Bells Will Be Ringing

Hey ladies!

I just wanted to leave a short little bloggy for you guys this week, and wish those of you at school GOOD LUCK on your finals!

Also, I would just like to extend an invitation to everyone to have coffee/tea/assorted chilled beverages and treats some afternoon/evening to those of you who will be home over break ( Im assuming you all will be) I think it would be a great time to catch up and have fun outside of cyber land =]

Everyone would be very welcome at me "Flat", or if anyone else would like to host that would be convenient also. I have plenty of room, but not many seats : p

Thats a bit in the future, so we will decide on a time later on.

Also, I thought Id share a few photos of some recent happenings :]

Anna & I the day she went home (Oct 31st)

Reese & I, one of the four kids I babysit.

Ashley, Ben & Anna after her Baptism (Nov 20th, Also their 1st Wedding Anniversary)

Ericka had Winter Formal this past Saturday. It made me feel SO OLD to be getting my baby sister ready.

We spent Thanksgiving at Ashley and Bens this year :)

Thats me. eating some pie.....

My Christmas Tree!

Have a great few weeks all! Hope to see you soon! Merry Christmas!

-Trudi

A Sunrise

Hey all!  Hope you are keeping warm on these frigid December days and enjoying the beauty of the Christmas season.  I know I already put up a post, but I wanted to share a couple thoughts with all of you before I pass the baton on to the next writer :-).

On the day before Thanksgiving, we closed the doors to our lumberyard, KAL's.  My dad had worked there for about 24 years and my sister for 2-and-a-half, so that place was like a part of our family.  The economic recession had just made it too difficult for our small business to keep up, so we had to say goodbye. 

We really have no idea what the future will hold.  Some days, I'm tempted to think of this season of our lives as a season of sadness and confusion.  Sometimes it feels like we just watched a bittersweet sunset, and now we're lost--wandering through the darkness with no idea where we're going or what will happen when we get there. 

But the grace of Jesus Christ keeps me from feeling that way for long.  God has been so faithful in providing for our every need.  He's provided odd jobs here and there for my dad to work on in this season of waiting.  He's provided wonderful family and friends to support us and pray for us.  And best of all, He's provided the peace of knowing that He is in control.  The same God that sees when sparrows fall and clothes the flowers of the field is the One who planned our days long before we were born.

I still go through moments of worry and forget to trust in the Lord.  But most of the time, I just feel excited. And thankful.  Because my God is able to do immeasurably more than all I could ask or imagine. 

So I'm choosing to view this season in a different light.  I think it's like watching the horizon just before the sun comes up.  You never know exactly when it's coming, or how it will transform the sky.  But you know it will rise. And it will be worth the wait. 

Above is a picture of a sunrise that Julie captured out our kitchen window a couple of months ago.  They say a picture's worth a thousand words, and this one really sums up my thoughts tonight.  

I know a lot of you are going through some major changes and making big decisions these days.  Take courage, my friends!  We serve a mighty God.  Commit your days to Him.  Let Him lead you with His infinite love.  Choose to see this season as the prelude to a sunrise, and then sit back to watch as God paints a beautiful picture in your life.

Much love,

Amy

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey ladies!  I am so excited to be back on the blog.  To be totally honest, I have forgotten to check it for a long, looong time.  Kayla, I'm so glad you emailed to remind me to post, and I've loved reading everybody's updates.  Trudi, your niece is ADORABLE!!!!  I am so happy for you!  Belle, I loved the pictures.  Thanks for sharing those.  And Kayla, I am so glad you're enjoying your music.

Now I guess I should tell you some of what's going on in my life.  Haha.  It might take less time to tell you what isn't going on in my life, but that could get confusing, so you'll have to forgive me if this post gets excessively long ;-).

