YES WORLD....... THERE IS A SANTA

Years ago,I taught first grade in a tiny town in Northwest Illinois. The population was about nine hundred people.
When I would read the newspaper I would chuckle because the paper would tell who went to who's house for Sunday dinner and what they ate.
When the Christmas season came along I decided to have all my children (class) write a letter to Santa and I sent the letters to the paper! The paper actually published all the kid's letters....PLUS MINE!! The letter I wrote said...."Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is a car.....preferably a Celica.. and could you see about a date for New Year's Eve"?????? Signed, Laurie Wick
I didn't have a car, and had to walk everywhere....to school, the store, the laundry mat(all loaded down about a mile away)....hard times!!!
When Christmas vacation came, I got a ride to my folks house and my first surprise was a guy that showed up at my parents on New Year's Eve....wanting to take me out. He had driven all the way from Illinois. I didn't really know him though, so I sent him on his way.
When I got back to Illinois from the Christmas vacation, I got my mail from the post office. The letter I received was a shocker!!!! It said....."Dear Miss Wick, got your letter.... here's a down payment on your car (Celica).
Love, Santa".
Along with the letter was a money order for $1500.00 dollars. I didn't believe it was real so I showed it to a fellow teacher friend...she said "THIS IS REAL"!!!!! I started dancing on my kids desks at school!!!!!
I called home to let my parents know and my Dad's response was "send it back"...let me rephrase that..."SEND IT BACK"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I called the state's attorney wondering what to do and he suggested me getting a poster saying "thank you " and putting it in the back window of my Celica!!! I called the bank and they told me I couldn't give the money back...it was already paid for!!!!!!!
I went back home, and my friend Bill... (future husband) helped me pick out a Celica!!!
I learned how to drive stick shift (kind of) that night and drove it home to Illinois!
I did get a poster and wrote THANK-YOU!!! and put it in my back window!
I would walk down the street and wonder if the person that gave me my car was right in front of me, or if it was a weirdo that would try something funny.....
I taught first grade for three years in that town and I never did find out who gave me that money. I was always wondering, though!
After my third year of teaching , Bill proposed to me and I was headed back to Wisconsin. On our way home, I wanted to show him one of my old students farm, because it was so huge and I loved this family! When we pulled in their driveway the family came out and said they knew I was leaving and didn't want to keep me wondering forever...IT WAS THEM!!! They were responsible for blessing me so abundantly! They told me that they got such a kick out of their daughter's stories from class, and they had the means ...so they wanted to bless me!!
It was a relief to finally know!!!!
I can certainly tell you with NO hesitation that YES!!! There is a Santa....and nowadays he works through wonderful caring people!!!I sure hope to be able to be "Santa" for alot of people soon!!!!!
In the meantime, if there is a need in your life that is too big for you, ASK!!!! You never know how, but I know God loves to surprise and bless us!!!!

Sweet William

When William was younger, he was always being wrestled with and thrown around by the older boys (because they could, and he was so sweet, that he let them).
One night, Bill and I were asked to teach a bible study on "Spiritual warfare"...that should have been a warning in and of itself!!!
We left our oldest son, (Ryan) in charge with back-up of the others and Christa.
We got to our friend's house and after being there a while we got a call from home. Ryan said.."William's head went through the window in the family room and he's bleeding"."What should we do"?They were wrestling, and threw him on the couch and the back wasn't high enough...he bounced up and hit the window!
A friend happened to stop by right at that time (and I'm sure she was shocked by all the mayhem and chaos), but she helped calm things down, tended to William and she told me Williiam was okay, after I talked with William and was assured he was doing good my friend Cindy left ( probably ran out the door)!!!
The kids assured us that William's head had stopped bleeding,so Bill just looked at me and said "the window's already broken.........we'll fix it later" We can stay. Those are not the words to say to a worried, scared Momma!!!
The scripture we were studying was from John 10:10 " The thief comes only to steal, kill and devour, but I have come that they may have life and that more abundantly". Bill told me it would be okay, so I calmed down, we ended early, and raced home to take care of whatever we would find! Everything was cleaned up, William was calm and resting,and the kids were all waiting for the bomb to drop....well, the best lesson in spiritual warfare that we have learned is to keep our peace and trust God....It's really hard when we want to "fix things" or be angry ..but we responded instead of reacting and the children in turn responded to us in a positive way!
STUFF HAPPENS! Usually in ways we never expect!
I like to control the children, my husband, EVERYTHING...but, the harder I try, the more things happen that are beyond my control. The Lord has been teaching me (or trying to) Prov.3:5-6..."Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge the Lord and He will direct your steps".
I think the next study I'd like to teach is on Ps. 23... the verse that says "surely goodness and mercy will follow you ALL the days of your life"!!!!
The wonderful part of our story is that God went before us and sent Cindy to minister to all the kids, bring calm and she reassured us.. God really is Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord who provides).Thank you Lord for your protection and blessing in the middle of our muddle!!!!

have to's or get to's

I am an official sandwich!!!! That is, I am in the generation that has a family to care for, plus a parent to care for.
It is easy for me to schedule things on my calendar and check them off when the job is done. As for me, (and everyone I know)... life is on the fast track with NO signs of slowing down. I put my time and dates on the calendar for: dropping off children for work, ballet, friends and taking care of my mom. After awhile, life becomes a list of to-dos. I can get an attitude very easy...especially if I don't think I'm appreciated! My mom is almost ninety two. She is a delightful woman that is very kind hearted! She has dementia and also needs full time care....kind of like a newborn. At times she can get testy, and I start to get frustrated! My daughters, (who help take care of their grandma) are teaching me SO much! No matter what they do, they make it fun!
One day, my mom started to pick on Amy (and I could feel my flesh rise up). Amy, calmly went to the back door, and went out. I was mad!!! I thought she was hurt and went out back to cry...but two seconds later the doorbell rang, and in walked Amy, who went right to her Grandma and said "Hi, Grandma" to which my mom promptly responded..."Oh, JOY!!! Look who's here"!!!!!
Another day, it was VERY hot. The girl's (Amy and Elisabeth) are trapped in one room as Grandma needs constant care, so they told Granma that they were taking her out to get some sun. She got mad and told them "NO", she was going to stay put! Well, the girl's went and got a piece of paper, and after a bit handed it to her and told her to read it. It said..."the Doctor has ordered you to have twenty minutes of sunshine per day....signed, Dr. White". After she read the "perscription", she said well, since the Dr. ordered it, okay!
Last summer, the girl's had a lemonade stand outside with Grandma and some neighbor kids,(and earned twelve dollars), they have dressed up in Grandma clothes and pretended to be old friends (since all her family and friends are gone), they have taken her on walks with her wheelchair and parked her under a tree and said "tell us about when you were a girl" which she remembers SO well....they have dressed her in high heels(while in her wheelchair) given her make-overs, taught her how to pose for the constant teenage picture taking, changed her depends and listened, overlooked things and LOVED.....all with JOY and allowing her to keep her dignity! I am SO blessed by them as I watch and learn...and once in a while I warn them of what's going to happen with me!
I am convinced that all the grandchildren with their different giftings are keeping her alive, giving her a sense of purpose and fulfillment while keeping her "young" at ninety-two as they( and I) GET TO help take care of Grandma (mom). "The JOY of the Lord is our strength"!!!!

Blink!!!

When Ryan was about to graduate from college, he asked me to come to Mens's warehouse to check out some suits for his up coming job interview's.
I went to the store and it was pretty empty. As I walked in I could see him standing in the back, by a wall of mirrors. As I walked to where Ryan was standing, I had a flashback of pictures in my mind...from holding my first newborrn, to chasing my toddler, to a brand new driver and his first date, to this man in a suitcoat! By the time I got to the back of the store, I was crying!!! It was such a fast flash
forward I couldn't believe it!!!!
Ryan just took one look at me and did this "oh, Mom" eyeroll.....I just told him that he grew to be a fine young man, and I was proud of him. It just happened too fast! One of those things that seemed to take forever, but actually happened in a blink!!!!

