I really like the way Oswald Chambers writes...although I kind of took a break from his daily devotionals, I read this just a little bit ago: 

       We think rightly or wrongly about prayer according to the conception we have in our minds of prayer. If we think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts, we think rightly. The blood flows ceaselessly, and breathing continues ceaselessly; we are not conscious of it, but it is always going on. We are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect joint with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is. Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life. Beware of anything that stops ejaculatory prayer. "Pray without ceasing," keep the childlike habit of ejaculatory prayer in your heart to God all the time. 

                        I need to be reminded of this EVERY day!

Big, white, wet flakes swirl past the window.  The slowly awakening, budding trees wave in the wind wondering where the sunshine and warmth have gone. Husband lifts himself up off the couch long enough to look out the window and mutter a few choice words.  Wife wonders how the tulips and other flowers coming up are going to handle this chill. What a wonderful, lazy Saturday! (and that is not sarcastic. :) )

We had a flood.....it was a very interesting Sunday a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately we got everything up in time which made cleanup very easy after it was all over. The bottom is the lastest family pic taken at Jerry's last basketball game/tourney. They won! This happened just a couple days before Jerry broke his collarbone while snowboarding.  

 Two years ago we were in Jamaica, soaking up the sun, fighting off people who wanted to sell us something, sucking in the salty ocean water, and enjoying jerk chicken.

One year ago we were celebrating our first anniversary-thinking we knew each other pretty good and feeling like we were finally getting used to married life.

At the present? Well, let's just say that we still don't have it all figured out! But I think we are learning more and more about each other and learning how to live with each other-which definately takes more than a year of marriage! I am excited to see what God has for us in the coming years!

On another note...if you want a book to read this winter when the days get long and cold...try the one I am reading right now (acutally I just finished it)...I have read it several times and it gets me every time...I know it doesn't look all that good but behind the somewhat oldish -looking cover are some wonderful things to think about. This one definately applies today in probably just about every community!

     Finally, we got a computer! Now the idea is to see how much time can be spent on here....actually, it has been good to not have a computer at home for so long-I tend to get more done that way, but this is really nice. I'm not promising a more update blog but hopefully I will update a little more regularily.

     Summer is going great btw. I don't have any scheduled work so I can do pretty much whatever I want to do-nice! So far I have found lots to keep busy with, namely cleaning my house that has so lacked the last year. This weekend my awesome cousins and their wives are coming-I'm so excited! It's been way to long since we've been able to hang out.

     Oh, and I'll just add...if anybody else is driving through Iowa and needs a place to stay, come on over!(or even if you are not driving through)  We've got room (although preferably not this weekend) :)

     Hope this didn't bore you too much...I'm expecting lots of comments so that I am motivated to write more often.......... Have a blessed day!

     Oh, one more thing- at Bible study this morning we talked about worship and I was struck with the definition of worship. Worship-"prostrate oneself in homage, do reverance to, adore". So why do we go to church looking for a worship "experience". Isn't it more about the act of adoring and reverancing God than a "good feeling from God".

Yes, it is me! I am updating...well, at least writing a few sentences to let you all know that I am still alive.We are still computer-less. It's going on about 4 months now-at least! which is kind of amazing for this era. (not that I'm bragging or anything) :) there are times when I miss it but most of the time it's not a big deal. After spending the last 4 days sick with strep I am ready to be doing something, which is how I found myself at the library with a little extra time to get caught up with some "stuff" online.

     Jeremy and I are leaving for the Haiti on Tuesday morning, with a group from our church. Not too sure what all we'll be doing down there but we will be spending about 8 days at the Water For Life base, which I hear is pretty much right on the beach...hopefully a little sunshine and water will be involved as well as work projects etc. That is pretty much the only exciting thing that is happening right now. I think I am kind of in a winter slump...buried under a couple feet of snow and wishing for spring! What a winter it has been! At least we've had enough snow to do some snowboarding. :) Well, my creative juices have run dry...talk to you all in another couple months!