My Precious Grandkids

My Precious Grandkids

Sunday, November 30, 2008

thanks giving




What a fun day it was.
I love to get together with our family
Everyone was here today nd we took some pictures
So here are some of them.


Thursday, November 27, 2008

happy Birthday


Happy birthday Denise and Happy Anniversary to a wonderful Brother and Sister in law.

I am so glad that the Lord has brought you two together a few years ago

to be exact it is 42 years ago. I don't remember the wedding to well, except Mom made the rehearsal dinner in the hotel room........but I remember your trip to visit us in Calico Rock, Ark. What fun that was. (why would you come to Ark. for your honey moon?) Grandma and Mose were there also. I will always remember the bible story Dad was telling us and Moses answered was wrong and Glen sat there saying wrong answer Grandpa. anyways we love you two and thank the Lord for you two.

free stuff at CVS




Well what an awsome day at the cvs this morning. Megan and I went to CVS early today and all of the things in our carts were free.
Of course megan did better than I cause she had so many CBCs. so next time I will be able to do what she did.
If you see Megan at CVS make sure you get out of her way. she is a serious shopper!! Happy thanksgiving to all of you. We have so much to thank God for!!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

bowling







The next day we went shopping and bowling.



The Kids sure love to bowl. We of course had to eat at I-Hop.
Austin and Micah won the game.

They were sure good at bowling. but Jama was the only on to get
all of them down at one time. Awesome Jama!!






3 Little grandkids went to North Pole in a train








Our trip to the North Pole with Jama, Micah and Austin was a fun time!
We picked up Austin at school and off we went to Connerville Indiana to ride the train.
We arrived after a long ride, we could not find a Micky-dees any where till we arrived at our hotel. We put our p-jays on and we were off.
Micky-dees in our tummys and p-jays on what could be better.
We arrived and oh my lots of people going to the North Pole.
8 train car loads of people. We found us a seat facing each other.
We were given our books Polar Express and Cookies and Hot Chocolate.
Than came the Hobo to visit us and than the conducter came and sat with us for a while and he put our first letter of our name in the ticket just like in the movie. He did it fast to.
We soon traveled pass some villages all decked out for christmas and than we came to the north pole.........We kidnaped an old friend named Santa. Of course the kids all said we know he is just a man but he is a fun man! We know why we celebrate Christmas, it is for Jesus birthday. Anyway our old friend gave us each a bell of Christmas. Our first christmas gift of the season.
We had a fun night and we even chased Caraboos off the track so the train could keep going. Only at the North pole could you do that.
We love our grandkids. It was a fun night.


Saturday, November 15, 2008

Lord show me your Glory God

I have been studing God's glory.
It brings me to me knees. I have been reading Exodus 33:16
Moses says Lord if you (your presence) do not go with me on this trip, than call this trip off.
I do not want to go it you are not with me. God says ok I will go with you!
You would of thought that would of been enough for Moses, but it was not.
He askes to see His GLory! I think that at this time Moses could of asked for a lot of things.
He could of asked for money, things , power, but he did not. WOW when our deepest desire is not the things of GOD or a favor from God BUT God Himself we cross a threshold like never before.
I beleive that is what Moses was asking for.
Verse 18 says Let me see your Glory!
He was saying show me your radiance; flex your biceps. Let me see the S on your chest. Show me your heart-stopping, ground shaking, extra ordianary; forget the money and the power; I don't want my youthful look, I can live with my aging body, aches and pains, but I CAN NOT LIVE WITHOUT YOU! i want more of you God. i want to see your glory!

Wow God I want this to.. I desire you not stuff! help me to desire you more!
I want you to stun me with you strength - Numb me with your wisdom - steal my breath away by brushing that close to me - I just want a moment in the spray of your grace!

As Moses prayed this God said you can see my back side, you can not see my face. You can not see me and live. SO God said "I will cover you with my hand (Ex 33: 20-23)
while I pass by. Picture Moses standing up againist the rock, covered by the umbrella of Gods palm, waiting for GOd. face bowed, eyes covered and pulse racing, and when God gives Him the signal, God lifts His hand and in the distant Moses sees the back parts of God. As He sees His glory I beleive that he would of had to grab the rock so he would not fall down.

