Storms and Blessings

I should have known better since I had lived in Wisconsin for over 30 years and grew up in Michigan. As the ice and  freezing rain began to fall upon Texas, I thought to myself, "I should have been more prepared!"  And at that moment my electricity went out. I stared down at my phone that had less than 5% battery. I did a little mental checklist of my refrigerator and cupboards which were not quite bare, but there was not much in them. Thankfully I was able to head to my car, warm it up, and charge my phone. I did have a gas stove- much to my chagrin when I was house hunting. (I definitely did not want a gas stove. In my experience gas stoves were equivalent to burnt meals.) Over the past few years I have learned to cook with gas and that stormy day with no electricity, I was very thankful for a gas stove.

Storm one left us with nine hours of no electricity, a cold house, and many tree limbs downed from our beautiful live oak trees. Once the power was back on, our poor puny Texas furnace could barely warm our house above 62°. Storms two, three, and four left many people without power- either for several days or for hours during rolling power outages. Most nearby localities were either completely without water or had boil water orders.

Between storm two and three, with our 2002 four-wheel-drive suburban (in Texas, the streets are NOT plowed), we checked on some people without water and electricity and brought them to our house to share the warmth and water. Bill Woosley, founder and president of FiveTwo Network, talks about lessons from the parable "The Feeding of the 5000" Mark 6:30-44. A couple lessons were "abundance from scarcity" and "miracles from the mundane".

Our miracles and abundance included: Other than the first storm, our house maintained both power and water. (When we found out later how our community kept our water supply during the storm, we were amazed.) Somehow our food just seemed to keep stretching even as more and more people joined us in our "powered and watered" home. During this time we were so richly blessed with special relationships! We had a house full of people and laughter, story telling, game playing, Bible reading, and so much more. Next time I will hopefully be more prepared for the winter storms in Texas, But in the meantime I thank God for using this time to shower us with
the incredible blessings of water, power, and people and the very special memories created during this time! 

Where in your life do you see abundance from scarcity or miracles from the mundane? 

Will YOU Pray?

In October 2017 as I drove to Saginaw, MI to lead a women’s retreat and to speak at my alma mater, Valley Lutheran High School, for homecoming week, God really put on my heart that Concordia High School in Austin, TX needed a permanent place to call home! Sam & I had visited CHS the month before on our way to Hurricane Harvey clean-up. I phoned David and announced we needed to get CHS built!  My husband, who is always so supportive of me responded, "How much money do you think we should send?"

I attended Valley Lutheran High School in the very first class, many years ago, and the following year we were able to move into our new campus on McCarty Road.  That permanent building provided stability and growth for VLHS, where it continues to thrive today.

At the time I had NO idea that we would actually live in Texas just a few miles from Concordia High School.  Concordia High School is in the process of building its first permanent home.  My youngest son, Sam, loves attending Concordia High School. 

Two years ago, I thought God just wanted my money for CHS, but now I know He wanted my money and my time!!🤣

This year I have been very involved with a variety of initiatives at the school. 

Below is one  I have been involved in setting up. I'm very excited about this and hope you will join in signing up and praying with us.

VIDEO LINK  Please watch this video about the prayer movement.

I will pray! Will you pray? Please join the concert of prayer (1,000 people praying) for Concordia High School during this pivotal time...for contractors, city permits, donors, staff, students, wisdom, discernment. 

Text PRAYCHS (all capital letters, no spaces) to 844-901-1659. After you sign up, expect a daily prayer text Monday through Saturday for the 40 days of Lent from Ash Wednesday until Easter. Your number will only be used for this prayer movement. 1K! Pray!

The CHS family is committed to life-long learning, leading and living out God’s plan. For more information contact 512-248-2547 or https://chsaustin.org/

Lake Powell to WI to TX....Over 3000 Miles All in ONE Wild Week

One year ago this week, it was crunch time. Not as in “I have to study for a test”, “school starts tomorrow”, or “quick get the trash out as the trash man is driving up the street", but as in “we are moving to TX and we leave in a few days”. If you have ever moved, you probably understand the myriad of feelings and activities that engulf you. My last relocation had been to Jaesville, WI from Alabama in February of 1988 and my most recent move had been from the farm house in Janesville to Linden Ave in Janesville in December of 1996. Leaving WI after thirty years in the same town and 22 years in the same home resulted in a lot of root pulling, both physically and emotionally.

“I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night; for You have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:6-8

Last night as I lay in bed, I realized last year at this time was the week of leaving. My mind replayed the week and I meditated on how God has continually been our help!

Organizing and planning the 1st week of August 2018 was brain maximizing. Starting in Lake Powell, Utah on Saturday, we went to NE on to WI back to NE and finally to TX arriving the following Saturday. Good thing I like to travel. But I must admit after that trip, even I was tired of traveling. And so thankful that God’s right hand upholds me. 

