starting to open and their learning how to walk! They all weigh about 2 1/2 pounds!! They are fat butterballs, but we love them!! We have to take pictures of them, so I will post some new ones when I get the chance.

Good News!!!!

We made an offer on the house yesterday afternoon. Well, they counter-offered and we accepted!!! We got it at the price that my Dad wanted it at! God is definitely in this! We are now the proud owners of a beautiful farmhouse on 6 acres! ( we found out today that it is actually 6 acres and not 5!) The seller is going to put in a new septic system, which is excellent for us! They are not the cheapest things to put in. The house has a brand new well pump and a newer furnace. The only thing we are really going to have to provide is a water softener, which is the lowest cost item out of all the new updates! We are all praising God for leading us through this storm and bringing us to the place that He wants us to be. We close in 19 short days and the house will be ours! It needs some painting, carpet to be riped out, and a good cleaning, but we are all excited to do it! It also has a beautiful spot for a garden, flower beds and beautiful landscaping! We are just amazed at what God has lead us to! It is better than anything we could imagine. Of course, I should know by now, God did it and not us!!


I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for praying for us as we have looked at over 100 houses over a 1 year time period! We now God is with us and will continue to guide us through the rest of the process! We are going out to the house on Saturday and we will be taking a LOT of pictures. I will post them as soon as possible!

Thank you all again for praying for us and I pray that God will richly bless you for praying for fellow believers of the faith!

Something Exciting!

Yesterday, we drove out to the house we were going to purchase. Well, upon arriving, we all felt uneasy about the whole thing. We went downstairs to the basement and found water. My mom is highly allergic to mold and mildew, so even if the basement is just a little damp, it effects her. So that was a big indicator that this was not "The One."

Well, my dad found a house online yesterday that was on 5 acres. It's an old 1934 farm house that is just beautiful! It has beautiful wood floors, a wood burning stove, a built in, and a HUGE deck. The lot is just gorgeous and it would be perfect to have a wedding! I have always wanted to get married at my house. It has a few outbuildings, and two of them are in good shape, just needs a little repairing. One of the buildings is going to have to be torn down, but the wood can be salvaged. As you drive down the road to the house, if you look up on this hill right across the field, there's a cross! It is absolutely breath taking! We have all fallen in love with this house and are praying that God would lead us through this if this is the house for us. ( Although having a cross right out the big picture window in your living room is a pretty good indicator for me. It was like God was saying this is it, home.) I would like to ask you all again if you would pray for us as we are seeking God's will and are now pursuing this house. I will post some picture of the house when we go out there again. If you want some more detail, my mom's blog says more!A Lil' Bit of Country.

An Encouraging E-mail

I got an e-mail yesterday and at the bottom of the page, I found this: "Don't tell God how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your God is!"

This is so true! Right now we are going through a difficult time of trying to purchase a house. Sometimes, it's difficult to go through the storms and you don't know the reason why. I have just had to keep reminding myself of this verse: " And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.

We have learned a lot as a family. It's has brought us closer together and to God. We are still praying that we will know God's will in this matter, and I would really appreciate if you would all join us in prayer, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20.

Early Morning Surprise!

Wednesday night our lab, Angel, was acting strange. My sister and I have been taking turns sleeping on the couch to keep an eye (and ear :o) ) on Angel. Well, at about 11:00 p.m. she started nesting on her blanket next to the couch. When I woke from her racket, I told her that she couldn't have her babies on her blanket, next to the couch! So, my dad and I brought the kiddie pool from the basement into the kitchen, so I could try to get some sleep, but still keep an eye on her. Well, she was nesting all night in her pool with shredded paper in it, so she wasn't all that quiet! I got about 2 hours of sleep. When I woke up about 7:00 the next morning, I went into the kitchen and sat next to the pool, reassuring her that I was there. At 9:45 a.m. she had her first puppy! ( My mom had informed her last night that she had to wait to deliver until after 8:00 a.m so she could get some sleep! She follows orders very well!) From start to finish she was in labor for about 4 1/2 hours and had 9 puppies!! 6 girls and 3 boys!!

Mom and puppies are doing great. Angel is a wonderful mom! Thank you LORD for everything going smoothly!

A Touching Passage...

As I was reading this afternoon, I came across this paragraph from "In My Father's House: A Vision for Daughters", a book which I highly recommend. I had to share it with you all. I hope you benefit from it.


"The fountain of all sympathy is Jesus our Lord. We may go to Him, as to an inexhaustible well, ever drawing, never knowing disappointment, but always receiving refreshment and health. Too often we keep on depending on ourselves, on our own shallow streams, which, unfed by celestial sources soon run dry. Surely part of the daily prayer should be that we may remain large enough and loving enough to care for objects outside of ourselves, that we may keep the freshness of the child-heart and its springing enthusiasm over small pleasures, and new discoveries; that we may live in other lives not exclusively in our own."

"Art thou weary, art thou languid,

Art thou sore distrest?

"Come to Me," saith One, "and coming

Be at rest."

Hath He marks to lead me to Him

If He be my guide?

"In His feet and hands are wound-prints

And His side."

Is there diadem, as monarch

That His brow adorns?

