In honor of bubby!

Joey is really into the SHS (Super hero squad) right now! So for bubby... HERO UP! happy new year every one! Be safe! Look to God as your hope and B+ (be positive) every day! There is more to life than what you face or walk through! :)

~Mindy~

Hard day...

Today, We lost a friend who has taught us so much. Her name is Rina. Rina had a hard battle, especially here lately with her walk with Mitochondrial Disease. If you don't know what Mitochondrial Disease is... the mitochondria are your bodies power houses. When they mitochondria go out... your power goes out. Rina faced every day with a positive attitude. She is precious in spirit! Her loss will be felt greatly! I know that Rina is no longer suffering and she gets to run with energy she has never had... but she will be missed here.

This day has stirred so many emotions. Some really good ones and some that make you just sit and cry. Looking at my own children, they are treating them as though they have mitochondrial disease because that is what their bodies are portraying. This is a very HARD disease to diagnose some times. When I look at Rina's life, I think "Gee, when I grow up, I want to be just like her!" I want to find something to smile about in every circumstance. I want to find joys and bring light to the room of people around me. Rina had one thing under her belt... Her quote on her Caring bridge page is this "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

Today is a present. No matter what yesterday held... no need to worry about the mystery of tomorrow... but to focus on today... it's a gift that God has given us. In keeping with Rina's desire... Remember B+ (be positive)

Be blessed my friend as you dance with the angels tonight! We love you!

~mindy

A Cure for Mito

Our Children have not been specifically diagnosed. They have found they have a nueromuscular disease and they are treated as tho it is Mitochondrial Disease. This video (if you get this post by email, you will need to go to the blog to view the video. It will not open in your email.) will give you a glimpse of what we walk through each day and the concerns that we have. Like many of these kids in the video, they look normal. Beautiful faces and beautiful children, but what happens inside their bodies is another story. Much like one mom said "When she's having a good day, we are having a good day!" It's hard some times to accept the reality of what life holds. It's hard to know that we dont know what tomorrow holds. But its beautiful and wonderful to know that we know that this moment holds that we have two amazingly awesome children who we love more than we ever thought you could love some one! Please pray that whether we have mito or we dont, they find a cure because we have many who we love that are fighting this awful disease and many we have lost because of it!

~mindy

Relationships to change...

Tonight is our free community dinner. In doing this outreach, comes many frustrations but also many more joys that make us keep moving forward! I am excited as we have started this ministry, there are so many people that we have started to build relationships with and we are seeing these folks grow and change every day. It may be small changes and some times the changes go unnoticed, but God sees those changes and counts them victories!!!

I personally have had an opportunity to build a relationship with one of the ladies who come. In this time, I have gotten to love on her, have laughs with her and now, She has decided she wants a job where she can help her community. So, I am getting to help her in that direction. Its these changes that matter! She is striving to better herself and in the midst, she wants to give back to the community! It just amazes me what God does.

Maybe there are folks in your life that are in need. If you can find it in your heart just to show them the love of Christ, God will do the rest! He's faithful to work in their hearts! It doesn't take preaching, it doesn't take beating them with the Word... it takes love and patience. Thank you God for letting me be a part of this ministry! Thank you for allowing me to see folks grow.

Merry Christmas

Got to love snoopy! :)

I know! This is a profound entry and you just can't get over my wonderful insight to life! :) LOL! Oh well, I love snoopy and I couldn't resist!!!!!

Some times...

Some times when life gets stinky... you just need to put those things in front of you that remind you to smile and that you have an awesome GOD! So... here are the things that make me smile the most and the biggest reason I know I have an awesome God....

cracks me up....

We took the kids into town last evening to get their Christmas presents for each other. Joey was cracking me up. I worked with him and Daddy took sister. Sis thought this would be a good idea cause she thought that we would each know best what the other wanted. So... off we went. I stopped to talk with Joey about what he would like to get sister. He says "Well, I think I will buy Abby the stinky garbage truck." I snickered and said "Now, is that what Abby would like, or is that what Joey would like?" He just grinned at me with that cute little grin that states "Yep, I'm being a stinker!"

He continued with bringing up boy toys that sister might want and I continued to remind him... now that would be for Joey! Not Abby!

Needless to say, He made a GREAT pick for sister! I think she will be beside herself when she opens her gifts and bub is going to love what sister got! As much as shopping cracked me up, it made me proud how much my kids love each other and how excited they are to bless each other. Neither threw a fit to get something for themselves but instead they can't wait until Christmas to give a gift to each other! I love my stinkers so much!

