Wow, it has been awhile.  I have thought of writing many times but was at a loss for words.  God has been working in our lives in many awesome ways this past year.  It hasn’t been an easy year but definitely a year of great spiritual growth.  I feel through this growth and all God has been teaching me about myself and Him I am finally making Colorado my home.  I remember my emotions and depression this time last year well.  It had been over a year since we moved here and I could not believe God had not provided a friend for me.  I was surrounded by Christians living on the campus of Denver Seminary.  Why hadn’t I clicked with someone???  I was so disappointed and lonely.  I was beating myself up with lies of how I must be a horrible, unlikable person.  I was letting my old nature have a grip on my heart.  I found myself turning away from time I had available to spend with my God.  But my God didn’t give up on me.  He sought me out.  He drew me near and revealed Himself when I did not desire to look for him.  Just a couple months later I felt a huge burden be lifted from my shoulders.  No, a new friend did not suddenly appear and all my troubles gone.  I came to a place of peace and joy in God’s presence.  I wasn’t sure I would ever feel at home here or have a good friend to share my heartaches and joys with but I was okay with it (I still struggled with and desired a friend regularly but I learned to turn it over to God).

Then, at the end of April my dad went into the hospital for minor colon surgery and ended up almost dying and being there for a month.  The kids and I were in Des Moines almost the entire month of May.  I know God had prepared me in just the few weeks previous for this time of utter need in my family.  There were many nights of little to no sleep yet we carried on praying, hoping, loving, and many times begging.  My heart felt full then empty.  I didn’t have my husband’s shoulder to cry on (He was finishing his semester and could not be there).  But I always had the strength I needed for each day.  My God carried me through it all.  With God’s divine power my dad lived and turned 60 last week.  Toward the end of May, Eric joined us and we were able to have a time of rest and much needed refreshment when we visited our dear friends in Chicagoland and Kentucky.

Summer passed quickly and soon Eric’s classes begun again and Emi started attending preschool four days per week.  Very exciting!  Eric started working 30 hours instead of 40 and I started working 20-25 hours plus babysitting for a 4 year old boy full-time instead of working 10-15 hours during previous semesters.  As usual, life was crazy and I felt I (as well as Eric) was being pulled in too many directions.  It was our craziest semester yet.  Again my desire for a friend welled within me.  But this time I was going to let God work it out.  We trudged on and were relieved when December 15^th finally arrived.  Another semester done and Eric actually got B’s in all his classes.  I knew I couldn’t do that again.  Soon Christmas arrived and suddenly Eric’s job was in question once again.  The day we were traveling to Des Moines for Christmas Eric’s manager called needing to know what he could work January through May.  He must work at least 35 hours.  When we arrived at my parent’s house I was in tears.  My aunt and mom were there and prayed for me.  I just kept thinking, “No more, I can’t do it anymore”.

Christmas came and went and we had lots of fun with our families.  In the two weeks after Christmas and before the semester start we prayed and prayed and tried to prepare as best we could for another difficult semester.  Eric would be working 35 hours and taking full-time classes and I would drop to 18 hours per week (cleaning the seminary library after it closes).  Eric would have to prepare and preach his first sermon, a long time fear.   

We are now in the middle of that semester.  Eric is still stressed about upcoming assignments due and how he will find the time to get it all done but overall it has been our best semester so far.  Many of Eric’s fears about preaching have been filled with confidence and enthusiasm.  And he told me just the other day he is really starting to look forward to getting done with school and starting ministry.  This is a first.  Before he has always been fearful of being done with school and not knowing where, what, and especially how he would do ministry.  God is at work.  And in the last couple months a relationship as been blooming with another mom and me.  I came to realize it just last week in one of my Bible studies that God was teaching me how to be a friend all this time.  And he brought me a friend at just the right time, no sooner.  What Joy! 

The kids continue to grow and learn.  They fill our lives with joy and frustration daily.  Emily turned 5 years old on Feb. 4.  We had a great time at her pretend slumber party (6 girls, no boys allowed!, came in their pajamas with sleeping bags and stuffed animals but did not spend the night).  My friend helped me create a beautiful castle cake for the princess theme.  I’ll send pictures.  Emi loves preschool and is learning all kinds of things Eric and I are sure we didn’t learn until kindergarten.  She will start kindergarten in the fall.  She will be attending a charter school not far from us (closer than her preschool) called Littleton Academy.  It is rated in the top 15 schools in the state.  She was 1 of only 10 names picked from a total of 242 names submitted to attend kindergarten there this fall (the rest of the two classes are filled with kids with siblings already attending the school).  What a blessing!  Since it is still considered a public school there is no tuition, however they do have a lot of fundraisers and require 20 hours of volunteer time from parents each school year.  I look forward to being involved.  They require her to wear a uniform so that will be different for us.

Elijah is 2 ½ and getting more and more mischievous.  He teases his ‘sissy’ whenever possible and is continuously challenging Mommy and Daddy with his curiosity and schemes.  He has mastered the sweet adorable look when he wants something and also when he is saying he is sorry.  He loves to take things, especially Eric’s guitar stands and such, apart and tries, most of the time successfully, to put them back together.  We think he is a lot like his Papa Nevins (Eric’s dad).  That gene must skip a generation.  :o)  Elijah loves to take Emi to school but does not like to leave.  We are planning to send him to preschool 2 days per week in the fall so I can help at Emi’s school.  He already says it is going to be his school next year.

I am attending two spiritual formation studies, one at my church and one here at the seminary.  They are both taught by ladies that have written their own curriculum. Both of which are very unique.  One takes a more studious approach going very deep into the character and essence of who God is and our identity in Him.  The other has a more creative/artistic approach.  We draw, paint, sculpt, imagine, etc., etc…all while digging into the depths of our souls and finding our true identity in Christ and starting to recognize the lies we believe and Satan tells us about ourselves and God.  We are currently going through the disciplines.  I plan to take a ‘retreat’ – silence and solitude – during spring break.  I am excited about all God is showing me through these studies though it is challenging and I come home exhausted emotionally and spiritually.  Please pray I will take and have the time to take the things I am learning deeper.

Eric and Emi have different Spring breaks but it is going to work out great for us.  We will go to Arizona to visit Eric’s mom for a few days at the beginning of Eric’s spring break.  The kids are very excited and Emi says “I get to fly in a plane for the first time ever in my whole life”.  We will be home for a few days then the kids and I will drive to Iowa for the week of Emi’s break.  Eric will have some much needed time to work on school work.

We’re not sure of our summer plans yet, except to attend a few Cardinals baseball games when they play the Rockies, of course.  We will be married 10 years in August and hope to make a trip to the Black Hills (where we honeymooned) sometime to celebrate.  With or without the kids, we’re not sure yet.  If anyone wants to visit a less humid environment, give us a call.  You are always welcome!