Lessons from Out on a Limb

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending a Beth Moore Living Proof Ministries conference with my good friend, Val (and 7,298 other women from 24 states). It was a refreshing weekend. It was a needed retreat. It was a heart opening message for me.

Beth's theme focused on trees and she used different scripture references to make her point. The most impacting aspect of the conference for me was Friday night when her focus was from Jotham's Fable in Judges 9. She talked about the different trees being different types of kings in our lives. The olive tree = religious life, the fig tree = indulgences, the grape vine = intoxication, and the thorn bush = our struggles, trials, etc.

I had never really thought about the fact that my struggles could be the king of my life -- who would want to worship the struggles they are facing. But what I took away from her teaching wasn't that you worship your struggles, but that you focus on them so much that you lose focus of your real KING and what He is doing in your life through those struggles. It was a wake up call for me to realize I was focusing too much on the difficulties in my life and not on what God is doing through them. I was becoming resentful of some of the challenges I have to face and not embracing them as a way for God to continue His good work in me. I am so thankful for God's grace and mercy and patience as I take my time in learning and growing in Him.

Here is a video from the weekend!

Living Proof Live - Grand Rapids from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Summer Bible Study with Beth Moore

I am interested in doing the Siesta Summer Bible Study III that Beth Moore will be "leading" this summer. She/I/we will be studying Kelly Minter's Ruth: Loss, Love, & Legacy. You can go here and read the details of what Living Proof Ministries suggests for the bible study. I think it sounds like a wonderful study and I think it could be a great time of fellowship. I am willing to host each time we meet (it would actually make my life a little easier). Please let me know if you are interested in joining me. Books can be purchased online at Life Way or at Kelly Minter's website for $12.95.

This is the description of the study given on Kelly Minter's website:

Ruth's journey of unbearable loss, redeeming love, and divine legacy comes alive in Kelly Minter's Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy -- the second study in the Living Room Series. This six week Bible study delves into the noble character of Ruth, her unique relationship with her mother-in-law Naomi, and her blossoming love with Boaz.

Liberty's Wagons

Are you interested in blessing another family? How about 1000's of families? My friend, Kelly, has a daughter in heaven. Liberty blessed this earth for 5 short months, but Kelly and her husband are keeping her memory alive through Liberty's Wagons. In honor of what would have been Libby's 3rd birthday they are trying to raise enough money to donate 10 wagons to a local children's hospital. The wagons will be used to transport kids to and from different appointments throughout the hospital. They also bring a lot of joy to kids who are in a place that isn't always very happy. Please visit Kelly's blog here where you can see pics of this beautiful family. Click here if you would like the help raise the last $257 for the wagons.

House Updates

Here are the pictures of the updates we have done to the house over the last two weeks. I love the results in all 4 rooms!

Two Big Kids

It seems like Lily and Wyatt have grown up a lot today. They started off the morning by making their beds all by themselves. Wyatt made his without being asked and then Lily decided that she needed to try too. They are definitely not the most neatly made beds, but I have resisted the urge to fix them because they were so proud to do it all by themselves.



Later in the morning we went to the dentist for their first official visit. I was worried because they started crying at home when I told them they would have to open their mouths like they were saying "ahh". Once we got there all fear disappeared. Lily climbed up into the chair was a model patient the entire time. Wyatt had a little more hesitation, but he did GREAT!

Great Strides Pictures

Here are pictures from today's walk. The weather was beautiful and there was $94,000 raised for CF at the Grand Rapids walk. Thanks to everyone who walked with me and to those who supported this cause with their financial donations!

Blessed By Brownies

I opened my door yesterday afternoon to discover a box dropped off by UPS. I love getting packages, especially when I don't know that they are coming. I picked up the box in excitement to discover that on the return label was the name of one of Ryan's RT's at U of M. In that moment I was already blessed! It is unbelievable to me that nearly two years after Ryan died I would still maintain contact with the people there -- that those people would take the time to remember us. It speaks VOLUMES of the impact that my wonderful husband had on the people around him even at his most difficult time of life.

I hurried to the kitchen to open the box and found a treasure of brownies. And let me just tell you, these are no ordinary brownies! This RT would often bring treat to hospital for the staff and he always made sure to share with us. He also had a favorite restaurant/bakery and he stopped a couple of times on his way into work to buy us some of their famous brownies. Oh my YUM! (My favorite have caramel oozing out of them!) He had found out about our Great Strides walk (I am guessing from another of Ryan's RT's who was going to walk with us, but can't because she has to work) and sent us a box of brownies in case we "might need a little 'boost' to get us through the walk."

Such a thoughtful gift from someone I have not seen in almost two years. Such a HUGE blessing to know that my husband is not forgotten.

Thanks, Chuck!

Catching Up Again

I feel like there is so much to catch up on and at the same time I feel like I have nothing to write. Life continues to be really busy -- good busy, but busy all the same. I am really enjoying my job, I love the quiet of the office and the change of pace that it provides. I am thankful that it is only one day a week because even during that one day I miss my kiddos. :)

We have been changing some things up here at the house. We just finished 4 days of chaos after having all three bedroom floors refinished. They look FABULOUS! It was necessary because termites had eaten some of my floor (fun, fun) and there were some boards with water damage that needed to be replaced in Wyatt's room. And hey, if you are doing two rooms, why not do all three. :) We have also done some rearranging around the house. The office has been officially turned into a guest room. I purchased a full size bed so that people will be more comfortable staying in there. The crib is also set up in there to help the little girl I babysit sleep more comfortably. It works well, because I often have friends visiting with Illinois and they have a one year old (can't wait to see you guys TOMORROW!!!!). I will have to get pictures up soon. The double bed lead to us having an "extra" twin bed which has become Lily's bed. Wyatt has the bunk beds in his room that were Lily and Wyatt first big kid beds. Needless to say, there has been a lot of change happening around here...hopefully I will get pics up soon.

This weekend we are having 7 out of town visitors coming to join us in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Great Strides walk. I am excited to be walking to help find a cure for this terrible disease. The shirt turned out great, so hopefully we will get some fun pictures of the team in them this weekend. It will be crazy busy with all the visitors, but it will be fun.

Mother's Day has come and gone and I am thankful. It was a difficult day, actually the days leading up to it were more difficult. I am not sure if that makes sense to most people because Mother's Day is about being a mother. I have two wonderful, adorable, precious children and I am thankful for them. But Mother's Day is made special by the daddy to those children. Four year olds don't understand Mother's Day. They don't realize that the day is any different. They don't drive to the store to buy your a card or flowers or a gift. Ryan always did his best to make me feel special on Mother's Day and I really missed that this year (last year we were on a plane on our way home from Disney so it didn't hit as close to home). It was just another reminder of all that we are missing.

It is so hard to believe that in a couple weeks it will have been two years since Ryan died. I continue to struggle with how that is possible. It still seems like yesterday and it also seems like it was a million years ago....