More than I can fathom...

Whelp, Last Thursday (12/9) we went in for our intake with the nurse at the Perinatal Center. They couldn't hear the heart beat of our little one, so they did an ultrasound brief but exciting! Baby Pfohl had a good strong heart beat of 162. Our little one was measuring 10 weeks and they said baby is the size of a grain of rice. The baby was moving. You could see the tiny little arms and tiny little legs.

The next day, Jeff showed the kids what a grain of rice was like. They were in shock. Funny thing, Joey thought Jeff was some how holding the baby and wanted to know where the arms and legs were! Cracked us up!

Its so beyond my ability to even fathom how something so tiny could be so alive and so precious inside of me! To understand that a little life has been placed there...

I have to say I have been very overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. The questions of what will this little life hold... I wait excitedly for the joys but yet find myself holding my breath trying not to fear.... God is so amazing. He's given us two awesome kids! He's held us close to his heart in the heart breaking moments yet given us more joy than we could ever imagine through their lives. I know this baby will be the same no matter the outcome of health. I believe his unfailing love is strong and He will hold us close to His heart no matter what. I am so thankful that God has trusted us with a precious baby that will join this world faster than we can imagine!

So Exciting...

I can't believe we are now passing the 8 weeks mark. I have to say I have felt every emotion in the book this week. Many have asked us "Aren't you afraid of what this child will be like?" That's a hard question to face. Do we have fears, ABSOLUTELY. Do we have doubts... NOPE! We dont know what this childs life will bring, but we know one thing absolutely for sure, we are so blessed with our other two! Yes, we have had heart aches, we have had fears, but we have no regrets. If we had it to do over and we were told from the very beginning what we would walk through, we would do it again! They aren't a burden and they aren't a hindrance to our life... they are an awesome blessing! They have built our faith, they have improved our character, they have strengthened our faith in God and most of all... They have made us happier than we ever could imagine. Every giggle is worth more than anything and NO I would NOT traid it! I'm so thankful for my kids! So thankful for the blessings of knowing they are mine. So, I am excited we are having another and no matter whats to come in the days ahead, God has it all planned out and we will face it with joy and celebration!

Baby on Board...

Well, I can't believe that we are on a new Journey in life. Yep! A baby is on its way! Undeniable! Wow. We have been praying and hoping we could have another. But we weren't sure. I have to say, I had decided in my mind we were not... and now we are! Hurray!!!! I will post pictures and updates as we go along!!! :)

Halloween turmoil....

We were in the van driving home one day as a family. I said to Jeff, "I just dont know about Halloween and dressing up and being a part. Knowing the real meaning of halloween (or hallows eve or the day of the dead), I struggle with whether it is right or wrong." Sister was listening in and I tell you, out of the mouth of babes! She looks up and says "Well, mommy, Jesus wouldn't want us to participate. If there is anything bad in it, then the whole thing is bad and we shouldnt!" man, Did that hit me hard! What a Christ like answer for a little girl.

I still battled though in my heart because Joey wanted to be a part. Tonight, hard questions were asked... why is halloween bad? why should we not make jackolanterns? What's wrong with trick-or-treating? I did my research... I went to.... http://www.jeremiahproject.com/culture/halloween.html I STRONGLY urge you to read this entire article! STRONGLY!


Here is a snip from a very LONG article...


"Should Christians adopt such practices?
Can we borrow pagan customs and superstitions of ancient peoples and "Christianize" them?

As believers, we are called to "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. [1 Thesalonians 5:21-22] Who can deny that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil? Witches, monsters, ogres, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils and demons all portray evil. Christians are to "... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." [Ephesians 5:11]

Is Halloween just another innocent holiday that doesn't harm anyone? Is it really just childish fun? Vandalism and wanton disregard for the property of others is common on Halloween night. Even normally well-behaved children are driven by unseen forces to destructive behavior. Police officials everywhere report a great increase in such activities on Halloween. Worse yet are the horrifying accounts of poisoned candy and fruits booby-trapped with razor blades and needles. Such threats are so real that many hospitals offer free X-rays of Halloween treats in order to prevent children from being harmed. Who but Satan could inspire such monstrous actions?

Should the church be compromised by accommodating itself to the culture?

