Just by Chance...

"In the life of a saint
there is no such thing as
chance."
Oswald Chambers

Chance...
something left to fate,
a risk that we might take,
a happening beyond control
that causes us to duck and roll
with 'punches' thrown
from the 'man upstairs'.
when will it be over?
so i can regain composure?
and get it together again...
this pain will be forgotten
it was never meant to happen
a mistake
from the 'man upstairs'.
but if a mistake was made
life has no rhythm or reason
no meaning beyond today
so hopeless
so lost
so threateningly tossed
upon the waves of life
but i know that there is
Someone in control
Who grasps my very soul
and gives me hope
that life is not driven
by a chance
a happenstance
by fate, by possibility
but by the hand of God...

Fall Sunset

Yesterday was one of those typical gloomy fall days. Overcast, drizzling rain, blowing wind. When Jake and I were driving back from a delivery, there were huge chunks of slushy snow falling. I had shivered uncontrollably at the delivery...I'm thinkin' it must be time to dig out the winter coat... But then, while I was fixing supper and washing dishes the sun broke through for just a little while. Since it now gets dark around 5 o'clock, I get to watch amazing sunsets while I make supper. And the sun has also started setting right in front of the kitchen window. Previously I had to peer out the window toward the lake to really see the sunsets. But now, they are in perfect view...

Ollie...Dangerous Criminal

Luke and Sarah went to Target and found a dog prisoner outfit marked way down. So...they bought if for Ollie! Isaac put it on him as soon as we arrived home from prayer n' praise last night! And here he is

Thoughts and Thankfulness

Well, November has arrived, bringing with it the feeling of impending busyness. Ah, the holidays. A time to enjoy family, LOTS of good food, and run madly through the stores that are packed with other frantic shoppers. Actually, I was sitting here thinking bout Thanksgiving...a time when I like to sit back and thank God for the blessings He has given me. Not that I don't do it other times of the year, but there's just something about a whole day set aside for thankfulness.

This year, I am overwhelmed with how blessed I am. Recently, I found out how precious friendships are. People who are willing to come alongside and help to carry a burden. Those friends that are there through thick and thin. I don't know how I would have made it through the last couple weeks without those friendships. Without the letters, the food, the laughter, the conversations, the hugs and the tears. The thing that I appreciate most is that my family is included in that list. They are more than just my family or Jake's family. They are friends who are willing to be there when the going gets tough. That is such a huge blessing!

I think that blue skies are a delightful thing...especially when they are the blue skies of the soul. When you have just been walking through a really dark valley, and the rain has been pouring down and then you find yourself in grassy, green meadows with the sun shining around you. Life has a lot of dark times, but thankfully, they never stay dark. God always brings the sun. Right now, I'm seeing blue skies. For that, I am extremely thankful. I will be able to sing and worship God this Sunday. I will be able to smile when I wake up. It is a wonderful thing. Sometimes we don't realize how much we are missing those blue skies until we don't have them...I am thanking God for the blue skies of the soul...

In the Good Times and Bad...

"You are God alone
From before time began,
You were on Your throne
You are God alone.
And right now,
In the good times and bad,
You are on Your throne
You are God alone..."

"Unchangeable...
Unshakable...
Unstoppable...
That's what You are..."

Sometimes you find yourself in a place where your heart is so heavy, there's so much sadness, or aching loneliness that you can't even make yourself form the words that God is still in control. Somehow you know that He is and the place that you find yourself now is all part of His good design. But how do you convince your heart of what your mind tells you? You know the truth, but sometimes it's hard to believe. You find yourself clinging like a drowning man to the truth of a song...the words that you sing that remind you that in good times and bad God is still on His throne, in control of every detail. And you sing to remember, to trust, to heal.

Frosted Beauty...

Welcome to November!!

Chocolate Cake

I wanted to share a recipe that has become one of my all time favorites! This cake is very moist and the recipe makes a big pan so it is nice to whip up if you have six brothers at home!:)


Chocolate Sheet Cake:
2 cups sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 cup water
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Icing:
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1/3 cup milk
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts

In a mixing bowl, combine the first four ingredients;set aside. In a small saucepan, bring butter, cocoa, and water to a boil. Add to dry ingredients and mix well. In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs. Add buttermilk and vanilla; mix well. Stir into cocoa mixture. Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, bring butter, cocoa, and milk to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; add sugar( I sifted the sugar because I don't like clumps in my frosting!) and vanilla. Mix well. Spread over hot cake; immediately sprinkle with nuts. Cool completely on a wire rack. Yield:16-20 servings