Some people's thoughts about our house

We have lived in our house for twenty three years...in that time, I have had the building inspector stop here and demand to see my daycare license (at that time we had nine children: ages nine, seven, six, five, five, four, three, two, one and I was pregnant).
The inspector was rude and presumptious! I did think it was quite a good idea to get paid for taking care of them, though!!
After many years had passed, Bill came home very late one evening to see a strange car in our drive-way, with someone sitting in the car. Bill went up to him and asked if he could help. The young man had run out of gas and just had enough to pull into our drive-way. He had been trying to get ahold of his friends, but no one would pick up their phones. Bill went and got a gas can, filled it up for the guy, and when he was about to leave....he said "you know, I thought this was a frat house". Well, I guess I could understand that one having nine sons and a million cars!
That night , Bill had been praying about being a blessing to someone and trying to make his day "count"...Isn't it great that God takes you at your word????
The next "incident" was just a bit ago. Someone wanted directions to our home and when Bill shared them, the guy said...."oh, I thought that was a landscape parking lot"!!!!!
We've been called alot of things, but I like this one best....... HOME!!!!! It's true what they say. THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!!

sowing and reaping

I am a firm believer in God's principle's. One of the main principle's in scripture is that of "sowing and reaping". I take things pretty literally, so when I give extra time, or money for something, I try to "sow a seed" and trust God for the harvest!
After going to McDonalds one day with the kids, I put some cash in the Ronald McDonald donation box. As I did I said out loud so the kids could hear..."I am sowing a seed for the families that are suffering to be blessed, and for good health and protection for the family you blessed me with".
Later that same day I went to give blood (I hate needles, but know this is a priviledge, and a need). When I was having the needle inserted, I said, "I'm sowing a seed for the protection of my children, as I give my blood to protect anothers life."
When I went home a little later, I came into the family room and there was Christa, just sitting there staring at nothing with all color gone from her face. I (being SO sensitive) asked her why she wasn't at work. She just kept staring until I went up to her and touched her shoulder. She looked up at me and I asked (again being SO sensitive) what is your problem? This time she made eye contact and started to shake all over. I again said," what is wrong???" Christa told me she went to work, but they sent her home after they found out about her day. Apparently she was at a friend's house and then started on her way to work. The car she was driving started to act up and she rolled it across a set of railroad tracks, and it stalled right as she was crossing the second set of tracks....and of course a train was coming!!! She couldn't start the car, and was trying to get out and the doors were locked. The barriers came down and the people on the other tracks couldn't see what was happening. At the LAST possible second, Christa got the car going and gunned it in reverse..... she broke the crossing gate, but was alive!!!!
After the train passed, the gentleman on the other side ran over to her to see if she was okay. He told her to just go home and he would handle the police. She went to work and they told her to go home and rest. Poor girl was in shock! After awhile, she was her normal bubbly self, but she really had a close call... even seeing the look in the train engineer's eyes!
I later couldn't help but think about the day, and wonder more about sowing seeds THAT SAME DAY for protection of the children....
The lessons I learned that day, were to tune in and be sensitive to people (we have no idea what they have gone through), to value everday and people as a gift, and to sow good seeds!!!! Sometimes there may be a long time before the harvest,but, until the end of time there will remain SEED,TIMEEEEEEEEEEEE, and Harvest!
You may say this was a coincidence....perhaps it was, but God says in Gal. 6:9 "Do not be weary in doing good, for in DUE SEASON you WILL reap a harvest If you do not give up". I challenge you to SOW some good seeds! Let me know what happens!

Christa and her car(s)............

Christa...Christa!!!! How do I even begin to share about her and her car(s)??
My daughter is fearless...sometimes too much for her own good! Remember the old song "Ain't no mountain high enough?".
Once Christa got her license, she was always on the road. Bill got her a little stick shift car and she just went anywhere in any kind of weather!!
One day, Christa went to her friend Mary's house....She lived on a hill and her drive-way was extremely steep. YES, I'm going somewhere with this (just like Christa).
I got a phone call from her shortly after she arrived at her friend's. She was kind of beating around the bush until, She finally came out with.."I parked my car in Mary's drive-way, and it started to roll down her drive..I tried to catch it , but I couldn't". Can you come over quick??"
I got in my car and found the subdivision that Mary lived in. I wasn't sure exactly where she lived, so I was driving around and around, and as I looked to my right I saw a steep embankment with two headlights peering over the top. I started laughing because it looked so hiarious! The good news is that her brother had a big Suburban and was able to tie it to his car and pull it up, and set it free! The bad news was that it had hit a tree so it was badly damaged! It's a good thing her Dad has a body shop, because alot of business comes from his children!
The blessings here are that.. Christa wasn't in the car..no body was behind her or in the road and Joshua came to her rescue. The bad news is that she had to endure nine brothers teasing and was forced to stay at home for a while.
I'm so thankful that she didn't get hurt and that she's given me so much material about her and cars!! Gotta LOVE this girl!!!!

Second Chances

A couple of years ago, Bill did a pick n' save food run for me. He was in a hurry and grabbed the food, and on his way to the car he noticed a check-out girl that he often gets. She was sitting outside, and Bill got the feeling that he was supposed to talk with Cynthia.He ignored the feeling because he had to be somewhere and just came home. That evening, Bill was reflecting on his day,and when we prayed together he asked the Lord that if He wanted him to talk to cynthia, the Lord would give him a second chance and he would obey this time!
Well a couple days later, Bill was back at Pick n' Save and there was Cynthia, sitting in the same place! This time Bill went up to her and asked if she was okay?? She started to cry and told Bill her husband was gravely ill. He had been exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Bill asked her if she would be open to him and the pastor coming over to pray for Cynthia's husband (and for her).Cynthia immediately said YES! Bill arranged a time and he and the pastor went to her house. She lives in the inner city, so it was a little out of their comfort zone.
They found her house, and Cynthia greeted them at the door. She was excited that Bill and pastor Joe were willing to come. She had been feeling quite overwhelmed with taking care of her bedridden husband, her children, the house and work! Whew!!! They asked her first if she would like some prayer, to which she immediately agreed to!
While praying , Bill asked her if she had a relationship with the Lord. She said no, but that she would like one! Bill and Pastor Joe prayed for her and she asked Jesus to come and "take the wheel" of her life! They left her with information of some churches and a name of someone to help get her plugged in. Then they went upstairs and met cynthia's husband. The only thing he could do was raise his hand. Bill and Pastor joe talked with him, and Bill shared that he was also a vietnam vet. They asked him if he would like them to pray for him and he raised his hand. They led him in a prayer, and he responded by raising his hand and saying YES to Jesus also! What a great night! Both Cynthia and her husband were smiling as Joe and Bill left!
The next morning we recieved a call from Cynthia. Her husband had passed away during the night. All of the family commented on the peace in his face, and even had a little smile! None of them had seen such a peaceful pressence in years!
To this day, Cynthia is a friend, has joy indescrible, and is a light to all she meets! If you go to the Brookfield Metro Mart ask for Cynthia and say "HI" from Bill! Let her tell you about her life! She is a miracle...of love, blessing and God's incredible work in her life! Next time you get that "nudge" OBEY!!!! Watch how God will bless you and others!
My friend Heather says "an obiedient heart is a happy heart"!
Thank you Lord, that you give us second (and more) chances!!!!!!

Turkey Bowling

At this time a couple years ago my son David went to some friends house, on the East side. After a couple of drinks, a few of the boys went outside and set up Turkey Bowling. They were having a blast when......a few really big (and David is six feet five inches tall)guys came after the boys and wanted to fight! David tried to talk to the guys and the others ran away.
The guys ganged up on David, and after beating him and kicking him in the head until he was unconsious they left him laying in the road. Someone called the police and David was taken to a hospital by ambulance.
The next morning, I got a call from an orthodontist in Milwaukee and he told me about David being in the hospital. He said that David's jaw was broken and that he would need thirty five thousand dollars to wire his jaw shut. I was stunned(that's putting it mildly... I was freaking out) by the news because this was the first I heard of this. The Dr. tried to soften the blow by telling me it was a good thing that he was on call, because it would be over one hundred thousand for him to come in special!
I told him that we didn't have that kind of money and that David didn't have insurance...... the good news was that there was a police report made by witnesses who were watching from their porch (David couldn't talk)and since it was a crime against David, the Doctor told me about victim's assistance. He thought David looked like a good kid (and he is) so he decided to go ahead with the surgery. I couldn't believe that he wasn't going to help him at first!
It was really hard for David during this time...he's tall and thin to begin with, but now the weight was dropping off of him fast! Poor guy, was always hungry and he was getting ornary, too! I cook alot in the Fall, and I was just doing my normal cooking, but he would accuse me of purposely cooking his favorite meals to make him hungrier. One night he even blended roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and beans together.......GROSS! I think I would be happy to drink milk shakes everyday!!!!!
After six weeks of suffering, he was finally able to get the wires out.....What a great celebration meal he had.....we were really thankful that God took the evil and turned it into good for David!!!! We are so blessed and thankful that David is with us and that he can eat normally!
So, at this time of year as we reflect on all God's blessings.....the good food, families,and friends .....remember eat the turkey!!! DO NOT BOWL WITH IT!!!!

Sit on it!!!

Sunday in the Fall, it's football. ALL DAY! When there isn't a game on T.V.,the boys are playing it.
A friend asked me to pick her up at the airport, so Bill and I left the kids to the game and went to pick Alyce up.
Right after we got Alyce, I got a call on my cell phone....it was Justin, and he said "uh, Mom...how do you stop bleeding"??? I yelled put some pressure on it..."what is going on??? Who's bleeding"?? He just told me it'll be okay, and that he would call back.
After about ten minutes Justin called back and told me Daniel was bleeding very badly and it wouldn't stop. I asked him where he was bleeding and he told me his butt....I told him to tell Daniel to sit on it for awhile to see if that would help....It was pretty serious, but the boys were laughing hysterically in the background. Apparently, Daniel had left a boken glass on the arm of his chair, and a friend came over to watch the game. Daniel jumped up to shake his hand and plopped down...right on the broken glass. Daniel was wearing blue jeans, and under them basketball shorts and under them boxers! He must have sat down pretty hard for the glass to go through three layers of clothes (four if you count his skin). The boys were arguing what to do and Justin was thinking he might have to check and see if there was glass in his rear, which made the boys laugh all the harder!
Since sitting on it did not stop the bleeding, we told Justin to bring Daniel to the emergency room....even the nurses were a little surprised by his injury! He ended up getting twenty stitches in his rear! Poor Daniel had a hard time sitting for the next couple of weeks.... he was pretty humiliated and was the "butt" of alot of jokes! The funniest part was when Daniel had the stitches removed. His Doctor is a lady! When we went in to get the stitches out she asked where they were....she just laughed and said "I probably don't want to know what happened...do I?" and she couldn't stop laughing either!
So, Daniel got a football injury without even playing the game!
Life is always exciting here!