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." [Romans 12:2]

"For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?" [2 Corinthians 6:14, 15]

When America and the world celebrates the Festival of Samhain and the powers of darkness by masquerading as evil creatures or decorating our homes, schools, businesses and churches with occult symbols, Satanic power is glorified.

The sort of practices celebrated on Halloween are what defiled the ancient nations [see Leviticus 18:24-30]. The Israelites were warned against such practices when they entered the Promised Land, "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations." [Deuteronomy 18:9]

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so. [Deuteronomy 18:10-14]

As an alternative to the celebration of evil and death, Christians should rather do what Christians are supposed to do every day and that is shine the light of Jesus Christ. We should emphasize the Christian influences and strive to make Hallow's Eve a celebration of the acts of God through his people the saints. We should make it a day when acts of charity instead of vandalism and hatred abound. A day that emphasizes the light of Christ instead of the darkness of evil. A day when people meditate on the acts of Godly people instead of ghosts and goblins.

While you may have participated "all in fun," be assured, Halloween is serious business for Satanists and witches. Those who oppose Christ are known to organize on Halloween to observe satanic rituals, to cast spells, to oppose churches and families, to perform sacrilegious acts, and to even offer blood sacrifices to Satan. While some may say, "But we only do this in fun...we don't practice witchcraft," those things that represent Satan and his domain cannot be handled or emulated "for fun". Such participation places you in enemy and forbidden territory and that is dangerous ground.

Tom Sanguinet, former high priest in the Celtic tradition of Wicca (witchcraft) said "The modern holiday we call Halloween has its origins in the full moon closest to November 1, the witches’ New Year. It was a time when the "spirits" (demons) were supposed to be at their peak power and revisiting the earth planet." He went on to say, "Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have or will do that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus." [The Dark Side Of Halloween]

As evil prevails, Americans have embraced an evil day of Satan, with the pranks of 'would be' hoodlums, combined with 'demon faces' on pumpkins, clothing of 'death' being worn, and calling it fun. When Christians participate in Halloween, it sends a message to children that witchcraft, demonism, Satanism, and the occult are something fun, entertaining and harmless.

Many years ago, C.S. Lewis wrote that one of Satan's most deceptive tactics is to convince people that he doesn't exist. Apparently he has done a good job in his deception. Sadly, many people think of the devil as no more than a symbol of evil: like Santa Claus, he is just a fictional symbol. Many people today also do not think of witches as real people who practice magic, but simply as imaginary figures who represent the supernatural world and everything that is 'spooky.'

Recognizing this pagan holiday gives the false impression that what is actually lethal is innocuous. Some children develop a fascination with the supernatural which leads them later into more sinister occult practices. It's the spiritual equivalent of painting a loaded gun to look like a toy and giving it to child to play with.

It is the kind of celebration that encourages kids like the 16-year-old in Pearl, Mississippi who stabbed his mother to death in her sleep and then opened fire at his high school, killing two students and wounding seven. Authorities found this student along with at least six others involved in a small, avowedly satanic clique that calls itself "Kroth."

How some people can defend this kind of activity as just another innocent holiday that doesn't harm anyone is beyond me.

Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (John 3:19-20"

when God calls...

Lately, God has been impressing things on Jeff and I's heart. Its amazing to me how He works, how He askes, how He confirms and then how He walks it out. I've had a lot of doubt in my mind. Wondering, could this be? Do you really want us to do these things? Are we to continue growing things we are doing and adding to what we do... His answer... YES!

Since this bout with sister, she's been down for about 4 weeks now. I asked God again, Do you still want me to be active in ministry? Do you still want me doing the things I do? Have you changed your mind? His answer... He hasn't changed His mind at all and what He spoke... well he's the same yesterday, today and forever!

Something I'm learning right now is that in every life situation God AND His plan remain the same, we just have to learn to work around life circumstances. For me right now, I'm learning to NOT control so much. I'm learning to let go and to let others step in. I'm learning to RELEASE what I think I HAVE to do and allow God to utilize folks around me to continue on.

As I was reading my Bible this morning, this is the verse I found... 1 Corinthians 15:58 "therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know what your labor in the Lord in not in vain."

The verses prior to this are talking about sin and the sting of death, but the truth in it is... there are temptations across the board to let things distract you. No matter what Life's circumstances are, we are called to stand firm and to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord! God knows what we need to hear. Circumstances by no means change or altor the life God called us to because its still reality... it means that we trust him to manage those circumstances and move forward.

