Updates.....

Wow, it has been a long time since I updated the blog..... a lot has been happening.  I will try to share a little bit of everything that has been happening.

Just after the last post we headed up to Clear Lake for our first Open House.  We took some back roads to get there and it was just the most beautiful time of year.  Definitely not a road to take in the winter though.....lots of hills and curves.  We spent time touring the Clear Lake and Mason City area....looked at potential places for worship services, looked at warehouse to hold meetings in, and just all in all checked things out.  The kids were so excited....they didn't have to come along with us and they got to walk around town.  We have never let the kids do that so they were so very excited!  Great day and then it was off to the Open House in the evening.  The Open House was a huge success!  We had a total of 42 people in attendance.  What an amazing blessing!  God is building His church.

Back to Elgin it seems that we are always keeping busy.....Small Group, Women's Bible Study, Youth Group, Small Group in Winnetka (which has now ended), and many other things. 

We had a great Thanksgiving in Iowa.  Thanksgiving Day we spent with my parents and had a great meal.  We also went and visited my Grandma in the nursing home.  She was so happy and that was a blessing to see!  Then after looking through all the sales ads decided to do a little Black Friday shopping.  April, the kids, and I went to Kohls to cash in on some great deals.  We ended up with a new Keurig coffee machine. (Merry Christmas to John and I....and the kids because they like hot chocolate and some coffee.)  We also ended up with new tires on the car.  Mom has a friend that works for Firestone and she had a friends and family coupon for tires.  Got a quote on Wednesday night and would take it in on Friday.  They opened early for Black Friday as well.....John and I got up and took the car in at 5am because they were working us in.  Even more of a blessing they had Black Friday specials and we ended up saving even more.....all in all saved over $450.00 for the tires and an alignment on the car.  We are truly blessed.  Then that afternoon we went to visit friends that just had their baby.....Toby is soooo cute.  Then we spent some time with April and Dylan and then joined them with fellowship and small group.....great night.  Saturday was another busy day.....we went up to Mason City and Clear Lake.  We had a great time with Nick and his family.  It has been almost 2 years since I saw the kids....wow they are getting big!  We had a great potluck with some of the core group that evening.....great time of fellowship and getting more acquainted with one another.  After that headed back to Ankeny to my parents house.  Just as we pulled in the driveway we got a call about a possible rental house in Clear Lake.  We looked at one early that day that just didn't feel right.  We talked about it and decided to head back up Sunday and take a look at the house.  April and Dylan joined us.....they give to our family so sacrificially.  We are truly blessed to have them as friends!  The house was amazing!  We pray that we are able to work this one out it will be yet another blessing!  Headed back to Ankeny to pick up the kids and my Uncle, Aunt and Cousin with her little Kaine man came for a visit from Arizona.  We all enjoyed dinner together and then we had to get on the road to head back to Elgin.  We had a great, but busy trip.

We are coming down to the wire here in Elgin.  We will be packing up and moving to Iowa the last week of December.  We will be staying in Davenport for the month of January for an internship with Harvest Davenport.  We have been blessed with the opportunity to stay in a missionary family's home for the month as they will be gone.  So when we leave Elgin we will take all but some clothes up to Clear Lake.

So, how can you be praying for us.....pray for the packing of the apartment to go smoothly, for good weather as we travel in the winter months, John as he finishes up here in Elgin, the kids and I that we prioritize our time well and not to get behind with school as we do all the other things, for the housing to work out in Clear Lake, and for God to continue to build His church in Clear Lake and Mason City, IA.