Christa Wells // One Day (Lyric Video)

Looking forward to the other side so I can leave my broken heart behind...one day one breath, one prayer, one hope in the coming life. 

CHRISTA WELLS // Come Close Now (Feed Your Soul)

Came across this song tonight. Brought me back...

Winter Song

...so pardon the dust while this all settles in

SORROW

it feels like falling. 

it feels like rain.

like losing my balance 

again and again. 

it once was so easy;

breathe in. breathe out.

but at the foot of this mountain, 

i only see clouds.

i feel out of focus, 

or at least indisposed

as this strange weather pattern

inside me takes hold.

each brave step forward, 

i take three steps behind

it's mind over matter -

matter over mind.

slowly, 

then all at once.

a single loose thread

and it all comes undone.

where there is light,

a shadow appears.

the cause and effect

when life interferes. 

the same rule applies

to goodness and grief; 

for in our great sorrow,

we learn what joy means.

i don’t want to fight, 

i don’t want to fight it.

but i will learn to fight,

i will learn fight

’til this pendulum finds equilibrium.

slowly, 

then all at once.

the dark clouds depart,

and the damage is done.

so pardon the dust

while this all settles in.

with a broken heart,

transformation begins.

Trust in Him

This past week has been one of silent tears for me, but not for the reasons one might think. I drive to work with the tears flowing, but pull myself together long enough to complete my work only for the tears to return on the way home. I have such a heaviness of heart, not for the mess that our American politics is having on this country or even the world for that matter, but because of the effect it continues to have on the lives of families and friends as a result. It brings out the worst in us. It opens the door to how people really feel. It removes the veil. How do we move forward knowing that we are the Bane of someone else's existence?  How do we repair relationships that we thought we had, but now realize we never really had in the first place? Is the chasm so deep in this country that relationships will be changed forever all because one side or the other didn't get their way? I can deal with the politics. It has been corrupt for quite some time. I have faith that God is still in charge regardless of which party controls the land, but I can't deal with where we are going when it comes to relationships. My experiences this week have caused me to look within. I admit that I can be a pretty naive person at times.  My husband has always said that I see things through a different set of eyes than the rest of the world. I guess that is true. I've always known where I stood when it comes to relationships with others. It doesn't come easy to me. In fact, I'm quite bad at it. It is really hard to admit that I am the unlovely one, but deep down I know that to be true. Where did I go wrong? Have I not loved deeply enough? Have I lost my compassion and understanding? Why am I so broken and unfixable? Why is the pain so intense? Why can't I let go? I do know one thing for sure and for certain. No matter how far I fall, He is always there to catch me, to comfort me in my time of sorrow, to heal my broken heart. He is the one I will continue to trust. Thank You God for loving the me that no one else can see.

Trust in You

Lauren Daigle

Letting go of every single dream
I lay each one down at Your feet
Every moment of my wandering
Never changes what You see

I’ve tried to win this war I confess
My hands are weary I need Your rest
Mighty Warrior, King of the fight
No matter what I face, You’re by my side

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen
So, in all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less

You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand

Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood

https://youtu.be/n_aVFVveJNs

Your Love Always Carried Us

Each time I talk with my momma, I feel a little bit more of her slipping away. This brave woman has overcome a lot in her lifetime surviving a brain tumor before I was born... yet, she was able to bring me into this world, and provide so much love and care along the way. Simply put, she was always there for me.

There are two kinds of "letting go" as I see it in Motherhood.  There is the letting go of your children when they make their way out into the world on their own, and there is the letting go of your momma when she steps through the veil into the arms of Christ. Each is hard in its own regard, but this in between where you watch the mind of this caring woman deteriorate with each passing day is hard to take...simply heartbreaking. I want to do more, but realize that I am helpless in so many ways.

I'm thankful for the years that I have had because they almost didn't happen. I'm thankful for the momma who took me to church throughout my childhood, and encouraged me to live a Godly life, and prayed for me without abandon. Today, and everyday, I honor you Momma, and thank God that he placed me in your arms at the very beginning. Lately,I've been listening to Christa Wells a lot. Her songs speak the words that I wish I could say.... This song is for you momma....  http://youtu.be/zbFhudL4-wQ

The light is always on in this Mama's heart

Twenty-Eight years ago, I gave birth to my youngest son. It's hard to believe that my little Mothers Day present in 1986 is now grown with three of his own. I came across this song today and it resonated with me so thought I'd share it for all the mothers that have a tough time letting go, and for my son as he celebrates his birthday tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Joe Boy! My porch light will always be on for you. - Love from your mama!



http://youtu.be/vhaq_FvxnBw




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Siblings teach what parents cannot

I came across this quote today, and thought how much it reminds me of my own four...