I'm not writing this to toot my own horn, I'm writing this to share what God is showing me right now. Blogging for me is a way of first of all, journaling what God's speaking to me, but second of all, I want to share what God has spoke to me in hopes it will be something that will help some one else! God is awesome and He has all things in His hand and in His perfect time!

When life is rough...

This last month has been a real yo-yo of emotions for us. Many things have taken place and some times you just stop and ask God why? Then you realize that God purposed every thing for a reason... so asking why is questioning God's divine plan...

Right now, our struggle is finding strength to endure... I'm reminded today of where our hope comes from. Our hope comes from heaven, the maker of heaven and earth, our Creator, our Father... papa is our hope.

I was reading the word today and this is the verse I came across:

Jeremiah 17:5 "This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord."

As I read this, I'm deeply reminded that we need the body of Christ, but our strength can't come only from those around us but our love for God and our relationship with him. God is our strength and apart from him, we can do NOTHING! In struggling through some of this right now, I'm reminded that when things get tough, we as Christians have to push deeper and work harder on allowing HIM to be our strength.

In doing that, God can shine through our hard times even more. This life isn't meant for me but for HIS glory therefore, may we as a family die to ourselves and allow God to be the strength that drives us, the strength that holds us together and the strength that gets us by and through that, may it be to his Glory in the end result that some how, our lives pointed to Him!

Seems this relationship is layered. We need HIM to be our strength, when we do that, the layer comes down to its him in us that brings glory to his kingdom.

Storing up...

We are putting up our veggies!

Sister helping pull the blanched green beans out of the ice water bath
Joey pulling the blanched cabbage out of the ice water bath!

Awake...

I woke up right around 5 a.m. I couldn't go back to sleep because my heart wouldn't let me. My heart is heavy, yet filled with so much excitement. We are coming up on our next FREE community dinner. The heaviness comes from the fact that there are so many who don't understand why we do this. The excitement comes from, I just can't wait for it to get here! I tell you, this morning, I have been up searching and praying, "God, why is this dinner so important to you? Why did you ask us to do it?" Well, He answered me... This is why...

Matthew 25:34-40

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

After reading this passage... well, reading it more than once... my heart is more excited. He is passionate about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothes to those in need. It's His heart. When we do that, We are doing it to Him. I feel at this point I can say, Need I say more? It's a true place of worship to serve him and to love Him when you are giving it away. God, may you find our hearts open! May you be able to say "well done". May we serve you with out one inkling of question... may we give you our all!

45 lb. weight loss marker....

This is Before.

This is after 45 lbs.This is before

This is after 45 lbs.

Well, I would say there is a diff in these pics! I didn't think I would see it but I guess you can! makes me smile inside! I can't believe I am REALLY doing this!

Faith...

Lately, God is just really opening my eyes to the church... God's bride, the world wide church, I mean the WHOLE body of Christ... the church of America and surrounding... I've been wrestling with so much asking God why people just can't "see it", why they don't "get it" and why things have to be so hard... Every church comes with issues because every church is run by sinners. Yes, we are the body of Christ, but our sin natures play a part in every thing that we do! It can be destructive in many situations because where there is sin, God can not dwell. Understanding this and realizing the importance of our OWN repentance constantly as Christians, seeking His face, becoming more and more Christ like every day... it's crucial! There is no gray... only black and white before the eyes of God... but we as Christians often live in the gray...

I have so many thoughts running through my mind lately... so many desires... so much longing to just see clearly what God has...

Galations 5:4-6

"You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ;

You have fallen away from grace.

But by faith we eagerly await through the spirit the righteousness for which we hope.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love... Searching after "law" and I'm not talking obeying the law set before you... I'm talking about the "law" that comes from any thing other than scripture... man made beliefs/doctrines... truths stretched to form what MAN believes christianity should look like... it's a stumbling block. There is no book, no law, no anything that can draw you close to God outside of FATH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE. God is love and when He is in us, love is expressed. My prayer is we as Christians can find ourselves not being justified by "laws" but waitng through the spirit for the righteousness we hope for so that we could have what COUNTS: FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE. Only when we have what counts will lives around us can be truly changed. Love is a drawing factor for those who are lost... not law.... hurting and broken and lost hearts seek out love...

Arise, shine!

