wow...so its been a while...

Oh my- so its been a while since I have updated my blog... So let's see- my last year in a nutshell...

• April 18, 2009- Brendan and I celebrated our 1st anniversary of dating- apart as usual..
• May- Brendan moves to Texas for the summer YAY!
• May-August- Much fun was had by all
• August 13, 2009 Brendan proposed! The Story
  
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• Later August- Brendan goes back to Dubuque to start his Junior year- I start my new hobby- Wedding Planning!
• October- Brendan comes to Kerrville for conference
• November- Brendan comes to see me at Thanksgiving break
• March 5th-13th 2010- Brendan drives down for his Spring Break and we all go fishing down on the Devil's River
  
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• Spring- I spent a couple weeks with the Hollingsworths while Taylor went to Argentina
• While there I did photo shoots of all three kids.
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• April 18, 2010- Brendan and I celebrate our 2nd dating anniversary
  
• April 23, 2010- I flew up to Dubuque for an extended visit
  
• April 25, 2010- Spring Banquet
• 

From the mouths of babes...

Ok..so i really am alive... I know its been a while since I have updated. Life has been rather busy. Some of you know that I have been doing my student teaching home school style. My sister and bro-in-law have graciously opened up their home to me and allowed me to teach home school to their preschoolers.
Anyways- we start our school day with prayer and I had been talking to Levi (age 2.5) about how God like to hear more than just "Lord Jesus, he'p school, 'ganks for day, AMEN" I mean don't get me wrong- its a great prayer- but it was become rather canned being as he has prayed those same words for the last 3 months. So a couple of days ago he and I talked about that he could add something else to his prayer. He agreed and started to pray and it was all I could do to not laugh during the prayer. He prayed, "Lord Jesus, he'p school, else, 'ganks for day, Papa at work, else, else, else (long pause) AMEN!" He has proceeded to do that format ever since. :)
I was laughing about it after school today and got to thinking that he was only practicing a very Biblical concept. Romans 8- where it talks about the Spirit interceding for us when we know not what to pray... I had just never heard it from a 2 year old... :)

President Obama promises to sign into law FOCA taking away parental rights...

Those of you who really know me know that I try to keep my nose out of politics... But y'all might want to check this out- its rather interesting/infuriating... President Obama has promised Planned Parenthood to sign into law a bill that would radically change abortion laws. At least according to AUL action this bill would, "FOCA Would Wipe Away Every Restriction on Abortion Nationwide
This would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

• Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
• Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
• Only licensed physicians can perform abortions
• Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter's abortion FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future."
  

I don't know much about AUL action but here is what they had to say about themselves

"AUL Action is the legislative arm of Americans United for Life (AUL). The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971. In addition, AUL has been involved in every pro-life case before the Supreme Court since Roe v. Wade."

I'm not really sure what to think about this organization's claims: they could be right though. They have a petition going to try and sway our President's thinking. Look into it and let me know what you think. http://www.fightFOCA.com

On further research I found some interesting things. Here is a link where you can read the transcript of President Obama's speech
http://lauraetch.googlepages.com/barackobamabeforeplannedparenthoodaction
And here is an interesting article that the United States Catholic Conference wrote about the bill.
http://lauraetch.googlepages.com/thefreedomofchoiceact
If you can get through all of the legal wording its rather interesting.

Christmas.... Ba- humbug!

This year Christmas has really sneaked up on me... I was sick for a while and even when finally well I just could not get into the "holiday spirit". But now it is upon me...and for the last couple of days I have been frantically trying to get something for everyone on my list. But today... as I am almost done I had to stop and think. This year I have had a rather "scrooge-ish" attitude about the whole holiday; always asking myself "just what was so merry about Christmas anyway". Well y'all...in the middle of my pity party the Lord gave me a present and I thought I would share in case there was someone else out there that was feeling the same way. I know that as Christians we say it every year... the whole "its not about the parties and the presents but its about the Lord". But how often do we remember that when we are mid-shopping? I know I rarely do- and that is to my shame.