In this time we are living in, it is a scarry time. But as we see here we serve no little God!!
My God is not small, He is BIG!
I remember when I was small and we were with my cousins one night and the adults were talking about the end times and how we were all so worried about the atomic bombs that might come from Russia. I was so afraid that night, I just new we would never see the next day. that we would be gone with the next bomb over head, but I remember going over to my daddy, sat on his lap and i will never forget what he said to me. He hugged me and said it is ok carolyn. At that time I could look around and find fear coming out of all their mouths but I found faith in my earthly father.
Now my Heavenly Father takes me in his lap and tells me keep my face looking to Him,
I can find faith in my Father! I chose to look upon my Fathers face. I just want to keep seeing Gods GLory!! My prayer today is God I want to see your GLORY - Show me your Glory today!
My question for all who reads this is; How big is Gods hand for you today? How big is your God. Are you resting in the palm of His hand asking to see His Glory?
Rest in Him my friends

Friday, November 14, 2008

Ladies shopping trip

What a nice day of fellowship we had.
19 ladies left our church at 8am and traveled to a neat store in Elk hart (on old us 20)
Called Your Hearts Desire. It was a store of antiques, crafts and lots of goodies.
We only spent 45 minutes there, which was not enough time, but it was a store that none of the ladies had been in before, so they can now go back!
It also has a neat little area to eat lunch. So there you go ladies.. Nice lunch out and great shopping. We than traveled on to Michigan City to the outlet stores.
We played lots of games and learned to know the ladies in our church better!
We arrived back at 8pm. We had lots of packages and lots of good memories.
The verse for the day was "Come to me all you that are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest: Matthew 11:28 Shopping can be relaxing in Him!
And our prayers for the day were:
1) As I go shopping with my sisters, Lord help me to leave my family and job in your hands
2) As I go shopping today help me to love my sisters and care for them with love
3) As I go shoipping today help me to see others as you would see them
4) As I go shopping toay help me see the clerks and other people that need you and give them a smile from you
5) As I go shopping today help me to see those wonderful sales

Thank you Jesus

We all came back rested and content. Only real shoppers would understand that statement!!
Have a wonderful day!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Loosing those awful pounds

Side note to all
I am continuing to work on those unwanted pounds.
I will have a new picture on shortly of me being a few pounds lighter
I give God the glory, cause I can not do this on my own.
Yesterday I took a gift certified given to me, by some wonderful ladies at the church to be pampered.
4 1/2 hours later, I was done. It was wonderful thank you ladies!!
As I was having a massage of oils and lotions, I told the lady that this is what Esther must of had for 12 months.
Esther had 12 months of beauty treatments before she could go into see the king.
What do I need to do inside to be ready to meet my King each day??
I was able to share the story of Esther to her, She could not go anywhere. she had to listen.
God was so good, what awesome time we had sharing about our Lord and how she to wanted to know Him more.
God is good all the time!!
Jeremiah 1:6-9
This is an awsome passage for this time in our life
you know it is soon time to vote and sometimes we do not know how to speak up, but this is
one way, one big way that you can speak up.
Voting for the man who still has values, and still follows Gods ways
Verse one says " Ah Sovereign Lord, I said I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.
But the Lord said, do not say you are only a child. You MUST GO to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. DO NOT be afraid of them for I am with you and will rescue you declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me "now I have out my words in your mouth.

What an awsome God we have. Each day my communion with him grows sweeter and sweeter.
I do not know what I would do without my truest friend and Father, Jesus Christ.

I have an awsome family and church family who really loves and cared for us. They truly show love and caring by doing life together. We pray for each other daily and meet weekly to share together. The ladies group is studing He speaks to me. This week we are studing what it means to give up, empty myself of things that keep me from doing Gods will.
Jesus gave up the right of being fully God and he became fully Man.
These were rights that he had but choose to give them up.
What rights do we have that we need to choose to give up for our Lord?
What is it that we need to empty to accomplish Gods mission in our life.
If we do not surrender ,these issues really contain poision that if kept, will kill the wonderful future God has for me and you.
Paul gave up his rights and ended up in jail
Shad, meshach and abednego thrown into the fire
Joseph went to jail for refusing Potiphars wife
Hosea took on an adulterous wife.
BUT look at the rewards of obedience each one of these had because they were obedient
By obeying we are getting ready to hear Gods voice
By sacrificing our own will and desires we are putting ourselves in his will
By doing these we will be blessed!!