Today's verse:

Isaiah 60:1-3

"Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, Darkness covers the earth

and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you

and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn"

The opposite of light is darkness. The Darkness that surrounds us is sin. The light within us is Jesus! If we could just put off the "darkness", if we could just soak ourselves in who He is and allow ourselves to be drawn in and changed by the light of HIS glory, the light would shine in us! As HIS children we need to arise with out shame! For our light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon us!

I hear so often that our churches of America want God to draw near, they want to see Revival! They want to feel him & see Him! But for this to happen, it takes action! We must ARISE! We have to get up! We have to let His light shine. If we want this nation to change, if we want our churches to change, we have to let that light grow in us! For our nation to be changed, it's automatic... "Nations will come to your light..." It is really rather simply put in this scripture, if there is no light, they don't come. Change won't happen. But if your light out shines the darkness, they will come to your light... they will naturally be drawn in!

My heart is so torn by the church of America! I am grieved as I watch sin clutch and darken the light of who God has called us to be. It isn't too late! We are not too far gone! Later in this passage it says "though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show compassion." The Lord's compassion is great! If your life has Darkness in it, even just what you think are areas of small dark places, the light that arises in you is dimmed. We say we are good people, we say we love God, but there are no good people! We are born into sin and only God is good! Only with Him fully dwelling in your life do you become good because then at that point, His light is upon you and shines bright! May we arise, may we put off the dark things and may we take hold of His feet so that his light, the glory of WHO HE IS may rise in us.... "Arise, shine, for your light has come....."

Are you wise?

Today's verse:

Proverbs 14:1 "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears her's down."

Reading this today... as you look on through the chapter, it carries on in talking about "a fools talk brings a rod on his back but lips of the wise protect them." etc. More or less, it's a chapter on what happens when you live good and what happens when you live wrong. In looking at this first verse, After reading this whole chapter, it struck me the power that we have in the direction of lives. If we chose to live honest, pure, loving, forgiving lives... we build our "houses" up. If we chose to live lying, impure, hateful, bitter lives, we are like the foolish woman and we tear our "houses" down with our own hands.

I really stand sobered by this. As an individual, my choices aren't just paid for by ME. My family is affected, my husband, my kids... every action that comes from my hands or my mouth has a cause and affect. It can be positive and uplifting, or it can be negative and destructive. Lord, may I be aware of who I am and what I am doing every single moment so that I MYSELF may build my house up and not tear it down!

We are HIS sheep...

This morning, I was reading in Ezekiel 34. This whole chapter is just packed full of awesome! However, the verses that stood out to me the most are these:

"vs. 11 For this is what the sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them... vs. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice."

As I read this, I was absolutely reminded of God's awesomeness. He is almighty. He is the beginning and the End! He is Holy! He is SOVEREIGN! But we are important to a God who is so much bigger than anything we could think up in our little minds! He LOOKS for us. My heart leaps as I read that! My GOD looks for me! And continuing... he searches for the lost and brings back the strays! If you don't already know Him, He is searching for you! His heart beats for you and longs to bring you to His side to care for you! If you knew Him, but you don't follow him, you are lost... or gone astray... He searches for you! How humbling that a God who has the power to destroy us because of our sin searches for us and longs to draw us in! Brokenness is nothing before Him! He will bind up your wounds and heal them with His love and steadfast strength! He becomes your strength in your weakness. I don't know about you, but I'd rather throw this whole world and what it offers away... I'd rather give up every thing I could possibly have and run to Him! No person, no thing, no any thing could amount to the Love that God has for us! He's searching for me and He is searching for you.

I'm reminded that some times it hurts to let go of the things in our lives. We don't always see God's goodness as the treasure that it is... If you haven't experienced that closeness, the intimacy that God offers, you may not understand that letting go of what you have, be it hard or be it easy, will not even hold a light in comparison to who God is. I have touched it! I have touched that presence and I have felt that closeness with God! I stand here today to tell you, it is worth more than you could imagine! If we could all just let go and fall into his searching arms, we'd find more than we could ever dream or ask... A perfect love that will never let us down....

every moment...

I have really been struggling with things lately. Wrestling with the term "pastor's wife". Every one who knows me knows... I am NOT your typical pastor's wife. I've been struggling with the home schooling and figuring out our schedule for this coming year and a list of MANY other things I could list, but I will spare you and I won't list them all! Now, these struggles aren't to say I don't want to be or do these things, it's to say... I just need to hear God right now and know what I am to be doing.