"Yea, a crown, in very surety,

But of thorns."

If I find Him, if I follow

What His guerdin here?

"Many a sorrow,, many a labor,

Many a tear."

If I still hold closely to Him

What hath He at last?

"Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,

Jordon past."

If I sak Him to reveive me

Will He say me nay?

"Not till earth and not till heaven

Pass away."

Finding, following, keeping, struggling,

Is He sure to bless?

Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs,

Awnser, "Yes."

If anyone knows who wrote this poem, please let me know. I think it might be Ruskin. If anyone can confirm this, please do!

Misc. Musings

Well, our garage sale went great this weekend! We sold almost all of it. The rest that we didn't sell is going to the thrift store in town. Thank you all for your prays! The LORD has truly blessed us!

I think we will be having an early spring! Oh, how I long to go outside to watch the sunrise! To go out to the garden and start weeding just as the sun peeks over the horizon! Speaking of gardening, I wait with bated breath to plant it! I don't think we are going as big as we went last year. But I know we are having tomatoes. Lot's of tomatoes! We must make salsa, spaghetti sauce, and stewed tomatoes.

This is a picture I took from my bedroom window this past summer.


Still no puppies! I slept on the couch to keep an eye on her. I thought for sure she was going into labor last night. So let's just say, I lack in sleep! We all don't want to go anywhere just in case she has them while we are out. So, therefore, we are home bound!

My sister and I hope to go riding today. It is a gorgeous day! I beleive the temp. is supposed to be 47 F! That's a Minesota heatwave! I will post some pictures of our horses when I gat a chance!

Happenings this weekend

Today and tomorrow we are having an indoor basement sale. We need to get rid of A LOT of stuff. It's strange how one accumulates so much useless things! We have a whole basement full of thing's we don't need, use, or want. After our sale, I'm going to have to be careful about what I buy!:o) I don't want to go back to the present situation that I find myself in!

My sister, Kelli, is coming to spend the night! We are all so excited, for she has not been home for awhile. We're going to stay up late ( well, not too late, as the garage sale continues tomorrow) and watch a movie. I love having her home. It won't be to long and she'll be married, as she is to be wed in October! I can only anticipate the day when I can be an aunt!!

(From left to right, Kristina, me, Kelli)

Well, our lab, Angel, is 2 day's away from her due date! She's HUGE, poor thing. She can't get comfortable any way she lays. I can hardly wait to see what these little butterball's look like!

Please pray for my friend. She just had a baby. Scott was born 9 week's early. He's doing good so far. He's 4 lb 11 oz, he's strong and breathing on his own. Pray that he'll be able to come home soon and that there would be no complications. Thank you all for your prayer's.

A little bit about me

I am 17 years old and have been home-educated for the past 7 years. My parents had never heard about home-educating until we moved to a new town. Everyone we met was home-educating! I am so thankful to God and my parents that they decided to home-educate me. They have saved me from so much!

I love my music! I love to play any instrument really. Right know I play the piano, violin, mandolin, guitar, and alto flute. The only instrument that I really long to play is the cello. They are so beatiful!

I love reading, writing, and anything to do with history. I have 2 sisters, Kelli (23), and Kristina (15). My oldest sister Kelli is getting married in October! We are all very excited for the big day.

I hope I have given you a little glimpse of who it is writing this blog!

P.S. We are having a litter of yellow lab puppies any day!! If you want to see pictures when they arrive, visit our website at http://www.autumnacreslabradors.com/

Psalm 19

As I was reading my Bible this morning, I came across this Psalm. As I read it more carfully, I thought of how my quiet time should be. David's heart was so pure and right before God, and it is my prayer that my heart be the same. I hope this Psalm speak's to some of you.

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.

Day unto day uttereth speech,and night unto night showeth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

In them hath He set His tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

His going forth is from the end of heaven, and his circut unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heart thereof.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they that gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins: let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Aspiring To Be.....

What does one aspire to be? In today's world, only to be a success. If you ask a little girl what she want's to be when she grows up, she will answer anything but a wife and mother. But somehow, it's wrong for a girl to say she want's to be a wife and mom. They all say to her,"No, before that." They all think that is the most meaningless job. As if you wern't living up to your full potential . They ask her "Don't you want to be a lawyer, a teacher, a doctor, anything but a mother? Now these are meaningful jobs!"

To be a godly wife and mother, is the highest calling, the noblest job. To raise the next generation in a God honoring way, is not an easy task. However, it is one, I beleive, to be one of the most important job's there is. To instill in them the desire to love and serve the one true God, that is what I want to do with my life. I am aspiring to be a godly woman, wife, and mother.

To God Be The Glory!

I'm starting out this blog by giving all the glory to God. If you are blessed by anything you read, it is all beacause of Him. He alone is the One who saved me by His grace and love. I pray that I can be a blessing to anyone who read's this. "To God, be the glory, great things He hath done. So loved He the world that He gave us His Son. Who yeilded His life and atonment for sin. And opened the life gate that all may go in. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the people rejoice. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the peaople rejoice. Oh come to the Father througt Jesus the Son, and give Him the Glory great things He hath done."