"Danny and I both adore our siblings, who are some of our best friends. We both believe that siblings teach you what parents cannot: how to compromise, how to fight, how to defend each other, how to make up secret languages, how to make each other laugh." -Shauna Ahern

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Look who's into Organics!

Via: TakePart.com}


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Bionic Mama

My mom had surgery on her right arm today. It has been totally useless since Jan 10th when she had her Grand Mal seizure. Both arms were broken, but the right arm was more severe with a fractured humerus and the ball which was split in half. Half was jammed into the socket and the other half is floating around somewhere there.

My cousin, Lynn, came down and sat with my dad for awhile. Thank you so much for that Lynn...and thanks for telling me that mom looked strong and rested for surgery. It was a comfort to me since I couldn't be there.


My mom had a complete shoulder replacement including a brand new ball and shoulder joint. You could say that she is now The New Bionic Woman!


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Standing in the Gap

Saturday was an emotional day for me. I really wanted to fly home for my mother's surgery, but it just didn't work out for a whole host of reasons. I called a friend to meet me for lunch. She knows what I'm going through because she lost her mom a year ago this month. I ask her if she feels like its Déjà Vue going through this with me and lshe says Yes. I remember the last year of her mom's life and I feel like I'm living it again. She sympathizes with me and stands in the gap when I need a shoulder to cry on. Thanks dear friend! I am truly blessed that God has brought you into my life.





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Rollercoaster

Here we go again. Life really is like a roller coaster. It snows…It melts…It is cold, and it warms up. Parents fall ill and get better. Surgeries ahead, but the work remains, and so does faith. Faith that surgeries will be successful. Faith that enrollments and goals will be met. No one ever said it would be easy, right? It’s a new day and we’re riding the rollercoaster up the rails, and life is never dull.

James 1:2-4
[ Faith Under Pressure ] Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.





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Alaskiana

Welcome to Alaskiana! Won't you come along on my drive home?


Alaskiana...Where Snow is King!


...and roads drift shut in February...say what?


The old home place stands guard on the snowy corner...


...with ice in patches beneath the snow...


...and ice/snow/sleet that looks like tiny little pieces of styrofoam falling from the sky today... This is definitely a new thing.


Yep, just another day in Alaskiana...


Just another snowstorm in a land setting records of their own...


On Saturday, we became THE snowiest season EVER. I think it's quite appropriate that we broke the records during the Winter Olympics.


Today, with this latest addition, we're at 62 inches here in the Kokomo area...


But hey, I don't mind. It brings back memories of my youth when I lived in Goose Bay, Labrador.


The news said we are just 29 days from spring, but I have my doubts that all this snow will be gone by then.


So for now, I will take in the beauty and enjoy it for what it is... A new world... One I call Alaskiana!

A Coronation?

A little girl asked her mother, "Is today the day we go to Pastor Christopher's coronation?" "No sweetie, said the mother, "it's called an Ordination!"

My second born son was given the name Christopher Curtis Schrock. We chose Christopher for two reasons, but the most important reason was because his name means Christ Bearer. His middle name came from my father. It was the first name of my father and the last name of my father's great grandparents.

I used to call him my little Daniel Boone when he was little because he would hurry through his lessons so he could open up my sewing center to make bags for his treks up & down the creek or make his own bow & arrows out of tree branches. I guess I should have called him my little Bridger since he ended up in Billings, MT.
He always had a desire for reading and learning and going deeper. My husband & I used to say that Christopher was going to be either a pastor, a lawyer, or an insurance salesman someday, and I think we were right because in a way, he is all 3! He is a pastor for the way he cares for the people God has placed in his care, first his family and now the members of Christ Covenant Reformed Church. He is a lawyer because he studies God's law...and yes, he is an insurance salesman of a different kind because he isn't selling the insurance that comes with a price. Instead He shares God's Assurance of grace and love for His people, and it is freely given.