When I stopped and focused on the things I'm wrestling with, my light bulb came on! I don't always start my day with God, I just try to squeeze him in some where more convenient through the day! I know God's desire is for my first fruits of my time to belong to him. So... I'm committing to that. If it's a busy morning... I will pray and read a couple of verses, if it's a morning I truly have enough time... I will do more!

This morning, I sat down with my Bible and this is what I read: Ecclesiastes 9:16-18 "So I said, "wisdom is better than strength. But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good."

I read this, and I felt convicted. I'm usually a very straight forward person in confrontation and I tell you easily what's on my mind. Currently, there is something that is really bothering me. It angers me and I want to dive in and address it... but God told us WAIT. Wait? Why would I wait? Why would I keep silent? Some times, wisdom is silent. Wisdom waits until it is time to speak and then it speaks in love.

I think so many times, we get caught up in what we want and much like this verse says "The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools." Shouting isn't what brings God glory. Words of anger change nothing... it's sinning when you reach that point and no matter what you are confronting, even if your intentions are good, your wisdom is worthless at the point of losing your temper. It destroys much good! So, today, my prayer is that God would quiet me and help me to know at what point to speak and may I be able to speak softly but with the boldness he puts in me for His truth and Name sake!

New Life...

Some times, God has us slow down. He has us at a place where we can stop and think. Today's been that day for me. I picked this picture because it really goes with what's been on my mind. This plant (in my flower bed) before blooming, looked much like a weed. Just kind of there. But when it bloomed, it was vibrant and beautiful. Some times, I think people are that way. You look at them and you think "how could God ever use them? what would be the plan for them? Why would he ask us to minister to that person?" But what we don't see... with a little bit of care and a little bit of nurture, what's inside is breath taking and gorgeous. I think of Isaiah 61. It's the call on our lives (Jeff & I). I fumble some times on the call and I think we are crazy... but it's true. It's where we are. In Isaiah 61, you read about a call. A call to reach the unloved, the poor, the broken of heart... The ones that most don't see any worth in. In vs. 4... I'm always caught with this "They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated." yep, the ones that most look at as a weed, God has a plan for. May I always remember when I look at some one, much like this flower... it may look like a weed, but inside... there could be something amazing just waiting to be nurtured and bloomed into something beautiful!

We have a new family member!!!

Our Neice and Nephew (Steven & Kristyn) had there sweet baby last night at 11:19 a.m. She weighed 6 lbs. 6 oz. and was 20 3/4 inches long. We can't wait to go in and love on her today. Joey woke up this morning crying "I don't want to be home! I want to see the baby!" The kids are so excited for a new little one! :) They love their babies! That's for sure!!! At this point, we still know her as Baby Pfohl. Mommy and daddy are leaning towards a name, but no decisions yet that I know of! We love you sweet baby Pfohl!!!

The Pfohl happenings...

Sissy's Zinnia's have made it from the little cups in the house to the ground around our front tree!
We adopted Keym's fishies Kitty & Fido before they moved to California.

Joey's Morning glories have made their way to the fence line out back.

Sisters proud flower pot out front! We love spring at the pfohl house!

Hanging in the bean bag church in the ffc youth room. :) The kids think it's AWESOME!

Spring flowers 2...

We are continuing to watch out little flowers grow!!! They are starting to really come up now! The kids are so excited that they can hardly stand it!!!! Cracks me up! We will continue to post as they grow!!!

We had some time outside yesterday. The kids AND the dog are lovin this weather!!! It's perfect! I wish this could be the year round temperature!!!! It's been lots of fun to get to be out of the house again!!!! They are sitting on the sand box in this picture... umm... I'm not sure this the proper use! Ha! :)

Spring flowers!!!

whelp, the kids and I have started getting read for spring! Joey has planted cantaloupe in his pot, Abby has planted Egg plant in hers. The big pots have Chinese lanterns in them for mommy and then the little cups have Morning glories for Joey (They are blue of course!) and sisters have Zinnias. They can't wait to watch them grow and then plant them outside.

New Additions...

meet Buddy! The kids named him and we fell in love right away! He's our newest family member! We adopted him today. He is a 9 month old beagle/dauchsand mix. He is snuggly and so lovelable!!! Welcome home little guy! :)

Life changing...

Working in the pantry is life changing. Jeff and I have always felt God has called us to love what most consider the unlovable. Isaiah 61:1 has always been a verse of passion for me. "The Spririt of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor." The folks coming into the pantry need GOOD NEWS! The Good news is... God loves them just like He loves every single person of any race, any gender, and any social status.

