May Post

Waiting a month between updates is too long. Too much happens, and usually I forget...
Let me just start out by saying - spring is windy here in the mountains. Okay - that's all I'll say about that. The views are still spectacular to me, and I have grown to appreciate God's handiwork with every new day. The weather is warming, the grasses are greening, the trees are budding and the birds are certainly singing! Ahhhh!

Speaking of trees, I am very excited to announce that we are getting five good size Aspen root balls, with approximately 3-5 trees in each root ball! A very nice man from our church was over today with his tractor digging holes for me! (I would never have been able to do it by hand!) Another very nice man is allowing us to come up to dig out as many little conifers as we want. So, I have lots of holes in the ground that will soon be filled with trees. I hope they make it!

Volleyball is over for the year. The last part of the year was pretty fun. The ladies were fun to get to know... I played some co-ed too, and it was fun to get to know those folks. I did get offered the JV volleyball coaching job at the high school, but I don't think that is what I want. Too much travel (a lot!!), and I want to be involved with Sarah as she will be in seventh grade next fall. Maybe there will be an opportunity there.
Speaking of - Sarah had a really good time doing an intramural volleyball program at the middle school. She is really looking forward to playing again! :) That makes me happy!

Church update.... I feel so privileged to be a part of this body of believers and to do life with them. We finished up the Truth Project last week. So powerful. I get discouraged with how easily I forget the lessons taught. I need to go through them again, and talk about them over and over to make the info. stick! That's frustrating! We are in discussion as to what to do next for small group and it's nice that group means so much to so many!

Unfortunately there are some families in our church / community that are struggling right now - lots of hurt, heartache, sickness.... Blah! Jim's heart is being stretched and bruised. I am so sick of cancer and all the destruction that it leaves behind! I know of no less than four families here in Salida that have been directly affected by it. Words don't even describe how much I hate it.
Please pray for Jim - for us - to make choices that are honoring to God, to be good listeners, empathetic, and to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for those who need to be upheld.

Though there is discouragement, I can see God working in my life, and in my family! For that, I am so grateful!
It's hard to believe that we have been here for almost a year and a half! Thank you to all who support us financially and in prayer. It is humbling for me to know that what we live on is the sacrificial giving of so many. We are not sure how the end of our two years will turn out as far as the church being able to support us, but, we are continuing to build, and trusting that God will bless.

We enjoyed a very nice week in AZ picking up the ATVs that Jim's folks are letting us use again this year. It was hot - setting new reords! Awesome. We helped them get their place ready to close up for the summer, and they are now back in northern MN, hopefully enjoying some beautiful spring days on the boat! So - if you are coming to visit - the ATVs have already been rollin' and we would love to spend some time with you!

That's all for now.
I take encouragement from knowing that sometimes faith requires a fight.
"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
He is FAITHFUL!