Life Changes Quickly

When I wrote the last post I was expecting too be too busy to write another one before our trip, but instead our computer quite working. Then my cell phone wouldn't turn on. A trip to the electronic store revealed that it had moisture damage. It wasn't dropped in the wash water this time, but praise the Lord it was time for us to renew the contract and picking a free phone replacement was very nice. It was actually quite a nice break, not feeling the draw to check the e-mail or facebook, but then came the downside. While talking to a friend we found out that another friend, missionary to Holland, had been killed in a car accident the day before. It's been heavy on our hearts ever since. We're extremely thankful that there's no doubt that He's with the Lord and try to stay focused on that blessing, but it's hard not to think about his little family left behind. All the thoughts that come about what we would do were we in that situation. I know that it doesn't help anybody to dwell on it, but it has helped us to talk through somewhat of a plan, were it to happen to one of us. When you're young, you don't spend a lot of time thinking about it, thus the shock when it happens to friends. Much of our thoughts and prayers go out to Collette and the 3 little ones. We praise the Lord for those helping to get her packed up and ready to move back to Canada. We praise the Lord for their dedication and willingness to leave all to go and serve the Lord over in Holland. We praise the Lord for the opportunities that He gave them to witness to those they came in contact during the time He gave them over there and pray that those people would be saved as a result of Joel and Collette's testimonies. Especially the neighbors that they were so burdened for. We pray that they would come to know the Lord and to be a fruit left to spread the Gospel further across Holland in Joel and Collette's place. We pray for the Kamps(fellow missionaries in Holland), who were so excited to finally have helpers in the ministry. We pray that the Lord would sustain them, encourage them and draw another family to help in place of the Michels. We pray for Collette as she seeks the Lord's wisdom on a place to live and getting through all the daily needs of the children as they all grieve. We pray that the Lord would keep them in our hearts and minds, not forgetting them in this time of need, though the busyness of life overtake us. There was a video of Joel singing his last special at church posted today. It was such an amazing blessing to hear him singing, "Lord send me anywhere, only go with me". The Lord was truly with Joel and Joel with be with the Lord for eternity. What a blessed thought! It's amazing how many tears the Lord has given us in times like these. I just pray that He uses what is so painful to many of us right now to bring much rejoicing in the future. All else seems so inconsequential lately. We would normally be more upset about the loss of all the info and pictures from our computer, but we both truly feel that it is nothing in comparison with the loss of a loved one. We can't take the pictures with us to Heaven, but praise the Lord we have the assurance of knowing that we'll see Joel there again when the Lord calls us home:). I'll close off this post with a poem by C.T. Studd that we have up in our bedroom.


"Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past"

C.T. Studd

"Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

O let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I'll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee."

Getting ready for the fair!

There's quite a lot of excitement around here as the little ones are getting ready their entries for the Castor Fair. There are collections being gathered, penmanship samples being copied, lego creations being built, etc... I should probably take some pictures of their entries to post on here after we get back, but I'm not that organized yet. I've only been to one other fair in my life and it was the Washington State Fair. I was a teenager/young adult and thought it was quite neat. I've been watching others post pictures as their kids entered into their local fairs this summer and I'm getting quite excited to see what happens in the days ahead. Elyssia has some baking and flower arranging to do once we get to Nana's next week. The boys are super excited to make animal sculptures out of vegetables! It should be very interesting.

This week has flown by quickly. The meat birds only have another week or so before their "last day". Not sure I'm excited about that, but we do like chicken:). It will be wonderful to have the barn complete and all the bags of feed moved out of our living room!

Looking forward to posting lots of pictures over the course of the month.

I had a tater tot casserole recipe that someone shared on facebook recently. I shared it so that I would remember to try making it sometime. Tonight was the night for making it and I have to say it was an epic fail for this family. It wasn't awful, but it also wasn't that great. Only Scott, Caleb and Addie ate theirs without a comment about not liking it. Kiersten couldn't bring herself to finish it even after slathering it in ketchup and the hope of blueberry pie if she finished it. The rest of us just finished ours for the sake of getting pie:))). So, it's been deleted from my page and hopefully we'll have better recipes to share in the future. That's only one out of 4 in the thousands of meals I've made in the past 10 years that I would say that we won't be making again. Not sure why, but just telling the truth:).

Tuesday I have a Dr. Appt. and look forward to hearing the baby's heartbeat. The baby was under the bone the last time and we couldn't really hear the heartbeat. The baby is definitely higher up this time, so it shouldn't be a problem. Then I should be scheduled for my ultrasound. The one that tests whether I have the willpower to say "let it stay a secret until delivery" or "okay, curiosity is getting the better of me, just let me know:)."

I'm including a lot in this post because I don't think I'll get in another one until we get back next Saturday. I kinda feel bad because next Friday is our 10th wedding anniversary and the kids and I will be in Alberta. If it wasn't for work and animal chores Scott could come with us, but such is farm life... I think we can find a way to make up for it when we get back. Plus we're hoping to make a getaway sometime after the goat is dried up and before this baby is born.

I've had an amazing time reading through some of Dad's books by Dave Hunt. Not sure why I didn't read them sooner, since they've been in the bookshelf for about 7 years. Maybe the Lord just knew it was the right time for me to read them and soak it all in at this point in my life. So much to think and pray about. Lots of areas to ask the Lord to help me to grow in. Thankful for His wonderful gift of salvation and his mercy, which is new every morning.