I Will Be Here

"To have and to hold"


Amy checking on her girls, Jordan and Kylie, and nephew, Cole-

Saturday, I was honored to sing for Erik and Amy. Erik is such a great young man. I have always been so fond of him. He is my nephew, and I have watched him grow up....and grow he did. He is quite tall and beautiful inside and out. He has 2 gorgeous daughters, Jordan and Kylie, and has found the beautiful, amazing Amy. I haven't spent much time with Amy before, but I can tell I do love her and welcome her to the family. They got a fair share of teasing...something about dating for 10 years to make sure it was right. I think it is more than right.....it is perfect!

They had a wonderful celebration with family and friends. I sang Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "I Will Be Here". Pastor Ron told the story of the song, saying that Steven's parents had been through a very rough divorce and it was extremely hard on him. When he was to be married, he wrote the song for his wife....

Tomorrow morning, when you wake up and the sun does not apprear, I will be here.

If in the dark we lose sight of love, hold my hand and have no fear....I will be here.

I will be here when you feel like being quiet, when you need to speak your mind, I will listen.

And I will be here when the laughter turns to crying, through the winning, losing or crying,

We'll be together.....I will be here.

The Pastor Ron went on to tell how Steven Curtis Chapman's family went through the tragic loss of their daughter last year. In every marriage there are problems. In every marriage there are times of trouble, but the song says it like it is....no matter what....I am going to be here.

I also really, really loved the meditation Pastor Ron had......"Here you are Erik and Amy, all dressed up in your finest. You are bringing the very best you have, the very best you are. You won't be wearing these kind of clothes every day. Life is not one continuous wedding day.

What will you wear, not to the wedding, but to the marriage? What attitudes will you bring to your marriage? With what garments will you clothe your heart?"

In the selection from scripture that Jade read, Paul said to clothe your heart with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness, and wrap all of these things up in love. Only love will give you the ability to do all of these things. "Human love fades unless it finds it's source- and that source has to be God". Well said, Pastor Ron. I loved your message!




Erik got a little tongue tied.


Amy started laughing.




Beautiful!


With us still....


My great niece, Jade, her mom, Jennifer, and Nichole-
Jennifer and Nichole are sisters of the groom.


For the very first time, I present to you: Mr and Mrs. Erik Foos


The wedding party entered the reception hall with celebration! The DJ, JT, said....."and now, starting as bridesmaid, Jennifer Sehr and she shook her pom pom madly!"

When the bride and groom entered the reception hall, he played....."Let's Get Ready to Rumble"
and everyone clapped and cheered and Amy waved her boquet!

My beautiful sister, Ginny and awesome husband, Roger .
Ginny is the groom's mom!


Tyler and Christi getting down with the kids!


JT up to his tricks. VERY entertaining JT!


He does balloon tricks too!


You CAN have your cake and eat it too!


Getting along at the moment!


Cute little redhead girl! (Granddaughter, Braylyn)


I am SO Done! Good Night!

##############################
JUNE 29


Tom, Darese and Gia


Marissa Rose- Love you forever!

It is really hard for me, this blog thing. It takes a bit of time each time I do it and I really do have something to say just about every day.....really! I wanted to leave the wedding up a couple of days, so I am just adding to my post. June 29 brings the last Monday of June, 3 softball games, and 2 special birthdays. Darese is my brother Tom's wife, shown here with her daughter, Gia. Happy Birthday to Darese! Then, there is Marissa, our baby, sweet 16 today, already been to the courthouse to get her license. Marissa is 16. Darese is....more than 16. I am looking forward to their visit to Iowa this week! Happy Birthday to two special young ladies in my life. Love you!

Living Life

I continue to be blessed by my painting. This week, I painted for Trudy.

Trudy...she is really something! She lives life large and with a passion. She loves her husband, she loves her children, she loves her grandchildren and she loves her Lord. Everywhere you look in her home, you see her!!!! I didn't get to work with her husband, so I don't know how much input he has into the decor...whatever the set up, it definitely works. Their home is gorgeous, filled with so many treasures. Their yard is just as gorgeous....such a gift they have....bringing out the very best in nature...right in their own backyard.