I didn't like it!

One week in late summer, I decided to go and visit Auntie Martha, in Ironwood, Michigan. I only took seven children, so the journey was very quiet!!!(comparatively speaking).
I stopped at Bill's shop for a quick once over (oil, air, tire pressure, etc.)
When I was leaving the shop, I asked Bill if I could have some "carry cash"..... He handed me a twenty, and I was a happy camper!!! We started off on our journey, and after about three hours I was getting low on fuel. I stopped in Stevens Point for gas and looked for my purse (I usually kept it under the drivers seat) wellllllllllllll.......I looked and looked, and my purse was NOWHERE to be found! I only put twenty dollars of gas in the van (since that's all I had) and we JUST made it to Ironwood on fumes!!
I couldn't figure out what had happened to my purse, and asked my Aunt if I could borrow some gas money....she acted kind of funny, so I just asked Bill to send more money up to me.Bill sent money up and everything was fine except that I had no credit cards, license, or extra cash....
I was ready to report a theft, but, Bethany (who was three at the time) looked at me with her big brown eyes and said "I didn't like that purse, so I threw it away"!! I wasn't sure if I believed her...until she described my purse, and how she decided that it should go bye-bye!
I'm sure I didn't have much cash, but everything else was gone!
To this day, Bethany is still the throw away queen!!!
If anyone needs to have a clean pottery barn style ask Bethany to help.....just protect the stuff you want to keep, though. If she doesn't like it, it could dissapear!!!

You Change!!

When Bill and I first got married, and the babies started to come...I told Bill that he should get a "real" job. He started Bilco Auto Body when he got home from Vietnam, when he couldn't get his old job back. It started as more or less of a hobby shop, but started to grow (because he's the best car painter ever)!!!
I made up a resume' for Bill and started to send it out and he got a few interviews!
It made perfect sense to me for Bill to work for someone so we could have insurance, vacation time, and of course retirement!!
I thought God was answering my prayers when the person that owned the shop he was renting told Bill that he wanted to convert it to a daycare. This was in the middle of us looking for a home for our family, too!
Bill had been looking for another shop to rent, was responding to job openings, and trying to secure a home loan. He really is amazing (superman)!! He did all this AND put up with me trying to smoosh his dreams of having his own buisness.
One day as I was walking through the house I heard in my heart a loud" Bill's right where I want him Laurie! YOU CHANGE"!! It was so clear and real to me ...talk about a spiritual slap!!
I tried to argue with God (how's that for presumption) because it just didn't make sense to me!
Well, I knew what I heard.....but I wanted to make sure, soooooo, Bill went on one last interview, but the interviewer never even showed up!
I finally told Bill how sorry I was for trying in my own strength to make things work for us which ended up just causing hurt and frustration. I told him how the Lord had spoken to me and that from here on, I would be his biggest cheerleader and trust that God knew and was in control of all of our needs (and desires).
Bill's been in buisness now for about thirty three years and I can say with full assurance and confidence that Bill is doing what he is suppossed to be doing, and YES! I DID CHANGE!!
Bill also found a shop in Menomonee Falls, and after twenty three years he's still there!!!

Cross in the sky

Part One -The Promise
Bill and I started our married life in a tiny farmhouse in Germantown, Wi. Bill lived there for a couple of years before we were married, with a couple other guys...that should tell you something about it already! It was small and homey, but it had no furnace. We heated the house with a wood stove, and the rent was only two hundred dollars per month (even tho' it was twenty nine years ago, that was cheap then)!!! The house was about one hundred and fifty years old...thank God it had indoor plumbing! We had to haul the wood for the wood stove quite a distance, because the landlord didn't want any bugs, or woodchucks by the house. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but as we started to have children.....I would have to run out and get wood during the day, and hope the children wouldn't lock me out , touch the wood stove, or try to follow me (to help).

At one point, (I guess my point of desperation), with six young children and little space ....the children were five, three, two, one, one and a newborn. I began praying...BIG and desperately!!! I wanted our own home. Even tho' the children had a big yard to play in, the landlord didn't want the children on the lawn...this just added to my frustration!

I started praying for a home (our very own) with a big yard and enough space for our family...I prayed constantly about it! I knew it didn't look very promising, because we were always broke, but I figured God would come thru'!

After praying very expectantly for a few months, I believed God was answering in a big way! Our landlord told us that he was going to sell his house (which was on the same property as our little farmhouse) and told us we would have to move. Bill would have stayed there forever at two hundred dollars per month so I thought YEHHH God!!!

It was during this time that I kept hearing in my heart (kind of like a song that you can't get out of your head) the words "EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY." That along with "Take joy in your troubles". I didn't know what to make of it until I heard a sermon on "Standing on the Promises of God."The message said that all of God's promises are there for us as His children to claim, as long as we obey God . Well, I looked in the Bible concordance and found Eph. 3:20 "Now unto Him who is able to do EXCEEDING, ABUNDANTLY more than we can ask or imagine according to the power at work within us." I loved this promise and memorized it promptly!!! The next scripture that I got was from James 1:2-3. "Take joy in your trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." I STILL do not have that verse memorized. I didn't like that one very much!!

Now came the hard part for me......waiting, waiting, and more waiting!!! I kept hearing my promise from God (Eph. 3:20) on the christian radio, or in a book, or from a card someone would send). I continued to stand on that promise and wasn't worried because I expected God to come and give our family a wonderful big home of our own!!! I wanted God to custom deliver it to us (because He could) but He was teaching me to trust Him as he brought our family THROUGH the hard times!!

Time was running out for our family to leave our farmhouse and we had been looking for a place, but no one seemed to want such a large family (boy what would happen now with our 14). I was still standing on the promise and we were looking hard but we kept getting a big NO everywhere we looked!

We thought we finally found something when a friend was selling his home in Hartford, WI. Bill's dad said he would help us to buy the house.... it looked as tho' the doors were opening for us! The day we were going to put in the offer, Bill's dad decided he couldn't help us. My world just caved in that day! I drove past that house at night and parked there and just wept and wept for an hour or so. I was devastated and had a hard time dealing with it! I finally let it go, and I still kept hearing my verse on a daily basis. If I didn't hear it, I would speak it out loud.

After a few more weeks, I saw an ad in the paper that was offering a home for rent with an option to buy in Okauchee, WI.

I called on this home and they said Yes to us. The option was for six months so I thought NO PROBLEM!! The only problem was the rent was three times what we had been paying.....hmmm we had trouble paying the two hundred a month.... how would God work this out????

Being hard working people, Bill got another full-time job.....to help God! He worked at his shop (Bilco) about sixty hours per week ..then another forty at Ernie Von Schledorn. Is this even possible??? The home was older (but not as old as the farmhouse), and it had a beautiful big yard. The house even had a fireplace! I thought God, you are awesome! Even tho' Bill was working so much and I was with the children with no breaks I had such peace!!! Bill and I moved ourselves and we loved our new home!!

My new prayer became God, if this is the home for us would you just show me a cross in the sky????? I was always looking for my cross in the sky! Time was passing quickly, and we were trying to get a loan for the home. We didn't have good credit, so no matter what we did we were refused. I was still confident that God would give us this house...we liked it, and it was SO peaceful!!

This was not the end, but the beginning of our journey!!!!


Part Two... The Problem
I fully believed that God would come through for me and my family, because I loved the house and couldn't believe that He would have us move AGAIN in six months...In the meantime, I kept on standing on Eph.3:20 "Now, unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, BEYOND all that we can ask or imagine according to the power at work within us"!!!!

During this time, my brother asked if he could move in with us... I said "sure"! He told us he would help with the rent, and occasionally babysit.

The problem was, I said yes to my brother without asking my husband......wives! DO NOT EVER DO THIS!!! I thought I could help (or manipulate) God.....duh! Well, my brother never helped, he would take our car (and get in accidents)...NOT GOOD!

I did ALOT of praying during this time and drew very close to God because I knew that I was not capable of being victorious in living in joy without His help!!!

I was still standing on my promise, and always looking up for a cross in the sky!!!

I was in the country, the children had a big yard to play in, so I thought this was it!!!

It was lonely at times, because I was long distance from all my friends (yes... before cell phones) but I felt cocooned in God's love. This is the time that the Lord became my closest friend!!

We tried every kind of bank and loan, but no one would give us a chance...and we were running out of options. I was still expecting God to come and save the day, so we could stay in this house...

Did you notice a lot of my sentences began with I... that was part of my problem..I was so concerned about my family that I began to tell God what to do and HOW!! That was a major part of my PROBLEM!!

Life was hard at this time, but good! I was coming to the end of myself, and that began a process of God working in me to lighten my grasp and open my hand to Him!