Our God is awsome. If you do not know Him I would love to show you who he is!!

If you do know Him tell me what he is doing in your life right now?
What do you feel God is asking you to do to become more obedient to Him?

Saturday, October 25, 2008

The love of God is greater than my tongue can express!

I have been poundering the verses in John 15 where it says
"I am the true VINE and my Father is the Gardner. He lops off every branch that doesn't produce. and he prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops."
(Hum.... even though something is good and producing, he may say no not good enough I will prune it so it will by greater; sort of like Lowell puned my flowers, I thought they looked great, but he cut them all back I said no but, guess what, they came out looking more beautiful!!!!)
And than it goes on to say: "Take care to live in me and LET me live in you" For a branch (us) can not produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from me."

Have you ever wondered why you sometimes run out of LOVE for your family, children, friends, church family, loved ones even those who you work with. Could it be that we are not connected each day with the vine?
Could it be that we are running on LOW fumes? He says to take care to live in me and to let Him live in me. If I am not connected with the vine I will run out of love, cause GOD IS LOVE!!
"1John 2:5 says who ever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him."
and is 1 John 4:16 says "FOR GOD IS LOVE and anyone who LIVES IN LOVE is LIVING IN HIM..." Wow God says let me live in you and you will have love cause God is love.
AND In this time of life when things are so uncertain, he goes on to tell us that we have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly Vs.18 and if we are afraid it shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us. So you see our love for Him comes as a result of his loving us first...... What an awsome God we serve.
Now I am ready for the day. Connected to the vine! love you all

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

well it has been a long time since I have posted anything.
We were gone for 2 weeks to covered bridge festival and am happy to be
home again.
I am not caught up on all the work but will get there.
we are getting TJ max and Mashall stores potpourri out first and than on to
decorating the stores for Christmas.
While we were gone God gave me a verse to ponder on
Psalms 10o:1 shout with JOY, before the Lord O earth.
As my tired bones rolled out of bed each morning I shouted for Joy in my head
and pushed my self to get going. One day was really hard. We had 2 ladies come in and
I noticed them with there hands full of items and I got busy ringing people up and lost track of them. I then saw them in another booth and called Lowell to hurry back from lunch. I followed the ladies and found them putting some items in there bag from that booth and all my items were in the bag to. Shout to the Lord with JOY ran through my mind. How do I do that in a time like this? Praise is the opposite of gripping and grumbling, so I simply said pay for the items you took and leave, you are not sorry for getting caught quite saying that you are sorry You are just sorry that you got caught but I want you to know Jesus loves you!
Oh that hit home, how many times am I that way also. Just sorry I got caught for doing wrong!
So I shouted for JOY that the Lord was showing me again how much I am really rotten to the core but with God I am perfect in HIM! Praise God
Shout with Joy before the Lord O earth! Obey him gladly; come before Him singing with JOY!!
In these hard time we need to focus on our Lord!

Monday, September 15, 2008

Stinky or beautiful feet

I am teaching a class at church on evanglism. as always I am learning more than anyone else!

This past week I had all my yearly stuff done at the Drs. office and I was a little upset when 7 other ladies went ahead of me. I was praying for a lot of the ladies that looked like there were really troubled. Some of them were back in to have a second mamogram. But I got upset and let the lady at the desk know I did not like setting there besides does she not know I have things to do.

On the way home the Lord told me I really had stinky feet that day cause I was there to pray for those ladies that were coming in. I looked up the verse he was talking about and it says in Romans 10:15 how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

I had stinky feet that day and called back to the drs office and told the lady at the desk I was sorry for being grochey. I want to have beautiful feet for my Lord!

You know the closer you get to the Father the more he askes you to do right! I am glad he does


Sunday, September 14, 2008

Troyer family in texas a/ok







So glad that Glens family is ok in texas.



What a storm that must of been.
Soooooo glad your lemon tree is ok
And of course Mark road out the storm. How was it Mark?