There have been a lot of changes taking place around here--some good, some not so great.  I'll have to wait a while to share some of them with you, but I'll start with what I can.  We are no longer taking care of the twins at our house.  I miss them sooo much, but I think it was a good decision.  My mom decided that she needed to be done, since watching toddlers is very draining both mentally and physically, and she doesn't have much energy to spare these days.  (In case any of you didn't know, my mom has been dealing with severe back and abdominal pain for about five years now, and has been through numerous tests, surgeries, and treatments in an attempt to get rid of it.  Nothing has made any difference, so the tests, surgeries and treatments continue to be a part of our lives.  She gets sick pretty easily from medications and procedures, so she has spent many days in bed over the past couple of years.  We are praying for wisdom in deciding what to try next, and we'd appreciate your prayers, too!)

My classes are going okay.  I'm having a tough time in science and my health & drugs class.  Definitely being challenged!  I haven't done real great at focusing on schoolwork this semester with everything that's been going on, so I am thanking God for new classes and a fresh start next semester.

I am loving being on a worship team at church and working with 1st grade girls at AWANA.  I just finished a great Eric and Leslie Ludy study at Hannah Kangas' house, and am learning to give each and every day of my life to Christ.

I guess that's probably enough for everyone to read today ;-), but I'll post again soon.  I miss all of you, and there's so much I want to share with you.  If there's one thing I've been learning lately, it's that this world is messed up, but God is sooo good.  He takes my breath away every single day.  I am blessed.

Love to you all,
Amy

Hey girls!

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write this post! My life has been incredibly busy as of late, but it's now Saturday, so I have found time to keep in touch with all of you wonderful people!

I woke up this morning to snow for the first time this year. It's even more fun than usual, because alot of people here are from warmmer climates and this is their first encounter with snow. They love it, so it makes me love it more.

Today is Festival of the Bands. A bunch of high school bands from around the state are comming to St. Olaf to play new music and work with clinicians all day, and then in the evening they are going to play in a concert along with Norseman band (the lower audition-level group here) and the St. Olaf Band (my band). I love the music we've been working on, and I'm really excited for the concert tonight! Music is such a blessing. I've been a bit more stressed this year than in high school because of difficult classes and things, and it's been wonderful to be able to go lock myself in a practice room for a couple of hours and just loose myself in the music for a while, and forget about what is stressing me out. I am so thankful to our Lord for such a great gift!

I will be back in Bemidji for the first time since comming here on Wednesday, November 24th sometime in the evening. I'll have to go back on Sunday, so it wont be a long break, but I am really excited to see my family again. I miss them, especially my little sister.

Overall, life is going very well. I just registered for second semester classes, and it looks like I'm going to get everything I wanted, so my schedule should be quite a bit easier and less stress-inducing than it is now, which is great! I hope life is well with all of you!

In Christ,

~Kayla

Anna Grace Anderson

I am an Aunt!

Anna Grace Anderson was born Saturday Oct. 30th at 12:01 PM . 

 

I am so excited ! She is absolutely beautiful!

This is MY NIECE!

Im going to bed now, so I can get up early and visit her!

Happy Halloween all!

-Trudi

                              

Ahh, the wonders of living on our planet!

     So i have hardly any homework so you are all being treated to a picture blog this week :)  It sums up my life lately in a very good fashion.  All of these are on Facebook, but not everyone has Facebook, and I love any excuse to use a picture for anything!
     Trudi, that is so exciting about Josh and Laura!  I will definitely keep them in my prayers!
     Well, where do I begin to talk about life.  I have been so busy lately!  So many tests and papers due these past two weeks, another due on Thursday, but I am really loving College.  The opportunities to learn and to expand my horizons have been amazing!
     I have been to 2 art museums, 2 plays, and an organ concert it's been exciting!  I think one of my favorite classes is my Intro to Creative Arts class.  It's at 8:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, early but way worth it!  We went to the school play Blithe Spirit, it was a hilarious play!  The man is haunted by the ghost of his dead wife.  In the end his dead wife kills his current wife and then he is haunted by them both.  It was very well done!  They really impressed me.  It was very long though and a few people had trouble staying awake.