During this time, my brother came to the end of himself.. He had gotten into accidents with our car, drank too much and other things and he found nothing seemed to go right for him.
One night, he opened up and was ready to receive some prayer. On this night he asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior!!!! This was a huge blessing and we saw an immediate change! My brother was the person that said to me, "maybe this is a resting place(our house) and not where God ultimately wants you". That got me mad!!! I really wanted to stay in this house so I didn't want to hear any of that kind of talk!!

Bill had been working , plus trying to get a loan any time he could. nothing was working. We went on rent search, put an ad in the local paper, and asked for prayer on the local christian radio station.

Bill and I found ourselves once again desperately looking for a home. By now I had given up on the idea of owning a home since we had exhausted all avenues. Our six month option was just about up and I was still standing on the promise of Eph.3:20 and looking for my cross in the sky, but nothing was happening!

We checked out the only house we found...it was all the way in Green Lake. A huge house and Bill would have to stay at my folks during the week and come home on weekends. This house was the only option we could find so I finally said, if this is where you want us.. Thank you, God!
I was broken, but surrendered to whatever God wanted for us! This house didn't have a furnace either.... what's with that???? At this point I just didn't care anymore. I gave up!

We were at our last week at our "resting place" home and had to be out by Saturday. On Wednesday, I got a response from the ad I had put in the paper, and Mrs. Bourque wanted to meet with me and Bill. So, on Thurs. we met, she approved of us, and we started cleaning on Friday, so we could move in on Saturday. Mrs. Bourque had rented the house for the last sixteen years to a woman that had SIX cats!!! I have one son that was extremely allergic to cats, so we needed to do BIG CLEANING!!!

The person that had rented from Mrs. Bourque didn't have a vacuum, so it was filthy!
I was broken and at the end of myself!

All the packing.... AGAIN!! The cleaning of the house we were leaving plus the cleaning of what would be our "new" old home..It was the original schoolhouse in Brookfield.

I guess I would describe this phase of my life as confused, exhausted, and vulnerable.

The last move Bill and I did on our own, but this time my friends Pat and Linda surrounded me and helped me!! They even got a team together to help with the move.

On the evening Bill and I started to clean the house in Brookfield, two of our friends showed up to help!! Joe and Barb didn't know anything of my prayers and I was empty and not thinking too much about my prayer for a "cross in the sky"..... until....end of part two

Part Three .. The provision!!! "Cross in the sky"
After working all evening cleaning the house in Brookfield, we all walked outside. It was a very dark night and we were all exhausted (yes I was expecting again, too). After talking for a while and thanking Joe and Barb for helping, we were going to leave, but just before we did.... Barb looked up and said "Wow," LOOK AT THAT CROSS IN THE SKY!!!!" We looked up and there was a brilliant yellow fluorescent huge cross lit up! There was NO mistaking it!!! Barb had no knowledge of my prayer for all those months..... the cross was from a church down the street and against the black sky it looked just like a huge cross suspended by the velvety night!! I had been so down, that I don't believe I would've even seen that cross! After I saw that cross, I knew that God was in control, that He had heard every cry and prayer of my heart and He gave me an absolute miracle!! Time stood still for me as I tried to grasp the awesome love of my heavenly Father!

I never again questioned this move....I knew God had it all planned out in advance and I didn't question Him anymore....just thanked Him for being God and being good!!!

Well, the next day was moving day and we had loads of help! It actually made the move fast and fairly easy!

In the next couple of weeks, Mrs. Bourque would stop by on a regular basis to see how we were doing...she felt so bad that the house was so filthy when we were about to move in that she ordered us a brand new stove and refrigerator (frost free). Wow!!! We needed the appliances, too! She kept on telling us that we should buy her house! I kept dismissing the idea because we had just been through all of this! In fact, it was almost laughable!!!

After a few more weeks, Mrs. Bourque stopped by and told me "I really WANT you to buy this house!! I told her it was impossible and we couldn't get financing...to which she replied "I'll be your bank...you can buy it on land contract". I had never heard of this before, but hope was rising!!! After Bill and I discussed it we just went DUH! Isn't this what we were praying for???!!!
So, after five years we were able to get a conventional bank loan...we said YES! and the rest is history!!!

After three years in the house, it seems to be getting smaller.... could have been the nine children!!!! I got on my knees again, and prayed to God..."can I ask you for another sign if we can move"?? I heard in my heart..."I'll speak to your husband"! OH, NO! I knew this could be a LONG wait....in fact, we have now been at our home for twenty three years.....hmm......Now there are fourteen children and they are starting to get married. I think we need more room, but I will wait until God puts it on Bill's heart....hunker down for a LONG wait!!!! end of part three!

Part Four: Lessons Learned
So many emotions...so many lessons learned!
Bill and I learned that God is interested in the details of our lives. We found out that God doesn't just take us over the problems (like I would want) he takes us through them!!!!!
God also taught us to ASK!!! and to ask BIG!! If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough!!!

We learned that God doesn't need (or want) our "help".... He wants us to trust and obey Him!!!
We came to understand that His timing is perfect!! Never early, but ALWAYS on time!!!
God showed us that He works through His people.....to be Jesus with skin on! All the people that blessed us with help packing, moving, praying!!!! PRICELESS!

One of the biggest lessons we learned, was to STAND on the promises of God, and having done all..STAND!!!

Some miracles take time...and God works out ALL the details!
GOD IS GOOD!!!! ALL THE TIME!!!!!

All you need is Love

For a week I had been praying that I would be walking in Love. I wanted to shine for Jesus and be His special servant!!! Well, be careful for what you pray!!!
I guess I just expected God to answer my prayers because I told Him too!!!..........I guess that's called presumption!
A friend of mine and me were planning a women's retreat and we were having a planning meeting. In the middle of the meeting, a woman came up and interrupted our meeting and told me that she needed to talk to me.I told her that we were in a meeting and it would be awhile. Well...., she waited five minutes and told me she needed to talk to me now!! I excused myself and moved to the side of the room and said NOT HERE!!! I need to talk to you privately!
We moved to a private room and she started to blast me and my son. She told me how awful he was, and how he started a fight with her (perfect) son.. well, I knew the Whole story of what had transpired because my son had been totally humiliated by her husband screaming at my son in front of all his friends. After a few minutes, I was getting hot and could feel my flesh rising up.. I actually wanted to slap her!
After a few minutes the thought occured to me...This is a test!!! It's what you were praying for! SOOO.........I let her go on and on and on berating me and my son until she was done. Since I knew the truth...the whole truth, I was able to share that from their perspective it appeared that my son had pushed her son down...what actually happened was that Daniel had rushed in to break up a fight and was in the middle and pushed two boys away from each other. there vision was blocked so they didn't see the WHOLE thing! I let them know that Daniel felt humiliated and that he deserved an apology!!! That did not happen, but I did talk about knowing the WHOLE story!
After this I went into the prayer room and the woman in charge said "let's just write our thoughts down". I wrote furiously for twenty minutes and the leader said"Laurie, I noticed you writing alot...would you like to share"? Well, I remembered that I was in church so I thought it best not to talk like that in church!!! I realized that I had been praying to walk and respond in love and I do believe that I was given a test.... This time I kept my big mouth shut and passed!
God takes our prayers seriously and has such humor, too!!!! Be careful for what you pray for.. God loves you enough to show you and me how He delights to answer, and how much we need Him!!! I guess that's why we swear on the bible in court and promise to tell the truth, the WHOLE truth and nothing but the truth!!!

Exceedingly Abundantly!

My favorite scripture in the Bible is from Eph.3:20 "Now, unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that you can ask or imagine according to the power that is at work within you"
For our twentynineth wedding anniversary, Bill and I went to a favorite spot in Green Lake. We stayed overnight and were enjoying the sun and relaxing! We had a little balcony that overlooked the lake. In the morning we were sitting outside, enjoying the peace and view, with a cup of coffee. I voiced out loud..." wouldn't it be neat to see a fish jump"??? Well, within a minute we saw a show!!! Every minute, we'd see a big fish jump...really high out of the water!!! This show went on for about an hour... WOW!!!Talk about God taking you at your word and then going above and beyond!!!!!!!!!!

Pray on and on and on and on and on and onnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My children teach me so much!!!
Years ago, our jeep had been stolen from Bill's shop. Well, my children and Bill and I prayed for the jeep to be found. After a period of time, the children continued to pray, but in my spirit I had basically given up on this jeep ever being found!
The children prayed DAILY for the person that stole the jeep and for the jeep to be found and returned.
After three years of praying I was done. I told the kids that the Jeep was gone. Welllllllll... , one day , one of Bill's old employees came by the shop all excited. He was in Northen Wisconsin and saw a jeep being towed. Bill's jeep was very distinctive, because for one thing it was very old and had BILCO welded on the back bumper> The old employee turned and followed the driver and got his liscence. Sure enough... after calling the police and following the driver, it WAS BILL'S JEEP!!!! We never expected to see that Jeep again. The children totally believed that the Jeep would be found and returned!! Well, we got the Jeep back, but a storage company wanted to charge us one thousand dollars, for storing the car for a year! We told them a police report had been made,etc. and we found out the police had put the wrong vin. # down.... that explained why it just seemed to dissapear....although they tried to grind down the name Bilco on the bumper!!
After we got the Jeep back a young man was applying for a job at Bill's shop... He saw the Jeep and said "I think I know who stole your Jeep". We pursued it and sure enough.. there was a full confession! The person that stole the Jeep had to pay us .... one thousand dollars!!! How's that for getting double for your trouble??? (Isaiah61)
The kids taught us a lesson in praying, too! Luke 18:1 says" men ought ALWAYS to pray and NOT GIVE UP"!!!! That's what the kids did... Till the answer comes KEEP PRAYING!!!!
OH! And if that wasn't enough, I got some pictures developed, and there was a double exposure picture of our Thanksgiving dinner with THE JEEP in the middle of it.........
KEEP PRAYING!!!!............................. Till the answer comes!
Talk about the faith of children!!!!