Sidney I have all my grandkids praying for you as you go to the Doctor on the 18th
Love you much!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Time is short

Romans 10:9-10 says that if you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you shall be saved
For it is with the mouth that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved

That is all there is to it ok all of us that have accepted Jesus as Lord the next verses are for us
10:14-15 And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
And how can they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news"

God I want to have those beautiful feet Sometimes mine are sort of stinky please help me to have beautiful feet for you
Is God talking to anyone else about this
time is short, lets run God to get to all those people who are to hear your word yet Lead me with your Holy Spirit

What happens at nanas stays at nanas

Seriously look at these kids....We can have some real fun when the parents are gone!!
Ali has a helmut on cause the bugs were getting her??????? Ok
and the others are all dressed up for the ball....... Pony cart pulled by the lawn mower

Now come on everyone who could say no to this little guy???
Not this nana that is for sure!!
He is almost potty trained
saw him today with out any underware on..........
it was warm out

birthday partys




Birthday party tonight at Megans


Well we started at Megan and Shawns house and than a storm came up


and they said it was to get really bad so we headed to our house.....


well it was just fine we really would not of had to move our party...'Oh well it was fun


It was Micahs birthday today and Malachis Aug 30 so we just celebrated them
together.

We had a wonderful supper at Megans house

praying for grandkids mates


You know it is time I step up my prayers for my grandkids mates.

My oldest is 10 and my youngest is 6 months

They are so percious and so important to me!!

I started praying for my childrens mates when they were in my tummy.

So this is what they got............Not bad group of inlaws I'd say
I'd say God did just fine!!
thank you Lord for a great bunch of inlaws you sent us!!!!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Lets go God I'm ready

Thought for the day as I begin my busy day is
Do I really believe and have confidence that God's story can really change lives?
As Billy Graham leaves a hugh space down front of his stage for sinners to respond to Gods message. Do I have the same confidence as I leave my house today to believe that if and when God gives me a chance to share his word today that it will make a differance in someones life?
I do not want to be a Christ follower who keeps it all bottled up inside and does not share it.
I want today to walk across the room and share my Lord with whom ever God has set up the appointment with and believe that Gods story is true and be willing to share Gods love.
So God I am ready today to be used by you!
1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

lagrange store open again


Well we are up and running with our store in Lagrange

There has been a lot of people in the last 2 days, so excited that we have opened back up.

We are happy to be open again to and back close to home.

sines Kids


Ali and Jama kissing Chloe as they
go to school for the first day.
Ali is in first grade and Jama in kindergarden
Chloe is in her first year of preschool and loving it

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Hostetler Boys


Here are the 4 Hostetler boys.
Deklyn, Auston, Caden, and Koen
What a handsome bunch of boys I have for grand kids
and smart to!!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

fisherman


Deklyn caught fish and we came over and ate them
Boy were they good!!

7 grand kids in a pool makes a small pool


more grand kids



my other 3 grand kids that love to fish.

Aren't they so handsome??

GRANDMA H WERE ARE YOU: BY MY GRAND KIDS


THE COMPUTER SWALLOWED GRANDMA
The computer swallowed grandma. Yes, honestly its true!
She pressed 'control' and 'enter' And disappeared from view.
It devoured her completely, The thought just makes me squirm. She must have caught a virus Or been eaten by a worm. I've searched through the recycle bin And files of every kind; I've even used the Internet, But nothing did I find. In desperation, I asked Jeeves My searches to refine. The reply from him was negative, Not a thing was found 'online.' So, if inside your 'Inbox,' My Grandma you should see, Please 'Copy,''Scan' and 'Paste' her And send her back to me. This is a tribute to all the Grandmas who

have been fearless and learned
to use the Computer.....
They are the greatest!!!

We do not stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing . NEVER Be The First To Get Old!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Missions in Lagrange County

God had been speaking to me since I have been back, that telling others about him and showing Gods love does not end when I returned.

the verse he has put upon my heart is

1 Peter 4:15: But in your heart set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.


My Prayer each day:

My life is in your hands today God
Use me to point someone toward you today
I promise to cooperate in anyway I can
If you want me to say something, I will
If you want me to keep quite, but demonstrate your love or
servanthood through me I will.
I can only do this through your spirit power
I am fully available to you today, so guide me by your Spirit
Your daughter
Carolyn

Since I have been praying this pray, many people have come into my life.
You know each time I see someone in my life now I ask this question.
Why does God want me to talk to this person.
Why have me met at this time and at this place?
What is it that God wants me to listen to as this person talks.
Please pray for boldness for me to be like Paul
Eph 6:20 Pray that I amy declare it fearlessly as I should.