Anyways back to my main point- I was reminded today just what it is that we are celebrating on December 25th. The fact that God came down to Earth as a humble baby and was born in the most poor conditions to people - that if "good Godly people" would have been asked about them- they would have said were (to use a modern phrase) "sketchy".
Miracle after miracle followed that day; from outcast shepherds being the first witnesses of a king's birth to the miraculous star and wise men a few years later and the exodus to Egypt to save the toddler king. Prophecy after prophecy came true as the Lord grew: fulfilling hundreds of years of promises of a Savior of the people. Only an all knowing God could orchestrate such an intricate story.
I will leave you with one last thought- one of my favorite Christmas songs- "Mary Did You Know"

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water? 
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you. 
Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? 
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God. 
The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.  
Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? 
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? 
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Merry Christmas!

E'en So Lord Jesus, Quickly Come

In Ensemble (the choir here at Emmaus) we have been practicing a very nice song- I have enjoyed the lyrics as they are very uplifting!

E'en So Lord Jesus, Quickly Come Paul Manz, text adapted by Ruth Manz

Peace be to you and grace from Him
Who freed us from our sins,
Who loved us all and shed His blood
That we might saved be.

Sing holy, holy to our Lord,
The Lord, Almighty God,
Who was and is and is to come;
Sing holy, holy, Lord!

Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein,
Rejoice on earth, ye saints below,
For Christ is coming, is coming soon,
For Christ is coming soon!

E'en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come,
And night shall be no more;
They need no light nor lamp nor sun,
For Christ will be their All!

Life- who is in control?

Here lately I have been woken up to the fact that human beings- no matter how hard we try- are not in control of life and death. With all of modern medicine we can not sometimes prevent death and can never create life. Last week one of my friends had a serious miscarriage- loosing her baby and almost loosing her own life.

I was thinking about the loss of life and the mourning parents left behind and I admit that I was trying to figure out why God would let this baby die. What had he or she done to deserve death? During all of this I was trying to plan my Sunday school lesson for the next day. I had decided on the story of Jesus raising Lazarus because I had a good craft and story telling method already.

I don't know how much my class learned but I sure got a good reminder of Who was in charge of life...

If you remember Lazarus's sisters also had questions such as mine. They both tearfully told Jesus when He finally showed up 4 days after their brother had been buried -"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." (John 11:32) Also some of the mourners said "Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?" (John 11:37) How often have we also thought this when someone we loved dies? I know I have- just about every time too... But bringing me back to my main point- these people knew who was in charge of life and death. God is. And God has a plan- just as in this story- He was in the end glorified.

Am I willing to accept that God is glorified in His plans? Are you? It seems so hard to fathom that a loving God would be glorified in a un-born baby's death... But I have since learned that after an autopsy was preformed on the baby, they learned that the baby had a genetic disorder- one that normally causes severe deformities, learning disorders, and early death- if the baby lives at all. Perhaps God is glorified in saving this child from a life of ridicule and pain... Perhaps God could be glorified in the parents waking up to the fact that there is a loving God that wants to carry their burdens and pain if only they would allow Him in... I may never know how God is glorified in this but I do know that He IS glorified...

Firework Frame of Mind?

Hello y'all! I just got back from watching 4th of July fireworks and I got to thinking.... Fireworks are really pretty right? Well for a few seconds anyway- if you blink you miss them. I realized this as I was trying to do some night photography and most of the time my shutter speed was just too slow to catch the splendor of the fireworks. I got to wondering though- just how often is my life like that? I mean- y'all have all been there before I'm sure- the summer camp high when you come back from a week of camp or something and you are So excited and pumped to live for Christ. But then- in a blink of an eye- in a week or so that excitement fades when life "gets in the way" of your walk with the Lord and you forget all of your well intended resolutions. I am so thankful that God isn't like that. He is always the same awesome, never changing God. I think of Him like a light bulb- steady and unwavering. Something that draws us naturally towards Himself. Except unlike a moth and a light bulb- drawing near to God only helps us become better human beings. So then why does my life seem to look like a firework show? Yes- it is beautiful sometimes- though very rarely I fear. But it is a lot like the 4th of July- one day out of a year it shines beautifully- and the rest.....well I hate to admit what the rest looks like. I want to be a light bulb- perhaps not as spectacular- but useful and always burning bright for my God.