     My most exciting news is that I just got a new job.  I am now one of the 3 math lab managers, one of the managers is a senior, and her math research has really taken off, so she is not here all that often, and they needed someone to take her job.  Basically I handle the logistics of the math lab and help it to run smoothly.  It's an awesome opportunity and i will have the job for the next 4 years.  It pays pretty decent as well.  I will also work as a tutor next semester in the Math Lab helping with Calculus.  I am super excited about this awesome experience!  The girl I will be working with is really sweet, I think we could become good friends.

    My cousin Emelie came to visit me last weekend and we had an amazing time!  It was really great to just be able to talk to her about things.  We haven't had a chance to talk in almost a year.  So being able to be open and candid with her has made me feel such joy and relief.  She is one of my favorite people in the whole wide world!  I love her dearly!  If any of you ever come visit we need to go to the Walker Sculpture Garden, it is such a blast!

 This was at Homecoming about two weeks ago.  The church Bethel gals. I wanted to find Micah and get a picture of the 3 of us (Joey didn't go) but that would have been too much work.  It has been such a blessing having Roberta across from me.  I go and hang out in her room quite often, she has some of the most amazing roommates, they always give me candy or baked goods, I LOVE it!  I better stop eating so much junk food soon...

   So, this is my floor, or the majority of them.  This was towards the beginning of the year.  We went to an apple orchard and took a bazillion pictures! It was a great time of bonding and getting to know them all!  Last week we went to a pumpkin patch with our brother floor, that was such a blast!  We had a crazy time!
     This weekend I am going to a girl on my floors home.  Her family is having this big pumpkin carving party with friends from church so I am SUPER excited! It is going to be such a blast to be at a real home and that sort of an environment!  She is the oldest in her family with several younger siblings, the youngest is 7 or 8 I think, so it will be so much fun to play with them all!
    I love you all!  Let me know if you have any prayer requests at all!

Love for one and all!
Belle

Rejoice!

Hi All!
Im super excited about all this, so I just thought I would tell you that
Josh & Laura Helweg had a baby girl  Sunday morning at 6:45 am. Laura is Isaacs sister, and I have gotten so close to the family. I am sooo excited for this sweet blessing! Abigail Susanne was born about 5 1/2 weeks early. Luckily, Lauras doctors knew a few weeks back that the baby was likely to come early, and administered shots to help develop her lungs. The baby is healthy and well, weighing 6 pounds 3 Oz. She is on a small amount of oxygen and some Ivs for antibiotics, but will be able to remain in Bemidji unless any other complications arise. The doctors said if her breathing is under control, she may be able to go home as early as Wednesday or Thursday! I was able to visit Laura Sunday afternoon, and she looked great! She is doing really well. Unfortunately, no one besides Josh and Laura are allowed to be in the nursery to see the baby. Also, you cant look through the windows anymore ( they have been blacked out ) due to HIPPA, which is the patient confidentiality thing. But we all got to see pictures and she is sooooo Beautiful! Pray for the family and for the baby that she continues to be healthy.

My sister Ashley is ready to pop any day now ( Due Nov 5th ), and I am getting So excited! This will be my first Niece or Nephew ( they dont know, which is making me especially  anxious! ) and my family is soo ridiculously ready for the baby to be here. I was hoping the full moon would help the other night, but no baby.....

 My sister has had some pretty high blood pressure, so hopefully it will maintain so they do not have to induce her. Pray for all these new lives and the familys!

Well, thats all that  is new with me. Really. Nothing cool happens.
ACTUALLY!
Something awesome happened.

My electric bill went down like, $4 from last month!

OH, And Isaac and I carved some cool pumpkins. except he broke off the tooth from mine. we fixed it with a nail. HAHAHA!
Also, I am having my two remaining Wisdom teeth out on Wed., the top two. Its pretty amazing because Ericka doesnt have school Thurs/Fri, due to conferences(?) and is able to cover for me at work! So I wont have to go back to work until the following Monday! Its going to be the greatest vacation. I am so excited.
Now that is all. I will give you guys an update if that baby comes!

Love you all! Have an AMAZING week!

-Trudi