On August 3, 2018, we returned from our annual family vacation at Lake Powell in Utah. (Our Lake Powell vacation included all 4 of our sons & their 2 girls- we were singing for joy that we were all able to gather together before the BIG MOVE for an incredibly special vacation.) We traveled across UT and CO to NE and on Sunday morning, we worshipped with our dear friends, the Burmas. After unhooking our red boat, which we had taken to Lake Powell, and leaving it with the Burmas to “boat sit”, we headed to University of NE in Lincoln to drop #3 son off for RA training. On Monday we completed our trip back to Janesville, after stopping in Rock Island, IL to visit the cemetery where David’s parents and sister are buried and going to Whiteys, a delicious local ice cream store. (Chocolate chip cookie dough is my favorite -lots of extra chocolate chips in addition to the chocolate chip cookie dough.) https://www.whiteysicecream.com/menu/

Monday evening, Tuesday, and Wednesday were supposed to be more packing time. However as often happens in life, the days were filled with a multitude of interruptions. Wonderful interruptions of friends and patients stopping by our home to say good-bye, of bon-fires encircled with friends as we shared memories and prayers, and of many tears and lots of laughter. Particularly I remember one of my son’s friends praying that our home in Texas would be filled with friends and laughter, just as it was in Wisconsin. Every time our Texas home is filled with laughter and friends, I remember God’s yes answer of that prayer and I sing for joy.

We needed to leave Thursday morning. Wednesday night about 10 pm the doorbell rang. I emphatically pronounced to my husband, “We have to be packed! Whoever it is at the door will just have to come to our bedroom so we can finish getting our clothes packed for Texas! (Once we got to Texas, we were planning to stay at my brother’s home until we bought our home, so by this point we had given up on trying to get everything in the house packed and were frantically just trying to get packed what we would need for a few months, knowing I was going to have to come back to finish packing up the rest before the movers arrived.) At the door stood one of our best friends, who came for one last goodbye, and thankfully didn’t mind finding a place to sit in our bedroom amidst all the stuff while we finished loading our suitcases. 

Thursday morning, we left on our big adventure. Excited. Tired. Scared. God's right hand upholds us. God had guided us to this point and we all were blessed with peace knowing that He was leading the way! Our little expedition included my husband and #4 son in our very full suburban pulling a

U-Haul car trailer loaded up with Grandpa’s pick-up truck (David’s dad’s old 1979 Dodge pick-up) which was loaded up with Grandma’s furniture. I followed in my little filled to the brim red car. We arrived in Perry, IA, to drop the pick-up truck with dear friends, the Bice family, who were storing our pick-up in their barn. Grandma’s furniture was wrangled, tied and duct taped to the car trailer. (We prayed for no rain, until we could get the furniture safely delivered to #3 son at UNL that evening.) After dinner at Lucky Pig with our friends, we continued safely on to Lincoln, NE. No rain!

Friday morning, we spent some time helping our college son get a little more settled-hunted for a room rug and a few more college essentials-and delivered the U-Haul trailer to the drop off location. After a walk and lunch at Cane’s, we said our sad good-byes, driving back the 80 miles to the Burmas to hitch up our red boat to pull to Texas. 

Saturday was a long driving day of anticipation and reflection. Finally, we crossed the Texas border! After about 4 more hours, we arrived at my brother’s home. Many times in the past we had been at his house for vacation. It was hard to imagine that now when we arrived we were actually staying in Texas! We were lovingly greeted by my brother and his wife, my niece, her husband and 2 sweet kids. And some of us might have even kissed the ground!

“I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night; for You have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:6-8

Now a year later, we are mostly settled into our own home. Our year has been filled with many blessings of extended family and friends, laughter, Concordia High School, fulfilling work, and so much more. I sing for joy in thanksgiving to God as His right hand upholds me. I remember His help.

GTT and home again. Day 7 Heroes

Ahhhh. It is indeed a long drive home from Texas to Wisconsin.  At about 7:00 am we left Pflugerville, TX. We drove like bats out of hell to get back in time for Monday activities. We stopped only when absolutely necessary; a few gas stops and one stop at Braum's for food. As we got closer and closer to home, we decided to try to get all the way home, instead of hoteling for the night as we had initially planned.  And after many hours on the road we arrived back in Janesville safe and sound.  PTL. About 1:15 AM arrival: 18+ hours on the road. WE DID IT! At times when I felt discouraged driving, I thought of all the prayers people were praying for us this week, and felt God's hand directing and upholding.  Thank YOU all so much for your prayers.

Sam & I discussed heroes as we travelled home.  The dictionary definition of hero: a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. So many heroes in TX.

