Life is Hard, But God is Good.

A week ago this time, my big brother, Jeremiah, was told that in approximately four days he would be deploying again...this time to Afghanistan. When my mom called me late last Monday night & told me, I was totally shocked, & then came the tears. Neither of Jeremiah's other two deployments had been easy, but for some reason this one hit me a lot harder. Probably because we were all taken SO off-guard, none of us had gotten to say goodbye, & in the middle of one of the busiest weeks of the semester, there was NO way I could take off of school to go down to Tennessee. Well, no way without God, & how easily I forget the amazing way the Lord works things out. 

I knew my brother was just as surprised as we were at having to get all of his responsibilities in order with only 4 days until he was deployed. I was so discouraged & broken that I wouldn't be able to properly say goodbye to Jeremiah that I spent every break crying between each of my 5 classes on Tuesday. I just couldn't understand how this could be happening.  

My brother called me at work Tuesday night & we just talked for a few minutes; he told me that this deployment would be shorter, only about 6 months, & that I shouldn't worry because he would be fine. He also told me that Ben & Rebecca (my sister & brother-in-law) were going to be coming down to see him before he left. I told him I would do anything to be able to come, but it just wasn't possible. He assured me that it was ok, but it didn't feel ok. After talking to him, I skyped with my older sister Amber; she urged me to try anything I could to find a way down there. I told her the same thing I told Jer; it just was not possible right now! 

I had been gone all weekend on a ministry trip, and I was still behind in schoolwork from that. I was also scheduled to work 5 hours Thursday night & 8 hours Saturday afternoon. I had two tests, three quizzes, and two assignments due. I didn't have a car to get back to Chetek before my family would be leaving to see him. I also didn't have any personal cuts left for one of my classes, so that would have an effect on my GPA unless the academic committee granted me emergency cuts. I was also scheduled to perform a movement of a Beethoven sonata the following Monday & still had some memorization work to do....it just seemed impossible in my eyes!

After work I went back to my room & just started crying again in frustration. My roommate came over & told me to pray about it. I am ashamed to admit it, but I have to be honest; I really did not want to pray about it!! There was no way it was going to happen, & putting any hope in going just seemed pointless. So my wonderful roommate just prayed for me & the situation. 

Well, Wednesday came &I received a text from my mom; she wanted to let me know that she would be going to Tennessee as well. That made me want to go even more, & something made me ask when they were leaving, which was 7:30 that night. Which meant if I were going to go with, I needed to find people to cover both work shifts, I needed to get extensions on assignments, re-schedules tests, AND find a car, all in-between my classes & before 3:30 to leave time for the 4 hour drive. Well, long story short--God worked it out!!

In the 5 hour period I had between when I decided to try to go & the time I actually left, the Lord had somehow secured a car for me, worked out my class & test schedule, found work replacements for me, & everything inbetween!!! He is SO good!

The drive back to Chetek was stressful, but I made it just in time to go directly from my car into the car we would be taking down to Tennessee. Ben drove through the night & we woke up in Kentucky (it was SO beautiful!) I hadn't been to Kentucky in several years & I absolutely love that area, so it was refreshing to be back =) After a few more driving hours, we met Jeremiah for breakfast & I got to surprise him! 

It was SO nice to have a day together with Jeremiah, Ben, Becca, my little niece Tatym, & my Mom. There was also another surprise; my dad, who has been working out of state for the past 2 months, drove 32 hrs to be there & see Jer off, so that was great. I know it meant a lot to my brother to have him make the trip. 

Please pray for Jeremiah & the rest of the troops as they are in harm's way. We have not heard anything since we said goodbye, & Jeremiah told us that there will most likely be very little communication throughout the deployment. The Lord has always protected him in his past 2 deployments & we trust Him in this one too. 

May Madness

Can I breathe yet? Lol. Here we go again, I’ve been neglecting my blog & now I’m going to try to catch you all up on some of the things that have been going on. To make it easier, I’ll just stick with recapping the past couple of days. =)

This past weekend was pretty hectic.  Saturday Northland held an event called “Springfest.” It is basically a day where they put on carnival games, basketball & volleyball tournaments, & several preaching sessions as well. We had beautiful weather & a great turn out of over 800 teens & sponsors!! I was able to be a teen representative for my youth group back home; they brought about 40 kids up for the weekend. It was great to catch up with some of my friends & also spend some time getting to know some of the younger girls as well.

Bob Roberts was the evangelist that preached that day & he gave 2 clear presentations of the gospel & there were quite a few salvation decisions made. Praise the Lord!! Then, for his third session he spoke about Paul & the importance of selling out completely for the gospel. It was a great day & I pray that the Lord will continue t work in the hearts of everyone who attended.

Springfest wrapped up at about 6:00 p.m. & my friend Stephanie & I hit the road. I had a concert that I was playing piano for the following day, so I was making a quick trip home. It was so great to spend time talking & we were able to tell each other all about what God has been doing in our lives over these past few months. Steph is heading off to BJU in the fall, so I will miss her dearly!

