We just returned from our family vacation and we had so much fun. Our first stop was at Bear Country USA. This was such a wonderful experience for the kids to get up close with the bears. Later that night we stayed in a hotel which had a water slide. This was such a surprise for the children

The next day we ventured out and did some gold panning in Rapid City. We spent about and hour and a half their waiting for Taeler to finish because she would not leave. After that, we took the kids to Reptile Gardens where they got to see lots of reptiles and they even got to pet a large turtle.

Once we were finished there, we moved on towards Story, Wyoming where we spent the next two days camping with Matt's family. By the time our trip was over, we were exhausted. But we had lots of fun anyways.

Here are a few slidshows from our trip.

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Take My Hand

This past weekend, my family and I went up to Story Wyoming to go camping with Matt’s family. Matt’s family owns a cabin and we thought that it would be fun to go and get to see all of his relatives. However, I was unaware of what lessons God would have in store for me while I was there.

On one of the days that we were there we decided that it would be neat to go hiking in the woods. While we were doing this, we came across a creek that had a tree lying across it so that we could cross the creek without falling in the water. Well, my husband being the outdoorsman that he is decided that it would be a great idea to go ahead and cross the creek. I, however, was not so sure of this idea.

You see, I have a very real fear of the water and although I am a dancer I do not trust my ability to balance very well. Perhaps, this was because I knew that there was water below me. Without even thinking, my wonderful husband came back out onto the tree and reached out his hand and told me take his hand and that I was going to be just fine. Well, I did end up taking him by the hand and I did make it across the creek as Matt lead me, holding my hand the whole time.

This was a very special moment for me. At this very time I immediately thought about where I was at with my relationship with God, and I knew that I was in a place where God was asking me to take him by the hand and trust him as he leads me through a very difficult time in my life. What a wonderful feeling it is knowing that I can trust God to lead me through this time in my life and that I am able to know that he has me by the hand and he will not let me go. All I have to do is trust him.

Where exactly is it that you are in your life right now? Are you in a place where you desperately need God to guide you? I encourage you to trust him and know that he will lead you through the storm and into places that you never thought that you would end up. Just be brave enough to trust him.

Our" Fuzzy" Little Friend

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I still remember like it was yesterday. We went shopping for Taeler's 6th birthday party. At this time in her life Taeler was having alot of problems adjusting to the many different changes in her life.

So, we decided that it would be nice to buy her something extra special for her birthday. We all decided on a cute fluffy white guinea pig that we saw in a pet shop. If only I knew how much this little animal would really change my daughters life.

Taeler fell in love with him immediately and she decided to name him Fuzzy. These two became inseperable. I was so happy to finally see my little girl smile again. He was worth every penny that we spent on him.

Divine Embrace part four

" The secrets we have to tell are not just the cowering secrets that have closeted themselves in our innermost selves, but the childlike ones that are eager to throw open the front door and run out to play. Our sorrows are not the only secrets that we keep. Our joys are often kept carefully guarded, too, especially our joys about Jesus, who is of all our secrets the most telling and the most precious we have to tell."

I am really not sure what to say about this passage but "WOW." I love passages that really hit home and say it all in such a short amount of time. I love how the author makes it clear that we have many different secrets. I totally agree with these. I know that some of the recent struggles and heartaches that I have gone through have been kept secret. I also know that many of the joys I have experienced have also been kept secret.

I believe that a lot of this has to do with the fact that I am an introvert. I love being alone and I often keep to myself just because that is who I am. That is who God created me to be. I also know that God has used that in many different ways to minister to others and I am sure that there have been many times that he has used that quality about me when I did not even know about it.

I only hope that when those moments come in life where I have the chance to share Christ with others that I take it with confidence. I also hope that I would be effective in how I present Christ to others.

A Precious Memorial

Over the last month or so I have really been working hard at getting through the miscarriage that my husband and I experienced this past December. I have to say that nothing in the world could ever prepare you for the pain that a miscarriage can cause. My husband Matt and I did not know that we were expecting again but it still hurts just the same. And I often think that maybe had we had the miscarriages before our two children that we have now then maybe the pain would not have been so intense.