Julie Tucker, from Concordia Lutheran in San Antonio, works tirelessly (well surely she must be super tired by now), organizing teams and people coming from out of the area to do Hurricane Harvey relief. She helped arrange our work at Trinity Klein.
http://www.concordialutheranchurch.com/engage/events/hurricane-relief

The people at Trinity Lutheran Klein, Spring, TX are just amazing!! Several people I did meet, but so many more behind the scenes- making lunches, collecting and organizing the supplies, working in the food pantry, hosting out of town workers, etc!!!
https://www.trinityklein.org/harvey-relief/

But here are some people, heroes in our eyes, that we did meet and want to name:

Bill and Dan, the chief leads on Hurricane Harvey home relief, were both incredibly strong and wise men, interacting with homeowners and overseeing each job, making sure supplies and communication were taken care of.  Heroes. Thank you!

Kent and Jim were our team leads directing the work on the homes we volunteered in. Both men were kind, diligent, and helpful to the team and homeowners. We especially appreciated their interactions to us, newbies, as we learned the ropes.  Heroes. Thank you!

Carla Grebing met each us morning. She oversaw the volunteers and took care of and prayed over us as we left each morning. I'm sure we saw only the tip of the iceberg of what all she does. Hero. Thank you!

All of the homeowners had courage! Please continue to pray for "our families":
Barbara
Janis and family
Roland and Ann
"Brick wall" family

We left. All these people stayed and continued the arduous task of cleaning up! Heroes!

Joshua 1:9(ESV)  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

GTT Day 6 Encouragement

 A week of encouragement!!!

The very fact that we would come all the way from Wisconsin was an encouragement to everyone we met in Texas.

On our work teams, we all encouraged each other as we worked side by side, and as we shared stories and laughter. 

For the people whose homes we cleaned, our presence, our work, our prayers, our hugs, our laughter; all was a huge encouragement to them.

One of my favorite memories from the week: Sam & Austin laughing as they used their teen-age strength to tear out a wall together.  Sam and Austin, teen-age son of the homeowner, had spent the day working side by side, and by the afternoon both were encouraging each other and having a very fun time, despite the tragedy of Austin losing so much. (The day before Austin's downcast face showed only tragedy. This day, at least for a while, some joy sparkled on his face.)

United we stand! There is so much division and nastiness in our country.  Far nastier than the horrid muck we cleaned out is the tenor of our country at times. Oh how very encouraging to all be on the same page working on a common goal, with hearts full of love!

YOU encouraged us with your prayers and your comments.  So many people sent texts or fb messages and comments that lifted us up and helped us continue on; especially when it was tough. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! And I was able to pass along to the people of Texas words of encouragement of people in Wisconsin and other states praying for them.

Carrie, Eric, and Melissa, our host family, encouraged us.

Some people were particularly instrumental in encouraging us to go to Texas: 
As always, my husband was the the first to embolden me to go after I had read the emails calling for people to come help. He helped me think through the details and overcome the obstacles, reassuring me that I could do this with Sam.

Next was Sam's soccer coach.  With it being mid-soccer season, we hated to ditch the team for a week.  I texted Coach Jacobson.  She immediately texted back, "Do it!" And she continued to encourage Sam.

My niece and godchild, Julie Meese, who lives in the Houston area and had so many friends and neighbors experience the devastation encouraged us to come. "You are so needed here."

On Saturday night before we left, I went to bed very conflicted about whether or not we should go to TX praying that God would just make it clear whether we should go or not. Sunday morning when I woke up, Ann Marie Vincent, my neighbor's voice was playing in my head, "Serve God and serve others."  She is always saying that phrase & on Sunday morning it was in my mind as I awoke. I decided we were supposed to go.


Day 6... hot tubbing, cookie baking, and story telling- a day to debrief and regroup.

Yesterday after finishing working, showering with again copious amounts of soap, and packing up, we headed to New Braunfels, TX to the home of my sister, Sharon, & her husband, Donald. Earlier in the week I had mentioned to Sharon that even after showering, I didn't feel clean, like I just needed to bath in bleach.  So both on Friday pm and Saturday, we went hot tubbing which soothed our aching muscles, washed our skin with chlorine, and filled our noses with something other than the putrid flood odor that I just couldn't shake. A time of telling our stories, baking chocolate chocolate chip cookies, basking in sweet sister time was so encouraging.