Sunday I was able to go to my home church, which is always great. I miss my church family! Then from there my parents & I headed down to the Heyde Center for the Arts for the concert. I played Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G minor, & it went pretty well. I’m never totally happy with how I play, soooo we’ll just leave it at that. Lol! But it was a great time. I got to spend time with my family, & it was especially good to see my brother, Jeremiah. He just got back from Iraq a few months ago & since I’ve been in school, I haven’t been able to see him too much.  It was great to hang out & eat some DQ together….on that note, I highly recommend the raspberry truffle blizzard: Delicious!! Haha =) I had to say goodbye though, & I believe that was the last time I will see him until Christmas =(

By Monday, I had spent roughly 60 of the past 72 hours awake & extremely busy, so my energy tank was running extremely low. I had been selected to play Chopin’s Valse in E minor later that day in the Honors Recital & I was stressing out…a lot. The Lord has helped me a lot with performing these past few months & I’m usually not too nervous playing in front of people. Monday, however, I was sooooo scared! It was a concert featuring only 13 of the music majors & we were playing (or singing) in front of all of the Fine Arts faculty & staff, all of the music majors/minors, & many of our friends & peers. So I’m exhausted & my nerves are short anyways, & I was supposed to play second to last….do you see where I’m going with this? Lol. Yeah, I didn’t do nearly as well as I could have & I got very upset with myself initially, but I’ll save the whole story for another blog post because God taught me a few lessons through it & I won’t try to cram them all into this post =)

So today & tomorrow are the last days of class; it is so crazy! Then this Saturday I have piano exams (please pray!) Then next week we have finals. Dun dun DUN!!!!! (That was scary music, in case you couldn’t tell….it’s kind of hard to type scary music. Haha!) I’m praying that I will just remember half of what I’ve learned! Lol. Anyways, I better skedaddle!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by!!

College Daze

Oh my goodness, it has been a crazy couple of days, I don't quite know how to sum it all up, but I'll do my best.



Well, Wednesday when I got here, I just unpacked & tried to get settled in. Since I'm the last kid at home, I'm now used to having my own room, & its about as big as the dorm I now share with 3 other people, so thats been an adjustment. But my roommates are all really great, so that makes it easier =)



Thursday, I actually don't really remember all of what we did, I know that's bad since it was only like 2 days ago, but whatever. Lol. I do remember that Thursday night I had piano auditions, & that went really well! It is probably the first time I've played in front of people without having my hands start shaking. Haha! So praise the Lord for that =)



Friday, bright & early, I had Aural Skills testing. Which, let me tell you, is great fun! *note sarcasm* Ok, ok, it's not that bad, but it is very difficult for me. We had to listen to the Professor play different intervals, or patterns on the piano, & then we had to write down whether it was a major 5th, or perfect 4th, or G7, or whatever the case may be. So not my forte! Lol. Next, we had music theory....nuff' said. Haha! I really haven't been taught theory at all, except for this spring, I had to cram because I was involved in about 4 competitions that required some theory. But, I am not on the college level. So please be praying for me with that. =)



Saturday was pretty full of freshmen orientation meetings, but in the evening, the student body put on some really fun activities. We all got together in the gym & they had like goofy videos, & some games. It was a blast. Afterwards, we went down to the lake & sang worship songs & gave some testimonies. Afterwards, there was a fireworks display to usher in the fall semster. It was really cool =)

Today I went to Grace Baptist Church, & I really liked it. It reminds me of my home church, so thats nice. Then A group of us went on a walk around one of the lakes on campus, & that was SO much fun. A good way to get to know some new friends. There are some awesome people here, & I'm excited to meet everyone.

Classes start tomorrow, & I'm still having a few issues with my schedule, so please be praying for me about that. Thanks everyone, & please let me know if there is anything I can be praying for you about. =) Have a lovely week.

*dun dun DUN!!!!*

Well, that was my impression of scary music...not very good, I know. Lol!

Anyways, THE BIG DAY IS HERE!!! I'm finally going off to college today! I'm super excited, but a little bit nervous too. I knew this day was coming, it just didn't seem like it would ever actually get here.

I spent a wonderful weekend with my family in the Wisconsin Dells. My sister & her husband live there, & she is now 8 months pregnant, & pretty much the cutest pregnant lady you will ever see! Haha =)

So when I got back, I just had to finish packing, it now seems like I have packed everything I have ever owned into those handy-dandy rubbermaid totes. I never really realized how much stuff I had until I had to figure out what I actually NEEDED to bring to college. Lol.

God has definitely provided abundantly for me!

Thank you all for your prayers & encouragement to me, you guys are the best =) Please be praying for me as I adjust to sharing a room with not just one, but 3 other people. Lol. I'm sure I'll be with some great girls, but other than camp, I've only ever shared a room with my sisters, so it will be an adjustment. Also be praying that I will be diligent in cutting out time to spend with the Lord each day. I know I will have a busy schedule, but devotions are SO important. Last but not least, I will be auditioning to get into the music program at Northland, so PLEASE pray that I don't get too nervous! When I get really nervous, my hands start shaking, & its just a mess. =p Haha!

Anyways, thanks again everybody! I hope you all have a fantastic week =D