I thank God every day for the children that we have. We are truly blessed by them and we really could not have asked for better kids. I realize though that this probably happened now because we do have children. Perhaps, God allowed this to happen now because we have the children. They have provided an incredible amount of support for us through this time and I am not so sure that I would have made it through this time without their unconditional love and at times overwhelming concern for me and my well being. They keep me going each day even when I want to just throw my hands up in the air and give up.

I made this video in memory of the two babies that I lost. Its just another thing that I felt that I had to do to help me grieve this loss.

I also want to thank every person who has supported us through this time. We would not have made it without the continual support and love that you have given us. God Bless you all. Christine

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Divine Embrace part three

As I was reading through this book I came across another passage which really spoke to me. The chapter was titled The Music of the Dance. Here is what it said:

I need the music, too. I need it in different ways on different days. I need it for strength. On others, for courage.

I totally agree with this statement. In order for me to dance I do need the music and depending on what is going on in my life I need certain music to completely express what it is that I want to say to God.

But dancing with God. Now that takes on a whole new meaning. What kind of dance would that be? Perhaps, I am not even dancing with him but dancing as he watches. But as I have recently learned God does not just want to sit by and watch. He eagerly longs to dance with me.

As I look at this a little closer in my mind, the picture completely changes. I can see myself as a little girl in a tiny pink dress with pigtails in my hair, I am holding his hands and I find myself dancing perfectly with him never missing a step. As I look down I then discover that I am simply standing on Jesus' toes.

Perhaps this is what God really wanted me to see. He wanted me to realize that he is leading me in every area of my life just like that dance floor. And in some ways I guess you can say that he is carrying me more than leading me.

What a comfort that is. Especially at this very moment in my life.

The New Pool Adventures

At the beginnig of the summer, we finally broke down and decided to buy the kids their own pool. Now, we really thought that this was a good idea because they love swimming and they are always trying to get us to take them to the pool. Well like everyone else we cannot afford to take them to the pool every day and when we figured it up we would actually be savng money over time by buying our own pool. That and are kids are just down right spoiled.

I just knew that they would enjoy this new investment, but I was not prepared for how much they would really enjoy it. Then you throw in the fact that my husband Matt is probably the biggest kid of all and it just spells disaster. The other night I was inside cleaning the kitchen when my little Hunter came running in yelling Mommy, Mommy you have to come see what daddy is doing in the pool.

Now I have been married for eight year now and I have to say that he never fails to surprise me with what he comes up with. I only feel sorry for his mother because I can only imagine what type of kid he was.

Here is what I saw when I went into my backyard....

The Divine Embrace part two

As I was reading the second chapter in The Divine Embrace I came across a passage in there that spoke to me like nothing has ever spoken to me before. The book was simply talking about how God is able to take care of your every need even though life is hard sometimes.

My husband Matt and I recently had our second miscarriage this past year. It happened exactly one week before Christmas. This of course left me feeling completely helpless and alone. What on earth had I done again to deserve this? We didn't know that we were pregnant again but it still hurt just the same.

In the book the passage that spoke to me said: " As incredible as it seems, there is a place over the rainbow, where the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. Until that day, we must live our lives under the rainbow... Where the road ahead is not made of yellow bricks. Sometimes it has no bricks at all. Only the sharp edged remains of our shattered dreams."

Interestingly enough, I had recently decided to name the second baby Noah and for that very reason. The rainbow. What a great gift for me this book has been so far. Now I have a Lilly and a Noah waiting for me in Heaven. But until I get there I must go on living my life below the rainbow of my two precious angels.

The Divine Embrace

I am currently reading through a book that a friend let me borrow titled The Divine Embrace. As I was reading through this I came across this passage that truly left be breathless. This is what it said:

"Imagine yourself in a ballroom. Imagine that the Emperor, the Lord Jesus Himself, has tapped your shoulder. Hear his voice as he speaks your name and asks you to dance. As the Emperor draws you near, look into his eyes. Place your palm in his and follow his lead."

"Listen to the Emperor Waltz" and allow yourself to be swept away."

As I read this I had to take a moment and allow myself to catch my breath. This literally took my breathe away.

