December 2013

Thanks for visiting my blog and taking a moment to view things from my perspective. 

I'm a Gen X homeschooling mom who sells Avon to support my writing habit.  I live in North Dakota with my husband, son, daughter and three-pound poodle. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area but God transplanted me and my family to North Dakota in 2006. Though it gets cold here and there are no Trader Joe's or Ross stores for hundreds of miles, it's home and there is nowhere else I'd rather live. Okay. Maybe Hawai'i. But that's a different story.

Seeing the world through rose-colored glasses means I try and filter everything through my understanding of the gospel and my love for Jesus Christ. I grew up in a Christian home, attending Christian school and a terrific non-denominational Christian church. That provided me with a lot of head knowledge. But since becoming a mother, God has transformed that head knowledge into a heart-felt understanding of God's amazing grace.

How'd He do that? 

First, in 2004, I gave birth to Adam. After 27 hours of labor, we had a Code Blue and were rushed to the operating room for a c-section. Suddenly my well-planned, controlled-by-me birth plan was null and void. All I could do was whisper, "Please God."  In that moment, God taught me that everything is in His control not mine and He told me, "Many are the plans of the man's heart but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."  (Proverbs 19:21)

In 2006, we left the only home we'd ever known, sold our house, closed our business, said goodbye to friends (and the mailman I'd had since I was 2!) and moved to North Dakota. It was scary. It was exciting. God taught me that sometimes He transplants us in order for us to become more fruitful. 

In 2008, Gracey was born. 24 hours later, she was admitted to NICU because she turned blue. A valve in her heart had not closed properly and she also had GERD. I was a wreck. God taught me to trust Him even with my most precious "possessions", my kids. He healed Gracey. When I sing "Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it," I'm reminded of His healing and that all He wants is our hearts.

In 2011, just two months after another move and major remodel, the Missouri River flooded and we were evacuated from our home for three months. Packing my belongings, sandbagging my home and then driving away through the flood waters changed my life forever. Over those three months, God showed me that I was not living as a grace-filled Christian. Though I never want to experience another flood again, I am so glad we were flooded because God changed me.

I am not perfect. I am not done learning. I am not finished. God is still working in me, on me, and through me. My hope is that I can share some of what He has taught me with you.