Our 2nd Annual Fall Fest

The "Fall Fest" at DTS is a great night! Students and their families gather in the "quad" on campus for an evening of food, games, music, bounce houses and fellowship. This past Friday we attended our 2nd annual Fall Festival and it was a blast!=) Here are some highlights...









The Fall Fest has also become a "marker" for me on my journey of faith. You see, last year the fall festival was held on the night before Abby and I returned to Grand Forks for all of our medical testing. That morning I had attended my first ever DTS Chapel and heard Chuck Swindoll speak. I walked into that Chapel that morning with so many unknowns and with many feelings of being overwhelmed, but determined to trust the Lord no matter what.

Some of the unknowns were: What is the mass that my doctor felt at the time of delivery? Am I going to be okay? Does Abby have craniosynostosis? Where will we have her surgery? How will this all work out? Will she be okay? Will Brent find a job? What about our medical insurance? What is going to happen with that? Where are we going to go to church? How am I ever going to be able to get connected with 4 little ones and a brand new baby? Where am I going to take the kids to the doctor? How am I going to teach my kids school? And I am sure there were many more...

Some of my overwhelming feelings were: Scared, lonely, tired, frustrated, broken hearted...

As I said before, I was determined to trust the Lord amidst my circumstance. And looking back, I can see how wonderfully He was caring for and providing for all of our needs. Even as I was walking through this time, I could see how He was there with us in all the details. And although there were many uncertainties, there was an overall peace that reigned in my heart and mind as I was reminded of His truth...

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

The last verse was the inspiration for this blog, and the trials we faced were my motivation to start it. And the message that Chuck delivered that morning in Chapel caused me to weep. The first thing that he said that morning was..."When God has an impossible task, He takes an impossible person and crushes them." Tears immediately started flowing down my cheeks. Boy did I feel "crushed" at this time and I cannot with words describe to you the hope the message that followed gave to me. It reminded me of the purpose in my suffering, in my brokenness. It was exactly what I needed to hear.

That morning the Lord also assured me that we were supposed to be here. Chuck said, "If you can be happy doing anything else (other than ministry) go do it. If you cannot, that's how you know it is a calling." I know that I cannot. I know that I want to for the rest of my days on this earth serve the Lord full time in whatever way he sees fit. And my husband feels the same way. So even though our circumstances were out of control (or so it felt) I had a confirmation that we were where we should be. And knowing that brought a great deal of peace.

So, after that wonderful morning of worship and a fun family night at Fall Fest, I packed and prepared for my 3 day trip to GF with Abby. To the surprise of us all, the 3 days turned into 11 days, because of extra medical tests I had done. These tests brought good news, the doctors said I looked good...there was no sign of the mass that my doctor had felt! This was such a praise! However, the CT that Abby had confirmed our suspicion that she did have saggital craniosynostosis and would need to have surgery to correct it. Once again, we faced one of our children needing to have neurosurgery. Here is one of the prayers I journaled during the "wait" (her surgery was not until December 11) for my precious Abby...

Oh God how I praise you for Abby! She is fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works and my soul knows that full well- Oh God as she faces this surgery, Lord protect her, protect her body from harm from the Procrit. Please protect her body from harm from the surgery. Oh God, guide Dr. Fearon's hands. Lord have me cast aside all speculation and walk this broken road with faith and joy. Thank you for Abby, please let us keep her. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen


As a mom, it is so hard to hold tightly to your child with an open hand. In fact, what I just typed is impossible for us to do without the Lord. I recognize that my children are His and that I have given the privilege of being their mom. There are no guarantees for how long or short of time this will be. And with facing this surgery, I faced the possibility of not getting to keep my Abby and having to trust God and trust in His promises with the life of my child. I have found that it is easy to say that my children are the Lord's and harder to open my hand and trust no matter what.

And now, one year later to see how God has been so faithful. How He has cared for us, cared for Abby, and how He has stretched and grown us in so many ways. We give Him all the praise, all the glory, and all the honor. And we continue to trust Him with our lives and with our care. We still have many challenges today, but we know that God is Faithful. And in this we place our trust.

"God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:9

"Now may the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

How about you? What is it that you place your trust in? If you are reading this, I am praying for you. That you may know this hope, this peace no matter what joy or pain this life may bring, no matter what trial or hardship may come your way. That even in the face of death you could have peace. That you would be able to have this confidence that Paul writes of in Romans...

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

And that you would truly know the love that Christ Jesus has for you.

"O Taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" Psalm 34:8