Jeff was at the pantry today. A gentleman came in early with his wife and asked Jeff if he could speak with him. While talking, he asked Jeff if the people of our church were loving. As the story unfolded, he doesn't have nice clothes, he doesn't have acceptance and has been hurt by those in the church who couldn't love him as he is. He doesn't have a social status that most would consider important. He teared up when Jeff told him he could come to church just like he's dressed and there would be people who would love him. Then... Jeff stood and hugged him... the man broke. No preaching took place. Just talking and a hug... and GOOD NEWS was given! God loves this man equally the same as you and I. We need to love this man equally the same. The Good news is... there is a hope and a future for every single person. Whether they are the poorest or the richest.... the good news is... they are loved by one awesome and amazing God!

Tonight...

Well, our food pantry was open tonight. It was so awesome to get to be a part of it. we are getting to know so many of the families that come through and it is just awesome!

Coming up on the 8th, we are going to be having a woman's community group meeting. During this meeting, I am going to be teaching some of the budget saving cooking skills that I have learned. Today, I made stock from bones and veggies! :) I also made home made Cream of chicken soup. I'm planning on using that to make a chicken pot pie with the pie crusts we'll be making that night. All of it comes from stuff near every one has in the pantry or inexpensive items you can put in your pantry easily that will last a LONG time! So... I'm really geared up and excited about this upcoming time with folks!

whelp, I must get to bed! Night all!

Amazing times...

Well, 8 of us got together last night and met concerning the vision for our community. It was awesome to talk with like minded people and cast vision for what we want to see come!!!

We are going to be planting a community garden at the church!!! Hurray!!! However, this next month (April), some one is coming who will be talking with our people about how to start a garden at home, be it they own and plant a garden or start it in a bucket in their apartment!

I have to confess, I am excited because I want to learn more about it! I KILL every thing I touch! Ha! So, my little note pad will be written on as quickly as possible! I'm looking forward also to learning to can this year along side of every one! :) It's going to be great!

It's just awesome to be able to have these opportunities and to be building relationships. Jesus discipled his disciples by being in relationship... doing it all side by side... so... God, we invite you to be in our midst!!!

Blog name...

Well, I have changed the name of my blog. I haven't been blogging much because my heart has just been at a place of totally searching after God. Trying to find me in the madness of what life some times throws at us. I think I found myself. :)

Lately, we have been really pushing into God. Seems so many times there are distractions around us. Health, turmoil in relationships, struggles in our work, battles in our lives (not just us... every one) and our hearts get distracted. I call my blog now "By The River" because that's how I want to spend my life. In God's holy presence. I long for more of him in my life. I don't know where this life will lead us... I don't have the whole picture, but I know one thing for sure... I want my life to be a reflection of who HE is and finding that reflection means SPENDING A LOT of time with Him. So, I am there. Hungering and searching and watching and waiting on Him! Each moment... may it be for you God! May my time by the River reflect you... may I no longer be seen but you in me be what people see!!

so much fun!!!!

Sis started taking Cheer in January. Joey was really excited about all the jumping and hollaring... so, he's in Cheer with sister too! He's the smallest in there, So the girls are learning to LIFT Joey! It was too cute to watch! He was so excited when they got him in the air! It's been fun to watch them every week! I can't wait until they have their little recital and we get to see it all put together in one piece!!!

Another week has passed....

Well, it's been an exciting week at the food pantry and it's time for a new one to begin! The food pantry is open tomorrow (wed) from 12-2 p.m. and Thurs from 5-7 p.m. Here are the daily Bible verses that we are going to be sharing with folks to read over the next week. Please take a minute each day to read them with us and pray that God will open up the peoples hearts and minds... Never know... God may even speak greatly to you and me as we pray together for these scriptures to draw lives to him!

Daily Bible Versus

This week, as you read these Bible viruses, our prayer is that you will be filled with the understanding and truth of God’s awesome and amazing compassion. God’s love, (What we read about last week) is fueled with his awesome compassion for us. There is nothing that could keep him from desiring to be near you!

Day 1:
Psalm 51:1 ”Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”

Day 2:
Psalm 86:15 “But you, O Lord are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Day 3:
Psalm 103:2-4 “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your disease, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.”

Day 4:
Psalm 103:13 “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;”

Day 5:
Psalm 116:5 “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion,”

Day 6:
Psalm 119:77 “Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.”