Saturday afternoon, we headed north towards Austin, attended a worship service, followed by supper and chocolate chip cookies at my brother Bill's house where we shared more stories with him, his wife, Carol, and Christopher, and Lisa, my niece, and her family. More encouragement.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Thanking God for:
almost perfect temperatures for all of our work days
sunshine
friends old and new who have been so encouraging
cookies
strong bodies
opportunity to serve
Coach Jacobson
AND SO MUCH MORE

GTT Day 4 No Snakes, Please

Exhausted, but excited!
This work is exhausting beyond belief, both physically and emotionally. You know how much I love to exercise, but I have definitely discovered muscles that prior to now have been unused and are now groaning. But I'm proud to say that I'm getting pretty whippy at running a wheel barrel. :)
Today started where we left off yesterday of hauling stuff out of the house. While bravely (or honestly not so bravely) helping to finish up emptying the kitchen cupboards with the bugs et al, stories were shared around of the snakes that people had come across while doing flood clean-up. And Sam reported to me that this family had seen 15 snakes in their yard. Oh my, please no snakes!! I thought the bugs were bad, but I really can't handle snakes. As I ventured outside I was on high alert for snakes. Thankfully I did not see any today. After the kitchen, several of us worked in the master bathroom and closests.  As I said yesterday, the septic tank right outside the window started flooding and overflowing first so the water in that room was very concentrated sewage water.  Add to that water sitting stagnant for about 12 days and hot temperatures, and what a combination of yuck awaits. I pulled out piles of soaked clothes from the whirlpool tub, took out racks of saturated hanging clothes from the closets, and gathered up many moldy shoes. (When the water is swirling 5 feet high, everything becomes a mess.) We filled wheel barrel after wheel barrel. Unfortunately in the bathroom, several great big bugs darted across the floor.  Sam got tired of hearing me scream & kicked me out of the bathroom to go work somewhere else.
We had a bigger work crew today, so it was very exciting to make so much progress. Initially we had 7 people and then 4 more people joined us. In addition, as we started making progress, the members of the family became more & more involved with the work. (I think it is just shocking for the people to go through this experience; they don't even know where to begin as it is so overwhelming.) Sam described this day as "demolition day" & he loved it.  He and Austin, one of the teen-age family members, really made a great team. They are strong. They worked hard. They accomplished much.

The question of the day: to open the refrigerator or not to open the refrigerator??? What is the right thing to do? Some say to just tape it shut to reduce the stench. Others say to open it to let the gases out. After my experience here, I vote tape it shut!

SO much more to tell, but I'm so tired I just have to sleep.

Thanking God for:
cool temperatures!!!!!! (low 80s)
wonderful relationships with the team members and home owners
no snakes today
laughter
sleep
AND SO MUCH MORE

GTT Day 3 STENCH

WOW...no one could really prepare me for this day!

The first house we had already been mostly cleaned by Barbara's son and his friends.  Besides tearing up a floor in one room, we boxed up belongings that had been rescued. But talking with Barbara about her rescue, shock, and grief so touched my heart. We prayed together for peace, joy in this difficult journey, thankfulness for God's unfailing love, and for guidance for where she would go next.

Throughout the day, common themes emerged:
"The water came up so fast!"
The people we help all have a story and it's a sad one.
All the belongings are just things, but there is an emotional attachment and memory tied to them.
People feel their loss greatly, but they also feel guilty for feeling badly about their loss because so many other people around them have also lost so much.
Everyone is so appreciative of the help.
There is a sense of despair of not even knowing what to do next because it is all so overwhelming.
Most people still have some humor left which makes a very bad situation more bearable.

The second house we cleaned out can be best described with one word...STENCH.
As we cleaned out the master bedroom, pulling out once plush carper on top of a thick pad, the woman told us that the septic tank right outside the window was the first to flood into the room.  With that, I walked right back to the truck and put on an extra pair of waterproof gloves. We already had our heavy duty masks and goggles on. After we had hauled everything out of  the bedroom, (imagine everything in YOUR bedroom being under 5 feet of water!), we cleaned out the laundry room and the kitchen. No amount of poopie diapers, (and heaven knows I've changed many), out- houses and camping potties, or dog poop and cat urine, can prepare a person for the smell of a refrigerator/freezer full of rotting meat filled with maggots. In addition to the horrible stench in the house of sitting septic water, and rotten meat, I was pushed right up to my limit pulling pots and pan out of the cupboards filled with stinky water with "stuff" in it.  Every time I pulled out a pan, bugs also came running out of the cupboard. My double waterproof gloves could not protect me from that. This family is living upstairs in this home right now! At the end of the afternoon, I felt incredibly privileged to come home to my host's beautiful, clean home and a delicious, hot meal.


Sam really thinks we need to bring back Hurricane Harvey water to study in biology; he thinks it will beat WI pond water.

Thanking God for:
waterproof boots
opportunity to talk and pray with these families
so many volunteers
wheel barrels
Chlorox wipes
clean, dry, sweet smelling bed to sleep in tonight
the other members on our team-love Texans
AND SO MUCH MORE!