When Christopher was 14 years old, he lacerated his liver and was lifelined to Indianapolis. God gave me an unexplained peace almost immediately that day. As Christopher flew in the skies over Indiana, my conversation with God that day went something like this, "Lord, you are the giver of life, and you can take it at any moment. I accept that and just as the day he was born, I again commit my son into your care to do as you please." I somehow sensed that day that I would only have him for a little while until God called him to a greater task.

When we were in Billings last July, we had several people from the church thank us for allowing our son to leave and come to Billings, but really it should be us thanking them for being a part of God's perfect plan...for opening their hearts and home to Curt, Julie, Moses and Kati. We love them for it and owe them a debt of gratitude!

That brings us to the day of Ordination and I can truly say that I am blessed that God has allowed me to walk this journey with Christopher. I give the glory all to God for what he did those many years ago, what He is doing today, and what He plans to do in the life of my son. As a mother, I am truly blessed!


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Location:Billings, MT

Grand Rapids to Billings

We drove to Grand Rapids, Michigan for our next journey out West. It snowed all the way there thought you can't tell it from these pictures. I kinda laughed to myself as we passed the state line because in the past I always thought of Michigan as the snow country, but not this year. Indiana is their equal when it comes to snow and cold.





When I took this shot, it was actually snowing quite abundantly causing a blurred effect. Who needs Camera+, right? I can get the effect naturally.





We were able to get a more direct flight from Grand Rapids to Billings so we thought we would try it. The Gerald Ford International Airport is small but very nice and has great facilities for waiting. Our flight was delayed soon after we got there. It was one of those good news bad news events. First we were delayed, but when we took off, the prevailing wings actually got us to Minneapolis fairly on time. However, because we were early, they didn't have a gate for us to disembark. We were supposed to have an hour layover, but that didn't happen.





We finally walked off the plane at Gate G. However, our next flight was at Gate C so we literally had to run about a half mile to get to our gate. We were the last 2 people to board the plane and they closed the door behind us.






Praise God! we made it to Billings ahead of schedule, but my luggage did not. Kati & Moses were there to greet us in their jammies, but I think they were disappointed when they couldn't pull the luggage off the belt. No big deal. My luggage took a small detour to Salt Lake before arriving here at noon today.

Overcomer: Update on Kate

My mom has had a good life. That's not to say that she hasn't experienced trials during her 83 years of life because she has had more than her fair share. My mother was a faithful woman who always put her faith in God even though she was raised by a man that did not appear to do the same. Simply stated, though, Kate is an overcomer. She was the 9th born out of a family of 13 during the Great Depression, and survived the Dust Bowl Days. As a young first time mother, she should have been enjoying her new baby, but instead she began her battle for life when they discovered a brain tumor in her cerebellum. In 1954, brain surgery was not all that common, but as I said... My mother is an overcomer!

Fast forward to today, 60 years later, and my mother who was a walking miracle again lies in a hospital bed with my father faithfully at her side. He sat in this chair all night holding her hand as she slept.


She was admitted to the cardiac care unit yesterday because she was experiencing pain in her chest, arms and neck. I have a hard time thinking it is her heart. A couple years ago, she had a heart cath. The doctor told us afterwards that she could smoke 5 packs a day from this point on and her arteries would be still be fine. To that, my mother in all seriousness said, "Oh, I would never do that!" Sometimes , she has a hard time distinguishing when people are not being literal.

At 2AM this morning, my mother sat up in bed and yelled out. She suffered a seizure. At this point, we don't know what this means. We're still waiting on the EEG report to determine her brain wave activity because she is having difficulty speaking. They have now moved her to Neurology ICU where my dad refuses to leave her side, and this is how it should be....my mother, the overcomer, and the man who holds her hand.

Blizzard or Hercules?

A peak out my kitchen window...





The Milkhouse in snow...

Snow on the roof

Snow fell at a rate of an inch to an inch and a half per hour today. Marlin was worried that we had too much weight from the snow on the roof so he walked around the perimeter and cleaned the snow off the roof.

Snow Snow Snow

Scenes from our record breaking day!

Hercules

This is what we woke up to this morning. Church was canceled yesterday so we had plans to hunker down.


























Around noon, Marlin said, "Let's walk down and visit the folks before the weather gets bad," so off we went.

















Ellie was so happy to see her master, she squealed in delight!

















When we got to the folks, Vernon was cleaning off the porch so Marlin helped him finish the job.








This is a bad sign...lines covered with snow like this can lead to electricity outages. That is not what we want with 47 below zero temps on the way.