Day 7:
Psalm 119:156 “Your compassion is great, O Lord; preserve my life according to your laws.”

I was with Jesus...

Well, tonight, we did our noodle night. Two ladies showed up. They offered to come another time so we didn't have to "Spend our time" on two. My sis and I were there. We said to come on in and we learned to make noodles together! we talked, we laughed, we shared stories, we talked about God's provision (Casual, not planned... just came up) and it was AMAZING!!! We had so much fun. They learned to make these noodles from scratch. Neither knew how. But, that isn't all that happened! As my title of this entry said "I was with Jesus." This wasn't a class. This wasn't me just teaching and them just learning. This was seeing Jesus. Experiencing him in our lives. These women came in unsure, and they left full of joy. It wasn't about me. It wasn't that I'm something special. it was me just being who I am and God working through it in the midst.

What's more? They left hungry to come back! They can't wait for the next get together. They even want to start volunteering. That means plugging in and getting to know each other more which means getting to know Jesus more! It's a step closer. This is real kingdom work. Not doctrinal lessons, no one preaching/teaching, no one saying the best prayer... but instead... putting our hands to some flour and eggs and sharing our lives together.

So many times, I think we get caught up in impressing people and we miss it! We think we have to be overly spiritual. Look right. Say it right. Have a plan. But instead, if we could just live out our lives and let them see the light of Christ in us... the ministry happens on its own and they want more! They want to come back. This wasn't about me or my sister... this was about them experiencing the joy of relationship... life with Christ is a relationship and when you experience a healthy wholesome relationship... it leaves you wanting more!

My prayer is, when they eat those noodles with their family tomorrow night, they will relive with their family what they experienced tonight. They will share with their friends and next month, when we get together, they will come back and more will follow, hungry to be with Jesus.

I love being with Jesus...

A night of noodles...

Well, tomorrow night kicks off something very exciting! We are going to have a cooking class at the church! I'm really excited about this. IT will begin even stronger relationships with those that come into the food pantry and will enable us to help them even more! So, we are going to teach them how to make home made noodles utilizing a bag of flour and the farm fresh eggs that they get from the food pantry! So... I'm VERY excited! I'm looking forward to this! Our prayer is that it will deepen the relationships and begin to open doors to help them learn budget helping tips and even lead to doing a budgeting class. I'm just excited at the direction things are going and the way things are moving!!! :)

Just amazing!!!

So, today, Jack, Vicki and Myself teamed up to put out the 900 food pantry items that were donated by our local elementary students! We are excited! our shelves are STUFFED and our back stock is STUFFED!!! We went into this ministry praying and trusting God that we'd be able to serve our community and he has provided! Thank you God!!! You are amazing!!!!

A growing ministry...

This week, we are kicking off something new in our food pantry ministry at our church. We are going to lay out a sheet for every person to be able to take that has a scripture verse on it for each day for them to read and meditate on. This week, Please read with us and pray for those reading it that they will feel God's love in a new and fresh way through it!

Here is what we are sharing with our community this week:


God’s Love…
No matter where you are in life, God’s love is perfect and blameless and there for YOU! So, join us this week! Each day, read the Bible verse listed and pray that God will speak to your heart through it. May you feel his love in a real way this week!

Wednesday:
Psalm 36:7 “How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Thursday:
Romans 8:38,39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Friday:
Psalm 44:26 “Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love.”

Saturday:
Psalm 51:1 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”

Sunday:
Psalm 48:9 “Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.”

Monday:
Psalm 57:10 “For great is your love, reaches to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”

Tuesday:
Psalm 63:3 “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”

My heart verses for today...

Jeremiah 10:23

I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own;

it is not for a man to direct his steps,

Jeremiah11:4

...Obey me and do every thing I command you,

and you will my people and I will be your God.

It's a good reminder that my life isn't my own. I'm not here for me or for my own desires... I'm here for a purpose. Also, wonderful to know that if I just obey Him, I have belonging... I have purpose... I have an Amazing God who is mine!

New look...

Well, I haven't blogged in awhile... so I will tonight. I went with a new look today. the look on my face is that of hating having my picture taken! LOL! I got my hair cut and then colored it at home. Went with Black this time. I think I like it....

uh oh!!!

A close friend of the family got abby a colored lip gloss case for Christmas. Well, she keeps it in her "secret" place so bubby can't find it... he came out not only with his lips done... but his cheeks as well. He found the secret place! little stinker!!!!