Join me in praying this prayer each day.
It is the Lords day declare it with me!!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Monday, August 25, 2008

Ireland






Our bed and Breakfast in Ireland


Missions trip to Ireland July 2008


Wow what a trip to Ireland I had.
Seeing God work and relying on the Lord to do his work as we planted seeds.
We arrived in Dubland on tue. morning. By the time we exchanged our money and rented our vans and drove 4 hours to our bed and breakfast. we were pretty tired. Some of us could not sleep on the plane, so we had been up many hours.
We got settled in and went to bed to get ready for the next day.


(The picture you see of me is how we passed out 2000, books in Longford. )
On Wed. we made our 2 hour trip to Longford, to begin prayer walking and map out our way for the next 2 days. Pastor Poudge (pastor at Castle Bar) we with us and showed us the different areas in town that they wanted us to distribute the magazines.
there magazines were very nicely done and told someone about the Lord and would lead them to Christ.
On wed we went to McDonalds for lunch and there I met a sweet young girl (Lin) and began to talk to here. she was so open to hear about the Lord. She was so surprised that I was there telling others about the Lord when the Lord had not saved me from drugs or something big.
I told her all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and we all need the Lord.
She had never heard any one that was just normal, it touched her cause she was a good person, and did not know she needed the Lord but she did say she would go to hell if she died today. please pray she gets a bible and seeks the Lord. She said that she wanted to. Please pray with me for her!

Kathy and I were walking and praying and we met an older lady that had 3 grand children playing in the yard (yard is cement in Ireland) she was very depressed. She prayed her prayers each day and that hangs her head. I began to tell her what the Bible said and she stopped me and said she does not read the bible, I only say my prayers. So I learned to say it in another way. We began to say Pauls says or Peter says or Psalms says. God gave us the word and how to use it. I pray God will speak to her.

As we walked and prayed and handed out magazines I had people tell me these hail marys are just not cutting it. Praise God for his mercy and grace!
On Thur, Kathy and I set our to talk to 2 young guys that were on the street.
They were very interested in what we had to say. they were longing for something more.
they wanted to read our magazines and they to amitted that they would go to hell if they died today. They wanted to hear more. we talked to them for quite a while and we promised to pray for them as we went back to america. they promised to call the pastors number on the back of the magazine. Pastor Denise will be moving to Longford and will become the pastor there.

We did find a few christians along our was.
One was a taxi driver at night, pastor duing the day and watched the kids while his wife worked.
He was a blessing but discouraged. He was very happy to see americans helping them in there work.
I met a young boy in a wheel chair. He quoted a poem to me that he had written and He loved Jesus. What a precious time it was.

Well Pastor Larry was a drill sargent today he kept after us to speed it up, walk faster..........

I think the thing that spoke to me the most was the trip up Croach Patrick Mountain.
People climbed this mountain for Penance and prayer.
They thought that they had to climb this so there sins would be forgiven for another year.
As Kathy and I climbed together, we met a man 30"s and had his son with him.
I said did you go all the way up and he said oh yes. and he said you doing up and I said oh, I don't think I will make it all the way up and he said OHHHHH you have to.
Of course that is what I wanted hm to say. so I said WHy DO i HAVE TO?
He said so my sins will be forgiven and you can come down and sin again. Oh I cryed NONONONO Jesus will meet you at the bottom of this mountain you do not have to do this.
He thanked us for talking and for having a beautiful smile for him.
I told him it was Jesus in my heart that makes me so joyful.
I pray God will get HIM!!!!
We talked to lots of people.
I talked to a lady that had a 3 year old child on her back. I said you go all the way up and she said yes, I thought if I got God in my live things would be different. She said it had not changed.
I told her God would meet her any where not just on this mountain and that God loves her very much. The christain life is not an easy road, but with God all things are possible.
We soon got seperated with the crowds of people and she was gone. I pray she will seek God.

This is my pray that the seeds we planted will grow. That God will do with them what he wants and I will not know until I get to heaven.
My life is in his hands I will do what he wants me to do, go where he wants me to go and say what he wants me to say. GO the harvest is ready!