JOY!

One beautiful Fall day, me and a few of my friends decided to go to a nature center with our children. When we pulled into the parking lot, I took note of a small red car with a single person in the car. I got a funny feeling, but let it go and thought it was because I was dreading the REALLY long walk! The group I was with had three fifteen passenger vans and a regular van. We unloaded the troups and were on our way. About half way thru' our trail a ranger came running up to us and said "did you come in the extended vans"??? He proceeded to tell us after we gave him an affirmative to his question, that two of the vans had been broken into. That got our attention and we ran all the way back to the parking lot.....................Sure enough , Vanna White (my vans name) had the driver's window smashed and my purse was gone......dumb person ..I didn't even have it locked! The other girlfriend, Vicki, also had the same thing! My other friend's van was left alone (could be because she had a big saint bernard in it. She also had all her casework for adopting a child from Bulgaria on the front seat, so it's a good thing the thief didn't get that!!!
It was frustrating cleaning the mess up and filling out the police report. The officer didn't give us much hope of recovery. The bad news was.......I had everyone of our families social security cards in my wallet. The college my oldest son went to kept having problems with my financial aid applications and they kept rejecting the number sisteen in our family! The day before I had to prove that there really was sixteen of us, so I brought everything to the college and it wouldn't work for the financial aid person until she tried the number nine (that's another story). SOOOOOOOOOOO...I didn't take out the cards and people started to warn me of identity theft (I was thinking if someone wanted my I.D. they'd be responsible for all my debt..) Anyway, I didn't have too much else in my wallet, but I did just cash a check for forty dollars for my sons when they babysat for someone.They were upset, too!!!
We prayed for the thief and asked for the money to come back. A couple of days later my friend got a call from the police saying they found two purses in a dumptster in Waukesha. There was no wallet in one purse so I didn't get a call. Vicki went to the police station and got her purse and recognized mine so she brought that to me. When I got it back I desperately dumped mine out hoping against hope that my wallet was there, and it was just to much of a mess to be seen easily. My wallet did not appear, but Vicki laughed because an ornament fell out. It was a large sliver star that simply said JOY. Vicki said, "At least they didn't steal your joy"!!!
The story doesn't end there. About a week later I received a call from a Hispanic person saying they found my wallet. I had a hard time understanding him because of the language barrier. I was given directions (to a terrible part of the town) and rang a door bell and walked up a narrow flight of stairs. It wasn't very smart of me to go alone but.... a woman opened the door and handed me MY WALLET!!! All I had to offer her was ten dollars, but I thanked her, gave her all the money I had and gave her a hug and left. When I looked in the wallet, the forty dollars was gone, but EVERYTHING else was intact! The cards, social security , liscence etc. WOW!!! I was thankful and relieved!
When I went to church the next Sun. someone came up to me with an envelope and handed it to me, and told me it was from someone else who didn't want me to know. I opened the envelope and there was a nice card in it and ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS! That is exactly double of what was stolen! Isahiah 61:7 says " Instead of your shame you shall have double honor and instead of confusion they shall REJOICE in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting JOY shall be theirs. "
Is God in control or what????!!!! Coincidence??? I Know It's not!!!!!!!

more fish stories

When I would try to fish up North, either my son Nathan would interrupt or the dogs! My sister has a hunting dog, and we have a black lab. When the dogs would see me head to the pier they would take that as their cue to come and "help" me!

I would stand at the end of the pier and the dogs would be on either side of me............ummm, a little crowded! As I would cast and reel in, the dogs would watch...... side to side, as I would reel back and forth continually. After doing this for about forty min. Copper ( the hunting dog) got hypnotized with watching the pole and fell into the water. Misty the lab, loves to swim, so she immediately thought PARTY in the lake and she jumped in after Copper! My line started to get tangled up in the mass of dogs, so I had to jump into the lake (and I love lakes, but DO NOT like to be IN them) to try to make sure that the dogs wouldn't get hooked! The dogs thought I came in to play so it was a circus! Finally, I got the fishing line untangled and went back on the pier and yes,.............. the dogs went back to their fishing posts, too!
Have any of you ever gone fishing and almost caught two dogs?!!!!! Talk about the big ones that got away!!!!

My fish story

My sister has a cabin in Northen Wi., and occasionally the family will go up North and stay for a few days. I love it up there as it is serene,beautiful and right on a lake!
I love to fish and I just go to the end of the pier and put a bobber on my pole and cast it out and reel it in nice and slow. I can think and just stare at the beauty around me and BE STILL!
After spending four solid days on the lake....yes up early, and up late fishing, I began to think there were no fish in that lake. It didn't help when my son Nathan ,(he was 6 at the time)set up a chair on the beach by the pier and started fishing too. He would cast awfully close to my head and narrowly miss me and I was really getting irritated. After about ten minutes of this torture,he was getting bored and started to throw rocks by where I was fishing. I yelled at him to stop!!!! I told him he was scaring any fish there were away and he said "no, I am scaring them to us". With that, he cast his pole again and immediately caught a big Northern pike! I was excited for him because these fish are fighters and he caught it by himself! Well, I was happy for Nathan, but now I was determined!!!! I went to the end of the pier and yelled "Lord, you say in your word that you do not show partiality "(have favorites) Acts 10:34....so you did it for Nathan (in spite of his sabbotage) now I want you to do it for me!!!! So, with attitude and expectancy, I cast my rod and.....after two casts I finally got my fish! It was a good size large mouth bass! I think
God was showing His humor with the big mouth!!!
Well, I went fishing and learned a good truth!So, if any of you are waiting for the normal, right way of doing things...........God is in control and He loves to surprise us and bless us!
As you go about your day, remember that God doesn't have favorites, sooooooooooooooo.....We are all his favorites! Now, that's a good thought!

" I just want to be served"

Sometimes life gets frustrating.doing the same thing over, and over, and over with seemingly little or no results!
I do ALOT of laundry, but there's ALWAYS more. I do dishes and you got it...more! I love things to be in order and like nice things , but I live in a home with lots of bodies, so no matter how much I do, or try to keep up...there's a mess somewhere!
One beautiful Autumn day, Bill rescued me from the toil (packers must have lost) and we decided to go on a car ride. From time to time we just take off and we never know where we'll end up (it's always like that when I drive----not on purpose and with a gps system, but that's another story).
We ended up by a small lake a couple hours away, and that's where a tiny seed of discontent was planted. I told Bill that I would like to be by water all the time.....it was calm and sparkling, with the sun making beautiful reflections all around. LOVELY! It was a nice little break, but then we came home! In just a day it looked like a tornado hit the house.....wet towels, dirty dishes...you get the picture.
I was mad. "The adage " If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"...........I am here to testify...It's TRUE! I made everyone miserable with my ranting...and then began to clean with reluctant help from the family.
A little later, I went out to get the mail (that nobody brought in the day before). On my way to the mailbox, a thought occured to me. It was "I just want to be served". I didn't voice it out loud, I just thought it. Well, it wasn't an hour later that my leg started to ache very badly. I found out that I had a blood clot on my leg. I thought back to the mailbox and told God I didn't mean it and was sorry! I really didn't want to be served.....I would serve gladly.... well, my bargaining didn't work and I was laid up for two weeks! I had to keep my leg up, and be served. I hated it and felt guilty! I recovered and decided I Love to serve (of course it's a love hate relationship and I have to battle my emotions about it).
About a week after this event, an acquaintance called and wanted to have lunch. I was excited at the opportunity to get to know Elaine a little better. We decided to meet at church, and from there we would decide where to go. When I arrived at Elmbrook Church, she told me she had a surprise for me. We walked around to the front of the building and WOW! Elaine had a blanket laid on the grass, and there was a crystal vase with beautiful flowers. She had fine china and dainty tea cups. There at Church I was served the most delicious lunch Chicken crossaints with fruit and veggies and for dessert.a fruit tart. The other thing that was so amazing was that we were sitting by Elmbook's pond. We were right by the water. Elaine had no idea of my struggles with self pity or anything. I barely knew her at that time.
Elaine ministered to my spirit and refreshed my soul. I will always cherish that day!!
What a terrific surprise!!!
On my way home, It hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been served!!!
God showed me my sinfulness, with not taking every thought into captivity and I was laid up for two weeks!
BUT, GOD!!! In His infinite wisdom showed me how much He loved me and sent Elaine into my life and heart! Thank you, Lord!!!
The day after I was so incredibly served I read in my devotional (Oswald Chambers)"Towels and dishes and sandals, all the ordinary sordid things of our lives, reveal more quickly than anything what we are made of. It takes God Almighty Incarnate in us to do the meanest duty as it ought to be done"
Okay, Lord..., thank you for making it plain and being patient with me!!!