Jeff and Trudy are looking forward to their entire family coming home to stay this summer, and one project on her mind and heart was their bathroom. I always kick myself for NOT having the camera for a "before", but I usually make sure I have a lot of "afters". It was blue, very blue, and the wallpaper was peeling, curling, had been painted and glued...she had tried to save it, but one day I walked into the store they own to purchase paint to do a tissue paper technique on my own walls. She said I was answered prayer!!! Don't you love being "answered prayer"? She asked if I could do that in her bathroom. I came, I ripped, I peeled, I painted, I climbed, I made a mess, I cleaned it up, and they now have a peaceful place to rest for a minute, and a reminder everywhere you look....Grace...Peace....Faith...Love One Another.






My gift again has turned around to bless me! Who knew?I came one day to find this note....
I love to paint blessings right on the walls, but now I am in Trudy's prayers every day!
I asked Trudy if I could feature her in my blog and if I could take some pictures around her yard. It is so amazing. Pictures do not do any justice to the amount of skill, patience and time....and I would dare say.....prayers.

Life is not a race, but indeed a journey.
Be honest. Work hard. Be choosy.
Say “thank you”, “I love you”, and “great job” to someone each day.
Go to church. Take time for prayer.
Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper.
Love your life and what you’ve been given-it is not accidental.
Search for your purpose and do it as best you can.
Dreaming does matter-It allows you to become that which you aspire to be.
Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them.
Some of the best things in life really are free.
Do not worry-less wrinkles are more becoming.
Forgive, it frees the soul.
Take time for yourself-plan for longevity.
Remember the special people you’ve been blessed to know.

Live for today-enjoy the moment.

One more little paint job...upstairs, the children, although grown up and gone, still have places of honor in their home. The rooms are lined with trinkets, treasures, high school artwork, and photographs of each of them as they were, when they lived at home, and now, as adults with their own children. There is no doubt that they are so very loved in this home and will be so forever. I enjoyed painting these words in Erin's room. The pictures of the girls are so beautiful. The sisters are all so beautiful. I most definately "Enjoyed the Moment". It was amazing finding out more about how you are "Living Life". Thanks Trudy!

Monday Musings

WOW!!! It is just after midnight, Monday morning. I have a full day today, but just wrapping up the weekend and so much on my mind to share. Imagine that!!!

***The twins are in Ida Grove fishing and swimming in the pond at Grandma and Grandpas. They are going to "help" move cattle tomorrow. They went to Sunday school last year, they will begin pre-school in the fall, and they are playing T-Ball for the first time. They are the two in the front row on the end together right above the #9. They continue to be little miracles, beginning life way too early, weighing a little over 2 lbs. I really miss them when I don't see them every couple of days! Who knew being a Grandparent would be this much fun? I will see them Tuesday when they come home to play T-Ball, and Grandma Carol will cheer them on.

****Marissa is playing a lot of softball this summer. It was fun to open up the paper and find a nice picture of her. Her dad said, "Well, at least your eye was on the ball"

***Praising God for Missy, my niece, walking the survivor's lap at the Sioux County Relay for Life Friday night. Heard she gave an amazing speech!

***We went to a beautiful wedding Saturday....Congratulations Libby and Rob!

***Pizza Ranch for Dad's dinner!

*** Summer has officially arrived....June 21st.

***Did you know Quintuplets were born in Minneapolis, 4 girls and one boy and they are all doing well? I have their link posted here. Keep them in your prayers! http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=91023517862&h=jZqC4&u=nO0GK&ref=mf

***I sang in church Sunday....."How can I keep from singing your praise?" Praising God for my friend, Mary Jane. She is facing cancer and choosing to live out her days without the cloud of additional chemotherapy treatments. She says she is so blessed to have these days to say her goodbyes, to get her affairs in order, to mend any fences that need mending, to "clean out her closets" and enjoy her life. She is a blessing to me every time I see her. She is a beautiful soul and my life is richer for having gotten to meet her. She told us the only thing she has prayed for is "peace", not to take this away from her, but that she be at peace with whatever comes.

Mary Jane - isn't she amazing?

***Tyler and Christi came over today for Father's Day and the subject was "The Wedding" next June. I guess it is officially official. This is their new profile picture on Facebook! If it is on Facebook, it is so...

***Brandon and Brittany came over today to see Dad too and left Braylyn with us while they went to play softball.

We had fun playing outside with this little one!

***Happy Birthday today to Erika....sweet 16!

***Life is full

***Life is good

Choosing Joy in my world!