When I first read this I closed my eyes and imagined myself in this beautiful white dress like Cinderella wore. As Jesus asks me to dance I can see myself begin to cry as I ask myself "Why on earth would He ever want to dance with me?." Then I allow myself to trust Him and he allows me to experience the one thing that I have not been able to experience in a very long time. SAFETY. Safety is something that takes a lot of effort for me to feel in life. I was able to let my guard down for the first time in a very long time and trust that Jesus would take care of me right where I was. Even in the midst of the current storms that surround my life.

I encourage you to take that same journey and see what it is that God has to show you as he asks you to dance.

No More

I have recently come to realize that no one can make me feel inferior without my consent. This has opened up a whole new way of thinking for me because this really does hold alot of truth for me.

My whole life I have allowed people to push me around and make me feel like I am not important. As I have been working through some things and growing I am learning that I do not have to allow these people to control my life and the way that I feel about myself.

For the first time in my life I finally feel in control and I realize that I am going to be just fine without those relationships that didn't always respect me for who I was.

Not only did they not respect who I was but they really didn't know who I was. I am me and no one else and I realize that God only made one of me. He made me very special and he gave me amazing abilities and gifts.

I no longer chose to allow others to make me feel inferior. I am a strong woman who has so much to offer this world and I refuse to allow people to mistreat me anymore.

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage. Lucilius Annaeus.

I have been told time and time again that I am a very courageous person. That I have overcome so many terrible things and have lived to tell about it. Yet sometimes I have a really hard time believing that. I have even found myself suicidal at times mainly because I have felt like I cannot deal with all the tragedies and hardships that I have endured.

Well, all that has changed since I read the quote at the beginning of this blog post. I really have a tendency to really take life for granted and I don't always appreciate it. I know now that my entire life has been an act of courage. I have overcome so much and have lived to tell about it.

I only hope that I can hold on to that concept. Sometimes living causes more pain then the thought of suicide. But that would be way to easy. I have lived in a world that at times did not want me and it has taken way more courage for me to hang in there then I ever thought possible.

I am so proud of myself and I do believe that I am a brave woman who can do just about anything that I want.

The Future Has No Room For My Past!!!

If people in your past write you off, move on without looking back. Make new friends who celebrate your life in Christ, your no surprise to him, only his opinion of you matters. Forget the rest and rest in him.

These past couple of years have been some of the hardest years of my life. I have been through so much and have experienced so much pain. I have recently had to cut ties with someone who for whatever reason could not see me for who I really am, nor could they understand my value and worth the way that I needed them to. This cut of ties has come with a great price for me, yet, it has freed me up to experience an existence that I believe is what God really desires for me to have.

I have realized this past week that life comes with many pains and sorrows, but it also comes with great victories. I don't know why God gave me to the family that he has but I know that I would not be who I am today without them. If anything I can be thankful to them for that. I also realize that this does not mean that I have to continue allowing them to hurt me the way that they have for so many years. I need to move forward in life and stick with the friends that I have in Christ because it is with their support and love that I will make it through this hard time. Thank you so much to all of you who have prayed and stood by me throughout the years. I would not have made it without you.

A Beautiful Scripture

As I was reading through my bible I came across this scripture that just spoke to me in the neatest way. I often have moments in life where I am not really looking for anything when I read through the scriptures and it seems that those are the moments when God really does speak to me right where I am at.



Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)



God can do anything, you know- far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!



Having survived the trials that I have faced in life I have often caught myself asking how it is that God can use me. "How is it that any good can come from this life of mine?" I guess I should know better than to think that way, after all, God has given me a second chance at life when I clearly should not have been given one. God has also brought me through some of the toughest times in my life and now I am in college working towards a goal that will hopefully help bring other people through their hard times and give them hope in knowing that they too will make it.

God can take all the tragedies in my life and he can and is turning me into a beautiful person inside and out. Thank you God for your love.

Top Five Things I Learned This Year...

As I have officially finished out my first year of college, I have learned many things about myself and about life. Some of these things I would consider to be good, while others maybe not so good. Either way I have grown alot this past year. I wish to dedicate this post to the many professors who have made an impact on my life this past year. Thank you so much for your support.

So here they are in no particular order...

1. your never to old to learn something new.

2. I have alot more value and worth than I ever thought possible.

3. I continued to amaze myself time after time through out this year.

4. I am able to do math now, however, I still hate it.

5. I may not have had the greatest start in life, but I have the ability to write the ending to the rest of my story and life.