It's all material!!!!!

I was asked to speak to the local Teen Mops group at their monthly meeting. Iwas excited because I love teens!!! I wanted to encourage them and let them know that I was proud of their decision to keep their babies instead of aborting them.
I really wanted to be a blessing to them so I was going to spend the whole day praying and listening to what God would have me share.
Good plan, right????
When I was on my way to the library, I got a call on my cell phone. It was the high school principal...........is that ever a good thing?????????? The high school was having exams at the time, and when he called it was to ask me to come to the high school immediately..oh, oh.. When I got to the school the first thing I saw was Daniel sitting with two other dejected looking young men (reminded me of see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil). The principal ushered me into his office and explained to me that Daniel and the other two young men left the campus and came back "high". He told the principal that it was all his fault, it was his weed, and his friends were innocent. The principal didn't believe Daniel, because he had never been in trouble before and the other two had. Daniel received a suspension, and was able to take his exam on a Saturday.
He admitted that it was wrong, and he was truly repentant....
Daniel could have been in a lot worse trouble, but the principal talked to him about the value of a good friend, and to have friends that would help him instead of hurting him or his reputation.
Well, I took Daniel to Bill's shop so he could talk to him man to man and put him to hard labor!
By the time I was done with all this, it was time for me to be at the teen center. I looked at Daniel and told him it was going to be o.k., but that he was my lesson that night! I let him know I would be writing a book and that he was giving me LOTS of material!!!
God says "bad company corrupts good morals" and all of us are known by the company we keep.
That night I talked to the girl's about choices and responsibility. YESSSSS!! I shared about Daniel ............he's still giving me material! WHEW! Thank- you God for second chances!!!!

best of both worlds!

This is a beautiful fall! Bright colors abound, and the weather is lovely. The colors reminded me of a time many years ago. My friend Gena and I would do crafts together and sell them at a craft fair. Gena would come to my house and we would work our magic in the kitchen while the kids would watch a movie or be playing.
On this particular day..we were happily crafting, and I was so blessed because the kids were playing so quietly for so long (that should have been a clue). I did think it was odd after a bit , so I went in the family room to check on them.
What a surprise!!! The kids liked the movie so much that they decided to bring the outside in so they could jump in the leaves! They kept going out the family room door and brought in a TON of leaves!! There was the room filled about two feet high with leaves! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.......but when I looked at there faces I asked them "well what are you waiting for"?
They had a blast jumping in the leaves and watching their movie!! Afterwards we had to rake....the family room!!! Now that's a fun Fall memory!

dominion

My son Justin loves weird animals! Some of his "pets"...I say this word loosely...have been, tarantulas, anoles, fish, turtles and Iguanas.
He had Two big Iguanas and from time to time they would have a jail break.He didn't always tell me when they were loose.one time I was lifting up some laundry on the basement floor and I uncovered one.Talk about shock and awe!!!
One day Justin told me (probably because of my previous reaction) that not one but both of those nasty (I mean) pets had escaped! This time I responded a little differently tho'. I was excited because I had just read in Gen. 2:26 "Then God said, "Let us make people in our own image, to be like ourselves.They will be masters (or have dominion) over all life- the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals and small animals".
I told Justin, Hey I know what to do!!! I just read about it so I told him that he had dominion over the beasts Chuck and Pigquana ....... (I mean, I told him to say "you Iguanas... In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to appear before me"........ Welll.... I just left him and totally forgot about them and "the situation"....until the next morning!
I woke up because I heard a strange sound... kind of like scratching. I sat up AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME (on my pillow to be exact) The Iguanas jumped up on my pillow, and our bed is high!!! The Iguanas appeared RIGHT BEFORE ME!!!
If any of you know me you can guess what my reaction was!! I woke everyone up.
I later asked Justin if he had commanded those things to appear before him and he said he forgot!!! IMAGINE THAT!!!
I am here to tell you....It's true what God says!
We have commanded other things to appear before us since then and God's word WORKS!!! TRY IT!

believin' lies

Recently, my son Nathan (the youngest) started acting up. This went on for about a month. He seemed angry, said he was stupid and was not happy!
One day, as I watched him and saw how miserable he was, I told him to come and sit by me. There's a verse in proverbs that says "As a man thinks in his heart, so he goes" or where the mind goes , the body follows. I just started to tell him to think about what he was thinking about! I said how much Bill and I love him, and told him he needed to talk to himself in a way that God sees him! I told him that "he was fearfully and wonderfully made"...Ps.139 and that God doesn't make stupid people.Scripture also says that "we have the mind of Christ". I ended our conversation by telling him not to talk badly to himself, and not to believe those lies...( I know we all do it at times. I will tell myself what a dummy I am or tell myself that was stupid.)
I gave him a hug and that was that... I didn't know if he really heard my heart or not.
The next day Nathan came and sat by me and said "Mom, remember when I was believing all those lies"????
I was so blessed that he received what I had said and more excited by the transformation I saw in him! Back was my sweet sensitive, kind son!!!!
This was a visible lesson for me, as I saw the power of words and how important it is to not believe lies I (or you) tell ourselves!! Practice with me... I am God's workmanship. I am loved, I have gifts and talents. God says "I am altogether lovely" Your turn now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Craving Chinese

My husband is the best!!! He is patient and has always put up with my goofs!
One day, I had such a craving for Chinese food! I was pregnant, and I REALLY wanted some.............so Bill told me to call the restaurant and order what I wanted! That was the first mistake!!! I asked what the menu was and it ALL sounded soooooooooooo good....so I ordered about four entrees.oops... I mean ooooooooooooopppppppppppppsssssssssss!
Bill picked up the order on the way home from work and when he came in he was a little red in the face. I asked him if he was okay, and he just said 'what were you thinking"???? I wasn't thinking anything I guess...until he told me the cost of what I had ordered! He told me that he hoped I was REALLY hungry!!! When Bill brought the food into the house though, I told him to take it back out and quick! The smell of it made me sick (not because it was bad) I had nausea from the pregnancy. It was winter, but he couldn't have any in the house and I certainly didn't want any now!! We ended up giving all of that food away that night .
Bill wasn't real happy with me as money was always tight, but he wrapped his arms around me and tried to comfort me because I was so sick. He told me it was o.k. !!! What a man!!
Now Bill orders the food if we order out.fancy that!!!
That's love! He didn't try to punish me with words of how dumb I was, didn't tell me we couldn't afford it etc. etc. He forgave me and that was that!
That's just like God when I screw up.again,and again, and again.......sometimes I think He even smiles as Psalm 103 says "He removes our sin as far as the East is from the West".
Thank you Bill for showing Christlikeness to me continually! I love that man!

Stand Out!!!!

Autumn is beautiful in Wisconsin!!! This year the colors are really vibrant!
As I was driving down the road I noticed a sea of green and every once in a while there would be a brilliant splash of bright red and orange... simply breathtaking!!!
I am pretty much a word picture learner, and when I saw this I thought...this is how God wants each of us to be. We are to stand out in our lives! In wherever we are and go, we can stand out....with kindness, joy, love, service, in every way.
Tofu is a food filler and it's good. it has protein and blends with what you are cooking...nothing stand-out. Hot chili peppers definately make a difference! you know when you've eaten one!!! They really add spice and zing (maybe a little heartburn if you have too much).
As you go out at this time of year, look around and be in wonderment at the beauty with the colors around you.....you'll see how the awesome colors usually are surrounded by green. Think of how you can be your personal best and STAND OUT in this life you are blessed with.God says,in Matthew 5:13 that "You are the salt of the earth". Salt is flavorful and makes food taste better.but too much and it's grose!Let's be flavorful, and do our best to stand out like the brilliant trees, and be like hot chili peppers in our world!!!!!God has made everyone different and unique..don't be like tofu and blend in . Be the YOU that God called you to be!!!!! STAND-OUT!!

full circleI

I grew up in a nice little subdivision in the town of Lisbon. I was eleven when we moved there and it was a real neighborhood. The first family we met were the Goepels. I LOVE this family!!!! I practically lived at their house. They had four young children. three boys and a daughter...was God preparing me back then?????????
I would babysit them, clean their house, cut their grass and sometimes just hang out!
As time went on, I even had Chris (who will always be Dolly to me ) stand up in my wedding.
The neighborhood kids would come over and I would teach them stunts, songs and play games....(I was the oldest).
Now, after being married for thirty years, the neighborhood has changed in some ways. My daughters, help me take care of Grandma along with my sis. After the children put grandma to bed they have gone out and made some good friends,..(and so have I)..
The older Goepels have sold their home and live around here for part of the year, then in Florida and there are alot of new young families but........................ one day I saw a young girl and I was instantly back forty years.She was the spitting image of the kids I had grown to love and help take care of so many years ago! I found out that the Goepel family sold their home to their son and now their daughter is a friend of my daughters and our families. I love her Mom and of course her husband!!! It is so wonderful that as my children serve their grandma, they have been blessed with a forever friend.Danielle and for me Debbie!!! It's come full circle and the kids have joined in the neighborhood and BELONG!!! FULL CIRCLE!!!!!!! What a great blessing!

