Today is a good day! I thought I had an exam this morning but got to class and found out it's not till next week! Don't know what I was thinking! I guess thats what spring break does to a person! And then my next class, Pharmacology, was cancelled due to the instrutor being sick - that's not good but it is nice to have a break from such a deep class!

Yes, I had spring break last week and thoroughly enjoyed it! I was so good to be able to just spend time at home with my family and do normal, domestic things rather than having my nose in a textbook all the time. 

Three weeks ago I quit my job at the nursing home where I have been working at for the past two years. I was completely frustrated with trying to keep up with school and work at the same time and my family was getting frustrated watching me. We were also having way to many schedule conflicts with trying to get needed practice in for upcoming programs,etc. I feel very blessed to have a family who supports me, a father who is willing to take the time to give wise counsel and a mother who is willing to, at times, just listen! God is good!!

Two weekends ago we had a wonderful and blessed time in London, Minnesota where we presented two programs at a small, evangelical Lutheran church! We traveled down with the Fenter family who has added much to our music with their instruments. This family has become very dear to us. They have been going through some very deep waters the past couple years but God is good and is leading them through. It is a blessing to us as we watch them be blessed by their being able to use their talents to serve the Lord and encourage others! We joined our good friends the Tiemans in MN. The Tiemans are from WI but have family just across the border from London, in Iowa. They were instrumental in getting us down there to sing! The pastor of the church we ministered at is the father of the man that led Mr. Tieman to the Lord when they were both in highschool! It is so encouraging to see how God works in the lives of individuals!

Well, I gotta run! Praying that God will bless each of you as you give of your lives completely for His glory!

~ Janelle

Hello! Can you believe it! The long, lost xanga blogger(?) is actually writing!

Yes, I've been suficiently convicted and inspired to finally begin posting again. The only excuse I can offer is that my life has become increasingly busy over the last couple of years and I don't see it slowing down any time soon so I better quit waiting for it to! Is that a run-on or what?

I am currently enrolled in the Practical Nursing program at Chippewa Valley Technical Coolege in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This semester I am finishing up my gereal ed courses and will start the core nursing courses in January. Yes! It is so exciting to see how God has led me one step at a time to where I am right now. I have learned or should I say I am still learning so many valuable lessons about faith and trust. I am learning to just rest in the Lord and let Him fulfill His purposes in me and for me in His own perfect time. What a wonderfully restful place to be! All my planning and imagining (is that a word?) cannot even begin to compare with what His plans are!

We as a family have been keeping busy with our blossoming music ministry. To date we have done 14 programs since February. We feel like we have a window of opportunity right now and we want to make the best use of it and not squander it in any way. It is certainly exciting to be able to use the gifts God has given us to bring Him honor and glory!

I'd like to finish this post with a song we learned this past summer written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. It has really come to mean a lot to me.

To Get This Close

The road you chose for me to walk at times was rough and steep.

The winds would howl thru caverns carved between the boulders deep.

And there were nights when lumps of fear would rise up in my throat,

And when I tried to sing your song I choked on every note.

 

But now I see those were the times You guided me along.

The narrow passes, and when I was weak Your hand was strong.

And like a shepherd with his staff protects his wayward flock,

You crowded me into the clefted shelter of the rock.

 

The chilling night is gone, now, and the howling wind is still.

The morning sun is breaking just beyond the distant hill.

The shadows that I feared I see now in the light of day,

Were cast by peaks of alabaster all along the way.

 

Chorus:

I didn't know I had to come so far to get this close.

I'm learning Lord Your nearest when Your children need You most.

Without You I have nothing that I could ever boast.

But it's worth it all to come this far so I could get this close.

 

God bless you all!

~Janelle

My desire: that the gifts God has given me be used for His honor and glory and His alone. Anything and everything I do, anything I say, anything I play on the piano or violin I want to be for Christ. I want Christ to be seen, not I. Then why, I ask myself tonight in this moment of weakness, do I become even slightly offended when asked to play something for church offoratory that I feel is below my ability when my younger siblings are asked to play much more difficult pieces? Who do I think I am? It would be for God's glory, right? So it really doesn't matter how simple the piece may be, it is alright because it is for the Lord. Self has gotten in the way once again. I have momentarily lost focus. Lord, please forgive my selfishness for wanting the glory. Help me to keep my eyes focused on You alone and help me remember my hands are Yours, my whole life is Yours.

Happy Valentines Day and remember that JESUS loves you!

Love is:

patient, kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, not rude, does not demand its own way, is not irritable, keeps no record of having been wronged, never rejoices about injustice, rejoices when truth wins, never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopful, endures through every circumstance, and will last forever!

Hey Everyone!

Sorry I have taken so awfully long to update! Life gets so busy, I guess.

The Advanced Seminar is being held at our church this week so I get to go through it again. Its really neat how different things stand out to you each time you hear it!! I am able to add more notes to what I already have in my workbook. I am learning just as much now as when I went through it at the Character Inn!!

Yesterday my brother and I went to Metamora, IL. which is about 6 hours from here to pick up a load of books for my Dad. (Dad works for a Christian book company called Choice Books. He is the book distributer and sales person for our area, the upper half of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan,  keeping all the book racks filled with books and making sales calls.) He has 60 or more accounts in Wal-Marts, grocery stores, airport gift shop,etc. that he has to service once or twice a month. It keeps him pretty busy. Anyway, the headquarters are in IL. and it really helps when Chad, my brother, and I can make that trip for him. We had a good time travelling down there and back. With a truck full of books its kind of hard to get bored, when I'm not driving, of course!!

I have been praying that God would show me what ministry I can be involved with in this time of my  like and He aswered that prayer the other week! I was asked to teach the primary Sunday School class (ages 7-10) in my church since the older lady that had been feels like she needs a break. I am thankful that I have this opportunity to be an influence in the lives of these children. Last Sunday was my first time teaching so that was really neat. I am looking forward to coming up with creative ideas for teaching in such a way that it really sticks in their hearts. My prayer is that they would each be pointed to Christ and that what they learn will stay with them thru life.

Well, I gotta run now! I think about you all often and am praying for you and your current ministries.

Looking to Jesus ~Janelle