It's Been too Long

Sorry for my lack of posting. What can I say besides, it's summer and I'm tired. Nothing new from Mayo yet. I head back July 17 and will hopefully get some answers then. In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy some summer pictures and a quick update.

Here we are, the Three Stouges...I mean secretaries.

These next two pictures are my favorite so far from the summer. They tell the story all by themselves.

Now didn't they make you at least smile? They make me laugh every time I look at them.

Here we are trying on hats for Let's Make a Deal (family camp game show night).

And here we are in our great costumes. Keri's costume is the absolute best out of everyone. The next picture is a full shot so you can see it.

Hope you enjoyed the show.

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

These look so cute and I would love to have one. You should check out this contest.

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Mayo Update

Thanks so much to all of you for your prayers. Friday was my first visit to Mayo Clinic. It went very well. My doctor spent a considerable amount of time with me asking questions. Though I don't have any answers yet, it is great to know that we are on the road to discovering the problem. He did lots of tests and my return appointment is this coming Thursday. It sounds like the tests he did are going to lead to which tests to do next. He made is sound as if I'll have several more visits of testing before we get to the bottom of the cause. Thanks so much for your continued prayers and I'll keep you posted of any new developments.

My parents took a week of vacation to go to my appointment with me and they will also go to my next one. It was such a blessing to have them with me. I think they are amazing.

God continues to give me the strength I need to keep up with the busy camp season. Such an amazing God that we have!

Happy 50th Birthday!

On Friday, we celebrated Dave Callison's 50th Birthday! Aaron, Anna and I decorated the office in the appropriate color. We also hid 50 cans of Diet Pepsi throughout his office. He probably won't find all of them till 2011.

Wal-Mart was out of black streamers and 50th B-Day stuff, so we improvised with trash bags.

In other news, Keri is coming in tonight and starts work this week. I've been piling work in her inbox for a few months now. I'm very happy she is coming back this summer and I'm glad to have her a week early.

I'm also dog sitting Lucy this week while Betz's are on vacation. She is so much fun!!! I've been spoiling her rotten. She's been so good.

Ahhh - Vacation

So I know it's been awhile since my last post. Just to update you a bit on my health. I've had bronchitis again and I'm simply very tired. My appointment at Mayo is June 5. Thanks so much for your prayers. So now, on with the post!

My best friend, Bekah, came flew here two weeks ago and last week we went on vacation to Eureka Springs, AR. We rented a little cabin in the Ozark Mountains and just spent the week relaxing. It was so much fun and just what I needed. Enjoy the pictures of our trip.

The Jeep is loaded and ready to go. Now, if I can just get Bekah to get in so we can go!

This was our nice little cabin in the Ozark Mountains. It was very clean and tidy, which was very nice.

This is the view just down the road from our cabin on our morning walk. It was breath-taking.

Here we are on our morning walk. Let me tell you - taking a walk in the mountains is quite different than northern Iowa.

See that little gazebo down there in the clearing? Well, we walked all the way there and back up again.See that little clearing up near the top right of that hill? That's where we took the picture of the gazebo. This picture was taken from the gazebo. Our cabin is just around the corner from that clearing. It was a challenge to walk that, but felt so good!

Anybody know what this plant is? We saw it when we went on the walk at Blue Springs. They had gardens along the walk and I just loved this plant.

Here are some more pretty flowers from our walk at Blue Springs.

This picture and the next are for Amy B. I guess Chick-fil A is her favorite place to eat. It was my first time there and it was really yummy, but not very healthy (I didn't have a salad).

We did go up to Branson for a day. We ate at the Hard Luck Diner. This was our waitress Stephanie. It's a neat place to eat. All the waiters and waitresses sing and entertain you while they serve tables. A couple of the waiters have been finalists on American Idol.

This was outside the diner. We thought it was a fun photo op.

We saw "Noah the Musical." It was amazing! I would recommend that anyone see it if they are in Branson.

Last picture...taken just before Bekah left on Wednesday. It was such a nice time and I'm thankful for the time spent with Bekah. I'm blessed to have her as my friend.

Off to Mayo Clinic

I heard from my doctor's office today and my immune blood tests came back very low. My doctor is sending me to a specialist at Mayo Clinic. This is an answer to prayer that I finally have a direction to head. I'm thankful for a good doctor that did the necessary tests to find this problem. I don't have any information yet, but I'm thankful that there is some progress. I don't have an appointment yet. A couple ways that you can continue to pray:

1. I'm hoping to get an appointment in May before the busy summer starts. If I can't get in till later, then God knows all about that. I just would really like some solutions before the long hours start.

2. I'm hoping that I don't catch anything between now and then.

3. Praise that God is good!

Thanks so much for all of your prayers.

Update

Well, I've been absent once again. One of the reasons I haven't been posting is that I have tried to keep this blog a "complain-free zone." I don't like to air my struggles for the world to see. My motivation in writing this post is not to complain though. It is to seek prayer from friends and to try to encourage anyone else that is struggling as well.

I've been struggling with my health for several years with asthma/bronchitis and sinus issues. This past year has been much worse. It seems pretty constant and to be honest I'm very worn out and tired. (Also one of the reasons for my lack of posting.) I've been to my doctor many times and even to some specialists.

This week I was quite disappointed with a visit to a specialist. The tests he did came back fine, so I asked him what the next step was. He said it was a good question and he didn't know. That wasn't what I wanted to hear. In fact, it was quite discouraging. I'm going to head back to my doctor this week and see what the next steps may be.

I have several prayer requests concerning this issue:

1. That I will be guided to the right doctor with the right answers
2. That I will get answers before my busy summer begins
3. That I will have the strength I need to accomplish the tasks before me
4. That I will rest on God's promises
5. That I will find my rest/peace/encouragement in Him

I have learned much through this struggle. God's Word is so powerful and has been my encouragement during this time. Just this morning I read Psalm 103:11 "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him."

I've been very tempted to start playing the "Why Game." (It's not a fun game...I don't recommend it.) But I am learning so much about God's sovereignty through the book I'm reading (Trusting God by Jerry Bridges) and through this trial. Romans 11:33-36 "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen."

God does not owe me an explanation. And I don't want a God that does. He is powerful and sovereign. His knowledge is much more vast than mine. I just need to trust in His ability to see the big picture. I need to trust in His steadfast love. I need to trust in the grace He gives to get me through. I need to trust...Trust is hard, but not impossible.

So thanks for your prayers.

Thank You!

I was suprised today with flowers!!!! I always forget when Administrative Professional's Day is, but the guys remember (or their wives do). God has blessed me with wonderful co-workers. I'm very thankful for opportunity to work at IRBC. It's a great ministry!

Issues at Hand

Hello friends! Those close to me know that political issue can sometimes fire me up. I decided to write today about two issues that need your involvement. I'll let the websites do the talking for me. I do want to make the point that we are so blessed to live in a country where we have a voice. So many times that voice is used for complaining and not action. Use it for action or you have no right to complain. (I'm off my soap box now.)

Issue #1
Check out this site to read more about the Provider Conscience Clause. Our President wants to make it mandatory for health care providers to provide abortions even if it violates their conscience. I heard about this just today. We only have till tomorrow to respond to have our voices heard on the issue.

Issue #2
I'm sure most of you have heard that Iowa is now the third state to legalize same sex marriages. Our supreme court judges decided to go outside the spectrum of their authority to create law. It's not too late though. Contact your legislators (if from Iowa) and ask them to support a vote on HJR 6. You can use this website to send them a message or send one of your own.

To Make You Laugh

This is a little longer, but it made me laugh so hard I cried. Hope you have a good laugh too.