Top Model

When I was little , I wanted to be a glamorous model......yes I was/am kind of shallow sometimes!
After college, I got a teaching job. I loved this job! I taught first grade and it was wonderful watching a new world of reading and writing open up for the children.SOOOOOOOOO exciting! First graders notice everything.......when I would wear different earrings, or get my haircut. They would all try to be my little "pet" and I loved them! I found out what a powerful influence I had in there lives. The children would mimic so much of what I intentionally AND unintentionally did! I learned so much from these children, and the old adage is so true...More is "caught than taught".
As I fast forward to my present life, I reflect and smile at the dreams I had. I thought my influence would be a tangible thing, but the most meaningful I've done for the children that I taught in school, sunday school and now at home with fourteen of my own is simple... It has been to love them, discipline them,and MODEL( washing dishes, floors, going shopping,doing laundry.... LAUNDRY......LAUNDRYand more LAUNDRY!) It has been doing the same thing over and over and over even if I didn't feel like it as God says, In season and out"..whether I feellike it or not. The children are now models to me , their grandma, and school friends . They have learned by watching Bill and me to get up and do what is in front of them whether it's convenient or not....to persevere..and be faithful to try to do there best!
My point is this ...You and me,We are top models in every attitude we have, how we treat others, and if we are willing to clean the toilet AGAIN even when nobody seems to notice. God sees!!!.He is El-ROY that is the Lord who sees.AND he knows our heart intention (oh oh)
My challenge to all you other Top Models like me is to" NOT GROW WEARY for in due season you WILL reap a harvest if you do not give up.". Gal. 6:9 ...I'm expecting a BIG one!

"Happily ever after"

When I was little I used to think that I would help better the world by joining the Peace Corps...........and in between I would be a princess, Miss America, a model, rock star and of course live "happily ever after"
when I got married, my husband would ride up on a white horse (even tho' I am terrified of them) and we would ride off into the sunset..........again "happily ever after".
When the time was right, we would have our perfect family, with three children, which of course would be perfect, too! I would never have a child throwing a tantrum, or being rude....and of course, they would Never be dirty or have a runny nose!
Welllll....right about now I would LOVE to show you my "perfect" family!
I really did try hard to keep everything together for the first three children(which I thought was our limit), but then God interrupted all My plans and started to share His plans with Bill and me.
We asked for counsel about children, and family size...we prayed, we fasted...everyone told us to stop at three. We didn't have peace, so we prayed and waited .after about a month Bill asked me if I had an answer and I asked him.
Now there are fourteen children . We got an answer and obeyed! The only way to do this was by obedience and unity.
After our three children, the twins came along! After this everyone gave up on us!!!!We were told we would Never be able to afford these children(and that's true),we would never be able to offer these children extra benefits(that's true) we were even told by church leaders to STOP having children! I don't believe everyone is called to have a large family, but I KNOW WE WERE! I would rather obey God than man ANY DAY!! God says All things are possible with God!!! I believe
When the children were younger, they thought that their clothes came "from the bag".(sometimes someone would give us their children's old clothes)
God is soooooooooooo good! He does it all! When I had three children I would mop the floor three times a day and vacume a couple times a day. After the twins came (four children two and under and a four year old) I just couldn't! God was showing me that I was so desperately trying to make the outside look good because my insides needed to be cleaned up! Well, nothing is so freeing as coming to the point of I CAN'T!!! I told the Lord that I couln't do it anymore and He just released me to be me!
My children all spit-up..(alot),they had snotty noses and LOVED dirt!! (STILL DO).Nine sons and Sunday Football.
Bill and I learned more about our Lord thru' utter dependance on Him. With our lack God showed Himself as Jehovah- Jireh (our provider)With everything we didn't have God would bring a friend to help, an extra job for Bill and we saw God in our everyday lives.
SO do we have the perfect family? I still have children in the "middle" of their testimoney.they get in trouble, fight with each other (the girls have clothes wars) it's messy here.not my ideal but I wouldn't trade it for anything! We love each other and i know God is at work....and we are living "happily ever after" it's just not how my childish vision was! I also believe that we are all world changers....one heart at a time!

It really is a wonderful life!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is fragile................a few weeks ago we found out how true this is!
My husband Bill came to bed (I was already sleeping). He stood by my side of the bed, and put my hand on his chest and told me to pray. I was kind of groggy but obeyed. He told me that there was tremendous pressure on his chest, and that he was having a hard time catching his breath.............well, that got me to really start praying! Bill thought he was doing better for a while and then he came right back and told me to pray and NOT stop! Well, I think I fell asleep after awhile, and he told me I was praying in my sleep! Finally, he felt relief, and just wanted to go to bed....and YES I did try to convince him to go to the hospital.Bill seemed ok the next day, but still short of breath. The next morning I told him this isn't normal and wer'e going to urgent care. Big surprise! HE AGREED! We went to a nearby Urgent Care and they told us it was a 2/1/2 -3 hr. wait... then the receptionist asked me where Bill was, and I told her he needed to sit down as he was out of breath... they moved immediately! The Dr. saw him, ran blood tests.....no heart attack(THANK GOD) but the Dr. was concerned so told us to go IMMEDIATELY to the hospital. Since it was Labor Day the next day, Bill thought he could take the next day off if need be.After a cat scan, he was informed that he had had a pulmonary embolism. A huge clot had passed thru' his heart and is resting on the "saddle" of his lungs. He was told by 3 dr.s that he should not be alive! After more ultrasounds a huge clot was also found in his leg. Bill had a procedure done where a filter was put in him to help block any other clots that could cut loose.
After 4 days in I.C.U. he had all the family together along with a few friends. We kind of spontaneously grabbed hands and prayed for Mr. Bill...... there were at least 15 of us gathered there.... later, Bill and I were talking and he said that he felt just like George Bailey in "It's a wonderful life".... so blessed! Thank you to all our friends who interceded for Bill and our family! We felt your prayers and are convinced that all of you helped Bill with his miracle recovery!! We LOVE YOU!!!!!
It IS a WONDERFUL LIFE!!!!!!!!!!

PERSERVERANCE

When my so Ryan was a jr. in high school, he taught me a wonderful truth about perservance.that is GOIN' THRU'.
Ryan was typing up a huge term paper on our computer. Sarah, our daughter who was 2 at the time....just loved to be around Ryan..............and she was kind of a cute "pet" for him! She would follow him everywhere, and just want to be around him. This particular night, as he worked so hard and looonnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggg typing this paper.............Sarah decided she would "help" and pushed a button on the computer.She was NOT his pet for awhile after that!!!! OPPPPPPS!! I mean OOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSSS! Whatever she did was NOT good! We could not get the computer to save, print, nothing!
The next step was taking Ryan to "Kinko's" ...a place that stayed open 24/7. Soooo, we let Ryan type for about 2 hrs. and their computer pooped out.they could not save anything.. they decided to waive the fee Since it was their fault).So , he started to type AGAIN and what do you think?????????????? It happened ALL OVER AGAIN!!! Since it was "Kinko's" fault , they again didn't charge us, but it was now 2:00 a.m. Well, Ryan kept plugging and at 4:00 a.m. he had success!!!!
I don't know if I could have kept going... he really pressed thru' and completed his course! His teacher had NO idea of what he (and we) had gone thru' for him to complete his assignment on time, but I knew that God knew!
We had a computer repair man come the next day.he charged us alot, and couldn't figure it out.then we had a friend that was good with computers come over and take the computer apart and what do you suppose he found?! There was a BASBALL card stuck in the place you put c.ds . The problem was solved, Ryan got his paper done (with an A) AND.. we learned such a valuable lesson from him by watching how he "set his face like flint" to complete his course..Colosian s 4:17 says "see to it that you COMPLETE the work the Lord has given you" It's easy to start well, but to keep going amidst life's difficulties?
Romans 5: 3-5 says "and not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope. Now, hope does not dissapoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us".
thank you for teaching us to set our face like flint (as Jesus did ) when He went to Jerusalem !
Thank you, Lord for the picture you gave to our home about goin' thru'!!!!! and how you meet us And reward us!

It's not about you, honey!

One Sunday, a few years back, I was asked to pray for the church service. I had prayed about what to pray about, and was a little nervous, but thought I had a general idea.......until....................I went upstairs to change and was getting really upset because "I had NOTHING to wear". I threw most of my clothes on the bed , tried on a bunch and nothing looked good! It was then that I heard a voice in my heart yell at me! Laurie, it's NOT about you, honey!!!!(at least He called me honey)..... And furthermore you are displaying PRIDE and I HATE PRIDE!
Well, I didn't need to hear anymore! I said I was sorry to the Lord for being more concerned about me and how I looked, rather than honor the Lord!
I just grabbed a blouse and put in on and came downstairs. My husband is VERY unobservant about stuff like clothes, but he took one look at me and said, "you're kind of wrinkly" (I was wearing a linen blouse) but I just said It's not about me" and
off we went to church.
Just before I went up to pray, the song Heart of worship" came on and I thanked God for doubly reminding me .there's a line in the song that says, I'm coming back to the heart of worship and it's all about You, it's all about YOU, JESUS". So when I went up to pray I was able to share why I was "wrinkled"...... and was able to share that when I am in heaven I will be without "spot OR WRINKLE"! Thank you, God you are so good!!

Thinkin' back!!!

Here I am at home alone! I didn't think it would ever happen. The children are in school (elementary, middle, high school,and college). The others are at work and it is quiet.....even Max (the dog, is sleeping).
Our house has always been so loud this seems strange......... now I am thinking back to when I named my house (affectionaely) " The Zoo".
Many year's ago, I tried going to a bible study......I thought it would be great to get out and learn how to live this "christian life".
The study was good, but afterwards, I was trying to catch my two year old run-a-way in the church lobby, juggle my one year old holding my hand carry the huge diaper bag while waddeling my VERY PREGNANT body with little (actually NO) success!
An older woman must have seen my MOM look.............you know it, and even that wasn't working to rally in two year old Ryan. She approached me and said Oh, honey enjoy these days............welllllll.....................I won't tell you what I was thinking (after all, I was in church) .
I finally captured Ryan and just stewed at the audacity of that woman! Now 23 years later, I would LOVE to find that lady and thank her for her wisdom as I reflect fondly, of those crazy days that happen in a blink! She was right and as I think back I do enjoy those days......... and it will be the advice I will give to others, too!!!!Enjoy the little things...........they are tomorrow's memories!!!!

Can you hear me now???????

I love life..the ups and downs, beauty all around, I can tell it's a new day especially by the sounds!!! It started very early with the alarm clock blaring, then children in showers with the music on LOUD. Max barking to go out and then school buses humming.
Now I am sitting and trying to be still, so I can listen to what God says so I will obey His will. WELLLL..... you can see how this is not working too well for me, try as I, do I'm still hooked up to the satelite, or the t.v. It's hard to be still even tho' try as I will!!!
God says in His word to "Be still and KNOW that I am God".
It's so easy for me to rattle off my wants, then run off to busyness ....and at the end of the day nothing seems to be done!
I get frustrated when I am not heard...yet how dare I run off in MY world without looking in HIS word!
The God of this universe, most awesome of all....has big plans for me and you as well. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, to give you a future and a hope".
The verizon ad from a couple years ago is sooooo true we're so busy talking we really don't know what to do. Can you hear me yet???? can you hear me yettt?????
That's what I think God is saying to me....I'd be willing to bet!
Today is a new day, I will listen and trust, that God will guide me this day as I deliberately take TIME to HEAR AND OBEY!!!!
The old saying so precious and true is my new reminder for me and for you.
"Yesterday has passed. we call it history. the future is coming ....it's a mystery. today is a gift.that's why we call it the present" .
Today,


I will deliberately look in people's eyes, I will smile at people as they pass on by. I will not multi-task while talking with my kids and I will study your word, Lord and ask for your help to do your will!!!
Thank you for your patience with me everyday. I'm so glad you understand me and love me anyway !!
Open my ears to hear your sweet voice to guide me and lead me with your perfect plan!!!!!
O.K., I'll be quiet now!!!!!!! (and be still)
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! I do hear you Lord!! I LOVE YOU , TOO!!!! YES, I'll spread the word.it's not just me He loves, He loves each and every one of you too!!!!!
Have a great day!

amy scissorhands!

Amy is my daughter. She is beautiful and creative!!!
one day when I had some errands to run, the older children were babysitting. I got a phone call from the kids to "COME HOME QUICK"!!! They told me Amy grabbed a pair of scissors, and decided to cut the electric fan cord..yes, while it was turned on. The power went out for the house , sparks flew, and there was a burning odor through out the house! The only thing that kept Amy from being burned were the rubber handles on the scissors.....(and the angels that were watching over her). I was so glad that the children were o.k. that I wasn't too hard on them. They were plenty scared! When iI asked Amy why she did that guess what typical answer I got??? "I don't know"!
.After Amy's initial scissors experience, I really thought she was "cured"..............but she went on to cut her sister's American girl doll(which had to go to the doll hospital to be fixed), then she cut her sister's hair which was long,curly and a beautiful shade of reddish blonde. She cut it so short that the only thing we could do was put it in a half inch tree top!!! It's a good thing Elisabeth has a good self image.
The next major thing Amy decided to cut, could have been majorally humiliating! Bill and I were on our way to a wedding and i had on my dress (my only dress).... As we sat down in the car I thought to myself..."I didn't remember this dress having fringes". As we kept going, I realized, IT DIDN'T!!! At first I thought I could get away with it, but was afraid that if I made one false move it would split all the way up! I was shocked and thought WHO DID THIS??(for about two seconds) ....We had to go home and I wore pants. The funny thing is, is that all this happened before Amy was THREE!
Amy still remember's, as do the ones who survived Amy Scissorhands!!
Amy's goal is to be a nurse,or a hairdresser.fancy that!!
Psalm 91 says"He will give His angels charge over thee to guard thee in all thy ways" WE BELIEVE!!!

I just want to bless you!!!

Last week we took the youngest children to Bay Beach in Green Bay............nice inexpensive amusement park. I even checked the weather,,scattered shower in the a.m., then hot , humid and storms in the evening. PERFECT!!! I had a picnic lunch packed and off we went. Have any of you traveled for more than 2 hours with hot, anxious children???????? Are we there yet? How much longer? Can we stop at the next exit? On and on and on and onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!
I explained to the kids (nicely at first) that we wanted to enjoy the day with them and have some fun and Bless them!!!
WELLLLL!! after what seemed like forever we arrived. It was really hot and CROWDED. There were 3 bus loads of children's camps with the same idea we had! well, we were on perhaps 3 rides and it was getting overcast. Against my better judgement, I agreed to go on the ferris wheel with Nathan(our youngest). I really, I mean REALLY do not like heights but I thought "how bad could it be"???? Dumb question, huh???
When the ferris wheel was stopped at the very top with you guessed it stuck there swaying in the wind because a storm kicked up.......with lightning and pouring rain I ALMOST laughed at the irony of it all.but I was almost crying from fear. they stopped the ferris wheel and had everybody get off, but they said they had to balance the load so we kept getting bypassed and were always stuck on the very top! It was NOT a fun ride!!!! YESSSSSSSSSS! we were the very last to get off. possibly because Nathan screamed "let us OFF, you jerks"!
Free at last we were free at LAST!!! We ran to the car and even tho' it was 90 we were soaked and freezing! we decided to drive around till the rain stopped and grab a bite to eat..... until we were stuck in town because of the FLASH FLOODING in the streets! we finally got on our way home and could barely see the road to drive......and all the way home the fighting started AGAIN! I held out my hands to the kids and said "we just want to bless you". I heard myself say it and as i did , I thought... that's exactly how God feels. I whine and grumble about everything and all the while God wants to bless me. Yikes!
I felt convicted for not receiving God's blessings cuz i was too busy complaining!
I'm sorry , Lord and am ready to be blessed to be a blessing! Thank-You!!!! (for being soooooooooo patient with me)

redeemed!

Life is BUSY!!!! I help take care of my 91 year old mom, as do my daughters when not in school or ballet. My life consists of running children to ballet, work, my mom's, sports for my son, shopping, cleaning, cooking...etc. etc. I have been given the responsibility of walking the dog and making sure he's fed lately, too!
One particular day,I had cleaned, taken the dog out and was tired! The dog "MAX", escaped when someone opened the door (apparently he felt he needed to get more exercise). WELL, I called that dog, chased him , tried bribing him and he would just look at me, stop for a second, (and i'm sure he was laughing at me) and keep running. This wasn't the first time he took himself for a walk but it was the longest! To add to this our neighbor complained about our "vicious" dog, (he is afraid of his own shadow)..... and this was after they had told me they loved it when Max visited, because their dog got exercise then!
After a couple of hours, Max came home.......................................
Now comes my excuse... I HAD HAD IT!! Anyone ever feel like that???? i told my children Max was done here! The very next day i had my son drop him off at a humane society. My daughter especially felt bad, but I WAS DONE!!! That was that, right???? NOT! After a peaceful quiet day (with no barking or chasing) i went to bed. After a couple hours I woke up and try as I
would I could not get back to sleep. And I love to sleep. toward morning I started to drift off , and I heard a voice (in my heart) yell at me..........What about you Laurie... I redeemed you, you sinner! All i had been thinking about that night was Max and hoping he was o.k., a good family would get him .... well I knew what the Lord was telling me to do.
Talk about confusing my family! I told my husband what had happened and he told me to go buy him back............. that's what being redeemed is ..to be bought back. That's what Jesus did for us... by going to the cross and dying for us HE paid the price for our sin debt, and REDEEMED us from eternal death. our job is to believe it!
So I went to the humane society and paid his debt............I bought my little sinner back and had to pay for his shot, liscence, medicine...(poor thing had an ear infection) new collar, and to top it off I gave him a shampoo and shave AND a new toy. I really felt guilty! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..................$$$$$$300.00 dollars later we bought our sinner back and cleaned him up. we even got a tag with his name on it. He had an IDENTITY!!! I believe He knew what had transpired!!! he even acted like he was "all that". Atfer this, i was sitting in my chair, and he jumped on my lap and leaned against me (he was saying "thank you" i just know it) and he is not a lap dog. he's BIG!!!
I wish I could say he is now a perfect dog.....he still runs away now and again, still barks and is annoying but he knows he belongs. Wish I could say i'm perfect cuz i've been redeemed but as you can tell from my story I'm still in process, too.............me and Max!!!!